That House In Milford

Thank you to the Milford Patch Community for voting us the Best Decorated House in Milford Connecticut for 2011!  We are one of the 860 houses in the Patch Community now being judged.  On Friday the 30th, they will announce the 24 Semi Finalists.  If we do win that division, then we get our electric bill for December paid for and go on to the Finals.  If we win the overall contest, $100,000 will be donated to our local Milford school of our choice in our names.  Wish us luck!

Chris and Ann Donnells

The display is finished.  We actually worked on it last Sunday for about 5 hours and got everything up and running.   The only thing that isn't working temporarily is the Gingerbread on the Trampoline.  I'm waiting on a new controller and it should be here by Monday.  

Don't forget kids, we have a Santa Mailbox this year so drop your letter in to Santa and as long as you include your address, Santa will send you a nice letter!

Tomorrow is the big day.  Hopefully they'll all go on at 5:00.  Keep my fingers crossed.

I'd like to wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving!  Enjoy the day and be sure to stop by at night to see the display!

Chris and Ann Donnells

Hopefully by this weekend we will be completed with the setup of the Christmas display.  Those pesky leaves decided to fall late this year and now of course I have to clear the leaves from around the display.  This should be fun.  

If everything can get up this weekend the only thing left to do is to run the power cords to the outlets and test everything....and pray!

Merry Christmas!

Chris

I can't believe it's that time of year again.  Boy does the time fly!   This past Friday I put up the lights on the roof.  It normally takes about 6 hours by myself but this year I had help!  Big thank you goes out to Nick for helping me.  Cut my time in almost half. Only took about 3 1/2 hours this year.  Still in just as much pain though.

Sunday, my wife and I were supposed to go to the Jersey Boys show but unfortunately she got a really bad cold so we couldn't attend.  Since the weather was nice enough I decided to put  up the rest of the lights on the house.  So, if you go driving by sometime you'll see the entire house wrapped in Christmas lights.

After Halloween is over, the rest of the lights will start to go up.

Merry Christmas!

Chris

Be sure to stop by the Smart Living Center in Orange on the Boston Post Road this weekend.  They are having a Family Science Day that will include demonstrations on efficient lighting and how to save money on your utility bills.  I will be there as well promoting efficient Christmas lighting.  Be sure to stop by the booth!

On October 22nd I will be giving a lecture at the Smart Living Center on efficient holiday lighting from 10:00 to 11:00 in the morning.  Be sure to stop by and listen to the talk if you have some time!

And of course, the lights.  They will be going up soon!  Be sure to look up if you're driving by and see a ladder in front of the house.  It will be me and 10,000 lights!

Chris

Well the thermometer says it's 90 degrees outside.  Friday it's going to be in the 90s with a heat index of over 100 degrees and I'm thinking Christmas.  Just this past weekend I starting building a Santa Mail bin.  This year will mark the first time that any children who want to write to Santa Claus may drop their letter in the Santa Mailbox (no postage necessary as it's a magical mailbox!) and as long as there is a return address, Santa will make a concerted effort to return a letter to each child that dropped a letter in the bin!    This is a picture of the actual mailbox.  Still needs to have the curved top as well as a paint job.  Other than that, I'm 75% done.

Well, I can't believe it's another year.  Without the help and support of my wonderful wife, I don't believe I would have been able to complete this display.  The lights went on with just a couple minor problems that can be fixed today.  Stop by and see the biggest little display in Milford!  Also, we do this each year to raise money for the Connecticut Food Bank so if you enjoy our display, consider making a tax deductible donation today.  You can visit our Virtual Food Drive by clicking on the Virtual Food Drive link.

From our family to your's, Ann and I would like to wish all of you a belated Happy Thanksgiving, a very Merry Christmas and a Joyous New Year!

Merry Christmas!

Christopher and Ann Donnells

Now I have to get to work and think about what to do next year!

Without the help of my wife, Ann, I don't think that I would have been able to get done what we got done today!  The display is up and of course I'll probably add a few more things to it before next week!  Had a couple setbacks but the electrical is hooked up and we are ready to go.  As long as it doesn't rain on Friday we will light up on Friday.  If it rains Friday, we will light up on Saturday (so that the kids can visit Santa).

Also, we do this display to benefit the Connecticut Food Bank.  You can make a donation by visiting our Virtual Food Drive, make a donation in person (we will have a bin setup this year) or you can send a check made payable to the Connecticut Food Bank to our address, 75 Meadows End Road, Milford, CT 06460.

Again, thank you!

We wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving, a very Merry Christmas and  a Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

Christopher and Ann Donnells

I wanted to let you all know some changes to the Virtual Food Drive.  We are still sponsoring the Virtual Food Drive to help raise money for the Connecticut Food Bank again this year.  So far we have raised just about $6,100 over the last 3 years to help fight hunger in Connecticut.  Many have written to me though saying that while they'd like to give it was tough because the only choices were to purchase food (let's say a case of green beans for $8.00) or to make a contribution of $20.00 or $50.00.  Well, I understand and I thank you all for wanting to help.  So this year we've made changes to the Virtual Food Drive.  You can now make a tax deductible contribution of $5.00, $10.00, $20.00 or $50.00 or any combination of those.  This way those that wanted to, or want to participate, but only wish to give $5.00, can still participate!

In speaking for the CT Food Bank, thank you for your continued support!

In the meantime, we are slowly rolling along.  The siding lights are up, the arches go up this weekend and hopefully I'll get the three mega trees up this weekend as well. 

Have to keep on schedule!

Merry Christmas!

Chris & Ann

Friday was a beautiful day outside.  Most people would take a vacation day from work to enjoy the leaves, the beautiful day and the like.  Me, I put 10,000 lights on the roof.  Couldn't have asked for a better day to get this done!  Only took me about 6 hours to complete it and my legs were killing me afterwards!