Reluctantly, I've started to put away our holiday decorations. Each year, I hesitate to box them up even though Valentine's Day has passed. The glowing, plastic Santa face from the 1960s, the reindeer statue wearing a wreath around his neck, the snowman and his mate roasting a marshmallow over a glowing campfire and way too many other lights, knick-knacks, statues and ornaments must go until sometime in late November. Mostly, I'll miss the soft light from our Christmas tree. I feel I'm not alone in this, since I see plenty of homes still decorated and have noticed some remain this way until renewed with Easter adornments. We love our seasons here in the valley. These lights strung along a fence on Everett Street in Easthampton this week brought a smile. Lit by the late afternoon sun, the translucent plastic globes glowed as if they were turned on.
Reluctantly, I've started to put away our holiday decorations. Each year, I hesitate to box them up even though Valentine's Day has passed. The glowing, plastic Santa face from the 1960s, the reindeer statue wearing a wreath around his neck, the snowman and his mate roasting a marshmallow over a glowing campfire and way too many other lights, knick-knacks, statues and ornaments must go until sometime in late November. Mostly, I'll miss the soft light from our Christmas tree. I feel I'm not alone in this, since I see plenty of homes still decorated and have noticed some remain this way until renewed with Easter adornments. We love our seasons here in the valley. These lights strung along a fence on Everett Street in Easthampton this week brought a smile. Lit by the late afternoon sun, the translucent plastic globes glowed as if they were turned on. Credit: —STAFF PHOTO/JERREY ROBERTS

Reluctantly, I’ve started to put away our holiday decorations. Each year, I hesitate to box them up even though Valentine’s Day has passed. The glowing plastic Santa face from the 1960s, the reindeer statue wearing a wreath around his neck, the snowman and his mate roasting a marshmallow over a glowing campfire and way too many other lights, knick-knacks, statues and ornaments must go until sometime in late November. Mostly, I’ll miss the soft light from our Christmas tree. I feel I’m not alone in this, since I see plenty of homes still decorated and have noticed some remain this way until renewed with Easter adornments. We love our seasons here in the valley. These lights strung along a fence on Everett Street in Easthampton this week brought a smile. Lit by the late afternoon sun, the translucent plastic globes glowed as if they were turned on.

— Text and photo by Jerrey Roberts