The season started with our lighting party in which friends and neighbors joined us to celebrate the official lighting.  Sterling admitted later that he almost teared up as he saw the show for the first time.  “It was well worth the effort” Sterling said.

We then were one of the host for the neighborhood “12 Drinks of Christmas”.  This was a progressive dinner hosted at 3 homes in the neighborhood.  Our house was the first where we served hors d’oeuvre’s. 

The next house was at the home of Sean and Anne Fitzsimmons where we were served a delicious chicken tetrazzini with a wonderful spinach salad and toasted garlic bread.  The third and final home visited was hosted by Chris & Sarah Isley, where we were served sumptuous desserts, eggnog, and delicious coffees.  About 30 attended the progressive dinner and a good time was had by all.

Our next event was the Bryson & Associates Christmas party.  Sterling and Sterleen Bryson hosted the party at Sterling’s home.  In the tradition of southeast North Carolina, the feast was Bar-B-Que, Chicken, slaw, hush puppies, and banana pudding catered by JC’s.  Harold Lee made his tasty potato salad and, of course no party would be complete without Sterleen’s famous deviled eggs.

Our next event was an enjoyable open house party hosted at the home of Bill and Bobbie Stamper of Hampstead, NC.  Friends and neighbors dropped by for Bobbie’s abundance of fabulous hors d’oeuvre’s.

Our last 2 events were a Christmas Eve open house at the home of Sterleen Bryson and Harold Lee.  Great fellowship and wonderful food was the Christmas Eve agenda.  We sang Christmas Songs as Mike Harris played the piano.  The next day, Sterleen and Harold joined us for a Christmas Day dinner.  Sterling cooked a wonderful spiral cut ham, corn casserole, fresh sweet potatoes, and mixed vegetables in a garlic butter finishing sauce.

Although this was a “hard candy Christmas”, as sung by Dolly Parton and repeated many times by Sterling, we were thankful for our many friends and family.  Our highlight of the season was the joy we hoped to bring to people through our Sights & Sounds of Christmas display.  We spent many an evening on the front porch enjoying the cars drive up to watch the show.  Our biggest joy was when the onlookers would clap at the end of each song or get out of their cars and do a little dance as the lights flashed and the music played.

In the theme of our “hard candy Christmas”,  We found joy in delivering presents of food to those whom could use it most.  We traveled to Well’s Pork & Beef in Burgaw and bought some of the best meat products available.  From fresh country sausage, fresh pig’s feet, country ham, to country style ribs, we paid the lowest prices and received the freshest products.  Well’s also does catering!

The Christmas season would not be complete without a taste of Barry’s excellent eggnog from the New York Corner Deli.  Each year it keeps getting better and better!

Many thanks to Joey Mahoney, Carrie Bryan, and Ray Barwick of the Topsail Advertiser.  Joey, a professional photographer, took a photo of the house that was then on the front page of the paper.  Ray (Two-Shot Ray) wrote the story, and Carrie, Managing Editor, put it all together.   Merry Christmas to all!!!

Sterling Bryson and myself wish everyone a very Happy and prosperous New Year!!!!

Manassas, VA - Christmas villages have been a long standing tradition of one Virginia resident, Bradley Cooper.  An 18 year old graduate from Emmanual Christian School in Manassas, VA, Bradley has setup his Christmas Village display for the past 8 years.

Dubbed “Bradley’s Village”, the to-scale figurines and accessories are in an authentic arrangement from the butcher shop to the elaborate park setting.

Each year he adds and expands his village that has grown from the living room hutch, to the bay window, family room table, and dining room credenza.  Each village has lighted trees, mirrors to look like ponds, garbage cans, street lights, and landscape bushes.

Bradley’s Village Church

 Bradley’s Village Park

 Below is a slide show of Bradley’s Village where you can see the intricate detail of the different villages.

Topsail Island, NC 

    Our 2008 Christmas light display is up and running!

    On Dec 1st we invited some friends over for the official lighting. With almost 1/2 mile of extension cords, 20 surge protectors and the "Monster Brain", the show is better than we had hoped for.

    This years show we included a 16-channel light controller connected to a "monster brain" that has a mini MP3 player built-in.  We have 31 pre-sequenced songs that are broken into 6 shows (5 shows with 5 songs and 1 show with 6 songs).  I used the "line out" of the "monster brain" to a FM transmitter (101.5 FM) and then from the FM transmitter to a 200-watt stereo to power the outside speakers.  The sound and light show is awesome!

    After about a year of research on www.PlanetChristmas.com we decided on the light controller from unnamed company.  I won’t mention them here because they shorted our light order by 2 cases and have not yet responded to emails or phone calls or issued a refund. We ordered all the components at the end of August and then started setting up the display the 2nd week of November.

The lighting party was attended by Helen Ramsey, Sharon Stanley, Sharon’s mother, Mike & Cynthia Harris, Sterleen Bryson & Harold Lee, George & Linda Hathaway, Frank & Becky Neely, John Brock & JR, Sterling Bryson, Glen Pierce, and "Two-Shot" Ray Barwick (photographer).      

    With over 7000 energy efficient LED lights, over 2300 feet of extension cords and  20 surge protectors, the end result was well worth the effort (if I asked Sterling for one more run to the hardware store for extension cords he would explode!).

Phil Morgan was the man on the roof and the ladder.  Phil tied up all the cords, waterproofed the connections and hung the roof displays.  We started Nov 9th stringing all the lights and put in over 96 man hours getting everything setup.  We then connected to the light controller and "monster brain" and continued running extension cords as we needed them.

Tonight I’m going to video the display and take some more pictures.  I’ll have them posted as I finish the editing.

Sterling Bryson and Glen Pierce have outdone themselves this year as their Christmas light display will feature over 8000 lights.  Using the effecient LED technology and a 16-channel controller with "monster brain", the christmas light display is transformed into a show.  With over 30 synchronized songs, the lights flash on and off to music.  Topsail Island, NC is sure to enjoy this fantastic show.

Each show features 6 songs with the last song a synchronized display to The Trans-Siberian Orchestra.  Wow!  What a show!  Each show lasts about 15 minutes then takes a 5 minute break where the lights twinkle waiting for the next show to begin.  There are a total of 6 shows so the whole show last about 2 hours then starts over again.

The display also features a FM transmitter broadcasting on 101.5 FM so during inclement weather or just to sit in your car, you can get the music at the best quality.  The FM transmitter is a legal FCC certified broadcast that has a range of about 200 feet.  You know you’re close to the house when beautiful Christmas music is heard on your radio.

The display will start broadcasting at 5 PM Nov 30th, 2008 and be displayed every night until Jan 2nd, 2009.  Come on by Topsail Island, NC to get into the Christmas spirit: Topsail Style!