12/04/2023
The Charlie Brown Christmas display is up! I am 42 years old but my Mom who is in her 70s can't get up on a ladder and do heavy lifting, along with the sledgehammer driving of all the stakes it takes to get the display up, so I travel every year from San Diego to help set it up. I was raised here since I was brought home from the nursery. It feels great to be home again.
A little back story on the Peanuts Christmas display: My Dad and I built Snoopy's doghouse in 1986 and my Mom cut the Peanuts characters out of plywood with a jigsaw. She's quite the artist and painted the Peanuts characters. The paint is still original 37 years later. Next summer my Mom and I plan on repainting the Peanuts characters to give them another several years of life.
A little secret history on the train ornament we've hung above the garage for about 38 years - this is an original and extremely rare Hallmark corporate marketing item to advertise the original tiny Christmas tree train ornament at a much smaller scale. You'll also find this same ornament in Snoopy's doghouse. Still functioning after all these years.
We've been hanging lights on Dovewood Court since 1980. The Food For Families element added to the court in the early 80s has been going on strong with the help of Raley's Grocery. Don't forget to bring a non-perishable canned food item or monetary donation - our little volunteer elves at the end of the court are there to collect anything you bring and we are so thankful for their volunteer work! Merry Christmas!
