Regular readers of my blog may remember from last year that Mrs. Grumpy is not all that good at Christmas. (Certainly not in November).
However the nice people at Dobbies sent me a set of Christmas lights to play with this year.
I don’t know about you – but one of the frustrations joys of Christmas is the Christmas lights. I must have about three sets and the week before Christmas eve the evenings are filled with reams of non-working lights while I go through them trying to find the broken bulb. Of course the bulbs required for each set are different, and however carefully I pack them away at the end of the season, or however many spare bulbs I buy – I rarely get any sets of lights working successfully without a few cross moments and a lot of Christmas Spirit.
So when the lights arrived from Dobbies – the first thing Shedman pointed out was that they were LED we would not have to worry about bulbs! Hooray!
When I opened them, I was slightly surprised at how small each individual lamp was – although I shouldn’t have been. They were described as Cherry Lights and each light is the size of a small cherry. I got the multi coloured lights but they also do the same cherry lights in white for a subtle look.
My next decision was where to put them? We are not well equipped with sockets here but in fact the lead from the plug to the lights, via two small transformers, was quite long (approximately 10 meters/ 32 feet) So I would be able to plug them in indoors with more than enough flex to drape them somewhere on the outside of the house …….
…….Or around the studio, well there’s an idea
My Studio is about 27 feet / 8 meters long and the “lights” part of the string was more than enough to run them along the front.
On the transformer is a switch with eight different functions – but I am a static kind of girl. However Shedman did insist that I try out the multi-actions so:- there are a few mad flashing ones (party time), some more subtle slow waves and fades – and I am still a static kind of girl.
The studio is right down the bottom of the garden – about 120 feet / 36+ meters away from the house, and as I sit here at my computer I can see the lights looking as bright as if I was standing right next to them. I was always under the impression that LED’s gave out a very cold light – but the mix of colours is a welcoming sparkle on these chilly November evenings.
Who said Christmas lights are just for December – I think I may keep them on the studio all year round.
Ian Daniels who writes the Dobbies blog has posted a useful PDF file about choosing and using Christmas lights and it is available to download here. More information on their range of lights is to be found on their website.
Lucky you! I’ve never heard of LED christmas lights before. It’s a revelation. I really love that last photo with the lights reflecting off the pond. I vote for keeping them on your studio all year.
Hi Jill-O, I think I will probably keep them on the studio all year as I am really happy with the way they look down there and I have an on/off switch to the studio in the house so I don’t have to stumble down there in the dark to turn them off!
K
Jill-O´s last blog ..Turkey Day
Looking good Karen
Thanks Anna
K
Anna´s last blog ..Plants Not To Be Sneezed At!
Lovely display and green too!
Thanks Randy – Yes, LED lights use less energy than regular Christmas lights, so that makes me happy. Thanks for taking time to leave a comment.
K
Randy´s last blog ..Camellias White 10 Different Ones!
Does this mean your eating Christmas lunch in the studio? Hope the fish enjoy the festive season too. They, the lights that is, do look good. I popped in Dobbies on the way home on Sunday. It was packed with people and Christmas cheer. Had a good selection of Christmas stuff. Now all I have to do is find some festive spirit. The kind out of a bottle will do!!
Did you buy me a Christmas present in Dobbies? Did you?
K
LED lights – what a great idea! I hope they’re easily found.
I’m a static light fan, too. ha. Your lights look really good – thanks!
Hi Shady, Yes I think LED lights are a good idea for the garden – and I am glad I am not the only one who prefers my lights to stay still
K
Shady Gardener´s last blog ..Have You Tried Growing African Violets?
The lights do transform the nightscape. Your studio looks magical along with its sparkling reflection… your title word so perfect. I am sure if I do the lights this year I will run into the ‘joy’ of missing illumination. Thanks for the tips. Happy bright light night. Carol
Hi Carol – I have to say that I had been feeling so jaded with the end of the gardening season, that it was rather nice to write about the lights, it certainly made me feel more sparkly
K
Carol´s last blog ..Blooming Friday Brilliant Sky Painting to Dried Muted Garden Blooms
Well, I was ready to say Ba Humbug — I myself don’t do lights, though I don’t mind cookies. But actually, those lights don’t look bad at all! And amazingly bright, I’m impressed.
Hi Town Mouse – I know what you mean – I am very Ba Humbug myself until Christmas eve, thanks for dropping in
K
Town Mouse´s last blog ..Hikes at Point Reyes — Photographic Interlude II
Very spiffy. How come Dobbies is doling out stuff to Welsh bloggers? Ryan is dripping with loot.
They do look very fetching as studio lighting. Maybe you can use them to flash out
“B.r.i.n.g…m.e..a..c.u.p…o.f..t.e.a..p.l.e.a.s.e..(a.n.d..a..b.u.t.t.e.r.e.d..c.r.u.m.p.e.t)” in morse code when you are busy beavering away in there.
