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An email from one of my granddaughters, Taylor, arrived this morning. She told me that I needed more pictures about our Christmas lights display. I told her that I also needed to update what is going on, since a lot has happened since my last post regarding the 2007 lights display plan. So here is what has happened and is in the works:

• The four new controllers have been constructed but still need to be tested. Also have to get lights out of the attic to do a proper test.
• I attended PLUS2007 (Planet Christmas Lights Up Symposium) the first week in August and got a bunch of ideas that will be incorporated into later shows but not for 2007. What a great experience. (Pictures included below)
• I have an animated angel that will “fly” in the sky to help tell the story line.
• The snowflakes will be in the big trees behind the angel instead of the smaller tree in the courtyard.
• A couple of tests of the tri-mega tree have been completed and all is a go the final product to go up in November. (Picture of first test below)
• Five of the new songs have been edited for length to make them a little shorter so people won’t get too bored with the flashing lights, and Taylor and I have to decide on the songs to use for the every-other-night program. We are going to reuse Jingle Bells, the winner from the 2006 vote, and are adding Christmas in Kansas City, as well as Jingle Bell Rock.
• Sequencing, sequencing, sequencing.
• Need to install three new 15 amp circuits to power the controllers. Was able to reduce the power needs by including many, many red and green LEDs which consume far less power than the incandescent mini-lights.

Here are some pictures from PLUS2007 and the tri-mega tree:

This is the exterior of the hotel where we stayed.

Me with a poster of the founder of Planet Christmas, Chuck Smith, and another with the Planet Christmas Santa inflatable.

I had the pleasure of meeting Carson Williams, who is the one who got me revved up to do an animated Christmas lights display. If the name Carson Williams doesn’t ring a bell, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRvzcs3gQYk and check out the video that swept the Internet a couple of years ago.

and finally the first test of the tri-mega tree without the third tier of clear lights.

To see the pictures in a larger format, click on the Photo  Albums link on your right.

The Lights Go On In

48 Days