15 minute read
Celebration
In the 1920s, there was no internet or neighborhood shopping centers, meaning that holiday decorations were crafted from easily obtained materials. Today, we can have everything delivered, but consider some DIY projects to add some winter wow to your home.
The easy place to begin to create a winter wonderland is the front yard. There are two ways to approach this. One is to buy premade decorations, such as inflatable trees, snowmen, penguins, polar bears, Santa’s sleigh with all eight reindeer, the Grinch, or even a giant snow globe housing a snowman family.
The other option is to make many or all the decorations yourself, which can be a great opportunity to get the whole family involved and maybe some neighbors, too. We’ll cover both, so you can develop a plan that works best for you.
Let It Snow
An easy first step is to supersize your home’s holiday curb appeal by adding six-foot-tall Styrofoam candy canes wrapped with red ribbon. But before you run to the craft store for supplies, keep reading to see what else you need to add to the shopping list.
Snow is a must, but if it isn’t actually snowing, there are other ways to get the desired effect, such as pouring fake snow around the bases of your trees; you can buy bags of it at craft and home improvement stores. Another option is to drape “snow blankets” around the bases of trees or wherever else you want to add this effect.
But to get snow that allows the kids—and you—to make snow angels and to make your display the hit of the neighborhood, consider Instant Snow. Invented about 25 years ago by a Japanese company that used it for indoor snowboard parks, it’s now available to consumers in various sizes, from two-pound bags that make 25 gallons of cold, slippery, long-lasting, and very realistic snow, up to 40-pound bags that allow you to create 540 gallons of winter fun. It’s as close to the real thing as you can get, even up to the freezing temperatures and slipperiness, so be cautious when walking on it and consider shoveling a path. It can even be used to create a falling snow effect.
A classic winter wonderland musthave is a snowman. If fake snow isn’t an option because you live in the South or you’re up north but nature isn’t cooperating, add three foam balls to the craft store shopping list: one large, one medium, and one small. How large? That’s up to you to decide as you examine what’s available in the store, but to get the maximum “we love it!” effect, consider the largest you can find that will fit in your car for the drive home. YouTube has many how-to videos that show how to transform Styrofoam balls into snowmen.
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
For even more “wows,” use a projector to add images of Santa to the exterior walls of the house and place a few laser projectors to create the illusion of falling snowflakes or red and white sparkles dancing on trees, shrubs, and the house itself. Don’t skimp on safety; use extension cords that are either new or in excellent condition, and be careful how you route the cords to avoid creating a potential tripping hazard.
Add big red-and-sparkly white bows to trees, and drape lengths of garland along the top of fences. Hang oversized ornaments you can buy ready to use, or make them from more of the same large foam balls you used to create the snowman. Add a string or two of twinkle lights from trees, and consider hanging icicle-shaped lights along the roofline to quickly and easily transform the front porch.
Add a wreath and sleigh bells to the front door to give it a “wintry” look and sound. Drape curtain lights on the inside of windows facing onto the front yard to create a warm, cozy
EASY HOLIDAY ACCENTS
A handmade wreath, maybe with sleigh bells, gives the front door a festive appearance.
A stack of boxes wrapped like presents— or even better, real presents—delivers an effective holiday feel to the room.
Hang sparkling ornaments
on mantles, on a wall on a tree branch, or display them in a large glass bowl.
A well-decorated Christmas tree, whether real or artificial, sets a holiday tone in any room.
feel. To top off the exterior design, stash a portable stereo behind a bush to provide a musical backdrop, or go all out and dress your family like Dickens carolers, performing a set every hour or so to delight the neighbors.
A Home for the Holidays
Inside, you can decorate with sights, sounds, and scents. Essential oils, scented candles, and an arrangement of Christmas tree branches set the tone, but keep the flammable branches far from any source of flame or high heat.
Next, bring the snow inside. Make an indoor snowman and other decorations by mixing two cups of frozen baking soda (pre-freeze it) and about one cup of chilled water. Pour the chilled baking soda into a mixing bowl and add water until you get to a fluffy consistency that’s easy to mold into snowballs or even a small snowman.
Other methods replace the water with shaving cream or hair conditioner, mixing it into the chilled baking soda to create fake snow that smells great. You can also drizzle this faux snow over pine cones for indoor decorations.
Display vintage ornaments in a large glass bowl as a dining table centerpiece or on a sideboard. If your home is small, consider a small Christmas tree, set on a table for height, to attain the traditional atmosphere without overwhelming the room with a real tree.
