Decorate Your Christmas with Colorado Country Flavor

In Colorado there are many different cultural basics, but one stands true through them all. We all love the decorations of winter. In fact, we love them so much that we often leave them up through January, and if we can get away with it February too.

So, when you realize your decorations may stay up for a while, you go that extra mile to make sure they’re seasonal, appropriate and more than the neighbors!

Start out with the basics:

Lights, outdoor displays and several bails of straw to create the backdrop for an amazing nativity should take you through the essentials. You probably have crosses of various sizes saved from previous years, but if not, you can make some simple nativity forms by making crosses with 18 to 24 inch cross pieces and various height 2 X 2 sticks. I usually use about six from 4 – 7 feet in height. (I do stick at least a foot or two in the ground, so it’s nice to have a nice point on one end.)

All summer long, we search the yard sales for appropriate robes and sheets to make the nativity. I’ve never paid more than about four dollars for all of them (usually at ten cents each). Select dark or drab colors, or plan to throw them all in a vat of dark blue die before the season. Different colors and fabric will accept the dye differently, so you still won’t have all one color. Use some straw to fill up the fabric, and wrap the cross figures to make them look like a nativity. A strip of cloth wrapped around the top of the cross acts as the head, draped with about a quarter of a sheet and tied with a cloth to appear as a shepherd, Mary, or Joseph, and a much smaller form in the “manger” wrapped in sheet tails makes a perfect baby Jesus. (Don’t put the baby in the manger until Christmas Eve.)

Post various yard displays in different parts of the yard, centered by the nativity. Don’t forget to pile any snow toward the back of the yard to form your own version of the Rocky Mountains, my favorite part of a Colorado Country Christmas!

Jan Verhoeff writes creative articles to share values, principles and concepts that bring good cheer to the neighborhood around the world. Visit her site at http://janverhoeff.com and find out how you can enjoy the holiday celebrations, or any day with more verve and style.