Merry Christmas

[MossRoad]

Merry Christmas everyone.

Here's our tree in the front yard. 55-60' tall estimate. Took about 6 hours to prep the lights and about 3-4 to get them up on the tree. There's only 3 strings of lights, but they are 330' long each. 3000 lights total. My hands hurt! But it's worth it. The kids and neighbors always seem to enjoy it. We've had friends fly in to town and they said they can see it from the airplane on approach, as we live near the airport.

Anyhow, I hope all of you have a safe and happy Christmas season and Happy New Year.

MR

 

[CH4Ohio]

Hope those aren't the old style lights that go out if you lose one bulb!!!

 

[Torvy]

The tree in the house only has a strand of old garland, so far. Christmas doesn't start until Wednesday late night.

I'm fairly traditional about this stuff. Wife had a family tragedy on Christmas when she was 12. 2 brothers were killed. She doesn't get into it as much as I do.

The 4 kids have disparate schedules, so we will not likely have a day with all of them and their SOs. The youngest will be here for a week+.

I'm more focused on baking than decorating. Even that isn't what it once was.

 

[Snobdds]

So how did you get the lights up at the top? Just curious.

I saw one guy with a boom lift do it.

But knowing you Moss and how you squeak when you walk, I know you did it different.

 

[MossRoad]

 

[MossRoad]

Hope those aren't the old style lights that go out if you lose one bulb!!!

Nope!

All LEDs.

I leave them on solid, but I could put them on demo mode and make the neighbors have seizures.

 

[Snobdds]

View attachment 4625040

Very ingenious.

I knew you had a cheaper way to do it. It looks like it works good.

I may copy your idea one day, if I ever get enough time to do it. I have a few good trees that this would work good on.

 

[Torvy]

View attachment 4625040

How many shots to get it right?

I've been considering a similar method to get a line up on trees I'm going to cut down.

 

[rontaki]

Very ingenious.

I knew you had a cheaper way to do it. It looks like it works good.

I may copy your idea one day, if I ever get enough time to do it. I have a few good trees that this would work good on.

Check out the world of ham radio antenna launchers. We have been trying to launch wires into treetops for decades!

 

[Snobdds]

Check out the world of ham radio antenna launchers. We have been trying to launch wires into treetops for decades!

I need to hire them to get a starlink into a high tree for me.

 

[MossRoad]

Very ingenious.

I knew you had a cheaper way to do it. It looks like it works good.

I may copy your idea one day, if I ever get enough time to do it. I have a few good trees that this would work good on.

The main problem I have is that the strings of lights are not heavy duty enough to support their own weight. At that distance, they can and will pull wires out of their sockets, and if there is the slightest of wind, it's all over.

So, I stretch the 300' strings out in my driveway and wrap them with twine from end to end, then go back and electrical tape them every 4-5'.

Then I'll pull a 300' strand into three peaks, giving me 6 - 50' long legs. I take a 6' long piece of rope, tie a figure 8 loop in the middle, and tape each 3' leg down the sides of each peak.

Shoot the 50# test fishing line over the tree, remove the arrow, tie on a 100' rope to the fishing line and one of the loops on a peak, and pull it up to the top, stopping every once in a while to keep the legs spread out.

I've had mixed results with the durability of the lights VS the weather. Some years nothing happens to them, I can pull them down pretty easy, and reuse them. Other years, I've had the wind destroy them the 2nd day they were up.

Last year I got them up, then had back surgery in early January, so they didn't come down until august, and by that time destroyed, so I had to do three new strands this year, and that's why it took 6 hours of prep, getting the twine on them and all. It only takes me about 3-4 hours to actually get them up on the tree.

Wrapping with twine.


Ready to go for the next day.

 

[MossRoad]

How many shots to get it right?

I've been considering a similar method to get a line up on trees I'm going to cut down.

I need 9 successful shots.
One shot to calibrate my eyeballs and see how the wind pushes it.
Then about 60-70 percent 1st shot success.
Hard part is I can't shoot over the tree towards the house, so I only have about 180 degree arc to shoot from. Wind can play havoc.

The arrows are heavy fishing arrows. I unscrew the tip and barbs just in case. They don't like hitting the frozen ground, and I lose a nock every so often and have to run out and buy a couple more.

I've had that bow and reel since maybe 14 years old.


You might consider this big shot launcher for climbing ropes. I might have gone that route but I already had the bow setup.

 

[Snobdds]

The main problem I have is that the strings of lights are not heavy duty enough to support their own weight. At that distance, they can and will pull wires out of their sockets, and if there is the slightest of wind, it's all over.

So, I stretch the 300' strings out in my driveway and wrap them with twine from end to end, then go back and electrical tape them every 4-5'.

Then I'll pull a 300' strand into three peaks, giving me 6 - 50' long legs. I take a 6' long piece of rope, tie a figure 8 loop in the middle, and tape each 3' leg down the sides of each peak.

Shoot the 50# test fishing line over the tree, remove the arrow, tie on a 100' rope to the fishing line and one of the loops on a peak, and pull it up to the top, stopping every once in a while to keep the legs spread out.

I've had mixed results with the durability of the lights VS the weather. Some years nothing happens to them, I can pull them down pretty easy, and reuse them. Other years, I've had the wind destroy them the 2nd day they were up.

Last year I got them up, then had back surgery in early January, so they didn't come down until august, and by that time destroyed, so I had to do three new strands this year, and that's why it took 6 hours of prep, getting the twine on them and all. It only takes me about 3-4 hours to actually get them up on the tree.

Wrapping with twine.
View attachment 4627598

Ready to go for the next day.
View attachment 4627599

Dang that is some effort. However I always like the trees that are done this way. To me I know it took effort to do it and that makes it all the more impressive.

I can see how you would need more structure in the light strings to keep them in place and rigid enough to withstand the weather.

 

[Torvy]

My effort has been too low this year.

I just hung wreaths out by the front gate. They are both old. One is nearly 30 and looking tired, but it was won on a raffle in our eldest's name when he was a newborn. His fiancée is very 'posh' and while also sentimental, I don't think she wants his wreath.

They are also too small for the space. They are fine for a city front door, but look tiny out on a farm fence.

Then I broke the plastic bells we've put up outside for many years.

I guess the boss will need to shop next week when everything is on clearance.

 

[scootr]

Merry Christmas everyone

 

[Torvy]

What Christmas shows/movies do y'all try to see every year?

For me: White Christmas, Miracle on 34th, Die Hard, and It's a Wonderful Life. I typically see a few more, but these are my annual don't-miss ones.

 

[paulsharvey]

What Christmas shows/movies do y'all try to see every year?

For me: White Christmas, Miracle on 34th, Die Hard, and It's a Wonderful Life. I typically see a few more, but these are my annual don't-miss ones.

Bad Santa, every year, not with the youngest kid though.

 

[Alan W.]

The Man Who Came to Dinner
Christmas in Connecticut
Bishops Wife
It Happened on 5th Avenue
Love Actually
Meet Me in St Louis
Holiday Inn
White Christmas
Im sure Ive forgotten some but these are our favorites.

 

[Torvy]

The Man Who Came to Dinner
Christmas in Connecticut
Bishops Wife
It Happened on 5th Avenue
Love Actually
Meet Me in St Louis
Holiday Inn
White Christmas
Im sure Ive forgotten some but these are our favorites.

Ha! I was in The Man Who Came to Dinner in HS.

 

[alexpops]

Best Christmas movie ever -- The Godfather

And Merry Christmas to Everyone. Hopefully, the Family Time brings great memories that last for lots of years to come.