This Hope's for you

David Pike was a champion.  A champion for his family, his friends, especially his cancer fighting friends, for his fellow Rotarians, for life, and for Christ.

No stranger to the Moses Cone Regional Cancer Center, David gave life to everyone he met: fellow cancer patients, nurses, doctors, even those in waiting rooms. Never a complainer...always an encourager, abundantly generous in hope.

Not long before David went to be with God, he said, "You'll never know what a ministry of encouragement your neighborhood is to everyone at the cancer center. Patients, nurses, doctors, and visitors, that's all they talk about. Promise me you'll teach them to make the Lighted Christmas Balls."

David and his cancer fighting friends encouraged everyone at the Regional Cancer Center, after chemo therapy, to drive down Ridgeway Drive into the land of wonder, where each and every Lighted Christmas Ball is transformed into a beacon of hope, in a world long on suffering and short on hope.

We told David and Patricia and Kris and Roman that we'd keep David's light on, seven days a week, twenty four hours a day, in memory of him and every person fighting cancer.  (David's light is a gigantic Lighted Christmas Ball with 1,400 mini Christmas lights wrapped around a 36" diameter sphere.)

So if you're reading this, and you or someone you know is fighting cancer, this Symbol of Hope stays lit, day and night, for you.

This image taken 12/28/2009 just before midnight without a tripod

This image taken after the big snowstorm of March 1, 2009

"God, the one and only— I'll wait as long as he says. Everything I hope for comes from him, so why not? He's solid rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul, An impregnable castle: I'm set for life." Psalm 62:5; The Message

Food Drive totals

Friends of Lighted Christmas Balls donated 3,729 pounds of non-perishable food during December 2008; this is 753 pounds, or 25%, over 2007's total!

Twin brothers from different mothers

Atmore News (AL) contributing writer Bonnie Bartel Latino keeps her eyes open, at least on one side. And when she sees something that needs just a little more looking into, well, she starts connecting the dots...or in this case, the gumdrops, and before she knows it, there's a story. Though she's never "seen" Sunset Hills' Lighted Christmas Balls per se, what she "saw" through the eyes of Master-At-Arms 1st Class Fritz Currie, United States Navy, Reserves, was as clear as if she had been on Ridgeway Drive herself. Currie, it turns out, touched down in Greensboro to see friends (Sunset Hills' Blake and Robin Conklin), enroute to Atmore, AL from the Middle East, and got bitten by the Lighted Christmas Balls. Fritz "took" the Lighted Christmas Balls to his native hometown, where they grace 305 S. Pensacola Avenue. I can't wait to meet him. He can't wait to light up the whole town.

Treat yourself and read Bonnie's feature article which was printed in the Atmore News New Year's Eve edition.

We'd love to hear from you, in person, email, or comment box below...

Lighted Christmas Balls on Current TV

fcproducer's producer/editor andy coon and and blake faucette, dp, came to see us Christmas Eve with their video cams, spirits of adventure, and filmed this treasure of a documentary (with no rehearsals or retakes). Truly they captured the spirit of Christmas, but hearing their stories about how the Lighted Christmas Balls brighten their lives was a real gift. Thanks Andy (and Blake), for sharing your gifts and talents, and for spreading the Lighted Christmas Balls.



enjoy it, share it, and tell the folks at current tv how you like it.

if you haven't already seen it, check out video andy made in 2006 of the Lighted Christmas Balls.

today's offering

The utility trailer sits parked and open, as would one with outstretched hands, ready to receive gifts of food, providing nourishment and hope for the under-nourished and hope-less.

within hours of having its 686 pounds of food taken to Greensboro Urban Ministry, the little trailer began filling up all over again. Since last

night:

Thank you Greensboro

Several angels kept watch over the food collection sites at Ridgeway and Rolling and Ridgeway and Madison this weekend. Rain, high winds, and bone-chilling cold took their tolls on donors over the weekend but that didn't stop folks from giving. Brenda, Sean, and Anna Bowman stepped up to take the "harvest" over to Greensboro Urban Ministries Food Pantry today. What a joy to have them jump in to help, especially with the thermometer dropping into the mid teens tonight. And I know they were blessed, too. It's a little overpowering to drive past S. Eugene Street, turn right into the back parking lot, and drive past faces of real men and women living on the margins of life. It's something else altogether to back up your minivan to the loading dock into hands that will weigh it, stock it, and distribute it to those in need.

December 8th - Second Harvest (747 lbs)

December 19th - Greensboro Urban Ministry (572 lbs) and

December 22nd Brenda, Sean, and Anna Bowman - Greensboro Urban Ministry (686 lbs).

So when your friends tell you that they are coming over to see your lights, be sure and tell them not to come empty handed :)

Merry Christmas to you all. Anne & Jonathan

rain doesn't slow food drive

It rained Monday and Tuesday and drizzled off and on all day today. That hasn't slowed visits to the yellow barrel at the four-way stop sign at Ridgeway and Rolling and the utility trailer at the corner of Madison and Ridgeway. People put dry goods in the big red Rubbermaid tub and secured food-filled plastic bags to keep the rain out. I didn't take pics of each night's haul, but now that it's Wednesday night and my Suburban is full, I need to drop it off at the Food Pantry and get ready for the weekend. Anne and I are going to do a little adding up this weekend - she has one of those little counter things that ticket takers use to count attendance at concerts and sporting events. We'll let you know the count...and also how much food has been contributed so far.

LCB's are glowing all over. There's an extra special 13 Lighted Christmas Balls on Cardinal Wood Drive. It stays lit day and night keeping vigil, encouraging all who pass by and those who live there. If you're over that way, check it out.

More pictures of the Lighted Christmas Balls!

Harvey, a Sunset Hills resident, has a new camera with image stabilization so he took these nice photos last Friday night.

