As some of you who have seen my Halloween Skeleton posts may already know, I have always been a “holiday person” but that increased during COVID Quarantine, when I started the Skeleton Scenes and changed them each week during the month of October. I hoped this would entertain the many neighbors who walked past our house each day. I believe that one thing COVID 19 taught us, is that we need to enjoy each day, find something to appreciate each day, and something to celebrate whenever we can.

Later, because the neighborhood seemed to enjoy the skeletons so much, I added more outdoor decorations for other holidays, some were in addition to what I was already using for the holidays, and some were for holidays for which I had previously done nothing in the way of outdoor decorations. Due to the ease of storing inflatables, they have come to be one of my mainstays in outdoor decorations. I have added them to all of my holiday outdoor decorations, except Halloween.

Outdoor 4th of July decoration video from this year (2023).Click on play to see the video above.

Although my outdoor decorations are “low key” compared to the skeletons, the neighbors seem to enjoy seeing the lights and inflatables for each holiday. I always invite the families (via our neighborhood Facebook page) to come into the yard and take photographs of their families and friends with the inflatables, as they did with the skeletons. I do caution them (via Facebook as well) to use flashlights and caution when walking thru the displays as the lights, extension cords, posts, as well as “tie down” cords with the inflatables, make navigating the displays a bit challenging.

UPDATE on Orchestra of Lights (March 2023) Just wanted to let you know that I used the orchestra of light products with very few problems for 3 years, and then when I set “green” or “St. Patrick’s Day” on the Orchestra of Lights app, it would change to the colors I picked initially but within 1-12 hours it would revert to Christmas (which was most definitely NOT the colors I wanted in March). We hypothesize that something is now incompatible, most likely having to do with wifi. We are unsure whether it is power bleeps, or internet service bleeps, that throw it all off. If it would revert to all white lights when it malfunctions, that would be better, but always it reverts to Christmas. Because of this I can no longer recommend Orchestra of Lights. Btw, I am currently looking for programmable lights for all holidays – but a different brand, that hopefully will hold is program better. If you are familiar with any sets of lights that might work, please let me know in the comments section.

BTW, if you are interested in the Halloween Skeletons, you can see them at Astros Skeleton Team has a “Thrilling and Chilling” Start or The Astros Skeleton Baseball Game – Held Over By Popular Demand or Choosing a World for your Skeletons – “Hair-Raising” or “Happy”?

For this 4th of July…

For the 4th of July and other Patriotic Holidays, I have used two inflatables that I purchased some years back. One of these inflatables is a Patriotic Dog, and the other is an Uncle Sam with a Patriotic puppy. Over the years, I have added and subtracted various things to the display so I will include some of the variations from other years in this post. I would love to know which features you like the most.

This above scene is from 2021

In all my outdoor decorations, I use the Orchestra of Lights C-9 light strings (Gemmy lights from Lowes that require a hub to work). These can be set to different color combinations and effects with an app on your phone – so I leave them up all year, using them for each holiday, and using white lights in between holidays. As this “technical” information is the same on all my “Light up the Night” Posts – I will put it in its own section below so that you can bypass it easily if you have read one of the other posts, and are already familiar with the technical information.

A Regatta Tablescape for Summer, and also for Labor Day, Fourth of July, Memorial Day, etc.

For this 4th of July post, I selected the preset color called “Independence Day” and the effect called “Glimmer” on the Orchestra of Lights app on my phone (see above. When I have 3 distinct colors flashing, as in the preset color “Independence Day” and others such as “Mar)di Gras” I have noticed that, when viewed from a distance the colors occasionally blend, giving it a more Christmas look of green, and red, rather than the colors chosen. To avoid this, I now select the effect “glimmer” which light up each color separately, and give a truer color effect.

In 2020, I used a Fourth of July Tree with my Uncle Sam and Puppy inflatable. This tree was sized for a much larger lot, and the light strings had to be doubled up to my remembrance. This made it one of my most difficult holiday yard decorations to assemble, and it has not been used since, although I really did like it.

Technical Information Section (as in other “Light up the Night” posts)

Orchestra of Lights 

In 2021, at Christmas time, I added the “Orchestra of Lights C-9 strings” along the top edge of the garage. These lights can be operated by the Orchestra of Lights app and can be changed for each holiday, and/or to any particular color.  Orchestra of lights is a Gemmy product, which as of 2022, was only sold at Lowes and usually only well stocked during October. These lights require a Orchestra of Lights WiFi hub to work, and are controlled by an phone app. They come with pre-programmed colors for each holiday and with sparkle and other effects that can be selected for each holiday or time of year as well. One can also select custom colors in any one color, and add “effects” for variety. I can’t tell you how much I enjoy not taking down lights and putting them back up. These lights have been up up since December of 2021 and I plan to keep them up indefinitely. 

