Epic fail or For The Win!

Epic Fail!

In the pouring rain, the Light Suit fails due to a malfunctioning button on the power unit. Poor Penny the Dachshund, shivering in the cold. Just minutes before the parade is to start, the wife leaps into action! Go Sandy Go!

For the Win!

After digging all the equipment out of the backpack, it is reassembled and put back into action just before the start of the parade! Interested people in the parade also are checking out the test before leaving on the 1.1 mile parade route. Talk about the proverbial Nick in time!

Another Helping Please!

Bear with us!

Having won 3rd place in the Willamina Lighted Christmas Parade and then winning 3rd place (again) in the Light 'Em Up! home contest, we used the prize money, totaling $35, to buy more food for the food-bank. As you know, money doesn't go as far as it used to, so we added a little bit more. Two large bags were donated into our red donation box and the balance of the food from the purchase are shown in front of our new inflatable polar bear (Thanks again Penny!). A total weight of 62 pounds was donated to the Sherimina Food-bank. TimberTownChristmas is still determined in its cause to get more food donated to the needs of our community. Technical problems, bad weather, procrastination or any other problems will not slow us down. We ask that you help us to help others.

Inside the Sherimina Food-bank, the food we collected is getting checked and received.  As a last minute donation our Daughter in Law gave us some baby food to add in as well.  Thank You Jessica!! 

In the top 3

Its official! We've taken 3rd place in the Light 'em Up contest! The town of Willamina holds an annual house Christmas lights competition and for the 2nd year in a row, we got third place. Our prize was $15, given by the Willamina Coastal Hills Chamber of Commerce. We at TimberTownChristmas would like to thank them for picking us as one of thier top 3 winners. Any monetary winnings are put to good use by purchasing additional food for the food-bank. Next year, we will try extra hard to get a 2nd or 1st place by creating a new, more elaborate display. Watch out for us!

 We invite you all to visit our town!
http://www.willaminachamberofcommerce.org/

Merry Christmas to One and All!

Christmas Luck!

Despite severe storm damage to our show, the impossible has happened. We were told we had won a prize in the Home Illumination Contest. We're still not sure if it's 2nd or 3rd place but in anticipation of whatever amount of the prize was, we went shopping. Every year since we started, TimberTownChristmas has collected canned food for our local food-bank. In addition to food received from friends, family and the public, we also donate any prize money we get in the form of food. We shop around for the best deal to get as much food as we can. Sometimes, you get a chance at a good deal so its best not to pass it up even if it means adding a bit of money from your own pocket. 

As we were shopping, we started talking to a woman that was working in the store. She also was hit by the storm and told us about how her inflatables got damaged. I told her I would take them if she no longer wanted them and she said yes! At the very least, they would make for spare parts for my show and so we went to get them. After a short drive to her house, we picked the remains of the inflatables up out of her yard. A soggy mess it was, but into the car's trunk it went. Upon getting home and doing some checking for holes, we knew we could repair them. First one fixed was the polar bear!

(picture from the Net)

However, the other inflatable being an 8 foot Carousel needed a bit more TLC. It was found to have a 3 foot long tear along the topside next to the clear plastic window. It too can be repaired but not as fast.

(picture from the Net)

We at TimberTownChristmas would like to thank Penny and her husband for giving us these wonderful additions to our Christmas Show.  The inflatables will definitely help us to promote our cause.

The Show Must Go On...

While a storm had hit our display pretty hard, we managed to correct most of the damage to at least finish the season. Several of our handmade controllers were severely compromised by the rain and no longer function. By moving the light elements closer together and piggy-backing on other controllers, we were able to once again make the lights dance. We had hoped it wasn't too noticeable and we still want the public to come see it. Next year, we will add more precaution against storm damage, wind and water intrusion by adding stakes, tie downs and domes over electrical connections as well as adding more GFIs.

It hasn't dampened our spirits for the blinky-flashy but it has given us an opportunity to expand on it.

 Christmas Joy

What have you done for Christmas?

Due to a string of technical problems, some of our light elements didn't get put out this year. Some because of material shortages and some because of pure procrastination. The "I will get to it later" attitude can be a show killer, so beware of that. Most know that it takes a lot to put on a big show but how much is a lot? How much time do you need? Here is my list and I'm quite sure its not complete.

TimberTownChristmas Infrastructure Assessment
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Computer
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Vixen
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Sequences
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Music
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Audio System
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Timbertownchristmas.blogspot.com
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Master Inventory List
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Repairs
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Webcam Streaming
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Main Data Cable
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Grinch X 2
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SSRs
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AC Extension Cords
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AC Accessories
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Radio Transmitter
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Substructure Hardware
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Light Elements
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Donation Box
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Advertising
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Signs
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Promotions
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Parade Contest
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Home Illumination Contest
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Storage
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New Stuff
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 What are you waiting for? Christmas?
You have a lot of work to do, get to it.

The Good with the Bad...

After winning 3rd place in the Willamina Lighted Christmas Parade, we were in high spirits and ready to win a prize in the Home Illumination Contest. While not all of the light elements were put in place due to some technical problems and a bit of procrastination on my part, the show was up and running in time for the start on December 10th. Judging for the contest was on the 19th and 20th, plenty of time to work the bugs out of the system. Then a few days before the judging, a major storm swept through our area, destroying about a third of our show. Shorting out several of our mini-trees and a number of our controllers, it ruined a lot of the show. Because, we at TimbertownChristmas are not quitters, we assessed the damage and reorganized what was left. It still has a bit to offer for the public to see and we hope it will draw them here to help us with our charity, the local food-bank. On with the show!