This truck may top our lights!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I saw this....I said "Jonathan, stop whatever you are doing and get him to stop." I just had to have a photo of this WONDERFUL truck. It belongs to our new friend(as of last night) Mark in Kernersville. He brings his cute daughter April over for ballet classes - she is int the middle of practicing for the Nutcracker. Look at this Christmas display in the bed of this wonderful 1981 fully restored Dodge crewcab (I hope I got this right) ANYWAY...they were so nice, they pulled over, we took photos...and visited. Mark had decorated it just for fun for a spontaneous annual parade in Catsquare NC (I hope I got that right too) Mark and his family moved to NC from Arizona and is an engineer at Volvo Trucks. In my opinion we are lucky to have him drive through...come often, bring your friends and some canned food for the trailer in the front yard.


NEWS FLASH #1 We sent 747 pounds of canned goods over to 2nd Harvest this morning with Gardner....next load going to Urban Ministry

NEWSFLASH #2 We got a huge discount(actually it was a credit) from Lowe's(good to shop there - they treated us right on this deal) We were credited enough to give each of you $1 per ball back - What an operational and accounting nightmare that would be so we made the decision to send the profits to Urban Ministry $127 and Second Harvest $127 and credited the remaining $$ to the lighted Christmas ball project for the kids in the tutoring progam at Grace Community Church in Glenwood - they each got a ball to take home this year as well as one to hang in the front of the church. It is worth a drive to 643 West Lee Street to see the 60 hanging there.

WFMY News 2

WFMY reporter Kerri Hartsfield and camera man John Brumbaugh pulled into the Grace Community Church parking lot late Monday afternoon. It's a good thing they did; Jeff, Justin, Emmett, and Jonathan needed just two more pairs of hands to raise the 60 or so Lighted Christmas balls that had been made by kids in the Glenwood Tutoring Program, and Kerri and John jumped right in and helped. Kerri had to make several trips to her car to thaw out, and John clutched his camcorder and shivered now and again and didn't get to thaw out. The two stayed until all the trees glowed with lights before heading to Sunset Hills for a different perspetive and to broadcast the 11:00 pm news, 'live from the corner of Ridgeway and Madison.' Afterward, I went outside thank them for all they had done to raise the awareness for hunger, and how together, our communities can solve a real live problem affecting one in eight North Carolinians and one in five children. Seeing the true spirit of Christmas reflected in their eyes was gratifying; grinning, I cautioned them that they're now hooked on Lighted Christmas balls for life and invited them to come back often and enjoy the beauty when they're off the clock.

Sunday gathering to make the LCB

Getting supplies: lights and chicken wire.

The Sunday gathering to construct the Lighted Christmas Balls

David was the designated goodies watcher!

Staying warm on a very drizzly Sunday. The chance of rain was 100%, but dedicated orb makers came out anyway. Others brought fire barrels and flat fire holders so the makers could keep warm. Pictures taken through smoke tend to hide details.






Darryl is an expert on making the wire frames and he was a "designated" helper.

You can Wear a Lighted Ball this season

Ali North - the little girl who made the very first Christmas Ball in Sunset HIlls and thrilled as the cars slowed down to see them, has created fused glass pieces which come with silver wire choker or can be worn on your long silver or black ribbon necklaces. I have this stock at our home and more are available at her site & the photos might be better. Go to www.GlassyMama.etsy.com She has lots of cool pieces of her fused glass jewelry there.

Bringing light to dark corners one mini light at a time

It was dark when we drove home from work.  Turning off Market onto Ridgeway, we could see Toad Hall ahead, pitch black.  Our dogs do not like it when we don't leave a light on.  Across the street was a different story.  There, the Hassell's lighted Christmas balls shone as brilliantly as we've ever seen. 

This was Marlene's view of the Hassell's:

And this is how their display looked from our front steps, over dimmed lights in the Japanese Red Maple:

2206 Madison is first to brighten the corner of Ridgeway  & Madison.  Thanks Hassell family for leading the way. 

Photos from Sunday

The boys were making sure the collection trailer looked just right. It seems like we collected more canned goods this year than last. We pulled it under a tent when the drizzle drizzled a little harder
The elf and his nametag. Rowan was very resourceful in helping with this last minute project
Brenda, Linda, and Janet - checking all their lists at least twice. They did such an excellent job...I heard they got a little dancing in as well....to help keep a slight bit warm.









Learning how it's done. Like Jonathan says if it's not fun, it won't get done.

Ta Da - Things are back to normal...

...or maybe I should say as normal as they get here at Toad Hall. For those of you who had been here today - note the clean as new floor..& Jonathan calling around to see if he could find a home for the leftover soup...So when I said 'Not to worry about the floor to come in get warm and have some eats' it was with good reason. The paper runners (along with the blue/green reversable tarp) were a nice touch...Jonathan said all we needed was a camero and el camino(maybe on chocks) in the circular driveway to make the scene complete. BUT we had a blast...it could have REALLY rained and instead we just had a steady drizzle. It didn't seem to daunt the 180 or so people who were here making ~200 lighted Christmas balls. You brought food for us to eat (Thanks Justin and MIllie for heading up all that in the dining room) and you brought food for the food banks (more than last year) and $$ for the food banks...$418 total ( $285 for 2nd Harvest & $183 for Greensboro Urban Ministry) Kathy, Lee, and Beth did a 'souper' job of 'womaning' the stone soup and everyone had plenty to eat and we had 3 gallons leftover to take to Pathways/Potters House. We took some of the leftover rolls which Gardner contributed and the folks there seemed MOST appreciative. I will say that having the incredible host families to help was the greatest gift of all to Jonathan and me. From all the early birds who selflessly came and cut the 1/3 mile of chicken wire beforehand to Jane and Janet laying what must have seemed like a 1/4 mile of brown paper on the carpets with tape no less to the girls 'womaning' the light kit distribution and coming out with the right amount of $$ for the supplies used...thanks Dava, Marlene, Janet, Linda, Brenda, Susan, Lee, Cindy, and GOODNESS I hope I haven't missed anyone. The full compliment of tarp/tent installers: Gardner, Jeff, Drayton, John, Scott, Phil, Jamey, and Emmett just provided the shelter we needed - did I thank all of you for bringing the tailgating tents and the tables (Linda secured 6 from OLG - WOW picked them up delivered them and is taking them back - can I say WOW???? I DO THANK ALL OF YOU for that...we couldn't have pulled it off without those. The expert ball makers John, Marcia, Beth, Clay, Ali, Claire, Phil, Jamey,Daniel, Bethann, and Ferd were all here to teach everyone how to do it and even make a few for folks. We had lots of new neighbors, old neighbors, some folks who had called who didn't live in the neighborhood (5 from Winston Salem) and a couple of drop-ins who were just driving by and joined the fun. I saw several of you (Scott, Millie and Marlene for sure) taking many photos so when you send those over....I will post lots of them and as your creations grow in your yards/trees, send some photos of those over as well. Finally thanks for the fire barrels - and Gardner the music was over the top. Most of all and the most important part is that all of you made everyone feel welcome and you are just the greatest Hosts/Hostesses including all the kids - David, Graham, Liam, Rowan, Sabine(aka Sabine the soup girl), Scott, Izzy, Miles, Walter, and Marlee + I know there were others...shoot me their names and I will include them. All of you guys give a great party - thanks for being part of this wonderful day. Let there be LIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Need Help Hanging those Christmas Balls this year?