If you have room for it, a large tree is a must; to avoid the issues of real trees that drop needles and aren’t always ideally symmetrical, consider an artificial tree that looks like it just arrived from the North Woods, perfectly frosted with faux snow, such as one made by King of Christmas.
Hang white pompoms found at the craft store from the mantle or over doors to give the indoors the look of snow without the mess of melting water. Use tape to attach paper snowflakes from the craft store to windows.
No fireplace to use to hang stockings? Use a thin tree branch temporarily mounted to the wall to hold them. If you have a fireplace but don’t use it as intended, decorate it with a huge array of candles of all shapes and sizes to create a warm, mesmerizing effect.
Cover sofas with faux sheepskin throws and holiday-themed throw pillows, which are also found at the craft store. Use eucalyptus to create an indoor garland to decorate walls and doorframes, and drape twinkle lights in the shape of a Christmas tree to transform a plain, open wall.
The holidays are about making great memories, so get the entire family involved—that’s the best luxury of all.
LIFESTYLE WINTER WONDERS
Add Holiday Cheer to Your Home
1
Make It Snow
It can’t be a winter wonderland without snow and, happily for those down South, there are many faux snow options available, ranging from “This won’t fool Santa” to “I need a snow shovel” accurate.
2
Buy or DIY?
There are many ready-to-use displays available with everything from animated carolers to dancing penguins, but you can also create your wonderland with some help from local craft stores and YouTube channels.
3
Sound Advice
Use a portable stereo to add a holiday music backdrop to exterior decorations. Be sure to protect it from any winter weather (snow, rain, etc).
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CROSSFIRE HURRICANE
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ORIGINS OF COVID-19
ON APRIL 15, 2020,
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YEARS AFTER THE RELEASE of this groundbreaking documentary, the possibility of a lab leak is considered by government officials and experts as the most likely explanation for the virus's spread.
CHINA THREAT
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Epoch Booklist
Are there books you’d recommend?
We’d love to hear from you. Let us know at features@epochtimes.com
RECOMMENDED READING
This week, we feature novels ranging in locale from Hawaii to Mt. Everest
and a revelatory history of the Third Reich’s abuse of pharmaceuticals.
FICTION
‘Abominable’ By Dan Simmons
Thrills at Everest’s Peak
Great stories need three things: a solid plot, memorable characters, and an engrossing setting. Simmons brings all three together in his novel about an attempt to summit Mount Everest while also trying to solve the mysterious disappearance of several climbers.
LITTLE, BROWN AND COMPANY, 2013, 672 PAGES
‘Hawaii’ By James Michener
A Grand Tour of the Aloha State
Your bank account may not allow for a vacation to the islands, but “Hawaii” is the next best thing. This thick novel is Michener’s first work to bring places and their people to life through fiction. We start with volcanoes forming the islands, then move hundreds of years through history: the arrival of the Polynesians, then the Europeans and missionaries, and the Chinese, as well as the making of modern Hawaii. This heavily researched piece of historical fiction offers a grand respite from the blast of winter.
DIAL PRESS REPRINT EDITION, 2002, 937 PAGES
HISTORY
‘Blitzed' By Norman Ohler
High Times in Nazi Germany
This revelatory book shows that the Third Reich was founded on drug abuse, ran on methamphetamines, and was led by an addict. Nazi armed forces systematically abused the methamphetamine Pervitin, allowing armored columns in Poland and France to keep moving and stay awake for days. Hitler’s doctor doped the leader with feelgood opioids and cocaine, warping his judgment. Eventually, Pervitin abuse burned out Germany’s armies, and Nazi leadership became too addled to realistically run the war.
BIOGRAPHY
‘Astrid Lindgren' By Jens Andersen
An Influential Children’s Book Author
Anyone older than 50 probably read “Pippi Longstocking” as a child. In the 1950s and 1960s, virtually every child read it. This biography tells the life of “Pippi’s” Swedish author, Astrid Lindgren. The anti-authoritarian themes of her children’s book series were a swipe at Nazi Germany. Andersen reveals Lindgren as multidimensional, examining her forays into politics (as a tax-cutting reformer) and pacifist. His revelations of Lindgren’s life will surprise readers.
YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS, 2018, 360 PAGES
NONFICTION
‘Medicare for All, Really?!’ By Rich Yurkowitz
How to Handle Health Care Costs
too high? Is Medicare for All the answer? Assembling facts and figures on where health care is today and where it’s headed, Yurkowitz, a health care actuary by profession, shares his knowledge and offers insights into these complex questions. He argues that the government shouldn’t get involved.
