Recorded on January 01, 2009 just before Art starts to take it down for the year...
It was too long to just have one video, so one song got left out, and Winter Wonderland is just below...
This site is dedicated to my wonderful husband, Art. Within the past three years, out home has transformed from the traditional home at Christmas, to an amazing light show synchronized to music for the whole world to see...via the internet!
I will try to capture all the steps he takes to make each new display...and there are a lot!
You can click on each section to get a description of the group of photos, and scroll over each photo for more details.
Feel free to leave him a comment and let him know what you think!
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Lianne
PS...You can also check out our family's funny happenings at www.my3ringcircus.shutterfly.com
Well, just after I shot the video of this year's show, Art started the process of taking it all down and putting it all away. It only took him a few days this year, and he did it so fast that I didn't even get photos of him doing it, even though I told him that I wanted to for the website. sorry...
It's all down now, and almost all under the house, where he stores it.
Recorded on January 01, 2009 just before Art starts to take it down for the year...
It was too long to just have one video, so one song got left out, and Winter Wonderland is just below...
This morning, we got several calls and e-mails saying that Art had made the front page of the paper!!! It IS the local paper, but still...it's the front page!!!
I'm so proud...
Saturday's paper 12-13-08
of the story, so you can read it!! 12-13-08
page A3...12-13-08
of planning, drawing, cutting, painting, wiring, and programing, it's finally IN PLACE!!! Thanks to the days of high winds in the area, the trees let go of all the leaves, and you can now see the top of the house from the street. So we called Keith to come help build the base on the roof, then lift the star into place. It looks AMAZING!!
I'll take photos of it at night and post them as soon as I can!
This is what I saw when I looked out the upstairs window...12-12-08
bam, bam, bam!!! 12-12-08
12-12-08
We have all sorts of calls and guests come by within the last two days, asking "Why is the light show not on???"
Well, it seems as though someone, or something broke the USB-480 adapter that connects the computer to all the controllers...Yeah, that's kinda important. Not something you can just pick up at your local office supply store, either. Nope, you gotta special order it from the Christmas Light people...makes it twice the price, too, I'm sure.
Art thinks it's going to be in Tuesday morning, so the show should be up again Wednesday night. Sorry neighbors...enjoy the temporary break! :o)
Art looked out the window this evening, and saw two of these church busses sitting out there, watching the light show!!! We don't know if it was a youth group or what. Where is Sargent, GA anyway???
***UPDATE***
Turns out that Sargent is between Newnan and Carrollton...so not too terribly far...
The Star...a true symbol of Christmas. It's what led the wise men to meet the new King.
Can you just imagine seeing something so beautiful and bright in the night sky...
Art ran the first show Thanksgiving night. There were only a few songs entered, but it ran, and there were NO BUGS!!! It went perfect! Every day, Art is able to spend the time to enter all the other songs he's programed into the computer, so there are only two songs left that need to be entered.
Also, he's still putting up the wreaths on the windows, and the star needs to be put on the roof, but other than that, it's almost done!
Lights in the first arch are on.
Lights in all four arches are working!!!
All spotlights are in place and running!!!
Making sure the red ones are straight.
that while Art was adding the last few strands of lights to the Mega Tree, he lost his balance and fell. As he was going down, he reached out to grab anything to slow his fall, and ended up pulling the entire tree down with him! I happened to be standing outside, talking with our lawncare guys...one of whom is a full-time medic with the Atlanta Fire Dept. (and works part-time with AAbey) We saw the whole thing happen, and went running over to check on him. Art was flat on his back, and the medic was afriad he was unconsious...I said "No, he's just mad!" Which was true...he was furious.
All this happened while our friend, Nelson who is our electrician, was over installing more outdoor outlets. Gee...I wonder why we needed those?
Anyway, with so much damage, he's decided to leave it out of this year's show...at least for now...
After the second fall...
Evaluating the damage...
We think it's too far gone to repair.
He pulled the top down with him. It's a good thing it didn't hit him in the head or eyes!
Art directs the light show...11-9-08
Art directs the light show...11-9-08
Art directs the light show...11-9-98
Art was working on the tree, standing on the top of a 6 foot ladder trying to reach the top of the Mega Tree to put the lights across it, and lost his balance! He AND the tree fell over! He is fine, just frustrated, and only suffered the loss of one strand of lights.
The bad thing was that it happened just as two bikers were riding by...
OK, so he suffered two losses...a strand of lights, and a little dignity.
The mega tree is made of:
One 12" steel pole
One 6" diameter base made of 1 1/2" pipe
96 strands of lights, each with 100 lights
Two 16 channel controllers
One metal tree topper with hooks to hold lights
One white star
And a lot of extention cords...he lost count!
Attatching the two pieces of pipe together.
Now it's complete!
Almost too tall to put the lights on...
One strand at a time...
There are sooo many more that this!!!
And that's NOT including the CASES he bought this year!
A fresh strand is a thing of beauty...
Look...there's MY hand!!!
The star will balance on top of this as well.
They are individual now, and the extra is rolled at the base...then Art sees that the length will go up one side, and down the other.
Each strand will be plugged into these to be programed.
This is so he can enter the info into the computer.
He later decides to go from one side to the other with one strand.
Almost finished!
This was only two of the four CASES of lights Art will use for the four arches...
So far, out of all of them, there has only been one strand of lights that didn't work...even with a new fuse.
Each of these take a long time to wrap the lights around. I think I lost count of how many strands, but I believe there are 18 strands, each having 100 lights.
The third of four are up and running...
Seems very time consuming!
Like I said...each strand takes a while to wrap!
Well, you knew it would happen. Not enough lights on one strand for the area you needed. He had to splice two strands together!
Here's Art, Wyatt, and Julie adding the lights. Each is screwed in from the front, while the wires are on the back.
There are three "zones" or channels on the star.
The "points" and the "rays" are two seperate channels.
The "center" , the third channel, is now lit.
Here is Art next to the star, to give you an idea of the size of it. Still only two channels are lit.
This is a prototype of the structure that will hold the star onto the roof. It will be placed on the point of the house so that we don't have to puncture the roof to get it to stay!
So sorry to hear that the mega tree didn't make this year's show. However, things usually happen for the best and the star is fabulous!! It will make a wonderful substitute and a new focal point for the 2008 showing!! Can't wait to see the full performance - the tiny sneak peek you gave me in November was terrific!! Love you! Mom (Dallas)
Wow, again! It looks and sounds, from what you've told us, as if this year's display will light up the whole town. We'll be anxious to see and hear it. And thanks, Lianne, for setting up the website!
Love, Mom and Dad (Colorado)