Need help hanging those Christmas Balls this year? I have a bucket truck to help you...

Call Dean Harviel @ 336-399-2766

I was out in front trying to dislodge two totally hung up Lighted Christmas Balls from last year when a guy driving a bucket truck stopped in front of my house, unrolled his window, and asked if he could help. Dean and his friend, Laurie had discovered the Lighted Christmas Balls last year and came back to check them out. Dean's Mom (in Salisbury) really wanted him to come by and take a close look to see how to make 'em, and the Bucket Truck was as good a Trojan Horse as there ever was. Dean and Laurie stopping to offer help at the moment I needed it was a surprise joy. While Dean was hitching up to go aloft, I took a couple of shots, and invited them to the Sunday's workshop. I said I'd put his contact info on the blog and post his flyer at at the check in tent tomorrow. Dean smiled big and said, "let's just call it even." Thanks again, Dean. (Note, I've got a short video in *.3g2 format that I need to convert to *.AVI so I can post them here. Any thoughts on what program to covert them with?).

OSHA discovers Sunset Hills chicken wire cutting operation in total compliance

Anne and I arrived home from Asheville at 5:00 pm to find:

1. our trailer piled high with chicken wire cut into 45" sections,
2. about 5 dump trucks worth of leaves in our yard,
3. and 45 minutes of daylight left.

We blew, raked, and mulched leaves till well after dark. About an hour into it, Anne noticed the garage lights were on and somebody was in there cutting chicken wire. Turns out it was none other than Cindy Wells, who cut an entire roll of chicken wire, single handedly. We returned to the leaves and left Cindy at her work. Jon discovered mulching isn't as precise as grass cutting and says you don't have to keep your tracks straight. By the light provided from the Bowman's side porch lamps and the headlights of cars turning from Ridgeway to Madison, he was able to knock it out. By 7:00 pm our tongues were hanging out. Cindy was still cutting wire like machine. At that point, there wasn't anything I could do but go fetch the bottle of 337 Cab, three wine glasses, and an opener. And so Anne and I made a toast to Cindy, who, I am sure, who works harder, smarter, and faster than any man. Cindy, for all you tool-belt conscious men, has her own Wiss Aircraft Shears and her own leather holster. About the time I snapped this pic, Jamey and Phil stopped by to see what six rolls of chicken wire looks like after its been chopped into 45" sections, and to give us the neighborhood "light" report:

On Rolling Road, their lights are on (why are we not surprised?), as are their neighbors on both sides of their house and three houses across the street, and on the corner of Rolling and East Greenway South. Jamey and Phil won't brag about themselves, so I'll have to: they made and hung all those Lighted Christmas balls.

On Friendly Avenue, I noticed the Dollars had their Lighted Christmas balls up and on this morning at 6:30 am. Way to go, Jim!

How all this chicken wire came to be

Last year about this time we were out in the front yard hoisting lights and a car stopped and unrolled its window. That wasn't unusual but what happened next was. Turns out the couple inside were Bill and Laura Womack from Raleigh. Bill grew up on Ridgeway, played all throughout Sunset Hills, and graduated from Greensboro Senior High School. Laura grew up on Sherrill Street in Lindley Park. Turns out Laura and Pat Wilcox (whom Daniel and Bethann Hassell bought their home from) have been friends since they were little girls. When we asked Bill and Laura how long they've known each other, they answered, in unison, "since 2nd grade." I guess when two people have known each other since 2nd grade they can finish each other's sentences. Bill made a career out of distributing hardware to retail stores. And when he said, "I can get you that chicken wire," Anne was quick to ask for his contact info. When Lowes didn't have any, Anne called Bill, who gladly obliged, and so Bill and Laura asked if we wanted to meet in Siler City and have lunch and transfer the wire. And so it was, Anne and I got to meet Bill and Laura for cheeseburgers and French fries at Johnson's Restaurant, which, as far as I could tell, holds 1st place in the cheeseburger category, and has for 62 years. After having more fun than the legal limit (Jon and Bill had 2nds on their cheeseburgers) we moved seven rolls of 150' wire (that's 3 1/2 football fields) from Bill's car to Anne's. When you see this couple at the workshop, be sure to stop and say Hi!

(This wonderful surprise took place on 11/19 but I forgot to post it then. I'll change its post date in a few days.) 

Lighted Christmas Balls showing up all over the U.S.

Only a true geek would check the web visit stats to Lighted Christmas Balls. Since one week ago Saturday 11/14, lighted Christmas balls has had seventy visits, courtesy of a new friend, Alex, at Sparkleball.com, in San Diego. Alex has been making a similar but different Lighted Ball to celebrate Christmas many years. Starting out in Roanoake before taking the sparkleballs to Chapel Hill, she's now in San Diego. Alex is just one of those people who loves spreading joy. And when she discovered lighted Christmas Balls, she shared LCB with all her friends in California. This is truly the richness and reach of the internet at work and at play. Thank you Alex! Little dots on the image above represent where the most recent 100 visits to our site came from. The most recent visit (the red dot) came from Asheville, NC.

