Thursday, December 17, 2009

My Town Shoot Out - My Town Dressed for Christmas

This week's shoot out theme is courtesy of the My Town Blogger Team "The idea for this week’s topic came from the need to fit our Town-Shoot-Out to how busy we are this month and what we are busy doing. There is not any of us that don’t admire how our town celebrates the Christmas Season – it becomes just a matter of carrying our cameras in our back pocket so while we go about shopping or to tree lighting ceremonies or going to school plays or pageants, or watching our children and grandchildren participate in the church choir, we can snap some photos to share. GingerV"
I encourage you to go and see everyone's contributions here or here.

I drove around looking at the usual places that have good diplays and usually their neighbors also have really nice lights. What I found out, is that a week before Christmas, and not many people are decorating, or if so, not as extensively. I think it might be due to the economy, and being a target for theft. Last week my neighbor across the street has his garage broken into, and there has been a rash of thefts at the office. However, I did find some lights ablaze in my neighborhood:

The inflatable yard decor is very popular around here, where it is likely to rain a bit, but not snow at Christmas.



The Tree in front of the Dublin Public Library:

The Dublin City Tree - In Front of Civic Center.

Then I took a short drive to Pleasanton, where I grew up, and the home of Bob's World 1, which is down the street from my folks:



Bob's Garage:



Another nearby home:

This is Bob's World 2, also in Pleasanton, and the home of a 9 hole miniature golf course, turned into a Winter Wonderland:

Trees in synch with Christmas music:

Out buildings full of train sets:

Lighted Penguins in bikini tops and hula skirts:

An Angel to bid you safe journey:

And I couldn't resist a self portrait on my way out:

Happy weekend all!

18 comments:

~JarieLyn~ said...

These are great photos. I like them all, especially toyland and train sets. Very good, J9.

Chef E said...

I love this last shot in the ornament, so cool...I am not sure why my photos came out so 'blurred', but I had fun driving around looking at them...

Gordon said...

J9 you're so fine! You're so fine you make me lose my mind! The last shot reflected in the ornament was fascinating. Beautiful choices.

NanU said...

Fabulous decorations. Yards done up like that are something you just don't see around here. The most people do here is put up strings of lights.

Suburban Girl said...

I love the little train set, it sets my imagination in motion! And the reflection in the ornament is really nice.

Jessica said...

These are all great. I was in love with the light shots until I saw the toyland and train shots. They were beautiful.

GingerV said...

the house in the 6th pohoto looks like a gingerbread house, doesn't it. I used to make them for my kids at christmas. thank you for sharing your town this season.

Pauline said...

Lovely coloured lights. Love the last two shots, the angel and your personal decoration!

Heather said...

I love the elephant! Oh, definitely.

A Scattering said...

Oh my, a train set. I'm a sucker for a train set............ lovely post.

Barry said...

I was having such sun looking at all the lights and then I came on the photo of the angel, so peaceful and serene and fell in love. That is such a good photo!

But I guess that's what angels are for,

Sigh

Barry & Linda

Jama said...

I love looking at those beautifully decorated houses! it's quiet rare to find a house decorated like that here, mostly it's done by the shopping malls.

Bagman and Butler said...

I'm late getting to Friday but this is a great post. Who would have thought Christmas includes elephants on balls and hula penquins! And some people sure like to bump up their electric bills on Christmas!!!

Sarah Sullivan said...

Oh oh oh what a fun area!! I loooove the elephant..how cute is that! Fun shootout!! Sarah

aurbie said...

Love your winter wonderland photos. We had snow last night. Not too cold, though, so no one is complaining.

Merry Christmas.

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

that last photo, it looks like you were looking down a giant glass Christmas ball.

spiritsoflena said...

Great shots! That elephant decoration was my favorite.

Suburban Girl said...

http://www.diyphotography.net/diy_create_your_own_bokeh Not sure if you found a site - these are the directions I used for shaped bokeh. I did Christmas trees with the tree lights..