Flood Lights 

I often use LED flood lights in my display as well (see above) . I use them to flood the garage/front yard wall with seasonal color that coordinates with my inflatables and any other yard decorations. I also use yellow flood lights to light up the inflatables themselves. I use “yellow bulbs” rather than white, to light up the inflatable as yellow seems to attract less insects. Most of the LED light bulbs I use are the “Philips Hue LED Bulbs” and are available at Home Depot. For colors not available in Philips bulbs, I usually chose the Blue X brand – which is available at Amazon.

The above photo is from 2021, as I did not have the Orchestra of Lights light strings on the house at the edge of the roof yet, however, I did use blue floodlights, so I was still able to “light up the night”.

In 2022, (below) I used projection star lights at the front door area and the Orchestra of Lights C-9 strings at the edge of the roof. I also used LED star lights on the garage. See video below.

Click on “play” to start the above video.

Wishing you a Wonderful 4th of July!!!!!!

Details and Origins 

Orchestra of Lights – C-9 strings and hub – in 2022 this was exclusive to Lowes. Not sure if or where it will be available in 2023. It is made by Gemmy.  Please note, due to the program glitches with Orchestra of Lights, I am not them recommending them currently. I hope to find something similar that I can recommend.

LED Floodlights base – Lowe’s Floodlight fixture

Yellow floodlight bulb LED – Home Depot-for exterior lighting of the inflatables themselves (they may also be lighted internally)  yellow is recommended over white for this as it attract less insects.

Uncle Sam with Patriotic puppy – Amazon – currently unavailable though similar inflatables are available.

Large Patriotic Dog – Amazon – currently unavailable though similar inflatables are available.

Bluex Bulbs 2 Pack BlueX LED  – Amazon

Patriotic stars projection light – originally these were from Lowes. They are not available currently. But Amazon has some similar things. Try searching “projector lights for 4th of July”.

Light up stars (on garage windows) I believe these were from Oriental Trading originally, and they seem to be discontinued, however, the Northlight 14″ Lighted Red White and Blue 4th of July Star Window Silhouette Decoration-Amazon

Posts I Hope You Will Like

If you enjoyed this 4th of July post, I hope you will enjoy the following…

A Regatta Tablescape for Summer, and also for Labor Day, Fourth of July, Memorial Day, etc.

Minnie and Mickey Mouse & Friends “Float” Along on the 4th of July “Boat Parade” Tablescape!!!

“Lighting up the Night” to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo!!!

Lighting Up the Night for Easter!!!

 Link Parties and Blog Hops

I often participate in Tablescape Thursday at betweennapsontheporch.net, Please click on the link to see this website of one of my favorite bloggers – I especially love her “Tablescape Thursday posts” which is all about tablescapes and her tablescape post is followed by photos and links for many other wonderful tablescapers.  Her “Metamorphisis Monday” posts, which are all about “Befores and Afters” – is another favorite of mine. 

I also often participate in Marty’s “Inspire me Tuesday” link party at “A Stroll Thru life” I hope you can check out her website and her Tuesday link party which is followed by photos and links for many other ideas from her followers.

Recently I started following Katherinescorner.com. I frequently join her TFT blog party. The TFT – Thursday Favorite Things blog hop contains links on many topics with lots of great ideas. To get there click on the preceding link and go to her website and they check out her most recent Thursday – TFT post, at the bottom of her post, you will find many of her followers’ ideas. 

Recently I discovered the Imparting Grace blog, and I am really enjoying it. To get to this website click the preceding link and look for the “Grace At Home Blog party” which begins each week on Thursdays.

I have also started following SouthernSunflowers.com and recently joined their “Home Matters Link Party”. It begins each week on Thursdays, I hope you can check it out.

Very Recently I started following KarinsKottage.com, and I am loving her blog as well, and can’t wait to see her Italian Castle remodel! I often participate in her Linky Party on Wednesdays . 

I have also started following EclecticRedBarn.com and am loving her “Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop” and am sharing on it on Wednesdays. 

In addition I really enjoy Lifeasaleowife.com and share on her “Crafty Creators Link Party” on Thursdays. 

Next Tuesday, for my first time, I will join the “Home Imagined Link Party” at Masterpiecesofmylife.com. I love this website, and the hostesses and other contributors have some great ideas! To get to the home page, use the above link and then scroll down to “Home Imagined Link Party” and click on it to get to the Link Party page. A new link party is posted every other week. 

I hope you will enjoy visiting these wonderful bloggers on the above websites as much as I do!

I hope you can “visit” with me soon, on one of the posts mentioned above.

Meanwhile, Please Have a Wonderful 4th of July Holiday!!!!

Please leave a comment below if you have anything you’d like to mention about this post, or if you would like to share any 4th of July Celebrations you have had. Thanks!!