Open for business!

The trail is up and running. A few lights here and there but 95% ready!

The Trail should be open tonight

Keep your fingers crossed. Looks like the rain event has subsided drastically.....

I plan on keep the lights on through January 1st!

Trail closed tonight.....

At this point and with a 90% chance of rain, odds are the trail will be closed tonight....
Check back to see updates...

weather/storage

Still really good traffic each night!

Looks like rain today, tonight and into Wed. am! I will post late this afternoon regarding the weather. Most likely closed tonight.

The plan is to stay open through New years!

Still in need of a storage facility.

I had a patron email me regarding the neighbor on the corner s/west corner of the culdesac.
He was upset people were walking in his yard. Please avoid walking in anyone's yard if at all possible!

Trail open!

Great news! I saved a whole bunch on money....
The trail is open. Not all the displays are operational however this rocks!

Closed tonight December 24th

No hope tonight folks...sorry..We will be up and running for Christmas night!

Odds are, the Trail will be closed tonight.

Due to lots of rain, the GFCI's are not happy hence the majority of the trail lights are inoperative. I will know more in an hour but its not looking good. :-(

Weather update!!! 2:30pm

Rats! Wow...lots of rain....As of now, 2:30 things are not looking good for the Trail tonight. The good news, Saturday it is supposed to dry! I will keep you posted...

Weather updates!!! Record crowds

Be sure and check the blog for weather updates as the rain ultimately trips the GFCI's hence many light displays are hindered or inoperative. However if at all possible, I will keep the trail open!

Thank God my neighbors put up with me! The traffic from 6-9 was awesome! Cars were backed up all the way to Lacrosse. People are so grateful :-)

The donation money as well as clothing donations are beyond what I ever expected.
I personally am not good with any sort of gifts much less asking for monetary donations to help cover the huge expenses we have accrued. We have already handed out a large chunk of the clothing donations to Mobile Loaves. I had a homeless guy named Scott call me yesterday and ask for coats and blankets. I am going to meet him today if he calls me back. We have also donated $125.00 to Christmas Bureau. The majority of the clothing with go to Austin Angel House on Cesar Chavez. I will be heading there today. My good friend Jim pacey with the YMCA stopped by last night. My company is a contributor to their Partner of Youth! What a gift for an organization to help kids and their families.

Singing dancing Grinch!

Last season, the sound board went out on my singing dancing Grinch.
Managed to locate and bid on another Grinch. I won!
Should be here today or tomorrow and added to the display!

"Christmas Music" Winter Waltz

Mobile Loaves and Fishes

Between our IX annual Naught or Nice party as well as the Trail donations, the Saturday run at St John Neumann's was a hit! The truck was packed to the hilt with clothes and blankets! More so than the hot cocoa as the heater for the water tank never hit 100! Oh well, not one less fortunate person complained.

For me, this is what it is all about. We are all here for each other its just some folks have not figured that out yet! Mentor and lead by example.

Hot Cocoa night was a hit!

Hot Chocolate and donuts were a hit!
My neighbors Steve and Monique Price who own Shipley Donuts were gracious enough to supply 30 dozen donuts! Their son Evan took charge of the operation and did a brilliant job!
Hundreds of folks showed up for the event.

I think last night was the first time I really took in the trail. Seeing all the smiles, the kids having a ball, the comments, and the general gratitude was quite moving for me. A bit on the sad side that my folks never got to witness my creative side (which I have zero artistic ability) ....hehehe aka know as OCD!

Many friends and their families stopped by last night. For that moment, it was not about bills, money, holiday blues, sadness...it was about how we all have that little kid in us who truly loves the camaraderie, lights, music and sweets of course! If you have not had the chance to witness the trail, I hope you can make it by.

My mind is already thinking about next year; what I am going to add, the location of many displays, new light schemes, etc. I rarely ever utilize the same plat for the displays. Having no plan can be a bit overwhelming however I guess that's why one can interpret this craziness as art!

Friday Night Hot Chocolate and Shipley Donuts!

Be sure and join us Friday night December 17th for our Hot Chocolate and Donuts night.
This has become an annual event. Tons of fun and goodies.

