View Full Version : Thoughts on new neighbor and yard decorations
I've decided that neighbors provide a good means of practicing tolerance. Our new neighbors (40s couple, no kids) apparently love yard decorations - especially inflatables. They installed numerous rotund blow up pilgrims and turkeys in the front yard. Now, the backyard is full of holiday inflatables that she said they will move to the front once the T'Giving stuff comes down. Santas, trees, sleighs, bells...For now, they are spending lots of time arranging them in the backyard until they get it the way they want. Guess I'm weird, but I don't understand spending money on tacky blow up decorations. Or the 10 ft tall skeletons I see around the neighborhood. To each his own but...blecchh!
iris lilies
11-8-25, 7:33pm
I've decided that neighbors provide a good means of practicing tolerance. Our new neighbors (40s couple, no kids) apparently love yard decorations - especially inflatables. They installed numerous rotund blow up pilgrims and turkeys in the front yard. Now, the backyard is full of holiday inflatables that she said they will move to the front once the T'Giving stuff comes down. Santas, trees, sleighs, bells...For now, they are spending lots of time arranging them in the backyard until they get it the way they want. Guess I'm weird, but I don't understand spending money on tacky blow up decorations. Or the 10 ft tall skeletons I see around the neighborhood. To each his own but...blecchh!
i’m not a fan of 95% of the blowup items. Once in a while I see one that I think is cute. Fortunately, in my former neighborhood, people have refined taste and I can think of only one blowup even in my entire quadrant. Our historic code had a provision against “yard sculptures “and that qualified but we didn’t take the owners to task for it because it was temporary, and besides, that would’ve been churlish.
The first time I saw the giant skeleton I thought it was way cool but now there are too many of them.
For the first time, last year we placed Halloween decor in our yard, the three witches made of a fabric. That’s all we have, the three witches. This year they’re not even lit so they are subtle.
That said, I spent over $1000 to have Christmas lights installed on our roof. They are the large bulbs soft light type. This company didn’t do fairy lights which is my preference. So I am not without holiday decor. We won’t turn on the Christmas lights for a couple of weeks.
iris lilies
11-8-25, 7:38pm
Pinkytoe that is funny because yes, neighbors are indeed a good object lesson for tolerance.
I dislike the inflatables. Tacky. However, I love lights. Some homes already had them turned on yesterday on my way home. I don’t mind early dark, but the lights are cheering, so I’m not going to say boo, too early!
They are more bearable if done in total excess. Saw one yard that was totally covered with inflatables. Had a good laugh.
Side note: The big Victorian down the street from us is already totally decked out for Christmas. It is over the top with everything covered with what feels like a mismatch of big Christmas lighted items. Here is a news article about it. https://fox59.com/indiana-news/indy-family-spreading-holiday-cheer-through-massive-christmas-light-display/
There are a lot of old people in my neighborhood and not many decorate. I put some lights up and a couple of small yard art things. It's a dark time of year and could use a little color. There is one house a few blocks down with the inflatables. They have small kids and maybe it makes them think it's a special time? It's still pretty obnoxious. Whatever it is, all the hoopla starts way too early.
They are more bearable if done in total excess. Saw one yard that was totally covered with inflatables. Had a good laugh.
Side note: The big Victorian down the street from us is already totally decked out for Christmas. It is over the top with everything covered with what feels like a mismatch of big Christmas lighted items. Here is a news article about it. https://fox59.com/indiana-news/indy-family-spreading-holiday-cheer-through-massive-christmas-light-display/
Houses in Chicago and some nearby suburbs have VERY small front yards. I can’t tell you how many would be jammed with all sorts of inflatables.
I'm always glad someone is willing to do decorations, as I am pretty negligent in that department. I put up and wreath on my door one string of blue lights on my fence and call it a day.
I do like them a lot, though.
rosarugosa
11-9-25, 7:40am
As far as outdoor decor goes, I only do a wreath, and occasionally a pot or something with real greens and pinecones, etc.
There isn't much in the way of holiday decor in our immediate neighborhood, which is great as far as I'm concerned. I really dislike the inflatables and the over-the-top lights and displays. Bah humbug!
happystuff
11-9-25, 10:13am
I don't do any holiday stuff any more except Christmas. I have one string of solar lights that I love and go out after Thanksgiving (or when the weather is decent). Otherwise, our tree goes in the living room in front of a window so that it is visible from outside and really pretty at night when the lights are on.
No inflatables. Interestingly enough, we've had such high winds in the past that even deflated inflatables were escaping from yards.
early morning
11-9-25, 10:26am
We don't do much outside, sometimes one small inflatable on the porch. (We have snoopy on doghouse, a minion, and a narwhal, all under 3 ft in height.) BUT - I love to drive around and look at other people's over-the-top displays. SO much better than sappy Christmas movies or oft-repeated Christmas songs to get me in the spirit! And free - except for gas, and the large park displays that are fundraisers, we always donate to those. But yeah, at other peoples' homes, let tacky reign!
I alos love looking at the exuberant displays. They make me smile as I wonder where in the world they store them. But if they make people smile, I am happy to see them do the work and I just enjoy!
That was my final thought...whatever makes you happy. Some folks love all things Christmas.
Interestingly enough, we've had such high winds in the past that even deflated inflatables were escaping from yards.
Oh, the humanity!!
I alos love looking at the exuberant displays. They make me smile as I wonder where in the world they store them. But if they make people smile, I am happy to see them do the work and I just enjoy!
Well, the inflatables are easy enough to store! Much more so than the large plastic lighted figures we used to see in the past.
Last year the news reported an inflatable slasher. Apparently a prankster(s) running through yards slashing inflatables with a saber. Captured on camera of course. I guess that's one form of protest.
happystuff
11-10-25, 10:21am
Oh, the humanity!!
:laff:
iris lilies
11-10-25, 10:36am
We don't do much outside, sometimes one small inflatable on the porch. (We have snoopy on doghouse, a minion, and a narwhal, all under 3 ft in height.) BUT - I love to drive around and look at other people's over-the-top displays. SO much better than sappy Christmas movies or oft-repeated Christmas songs to get me in the spirit! And free - except for gas, and the large park displays that are fundraisers, we always donate to those. But yeah, at other peoples' homes, let tacky reign!
I like the minion inflatable down the hill from us. It is funny.
littlebittybobby
11-16-25, 5:08pm
okay---we had a neighbor who usta set up a xmas display of inflatables and lights, etc. But then---he committed suicide and she died of cancer/heart disease several years later. I miss them.
I am not a fan of inflatables but I do put one out for Halloween and Thanksgiving. I have purple, green, and orange lights around our porch railing and a spooky tree with ghosts inflatable outside at Halloween. Only a turkey inflatable for Thanksgiving. My boys enjoy seeing them year after year so that's why I do it. Nothing extravagant or tacky. I had a Santa and snowman inflatable for Christmas but decluttered those a few months ago because I didn't want to display them anymore. Hopefully the boys aren't too upset. I just wanted the lights on the house and porch to have their moment this Christmas and not the distraction of the inflatables.
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