AMPLIFY PUBLISHING, 2022, 352 PAGES
CLASSICS
‘The Rule of St. Benedict' Edited by Timothy Fry
A Manual for an Ordered Life
Sixth-century Europe was a place of warring kings and tribes. Into this chaos came Benedict of Nursia, a founder of monasteries, but even more importantly, the author of “The Rule of St. Benedict.” This code served other monastic orders, giving Benedict the title of Father of Western Monasticism. The rule became one of the foundation stones of European culture. Although it was designed for the monastic life, many Christians have relied on this guide to order their own lives.
FOR KIDS
‘This Quiet Lady’ By Charlotte Zolotow
A Sweet MotherDaughter Story
A little girl learns her mother’s story by looking through photographs of her from when she was a child until she became a mother. A lovely book for children, it may spark talk of Mom’s own past. Illustrated by Anita Lobel. This book is for ages 4 to 8.
GREENWILLOW BOOKS, 2000, 24 PAGES
‘Miss Rumphius’ By Barbara Cooney
Making the World More Beautiful
This lovely tale of a woman who sets out to make the world a more beautiful place by planting lupine seeds everywhere she goes is both inspiring and heartwarming. She leaves a beautiful legacy for generations to come. This is a classic.
Ian Kane
is a U.S. Army veteran, filmmaker, and author. He enjoys the great outdoors and volunteering.
Epoch Watchlist
MOVIE REVIEWS
This week, we feature a heartwarming family favorite about a collie and her journey home and an inspiring drama about football and family.
NEW RELEASE
‘On the Line’ (2022)
Elvis Cooney (Mel Gibson), the popular host of an overnight radio show, is just settling into his nightly routine of taking phone calls when a mysterious man calls in and claims he’s at Cooney’s house. The man has kidnapped Cooney’s family and proceeds to force the radio host to play a deadly game in order to save them.
This thriller begins with a slow burn and steadily ratchets up the tension as the game of cat-and-mouse escalates. It’s an entertaining movie filled with lots of suspenseful scenes, anchored by Gibson’s usual gravitas.
THRILLER
Release Date:
Nov. 4, 2022
Director:
Romuald Boulanger
Starring:
Mel Gibson, William Moseley, Kevin Dillon
Running Time:
1 hour, 44 minutes MPAA Rating: R
Where to Watch:
Theaters
A BELOVED FAMILY ADVENTURE
‘Lassie Come Home’ (1943)
The Carraclough family is going through some hard financial times in England, so they sell their beloved collie, Lassie, to a Scottish nobleman. Although transported to Scotland, Lassie manages to escape and embarks on the long, difficult journey home.
This heartwarming film was a big hit back in the 1940s and still strikes a resonant chord with animal lovers the world over.
Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) is a black teen who wanders the streets of Memphis, Tennessee. But his fortunes begin to change when someone helps him enroll in a Christian high school. Eventually, this leads to Oher being adopted by Leigh Anne Tuohy’s (Sandra Bullock) family and on his way to potentially playing professional football.
This is a very moving and inspiring film that emphasizes the importance of family and good values, without being too sentimental. Parents should note that this film is not suitable for young children.
ADVENTURE | DRAMA | FAMILY
Release Date:
Oct. 7, 1943
Director:
Fred M. Wilcox
Starring:
Roddy McDowall, Donald Crisp, Elizabeth Taylor
Running Time:
1 hour, 29 minutes
Not Rated Where to Watch:
DirecTV, Amazon, Vudu
FAMILY PICK
(2009)
BIOGRAPHY | DRAMA | SPORT Release Date:
Nov. 20, 2009
Directors:
John Lee Hancock
Starring:
Quinton Aaron, Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw
Running Time:
2 hours, 9 minutes
MPAA Rating:
PG-13
Where to Watch:
HBO Max, DirecTV, Redbox
PITTED AGAINST A CATACLYSM
(1974) Multiple storylines emerge, such as the challenging relationship between architect Stewart Graff (Charlton Heston) and his wife, Remy (Ava Gardner). Then, an earthquake of extreme magnitude hits Los Angeles with catastrophic results, and all fight to survive.
In contrast to modern films that rely too much on computer effects, this film (and other epic disaster films of the 1970s) used highly creative effects. It features dramatic situations, good pacing, and an allstar cast in multiple small roles.
ACTION | DRAMA | THRILLER Release Date:
Nov. 15, 1974
Director:
Mark Robson
Starring:
Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, George Kennedy
Running Time:
2 hours, 2 minutes
MPAA Rating:
PG
Where to Watch:
DirecTV, Vudu, Apple TV