Hi James, now let me see -
-… .-. .. -. –. — . .- -.-. ..- .–. — ..-. – . .-
K
JamesA-S´s last blog ..He Used A Swordfish As A Tiepin
Love those little twinklers, especially the reflection. I think you should designate the lights to shedman every year, don’t you?
Hi Sandy – When I put the lights up I didn’t think about the pond – so was delighted to see them reflecting so well.
Shedman was a real hero when it cam to taking the photographs – he stood by with the torch while I played around with the settings and gave advice on which setting to try next to “get the shot”
K
Sandy´s last blog ..a plate of peppers
Looking very sparkly – planning to do my Xmas tree post this weekend but seems I am coming down with a fluey cold as I ache all over.
Oh No Helen – I do hope you feel better soon xx
K
Helen/patientgardener´s last blog ..More confessions of a seedaholic
Oooooooh I do like the look of those! Our outdoor Christmas lights gave up the ghost last year, so I might just have to treat myself to some.
Hi VP – I am quite pleased with the lights – and it will be interesting to see how long they keep going for if I am going to leave them there permanently
Good luck with your Christmas Tree
K
I don’t ‘do’ Christmas usually before December either, but it’s Advent Sunday tomorrow, so the tree I have from Dobbies will be reviewed tomorrow…
VP´s last blog ..Of Awards, Women Pioneers and Missed Biscuitry
How pretty. I just love their reflection in the pond.
RO
Thanks R.O. – I am pleased too
K
Rothschild Orchid´s last blog ..The Secret Garden.
How lovely. I almost feel festive… well not really as I’m not that good at Christmas either. They do look cheering though.
Thanks Arabella – its strange how we are either not very good at Christmas, or embrace it whole heartedly!
K
Arabella Sock´s last blog ..The Kitten Diaries Part I e
Oh my goodness, Karen! That is simply superb! I would definitely leave them up all the time. The reflection in the pond is brilliant. Must go work with our lights soon, you have certainly inspired me to have some within view of the laptop. Thanks.
Hi Frances – yes get some in view of the lap-top – they look so happy twinkling down the garden at night
K
Frances
Frances´s last blog ..Design Time-Solutions For A Slope
You will have to wait and see ……
K
They are perfect; especially since they have that delicious golden yellow (so Susans’ like) to compliment the blue, green and red;) I am so glad you’ve embraced yellow…Love the morse code. When we move Mr I to his work/office shed we’ll have to install a flash ability on the lighting. gail
To funny Gail – I was wondering if I could cover the yellow lights with – purple for example
It is worthwhile having some kind of flash thing when one of you is working in a hut at the bottom of the garden!!
K
Gail´s last blog ..It Bears Repeating
Lights are the best thing about Christmas (apart from presents and Christmas cake). I have never been able to get them back into their original box. I think they are boxed up by little Elves with very dexterous fingers.
I think your studio looks lovely. Although I am static in general (Christmas tree lights) I am quite twinkly when it comes to outdoor ones!
Yep – you are absolutely right, they never, ever go back into the box
K
easygardener´s last blog ..Blooming Friday: November, week 4 – Inside and Outside
Hmmmm. Selling your soul for Christmas lights….
But I did it for you – so you could have a jolly Christmas here in Wales
Mum
xx
Love the lights Karen – I’m sure they bring plenty of cheer to your garden at the moment – how are they standing up to the awful weather!? I’ve got one more lot of bulbs for clients still to do and then our own and then I can start doing fun things like making Christmas cards horray… Hope you’re enjoying a bit of chill out time after a long season.. Miranda
Hi Miranda – they are coping quite well with the weather, as usual we have had some high winds and wet rains. I haven’t planted my tulips yet (sigh) and yes I am having a nice time being a bit domesticated
K
PS – You are very good, making your own Christmas cards
Miranda Bell´s last blog ..Last Sunday in November….
WOW! Great picture of the lights Karen, but then your photographs are always amazing! Thanks for brightening up my day .. Ian
Thanks Ian, glad you enjoyed the photographs.
K
These look absolutely gorgeous – I have almost nothing in the garden to look at this month, after so much rain and wind, even the grasses have been denuded – perhaps I should put some lights on our shed?
Hi Blueworld Gardener. Yes I have reached the conclusion that all sheds and outhouses should have lights!! – next year I intend to cover Shedman’s workshop (but don’t tell him)
K
blueworld gardener´s last blog ..November Tulips
Dont get mine in dobbies!!
Hi P – very funny,
You are back from your hols then?
K
Very festive, Karen, even the yellow lights
Happy December!
joey´s last blog ..‘I SEE THE MOON’ ~ FULL MOON RISING ‘SMALL SPIRITS MOON (Manidoo~ gizisoons)
Karen,
Your studio looks too cute all lit up and sparkly. I think I would be tempted to keep the light up all year, too!!
Liisa´s last blog ..An Award!!
The lights look lovely and yes definitely, keep them up all year. Why only at Christmas anyway?
Helen´s last blog ..25 Days of Christmas Santa Ornaments – December 5- Three Santa Heads Dreaming of the Tropics