New displays!!

I have had this crazy idea for the past few seasons.
What about a toilet in the Christmas display!
However, in a mind debate, I felt quite "flush" and gave up...until now!
Okay, I found this unique Tasmanian devil blow-mold on Craigslist!
Who better to hang out on the toilet than he! A must see....

Also, added the Woodchuck display as well.
Hope to see you soon!

Hot Chocolate and Donuts: Dec. 17th...save the date

The date is set!
Hot Chocolate, donuts and goodies night will be Friday December 17th starting at 6pm weather permitting!

Traffic increasing each night

So far, the feedback is outstanding.
Folks are so grateful. Seeing the kids smile, their folks having a ball and all the joy it brings, well no words here. This is a tough time for some folks and hopefully the trail will help get through the holidays. We all have that little kid in us who misses the days of no bills, no responsibilities and on Christmas, receiving gifts from a heavy set dude with a white beard, reindeer and a sleigh!

Just a few more surprises are in order. Stay tuned!

December 4th update

Everyday, I seem to always find little things to add to the trail. Oddly enough, there are so many items, displays, etc most folks don't remember from year to year what is old and what is new!

I have a few more surprises.
This year, having the trail complete by Thanksgiving was a huge success.
Traffic each night is picking up. Most folks don't know it is open at this point.
A continuing topic from folks is that "my friend told me about this!"
For me, it is still Austin's best kept secret......

#1 question = "Where do your store all this?"

Ahead of schedule!

Hard to believe the trail is compete!
Of course I will always be adding little things here and there.
Grateful for Brooke's help on the web site, David Munoz of Marquee Tents for donating the tent and William with patriot electric.

Matt and Keith, thanks for all your help and hard work!

weather update

Provided the winds are not over 30mph, we should be good to go at 6pm!
There are still several features under construction however the majority of the displays are up and running!

Indeed

The day is upon us.
Thank God for Adderall! And Ambien!
Extremely productive day. We are really close.

Issues with the blower motor for the large 12' snow globe.
Hopefully I can rectify that soon.

Having ample power is heavenly!
I did go purchase another $200 in extension cords.
Btw, Walgreens has them on sale!

The ladder is mounted to the tree and the Fireman is attached! Looks really cool.
If the weather cooperates, we are a go for Thanksgiving night.
I am going to bed now....night!

Oh Jeez

Seems like this final 10% is well.....all the piddly things!
The awesome news is I found and installed a motor for the hot air balloon!
As long as the weather allows, we should be good to go Thursday night!

Me, well that's another story...4 maybe 5 hours sleep per night the last four nights.
I am Pete Griswold after all!
Night!

90% complete

Man are we close.
For the most part, everything is set up.
The tents still have to be completed.

Leslee's "project" tent will not be ready for Thursday due to shipping issues.
We should be 95% complete for Thursday.
Weather permitting, we should be a go for Thanksgiving evening!
Bundle up cause its going to get cold!

We set up with Hot Air Balloon today.
Unfortunately, the motor is inoperative.
The folks that sell most all inflatables on the market (Gemmy) does not have replacement motors which is asinine hence I must find a repair shop on Tuesday. Usually you can swap motors with other inflatables but in the is case, the motor is a 3000 rpm which I do not have! And, it has only been in operation for one season! Crapamundo!

One of the owners of Mozarts on Lake Austin Blvd stopped by tonight and was quite pleasantly surprised. She herself goes all out each year and this year has her lights with a music show!

I was also quite pleased when an APD friend of mine as well as my APD neighbor stopped by tonight and announced they would patrol the neighborhood!
I'm off to bed now....

My two helpers took today (Sunday) off.
A very productive day that is now going to end with me going to bed!

A new inflatable 6' Santa is set up with a weedeater!
I also have a Southpark character chilling in the hammock.
I began refurbishing the boat. Spiderman will be navigating this year with a gigantic snowman on water ski's.
The Ferris wheel is officially up and running!
I assembled and installed the three animated reindeer/sleigh. Two motors need replacing. Not gonna happen this season! Still looks mighty fine.