Wirecutters working wonders on wire

Friends Beth, Claire, Ali, Cindy, David and Gardner brave the cold to get the lighted Christmas ball kits ready for the 6th annual Sunset Hills lighted ball workshop and charity fund raiser. Each 150' roll of Chicken Wire will make about 40 lighted Christmas balls. That's a lot of wire cutting to make kits for 300 or more lighted Christmas Balls. It looks like Beth, Claire, and Ali invented a special system to make measuring faster and easier.

Claire and Ali had already helped out in a big way before helping cut wire: they hand-delivered invitations to families in the neighborhood for whom we didn't have email addresses. David is wondering which family will be the first to get their lighted Christmas balls up in the trees.

Anne and I spent last night and today with grandchildren Avery, Jackson in Asheville. Today, treat of all treats, we got to take them up to Windy Gap (13.4 miles NE) to see cousin Grayson and her Mom and Dad and a bunch of old and new Young Life friends. On the way up to Windy Gap, we saw some early Christmas lights. There must be a lot of excited people here. Avery announced she was ready to see lighted Christmas balls at Sunset Hills. (Well really, she said "Toad Hall" but I know she meant Sunset Hills . Avery is 2 1/2 and knows all about Christmas lights. Her cousin Grayson is 13 months and knows all about Christmas lights and a thing or two besides. Between the two, they have more passion for life than is safe to be around! But you'll never hear me complain.

My highlight today was getting to feed Grandson Jackson his 10:45 pm bottle. We talked all about the day and how much fun we had.

Making her list and checking it twice

Anne Smith, looking more like a Lowes VP for Garden Center Sales than a community organizer, goes over her shopping list one more time with Lowes Garden Center employees Jonathan (left, not Anne's husband) and Scott (right). "You just don't find this level of service at other stores." Lowes' Scott and Jonathan said they get upward of 25 calls a day for chicken wire and for help making Lighted Christmas Balls.

Scott transporting 576 boxes of mini Lights to check-out, smiling like he does this every day:



"If I ran Lowes, we'd have a Christmas Light Center and these would be the guys who'd head it up, they're smart and they can do math in their heads" said Anne.

Because hunger never takes a vacation

This is National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week; it is co-sponsored each year by the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness. Observed one week before Thanksgiving, NHHAW's aim is to bring awareness and promote efforts to end homelessness and hunger in communities across the nation.

The poor have friends, one of whom is Michelle Forrest, in Greensboro. Among other things, Michelle is a mom, and though StreetWatch, an advocate for the poor. She's a blogger and a web designer and member of the NightWatch and DayWatch street outreach teams.

She and her friends know the pain of bare shelves and the blessing of sacrifice. They know requests for food and financial assistance are up everywhere and they know donations are down. In their compassion, they worry that the homeless and hungry, whose needs outweighed provisions at the top of the boom, will be those who will ride the bust the longest. They don't worry alone.

After hosting a one day food drive at last year's workshop, extending it for the entire Thanksgiving/Christmas season seemed like the right thing to do. Although no one had experienced then the cratering retirement accounts and plummeting home prices we experience now, still the greater portion of donated food came from hands who could least afford to give it. Most plastic grocery store bags contained just one or two items, and from Food Lion not Fresh Market; some bags still had the cash register receipts showing what had been purchased was paid for with cash not plastic.

I just read that during some of the worst of times, giving remained strong. Even during the great depression, the NY Times reported charitable giving more than doubled from 1933 to 1941.

Let's hope the same will be said of this generation.

Ball making 101

Want to make a Lighted Christmas ball?
Click here for instructions.

Seen an unusual display of Lighted Christmas balls? Want to send a picture? Click email us. (Be sure to tell us who the photographer is.)

Lighted Christmas Balls in Wyomissing, PA

Dave Wharton sent this picture of Lighted Christmas Balls in Wyomissing, PA, 460 miles north of Greensboro. These beautiful lights were put up by Dave's brother-in-law, Dr. Wayne DeVos, who visited Greensboro last year at Christmas time. After driving through Sunset hills, Wayne was inspired to bring the balls back to Wyomissing, where he and his family live.

Trailer load #4 to Food Bank

Folks kept bringing offerings of canned goods straight through New Year's Eve and even through Sunday January 6, 2008, Epiphany. The next day, Food Bank staff unloaded Sunset Hills Neighborhood's fourth trailer load, 310 pounds, bringing the 2007 Christmas season total to 2,974 pounds. This is just one of many reasons we love Greensboro.

Pallet #5

Throughout December, folks brought offerings of canned goods for Greensboro Urban Ministry's Food Bank to drop-off locations in Sunset Hills (and Historic Aycock). Through December 27th, three trailer loads totalling 2,557 pounds of canned goods had been collected and taken to Urban Ministry. More keeps coming, too.

Two boxes, one marked "Joy" and the other (shown above) "Love" stood out. Nightly, neighbors emptied the food collection bins. Lots and lots of small bags holding a few cans told us that it wasn't 10 persons each bringing 255 pounds who filled the bins, but rather it was many, many folks bringing their five loaves and two fishes.

Pat Spain, Food Distribution Director for Greensboro Urban Ministry, thanks the Friends of Lighted Christmas Balls for keeping the needy at heart. Supplying food for the needy, the elderly, little children and those down on their luck would not be possible without the support of so many in this community.

Truly, in this life, we get to keep what we give away. Thank you Greensboro for giving.

Give a can

photo: alisa smith

Alisa Smith shares awesome pics of 2007 Lighted Christmas Balls. No doubt the spread of Krispy Kreme donuts made viewing Lighted Christmas Balls far more fun! Click here and check out the beautiful pics. Kudus, Alisa

Lighted Christmas Balls in Dearborn, Michigan!

Lighted Christmas Ball enthusiast and kindred spirit Traci Stafford Croft hosted a Christmas Ball workshop in their neighborhood...

