Update: Christmas in Algiers

One of our neighbors really went nuts. John and I are speculating that it's Blaine Kern, who produces almost all Mardi Gras floats in New Orleans and who does live in this neighborhood. He has a life-size Santa sitting in a sleigh of pelicans and pulled by the reindeer, as well as several elves sitting in his rather small, somewhat enclosed backyard. It's really spectacular. It also seems quite out of place in my dark, lonely, turn-of-the-century neighborhood. The effect is rather eerie (and the weird lighting and unusual colors definitely heighten that impression). I really need to take some pictures. There is an odd, lovely, tropical-looking tree that has dozens of trumpet-shaped flowers that fall toward the ground at one of the houses. The owner decorated it with tiny blue and white lights. When you're from New England, Christmas in Louisiana takes some getting used to. Somehow palm trees adorned with Christmas lights just don't get you into the mood like snow and firs. But like always, New Orleans does have its compensations. And these slightly off Christmas decorations seem beautiful for their own sake (especially since no one here cares about Christmas nearly as much as the real holidays: New Year's Eve and Mardi Gras).