Christmas Lights 2004

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Christmas Lights Installation and Tips
I try to keep connections in a relatively dry spot. All wires are grounded and connected to GFCI outlets. My lights are spread across three 15 amp circuits.	One of two light fixtures adjacent to my front door. I replace the regular lights with red bulbs during the Christmas season.	Looking up at the lights across the top of the second story and two of the upper windows.
My "reach stick" is just a six foot scrap of trim that I had lying around. I cut a notch in one end. The stick is incredibly useful for putting the lights up and even more useful for taking them down.	Just put the wire in the notch and drop it into the hook. It takes a bit of practice, but once you master it you won't want to put up the lights without the reach stick.	The stick saves me many trips up and down the ladder, and even helps minimize the number of times I have to move the ladder. That 32' ladder is heavy and I can barely manage it by myself. The less I have to move it the better.
Here is another tip: always have the lights powered on as you put them up. Sometimes you jiggle a bulb loose while putting the lights up and if they are on (or supposed to be on) you will know right away that you have a problem.	I have a string of clear lights along the top of the stone wall. The extension cord with three receptacles in the center of the picture has a spike to drive into the ground. They are very useful. I own five of them.	All finished! I still have no desire for lawn ornaments; I just have lights on the house and on most of the bushes. My scheme for the last few years has been the lights on the house are all multi-colored and the bushes have one color strings. Most of the bushes have clear (white) lights.
I put up every single light myself. It's a lot of work, and I am tired but happy. I live for this!	Merry Christmas! Remember, Christmas spirit is not what you drink.	Another angle.