"Not quite the same scale of yours (we're just getting started), but we can see the potential for growth within our neighborhood - MANY neighbors from other streets came/are coming by asking questions even though not all of the neighbors who made light balls have them lit yet...so we expect the rest of our stree to light up over the next couple days. (jonathan's note, check out Traci's pictures on Flickr. Better yet, drive down their street and see for yourself )

This is such a wonderful thing to do with friends/neighbors. Next year we'll start adding in some of the other elements: charity collections/donations, band, etc. (We'll see...) We were planning on being outside, but the weather was supposed to be in the low 40s, so we did it inside (and the weather was nearly 60). :)

Thanks,
Traci"

exciting update, from Traci, 12/28/2008:

"Since I sent you the pictures, we've had quite a lot of excitement...probably 40 - 50 cars a night driving down the street (we're only a 1 block street not off of any main road, so traffic is really rare) and we've also been contacted by our "City Beautiful Commission" and the local city cable channel. Our kids gave light balls as presents to their teachers who immediately asked..."Is that YOUR street?" It's been so wonderful. I can only hope that we can generate more interest and some good will in years to come. ;)"

Kudos Traci!

Timberoak Court lights up New Garden Road

Lighted Christmas Balls light up Timberoak Court. Kudos Jim and Sue for growing the glow!

Watch me Daddy!

Miles nocks an arrow, takes aim, pulls the string, and says, "hold on Daddy, this one's going high."

Daddy and daughter decide where the next one's going

Daniel and Izzy discuss where the next one's going while Miles looks for his arrow. Marlee and cousin (background) see how high they can swing before Aunt Dayna freaks.

What a sight!

Last weekend we got on the ball (the lighted variety) to try to get lights up in the trees in time for the luminary display in Aycock.


So warm and sunny, I had to wear my sunglasses, t-shirt, and flip-flops.


We got 12 up in the trees and there are another 5 or 6 dozen on Percy.

Lighted Balls in the News

Jon wouldn't tell anyone about this, but . . . .



There was a great piece on the news last night about the lighted balls; CLICK HERE to see it.

Lighted Christmas Balls In Aycock

We (Millie and Justin Smith) threw our 2nd annual ball making party last weekend.

What a blast! We made 72 lighted balls and a good time was had by all - that's about 200 in two years!








Millie and Justin rest their matching socked feet.

Northern Shores grows the glow

Greensboro Day student Jameson Midgett documents the glow on his street in Northern Shores. Great pictures, Jameson, keep them coming. (If you click Northern Shores) Google makes map to your street from anywhere in the world!

Neighbors help neighbors

Sunset Hills Neighbors,

Collecting 527 pounds of canned food and $735 to Urban Ministry at the 5th Annual Lighted Christmas Ball Workshop was a beautiful thing... Their thank you letter is hard to see, but if you look closely you can see its addressed to Sunset Hills Lighted Christmas Balls Workshop.

Last night we hauled all the balls out of the attic and to the living room. We repaired balls and replaced burned out strings(not many this year!) This is Anne with the ones which didn't need any repairs. Saturday looks like an excellent day for hoisting them into the sky.

Lost and Found from Sunset Hills Lighted Christmas Ball Workshop

Anne and I found some cool stuff after the dust settled! See if you recognize any of the items.

Back row, left to right:

2 nice pairs of brown cloth gloves. I know they're warm cause I wore them when I hitched up the trailer when Marlene and Anne and I took the food to Urban Ministries.

one small, tightly wrapped ball with clear, red, and green lights. Not all the red lights burn, which is maybe why it got left behind. Sad. Claimed by Emmett M.

one very cool cylinder-shaped ornament (think, one big fat roll of paper towels, gold plated ) gold bulbs, not all of which burn, which is maybe why this one got left too. This ornament isn't a brand new one because it has a little bit of white nylon line tied on from last year. This definately can be fixed...and they don't make gold bulbs like these anymore, so this ball might be collectable. Claimed by Emmett M.

Front row, left to right:

1 left glove, the kind with sticky rubber dots all over,

1 right glove, the kind the real cowboys wear when they're driving in fence posts and working with 2'wide lengths of chicken wire,

1 right glove, soft leather, maybe the kind a city cowboy (cowgirl maybe?) might wear, someone not accustomed to hard work,

1 very nice pair Wiss aircraft shears. I know these are nice because I used them, and I'll keep on using them till they're returned to their rightful owner.

1 nice pair of garden clippers, the kind, if my wife caught me using to cut chicken wire with she would have snatched me bald-headed. Claimed by Scott S.

Too bad the bucket truck didn't show up in the lost and found. Maybe Bravo Signs will be over this way again soon.

Remember, glow is good.

Slide Show from Margo Bender

I have to laugh when I think of Sunday (this is Anne writing) Jonathan has this saying 'what if our best idea turns out 100 times better than we think it will?' He applies this question to many things we are pondering whether to do or not. He wondered this about the workshop 5 years ago when we first ventured out in it. I must say, it has quickly surpassed this 'what if' test of worthiness. The fun and growth year to year has been exponential. It's rewarding whenever we hear friends say, "we're going to do this in our neighborhood."

J-Bird and the Soul Central Band took the whole event to the next, next level. A big round of applause goes to Emmett, Lee, Graham and Liam Morphis, and Emmett's Mom, Linda, for making this event memorable in every way. Neighbors brought tables, camp chairs, chicken wire, snacks, drinks, cider, and more. Twin City Brokerage supplied two awesome tents and Bravo Signs designed our banner.

If you have about 5 minutes, click on the photo to the right and view some of the fun we had Sunday on Ridgeway Drive (when finished viewing Margo's slideshow, just click your Internet Explorer back button to return to the blog. Her slide show is a combination of stills and videosk so turn up your volume for even more fun. Enjoy the slideshow and see family and friends having fun all afternoon long. Over the years, Margo has taken more wonderful photos of the lighted Christmas Balls than anyone I know. Her enthusiasm for this project is contagious...and beautiful. THANKS for sharing Margo!

What it Is

What it Is, originally uploaded by cssmith.

by the end of the day:

1. 637 brand new boxes of 100 count mini lights were opened and tested. not one bulb in 63,700 bulbs was bad. (637 boxes of 100 count mini lights plugged end to end would stretch all the way from the corner of Ridgeway Drive to the middle of A&T State University.