Had some minor trenching in the backyard for extension cords.

Repaired the fence to keep visitors from entering our immediate backyard and to keep the dogs in. You can only imagine all the landmines from four puppies!

Night!

Egads!

Friday rocked! Stayed up until 2am. Mainly installing deer, varieties of trees, The Cat in the Hat ironing, etc. Purchased an additional 60 tent stakes. Also purchased several more motion lights.
I have motion lights set up throughout the yard for vandalism purposes. The yard pretty much looks like a football stadium if they all illuminate. Spider man arrived in the mail along with an 11' animated inflatable display!

Saturday: decent day. We are probably 80% there. Found an entire bin of extension cords which was MIA!
Today: Focus on more tent set up and securing everything for the big winds this week.

6 days left

Spent most of Thursday setting up the tent ingredients. Unfortunately, the hay we laid down on the trail kicked my booty!

Most every item not only has to be secured to the ground with stakes, but also secured with tent stakes and bungee cords. The wind blows crazily in December. Often times, we hit rocks when attempting to hammer the stakes into the ground. Bent a few as well!

Today we will install the Ferris Wheel, the hot air balloon, repair and paint the boat, among lots of other fun choirs.

awesome day...

Put a good 12 hours in the display today. It is really beginning to come together. I seem to have crazy ideas while assembling and planning. Going to try to involve tiger woods and wood chucks!
Anyway, I can no longer function therefor hasta manana!

Matt and Keith worked for 6 hours each...

There's a light at the end of the tunnel!

Tuesday rocked! Assembled and repaired lights and motors on all the deer aka "deers"!
Assembled the tunnel! Installed many of the inflatables.

I continue to find new items purchased post Christmas 2009.
One item is an airplane with a prop that spins!
Back to work.....

10 days and counting

Sunday was an extremely productive day. All three tents are up. Lights on the roof line completed.
All the snowglobes washed and wiped down. Beginning to install figurines throughout the yard.
Hung the dude up who's ladder slipped out from under him!
Installed the cool Hammacher Schlemmer train as well!

Searching for a new motor for our 12' SnowGlobe. One of the largest ever produced.

Tent installed

Friday...assembled new product indoors!
Today should be a perfect day. The tent was delivered and set up courtesy of Marquee Tents and David Munoz. Hope to complete all the trees today.

Building a frame out of schedule 40 PVC pipe today for the sleigh and four reindeer.

Discovered an inflatable Green Bay Packer football yesterday! Forgot about that purchase...pleasantly surprised!

two weeks left...

Today was partially devoted to maintenance. Most of the holographic figures have light bulb issues. Some are simple to repair, others take a bit of troubleshooting and others need to be "launched into oblivion"!

We completed most of the trees in the front yard. The front beds and windows on the front of the house are complete as well.

Searching the internet for a few more surprises.
Night!

Stuff...lots of it! Arbor day....

Tuesday: Thanks to Andy with House to House lawn care, his guys made two trips from storage.
Visual: The front yard/driveway/garage all look like a Christmas bomb exploded. Good anxiety sets in about this time. Each year I try to have new themes and new placements. In other words, I usually have no clue where most items will reside.

We have installed over 4000 new LED lights in the trees. Probably another 10000 needed in the remainder of the trees. Headed to Sams Club this am to replenish our inventory of LED lights.

Inventory you ask? No way although last night I discovered post-Christmas 2009 items I purchased on sale and forgot about....

We put the finishing touches on the electrical today.
Replaced 5 gfci's today which simply means if any water interferes with the Christmas lights, the power is void hence a dry December forecast is desirable.

Tuesday all the contents in storage will be moved to the house courtesy of Andy with House to House lawn care. Heavens to Murgatroid! Yikes too!

Let the fun begin

Friday Nov. 5th, we began removing old lights from the trees. A rather tedious process to say the least. We typically leave them in the trees year round. Between the elements and tree growth, we have to replace them every other year.

I purchased an additional 4000 LED lights from Sams Club on Friday.

Monday Nov. 8th, we will begin yard preparation for the large tent from Marquee Tents.
Marquee donates their tent each year. http://www.marqueetents.com