Three House Christmas

Bob and Betty have been making this Christmas display for almost 20 years. They are a unique couple—they celebrate every national holiday—Christmas, New Year, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Veteran's Day. They do so by decorating their yard with lighted and animated figures appropriate to the occasion. But Christmas is the capstone of their decorating, a three yard extravaganza. Santa comes, the Salvation Army band comes to play carols, Betty makes and serves coffee and hot chocolate to adults and children who come from far and near. They usually collect $3 to $4,000 every year and donate it to the Salvation Army. They are strong supporters of the USO; Betty bakes brownies for returning troops, which return to both Ft. Stewart and Hunter AAF.

Our yard has been a part of the Christmas display since its inception. They usually start by the first of December and carry on halfway through January. Quite honestly it gets a little frantic and noisy, as our bedroom front window is literally in the midst of all the celebration, but they usually shut down around 9:00 PM (unless they forget). I just groan and mumble, "It's for a good charity, it's for a good charity." And it is. So we just grin and bear the noisy laughing children, the adults speaking with their outside voices, the recorded Christmas, patriotic, etc. music. Bob has been known in the neighborhood as "Electric Bob", a well earned sobriquet.

Bob and Betty have both been in ill health for the last few years. Bob no longer does all the work himself; he has Army friends (Rangers) and church friends who do all the heavy lifting. Betty has been in and out of the hospital numerous times in the last few years. Bob has had heart surgery. God bless them both. Good neighbors!

Camera Info:    Nikon D750, tripod
Lens:    VR 24-70mm f/2.8E
Focal Length:    70mm
Focus Mode:    AF-C
AF-Area Mode:    Single
VR:    ON
Aperture:    f/5
Shutter Speed:    1/30s
Exposure Mode:    Aperture Priority
Exposure Comp.:    0EV
Metering:    Matrix
ISO Sensitivity:    ISO 3200
80% of full frame
PP in LRCC 2015, PSCC 2015, ACR filter