I Found A Motherlode!

I heard angels singing the hallelujah chorus when my friend and I stumbled upon this shop yesterday.  I’m going to post a few photos to a.) get myself caught up on the challenge, and b.) for the sheer tacky-lovin’ joy of it.

Challenge Photo #4

Howdy! Looks like Santa’s stopped off at an ol’ fashioned Texas lynchin’ in the woods on his way to deliver toys.  Not only is his hat askew and he’s got twigs and brambles stuck to him – he’s got his trusty lynchin’ rope!  ADDED BONUS! Look at the top left of the photo. (enlarged below)  I think that’s number 4 in the Precious Moments “Cult Leader” series.  (Adoring follower sold seperately.)

Challenge Photo #5

Need the perfect gift for that wine lover on your list?

ADDED BONUS! “Cowboy” snowman snow globe on the shelf. (Enlarged below.)

Challenge photo #6

Well, it looks like Santa has stopped off again.  This time to go a-huntin’.  Hang on a minute … is that? … Are those? … REINDEER ANTLERS Santa’s holding in his hand?  Geez … I’ll be having visions dancing in my head the night before Christmas alright! Visions of slain, dehorned reeindeer!

December Photo Challenge #3

Hey everybody. Thanks so much for all the positive comments. And especially thanks to Meg for putting the challenge out there. It’s been a blast and has actually made me look forward to venturing out into the holiday madness. And speaking of holiday madness – my third entry in the photo challenge is from our town’s Christmas parade.
Parents and kids were lined up along the street. The little ones were wiggling and squirming and asking when Santa was going to show up. (Why IS Santa’s float always last?)

Finally, there it was – Santa’s float. Regal Santa. The beloved magical ruler of the North Pole who is so powerful he can get into EVERY child’s home in a single night…

Wait and minute… why is Santa on a …? Is that a …? An old La-Z-Boy reclining sofa? Really? Couldn’t the float people give Santa a little dignity? And come on! Why drape a sheet over it? Is Mrs. Santa in heat? Does Santa have an incontinence issue like Poppi on Seinfeld?

Am I overreacting to this tawdry treatment of Santa – the majestic, loving old Saint on “Miracle on 34th Street? Or do you agree that it’s just plain ol’ tacky?

(Sorry for the poor quality – I didn’t take my fancy flash attachment with me to the parade.)

December Photo Challenge09 #2 – (Playing Catch Up)

I know I promised a couple of you photos from my town’s Christmas parade that was held tonight. But on the way to the parade, I came upon a non-advertised Festival of Tackiness in a neighborhood that I didn’t know existed until today. I know this sounds shallow, but I sincerely hope I never stumble upon this neighborhood again. At least not at night. But being a brave and independant Texas woman, I ventured forth with my camera raised.

Though it looks like two photographs, it’s just two versions of the same scene as I found it had to be observed twice before the complete “stun” set in.

This unfortunate home had so much crap in the yard that the owner, (not wanting to look bad to his neighbors by forsaking Christmas) decided to just decorate OVER the pre-existing crap. Though there were some other dandy shots I took at this home, I think the willow branch reindeer placed near the tilted boxer was the centerpiece of this owner’s vision for his Christmas display

The close up version lets you get a more intimate look at the display. The bearded gnome clearly represents the elves at Santa’s workshop. The tilted boxer and cocker spaniel are obviously guarding the sheep abiding in the fields because the angel fell asleep on the job. And the big flower is the perfect embodiment of the star shining in the East to guide the boxer, cocker spaniel, elf and lit up reindeer to Bethlehem.

(Shhhhh! Walk quietly… the Angel is sleeping!)

December Photo Challenge Day 1

My first Christmas photo for the challenge.

Is there more to say? I’ve only spent one Christmas outside Texas … do people in Wisconsin put lighted outlines of their State in the yard that say, “Merry Christmas, don’tchaknow?”  I never saw a lit State of New York spelling out “How YOU Doin This Christmas?” in multi-colored lights.   Tacky?  Or State pride?  You decide.

Welcome to My World

So… I was asked to join a “31 days of December” challenge recently.  All I have to do is take one picture a day that represents how I see Christmas.  The other people in the challenge that I know live in Manhattan.  Cool, trendy, Manhattan.  I – on the opposite end of the spectrum – live in Texas.  My first thought was, “where am I going to find images of Christmas that aren’t tacky?”

Please don’t get me wrong. I am a 4th generation Texan. I love my State and all that goes with it.  The Dallas Arts District is on the verge of being one of the most respected in the nation.  Some of the art world’s finest masterpieces are hanging in the Kimball Museum in Ft. Worth.  We have the Van Kliburn competition, symphonies, theater, ballet and opera.  If someone were to strive to attain culture in Texas, they would have no excuse not to achieve their goal.

So why does Texas remain so deliciously tacky?  It’s as if it’s in our blood. Maybe it’s our deep seeded rebellious nature.  The “we’ll do whatever the hell we want to, dad gum it!” attitude that developed early on.  Other States have their share of people with poor taste, but Texans seem to relish the tackiness.  It’s celebrated and then thrown back into the faces of those other States whose unfortunate citizens just seem sad and trashy. They can’t seem to “do tacky right.”

Rather than run from the tawdry side of my State, I’ve decided to embrace it.  I’m sure there are plenty of people who think I have no taste. Fair enough.  I’m not presumptuous enough to assume I’m an expert on style and culture. I’d simply like to share with you some of the classic Texas “tackiness” I come across every day.  I hope you enjoy it.