2. 1100 feet of 2' wide chicken wire (enough to cover Ridgeway Drive from one end to the other) was unwound and cut into 45" lengths.

3. four hours later, 283 newly made lighted Christmas balls left the Workshop Tent, ready to go new homes. This is "build and release" at it's finest,

4. One dozen kids under 5 played on, in, and under a 3'x4'x6' pile of freshly raked leaves, flattening the pile completely.

5. 5 string-tied limes were launched from a potato cannon (Kablamm!) in front of an expectant crowd. 4 of 5 limes sailed beautifuly over the targeted tree limb only to get stuck on the way down to earth. 1 of the 5 smacked a tree limb 80' high and blew into a million pieces. zero for five but hey, we're in this for fun. and we got to see a lime vaporize on impact. cool.

6. One 6'x8' trailer got filled 2 feet high (557 pounds!) with canned and non perishable food for Greensboro Urban Ministry's food pantry.

7. $735 in monetary donations was given to Greensboro Urban Ministry - You could look at this way, each strand of lights wrapped on a Lighted Christmas ball generated $1.15 for Urban Ministry.

8. Jonathan learned to operate a bucket truck.

9. J-Bird and his band delighted 300+ new friends.

10. Ridgeway Drive was officially renamed "Soul Central Avenue."

11. Neighbors committed to installing and overseeing food collection boxes for Urban Ministry for the month of December.

Kids lead the way (click on photo to launch slideshow)

IMG_0079.JPG, originally uploaded by cssmith. (click on photo above to launch the slideshow, click on back to return to blog)

Play comes natural to kids. All adults need to do is follow, the kids will show us how it's done. Thanks, Scott, for the great shots!

Sunset Hills in action

The trailer was the holding place for the Food Bank items brought by those coming to make lighted Christmas balls.

J-Bird and the Soul Central Band provided lively music to keep the fingers flying while bending chicken wire and wrapping lights.

I have many more pictures and I will either post some here or link to another site with photos.

A neighborhood helps neighbors

in the spirit of fun and fellowship, Sunset Hills neighbors gather the Sunday after Thanksgiving for an afternoon of play, artistry, and adding to the beauty. in this, our 5th year, we've partnered with one of our community's most trusted stewards, Greensboro Urban Ministry, asking all Lighted Christmas Ball Workshop participants (and the larger community who enjoys them) to offer monetary and canned food gifts to Greensboro Urban Ministry.

and so to help fight hunger in Greensboro, click here for a suggested shopping list of items you could bring to the party; if you can donate money, please click here or you can bring your check payable to Greensboro Urban Ministry. and throughout the season, encourage your friends and neighbors to give. together we can be a neighborhood helping neighbors.

consider this: on an average day at Greensboro Urban Ministry -

• 150 people registered in the Emergency Assistance Program for financial assistance, emergency food, or free clothing and/or household goods.

• 26 emergency food orders filled from the Food Bank, helping to feed approximately 80 people; 18 non-profit agencies receive food from the Food Bank to feed the hungry.

• 332 people fed a hot meal at Potter's House Community Kitchen.

• 100 homeless individuals provided shelter and supportive services at Weaver House.

• 15 homeless adults and 28 homeless children provided shelter at Pathways Center.

• 30 individuals/families provided spiritual counseling through the Chaplaincy Program and 10 individuals recovering from substance abuse through the Manfred Gaiser Substance Abuse Recovery Program.

• 32 formerly homeless single individuals provided case management and support services and 23 families (26 adults, 58 children) reside at Partnership Village, a transitional housing community.

• 102 individuals provided Volunteer Services in all areas of the Ministry.

Wow

Marlene showed me a beautiful thing.

Somebody out there, she learned, was touched by the beautiy of the Lighted Christmas balls, and we've gotten to play a part in this joy-filled tradition, and that this somebody responded by giving in gratitude from their abundance, to the Empty Stocking Fund.

Now that is something really beautiful, more beautiful, in fact, than all the Lighted Christmas balls in Sunset Hills put together. Would that we follow their example.

Videos of Lighted Christmas balls on YouTube

Click here to check out the video library

Street Lights

Street Lights, Ridgeway Drive at Christmas

copyright 2006 Jim Dollar

--

Street Lights, Ridgeway Drive at Christmas was taken by Jim Dollar, Sunset Hills neighbor, hanger of Lighted Christmas balls, friend to many, and now friend to our family. If you haven't yet met Jim, you should; you have a great joy in store. Jim is the happy faced man seen almost every afternoon, walking his well worn course, tapping his walking stick, sometimes wearing a reflector vest, starting from his home on Friendly near Ridgeway, to W. Greenway South, to Market, to Ridgeway, and that's just lap one of many. So if you don't speak to him on first spin around the block (what was I thinking, me, too busy hanging lighted Christmas balls) maybe you can do so on his second, or third, or fourth lap, like I did. I learned, all on my own, that Jim leads the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, authors a blog, and has an amazingly beautiful collection of photographs at outlandspress.com, and just plain likes people, and he can find the Sacred everywhere and in everyone.

Sunset Hills Lighted Christmas Balls Spread to West Virginia - (pictures forthcoming)

Kate Brower writes... "Daly and I showed my niece and nephew from Chicago how to make the balls over New Year’s while we were all visiting my mother at her farm along a river in West Virginia. I’m attaching photos – I love how they show up against her Norwegian Spruces, and check out the barn and horse in the background. Isabel was enamored but despaired of being able to do any in Chicago – “Not big enough trees, Aunt Kate.” I told her people don’t only hang them high, so we’ll see what she comes up with next year! I told my mom (82 years old) not to worry, if the snow and ice don’t knock them off branches, Daly and I will lower them the next time we visit. We staged them so she can see them from her kitchen, living room and bedroom windows. Thanks for the inspiration (and sharing your knowledge!)"

Ridgeway Drive

Mario Galucci used the Multiple exposure mode in his D200 to get this; its a composite of 10 shots using auto-gain. Shot with the 75-150mm f/3.5 Series E Manual focus lens.

I'm no photographer, but to me, they're gems. Thanks Mario!

