Too much is just enough

What made these Granite State residents go Griswold?

By Julia Ann Weekes New Hampshire Union Leader???????????Nov 27, 2021

Too much is just enough

For every New Hampshire newbie asking for advice on social media, including the Light Up New Hampshire page on Facebook, there are scores of Christmas lighting veterans who say the reactions they get to their displays fuel their holiday spirit.

“When I am outside decorating a lot of parents will yell to me from their cars that my display brightens up their kids’ night, and that makes me feel good,” said Steven Downie

In his post on the Christmas Lights in Southern NH page on Facebook Steven Downie shared a picture of himself behind a full cart in the Christmas decorations section of an area store.

In one, he’s in the Christmas decorations aisle of a store in early November, peering sheepishly over a shopping cart piled with boxes of decorations, including inflatable characters, lights and a twinkling willow tree. “I already have too much stuff … but it’s a sickness. Help!!!” He followed the admonition with five cry-laughing emoji faces.

Downie has been decorating for the holidays for the past 20 years, both at his parents’ house and his own, and he has several tips for first-timers.

“I see a lot of people when starting out go overboard on inflatables. This is usually due to a lack of trees, so they will plop down an inflatable. But too many inflatables can make your display a hot mess! Get creative. You can buy some PVC piping and make arches — they are actually very easy to make. You can make mock trees by getting large yard stakes and draping lights from them.”

When it comes to lights, he stays away from too many multi-light sections or pure white features.

Steven Downie’s home stretches across the property’s lawns, house, driveway, and tree line.

“I like eye-popping color. While I add multi colors to my display, they are wildly spread out. Solid colors tend to draw more attention and really make your display pop.”

And the most important tool? Extension cords.

“I save money by buying the single-plug cords and adding an inexpensive three-way splitter on them. Buy your cords through the year because come November they are hard to find,” he said.

He also has a tip about avoiding an electric shock. Before putting up decorations, check those extension cords for any possible critter damage.?Another of his self-deprecating posts is a close-up image of bite marks on a green cord. He went to put up some lights and when he grabbed the strand, his arm suddenly started vibrating and tingling.

Be sure to check extension cords and strands of holiday lights for any possible critter-related damage. On a Facebook post, Steven Downie he got a bit of an electrical shot through his arm. “This is what happens when mice invade your garage and you put up lights in the dark.”

“Oops, this is what happens when mice invade your garage and you put up the lights in the dark. Stay safe out there, folks,” he said.

His enthusiasm and sense of humor is spreading, with families eager to see what he’s put together for this year.

“It’s worth the effort to put a smile on a lot of faces especially when times aren’t so great, like with the pandemic. One of my favorite memories from two years ago was when a mother came up to me to thank me for the display because her child with autism would see them and be happy throughout the night. Those are the reasons I go bigger every year!”