By Patty Blackburn, Staff
Ann Elsbury loves to share her spirit of Christmas with bright lights, inflatables, icicles, and of course Santas of all sizes. She has always decorated for the holidays, but when she and her husband, Burdette, moved to Springplace Road, she thought no one would enjoy her outdoor décor – until she noticed a school bus drive by. “Children on the bus would see my decorations. It’s dark in the mornings when the bus goes by the house and in the evenings as the bus takes the children home, they can see the blow-ups while it’s still daylight. Several people have stopped to say how much they enjoy seeing the Christmas decorations. This makes me happy,” said Ann. “So I continue decorating every year.”
There are 30 inflatables, or blow-ups, on her front lawn at 2072 Springplace Road. Two life size Santas are standing on the porch and one is hanging from the roof. There are reindeer, goats, pigs, polar bears, a giant penguin, Christmas boxes, a blow-up mailbox, Christmas trees, a nativity scene, as well as numerous lights that brighten up the dark nights. She lost count of the number of extension cords used and she has a remote to power off and on the electrical current instead of having to unplug the cords.
The Elsbury’s home is also decorated for the season. It actually resembles a Christmas Shop. From twelve totes, Ann has placed Christmas figurines, such as snowmen, Santa figures, bells, angels, snow globes, and more, in different areas of the rooms.
Her animable table has a musical angel, snowmen that dance and sing, a goat that sings “Jingle Bells” and a Santa that plays “Have Yourself a Merry Christmas” on a trumpet.
There is a table with Santas of different sizes and shapes, new and old. Also a table with vintage Christmas décor such as snow globes, candles, a doll, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and a Bing Crosby album.
A Christmas Village is in one corner of the room with numerous figurines and villages that light up over a blanket of snow. A Christmas North Pole Skating Pond with a musical carousel and a ferris wheel can be seen with the villages. And of course, skaters skate around on the pond to Christmas music.
When Ann and Burdette visited Strasbourg, France several years ago, she brought back a nativity scene that she also displays each year. She said she just had to have this nativity scene mainly because it reminds her of the city, Strasbourg. She remarked that the city is like a fairy tale with the lights and decorations that create an amazing atmosphere. This is where she would go each Christmas if possible.
While vacationing in Germany, they purchased a cuckoo clock that has a winter scene and a summer scene. This clock remains on the wall year round.
On a shelf, Ann has placed snowmen of various sizes. Two of these snowmen were made by their children who are now 36 and 37 years of age. When the children were young, the family would camp each July. Ann would gather all the children from the campground and would have a craft workshop, called Christmas in July. The children made ornaments for Christmas trees and also made other Christmas décor. One year at the Christmas in July event, the children made snowmen out of white tube socks filled with coffee beans. Ann kept her children’s snowmen. One has button eyes with a red scarf. The other snowman, whose eyes have disappeared, has a red hat, a red bow around the neck with a green cape. Imagine the memories when looking at these! Ann said she sets the snowmen on the shelf just to embarrass them.
In front of the window inside the house, is the beautiful, rotating Christmas tree, which takes her at least three hours to string the lights, place all the ornaments in the perfect spot, and array the silver tinsel icicles and garland. And last but not least, each year the box of unopened tinsel is placed carefully on a branch for her daughter to see. Placing the box of unopened tinsel is a tradition that Ann carries out each year to aggravate her daughter.
Ann Elsbury, a beautiful lady inside and out who adores the Christmas season and loves decorating. It makes her happy to see cars drive slowly by her house because she is aware they are enjoying her treasures. Inside the house is not open to the public. The Elsbury house is located at 2072 Springplace Road in Lewisburg, three miles from South Ellington Parkway.