Close ups from Ridgeway

On the to the left, Mario used the Multiple exposure mode in his D200 to get this. This is a composite of 5 shots using auto-gain. Shot with the 75-150mm f/3.5 Series E Manual focus lens.

More gems from Ridgeway

Mario took these georgeous close-ups. Thanks Mario!

Smith Mountain Lake - Lighted Christmas Balls

Sunset Hills neighbor Ellen Wells writes...

"Jonathan, I don't have pictures to send you, but thought you'd like to know that there are about 13 balls shining on the shore of Smith Mountain Lake. Our daughter-in-law's parents live there, and last year their son hung them in their trees bordering the lake, after he saw the Sunset Hills balls. They left them up and have turned them on many times during the year; neighbors call to ask that they turn them on when they are entertaining! I sent the blog link to friends and family around the country, including Washington state, where we used to live. Who knows where they'll next turn up! We love it! And it sounds like Alison was thrilled to see her old neighborhood -- please extend our thanks to her for her idea."

...thanks Ellen, Alison was delighted beyond words, as was her 9 month-old daughter. They're coming back to Greensboro over MLK weekend, so we've planned on leaving the lightballs on till then...Jonathan

Corner of Ridgeway & Madison

The red streak is Santa's sled streaking thru the neighborhood. Debby Smith took this georgeous shot! Thanks Debby.

Photo: Debby Smith

Ridgeway Drive

Mario Gallucci sent these incredible shots. The car headlights look like stars! Thanks Mario...

photo: Mario Gallucci

Toad Hall

A dimmer quiets the mini lights on the Japanese Red Maple while a 30 second timed exposure captures the lighted Christmas balls.

Photo: Debby Smith

It is really difficult to capture the magical scene

Fallen angel

Found this lighted Christmas ball by the side of the road, like a wounded bird, does anyone know what street its on? email me with your guesses.

Comet lightball

Can anyone identify where the lighted comet lightball is?

email me with your guesses. Buster, you and Lisa can't vote.

Christmas Lights in Greensboro - Video by Andy Coon

video: Andy Coon www.fcproducer.com

Christmissippi

Lighted Christmas balls in Jackson, MS, at the home of Lus and Carolyn Brown. Click here for map.

Lus and Carolyn write:

"Christmas here is not too different than Christmas in Greensboro. I truly missed the tree ball spectacle of Sunset Hills, but our neighborhood did have lights. One of my neighbors very nearby has a destination light display on his home that involves cherry pickers to install and includes just about every available Christmas image that can be electrified and some things that don’t involve Christmas. I like the inclusion of the American flag in lights to complete the scene. We hung our tree balls, but not well. Still, we saw plenty of traffic slow down in front of our house to see our display on their way to see the main attraction down the street. Maybe tree balls can grow further south."

photo: Lus & Carolyn Brown

Merry Christmas

Christmas Eve

Ridgeway Drive, looking toward Friendly Avenue. The creator of the lighted Christmas balls and her husband, little girl, and two dogs arrived from TN after a long day's drive. Many lightballs were still glowing brightly to welcome them.

biggest lighted Christmas ball in Sunset Hills

Gardner allows a rare close up shot of his invention. 1,000 chasing lights, 24/7, over Ridgeway drive.

Silent night, Holy night, somewhere in Kirkwood

three little girls (sisters) are first to the door, leading us singing Christmas Carols.

Lighted Christmas balls video - by FunScienceGuy

Merry Christmas in Cashiers, NC

"The lighted balls have made it to the mountains of Cashiers, North Carolina. We plan to have more each year, playing with different sizes and colors, etc. Hope to to come up with a way to tie some of the balls together and reduce the number of extension cords needed. May have to buy a cherry picker to do it!!! Thanks to Jonathan for the idea, we enjoy the decoration spread across our property." Ben & Carol Odom.

Note...word has it Ben & Carol run a clandestine B&B and as beautiful as these pictures are, they really don't do the place justice; you have to see it firsthand...

photos: Ben and Carol Odom

I Keep trying

I photoshopped this photo a bit also. I have one more near neighbor to do, but right now it is pouring and I don't have an underwater camera so all are safe for awhile! I have seen many people taking photos so I hope all the good ones get mailed to Jonathan.

photo: Marlene Pratto

Winter's here

Winter's here, ain't no doubt,
And you best bundle up
before you go out
Life is hard, the world is so cold
It's very clear that the winter is here
Leafless branch, frozen ground,
Ice covers every heart like Mrs. Havisham's gown
All somehow broken, empty but hoping
Dry the tear, 'cause winter's here.
Love reaches down to the world,
For the dark and dreamless ones
bringing faith, bringing hope, bringing joy,
and the way to the light of the Sun.
Winter's here, cold the sting,
But we work giving light to the world
As we wait for the spring
Color awaits us, though winter frustrates us,
Have no fear, though the winter is here.

Winter’s here –
by Allen Levi, another guy who brings the Light
Click to hear a 30 second sound clip

Painted Lighted Christmas Balls

I keep taking pictures, but I am not please yet with any of them. Here is one I took form the middle of the street (you can tell I did not get flattened!) and then I did a little Photoshopping with it.

photo: Marlene Pratto

Everyday poet writes a Greensboro "tree ball" poem

everyday poet wrote a "tree ball" poem, here:
http://poetdaily.blogspot.com/2006/12/soul-assist.html.
guess every ball-laden tree feels like the "giving tree"?

Add to the beauty

Historic Aycock adds to the beauty. This simple but elegant arrangement of all red lighted Christmas balls provides this stunning contrast against a swag of all clear lights on a white picket fence.

Making a star

Three lighted Christmas balls

I always try to take pictures at night and they don't work (yet). I took this picture at dusk and thus three balls do show up. One is hard to see, but it is blue and on the left. Next time I post, I will show Sunset Hills by day! I have lots of other photos too, but I need to reduce the size. I timed traffic for a short time. One car every two seconds.

photo: mrp

Firepit warms Historic Aycock Workshop attendees

with nightfall came the chill, so Justin and Tom cranked up the two firepits and everybody kept spinning lighted christmas balls.

