Day Three Hundred and Forty-Three: Cookie Cutter

I can't pass this house on Michigan Street in Lawrence (on the way to Emily's place) without getting in the Christmas spirit!

The fact that it is a "cookie cutter" house is only emphasized with the large lights that outline it this time of year...they might as well be colorful candy pieces on a gingerbread house.

It seems like everybody has their own preference on how to decorate their house for the winter season. Of course, not everybody's preferences are "correct."

As far back in my childhood as 5th grade, my friend (turned "best man") Matt and I formulated a list of Christmas light do's-and-don'ts.

The list has been refined over the years, with the dawn of "net lights" and LED lights.

What follows is a summary of that list, as best I can remember (for some reason, we have never written this down and made it official):

1. No net lights. Ever.

2. "Chaser" lights are usually a bad idea. Blinking lights aren't much better. Lights strands with entire blinking sections should be avoided at all costs.

3. If you do feel the need to use any of the above-mentioned blinking or chasing lights, they should never be used in combination with non-blinking/chasing lights. I mean, come on, you're not even trying now.

4. Icicle lights can be a good thing. That can also be a very, very bad thing.

5. Blinking icicle lights? Are you serious?

6. There is a lot of debate on large bulbs versus small bulbs. It ends here. Large bulbs look best when lining a house or features of the house. Take care to see that all bulbs are oriented on the same side of the cord, or it starts to look sloppy. One disoriented bulb can ruin the entire scene.

This is not as big a problem with smaller bulbs, which should generally be used as "filler" for things like bushes, trees, garland, etc. Take care when using large and small bulbs in combination - again, it can be a good thing, but it can very easily be a bad thing.

7. There is room for debate on color versus white lights. Should one be used over the other indoors or outdoors? Should the Christmas tree be decorate with white lights, color lights, or both? These are questions on which Matt and I couldn't reach a consensus. And if we couldn't come to a conclusion on what is best, what hope do you have?

For my money, nothing beats the glow of soft white lights through a fresh layer of snow on the bushes and small trees outside my house. As for the indoor tree, currently it is decorated with color lights that give the room a nice, warm glow at night.

8. Speaking of "for my money," I'm all about being energy efficient. But I just can't come around to the LED bulbs. There is something that is just too "in your face" about there brightness and color that distracts from the whole scene.

LED lights are still relatively new on the market and Matt and I have not convened lately to discuss an official ruling on their use for Christmas decorating. But for the moment I am issuing a temporary injunction on the use of LED lights. So knock it off.

Any other rules or guidelines not discussed here can be found in Matt and Pete's Official Christmas Decorating Handbook.

If you would like a personal consultation from either Matt or Pete on the appropriateness of your own decorating scheme, please leave a comment.

There. Now it's official.