Where does this wire go?

So how many more do you want to make??

kevin and the guys show justin how to lay a fire

actually the guys take a break while the girls keep working (see background). 

First time Christmas light enthusiasts make 10 Lighted Christmas Balls

These all red balls grace two lovely native trees on Cypress Street. You can't miss it...click here.

First Annual Historic Aycock Lighted Christmas ball workshop

Aycock neighborhood was delighted that folks came from other neighborhoods to join in the festivities. Shown here, Kevin from Hamilton Forest and Scott, from the Revolution neighborhood.

Historic Aycock 1st Annual Lighted Christmas Ball Workshop

The first Saturday in December, Historic Aycock held its 1st Annual Lighted Christmas Ball Workshop. A few hours later, 110 newly made lighted Christmas balls found their way into treetops. Folks in this kind-hearted neighborhood made some lighted balls to give away to others. Talk about the Spirit of Christmas...

Jeff Hayes' extension cords disappear

Ridgeway Drive Lighted Christmas Ball posse

the Ridgeway Drive Lighted Christmas ball committee prepares to launch the big one at the home of Ron & Kathy Mack. Gardner Sheffield, seasoned ball launcher, takes aim with his 6 1/2' casting rod w/ 3 oz. weight. Gardner is accurate up to 200' feet.

Lighted Christmas balls in Branden, FL (near Tampa)

Lighted Christmas balls are glowing brightly at this address in Branden, FL, about 675 miles south of Greensboro. Photo: Jennifer Thomas

1,248 miles northwest of greensboro

lighted Christmas balls grace a rustic lakefront B&B 1,248 miles northwest of greensboro. Bill & Barbara Briggs, owners of Sheridan on the Lake B&B visited their daughter and son in law in Greensboro. "I was able to get up seven balls," Barbara writes, "only six show up in the attached pictures. The snow and cold set in before I could get any more up - too cold out there now. More next year." Writes Bill, "my son in law and I made and put up six balls before we left Greensboro. I brought one home with me and made seven more. The eighth one will go up if weather breaks. At night they really look good and they can be seen by all cars passing by on highway US 41. We have had a couple people interested in how they were made but its too late for this year up here with the cold & snow starting to set in. We were lucky with the late winter weather. Actually, putting them up is the biggest challenge but went well after I got started. They are on timers." Click here for weather info at the B&B. Photo: Bill & Barbara Briggs

Lots of moving parts

Lines, ladders, potato launchers ready for use, and balls waiting their turn for time in the sky, while Katie....whose family just moved in the neighborhood...has no idea what awaits her. I hope they knew what they were getting into...

Ridgeway Drive Neighbors Fly their Lighted Balls

Neighbors new and old hoist, fling, fly, cast, pitch, launch ----- those wonderful Lighted Balls into the trees. The street is filled with families, friends, and kids of ALL ages having fun and enjoying the day.

Blue and Disco show off their lighted balls!

Hi, Everyone! I am Prince Blue Dog and this is my brother Disco. We just brought Lighted Christmas Balls to the banks of Little River in Cherokee County, Georgia! Mom and Dad and Seth made these balls. We supervised the installation and protected the property from neighbors and cats while they hung the balls in the trees. We want them to make a dozen more! photos: Emily Perry

3704 Sage Drive - Greensboro

3704 Sage Drive blazes a new trail for lighted christmas balls in an all new neighborhood. Take Westridge to Hobbs, Sage is one block west off off Hobbs Road. You can't miss it, but click here for a map anyway.

so many lighted christmas balls so little time

Bunnie and I took the day off to rais lighted christmas balls. we group the balls to get our favorite color combinations, but there's usually one red, pink, or clear ball on each "power line" so that when we let down the green, multi, gold, orange, purple, and blue lighted balls on epiphany, we can keep the valentine colored balls lit thru st. valentine's day night.

build a ball, launch a dream ~ also how to make lighted balls

friends from lake jeannette, westridge, fisher park, old starmount, historic aycock, kirkwood, sunset hills...and...even tampa and michigan's upper peninsula came by for an afternoon of fun and fellowship...and best of all, the transforming of hundreds of feet of poultry netting & thousands of mini lights into magnificent lighted orbs; like snowflakes, each one unique, as unique, in fact, as the people who made them. want to make your own? click here for directions to make lighted christmas balls.
photos: Millie Smith

Ball Making Workshop II

Jo, Mike, Zoë & Noa Slane know exactly what they're making...five georgeous lighted Christmas balls. You can see their creations here and all up and down Madison Avenue, between Beverly and Holden.

Ball Making Workshop Sunset Hills

We had so much fun teaching our neighbors in Sunset Hills and beyond. If you have photos of this time, please send to annefsmith@gmail.com and I would love to share them. IT was a beautiful day and a lot of fun for us. photo: Millie Smith

Got Seven Up In The 'Hood

Come see 'em here.

Millie and I had a great talk with some neighbors walking by while we were stringing up lights. Talked about magnolia trees, lost cats, and, of course, Christmas Balls. That's one of my favorite things about these lights. They make you seem friendly enough to talk to at 10:00pm on a dark, cold night, one block from Summit Ave.

I'll post pictures later.

Toad Hall All decked out

This is a photo of home last Christmastime after all the balls were hung and the ground illumination had been installed over protest from Jonathan. I enhanced and filtered Margo Bender's beautiful original photo in Adobe Photoshop. I like to call it Toad Hall ala psychedelic Monet.

Today at Toad Hall

Today we cast our new SpideyMan fishing rod into the trees a trillion times and hung 24 or so lines for subsequent hanging of the balls. We will repair the balls from last year with more new lights (i bought 12 more boxes of lights----the stock at the Target on Lawndale was getting low btw) so assuming we can stay awake (its 7:14 now) we will fetch the balls from their summer home in the attic of Toad Hall and we will repair, restring, and plan where we will hang what. We will try to launch the high ones from the reknown potato launcher hopefully before it gets too cold.

Lighted Christmas Balls at Toad Hall

this is how things looked Christmas 2005 at the corner of ridgeway drive and madison avenue. photo: Margo Bender