Somewhere over this rainbow stood the second story.
Oh, cold, cold Syracuse winter.
Sometimes I must drive through the deep freeze.
I pilot my car with freezing hands, despite the leather gloves.
Yes, it’s been this cold this week in Syracuse, N.Y.
The heater churns to bring some small level of comfort inside the vehicle.
This week I found myself stopping my car at the curb because a certain sight had the potential to warm my imagination, at least.
I ventured out into the sub-zero evening to capture the inspiration.
Thank you, city home dweller, for festooning your yard with a rainbow and palm tree.
Normally by this time, I’m calling for all outdoor decorations to make their way back to the box in basements, garages, attics or sheds.
Not yours. Yours can stay, bringing warmer visions to everybody who drives down your road.
Paradise past the front door lights.
Mark Bialczak 
What a wonderful sight on a frigid winter night. Someone in our neighborhood built a huge dragon and it had green and red dye on it. It was quite a sight – delightful!
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Mark, you are a poet.
And having survived 4 years of upstate New York sub zero temperatures, I feel you, brother. I feel you.
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No relief temperature wise in sight this week, Samara. Did you go to college in upstate NY, or was it a different four years of your life?
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College.
And that WAS a very different 4 years of my life. I have a whole post, ready to go, on just what “A Long, Strange Trip That Was.”
Freshman year, finals week in May? We had a blizzard. I’m not even kidding.
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Having gone my first two years at SUNY Morrisville right up here 30 miles from Syracuse, that does not surprise me in the least, snow during finals. Where exactly did you go?
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Cornell.
Sshhhhh. It’s not something I want people to know. I hide it very, very well. It will ruin my reputation.
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It is in the vault. Ithaca is gorges. So they tell me.
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what a fantastic find! just make sure you weren’t suffering from the first stages of hypothermia )
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Nah, Beth, I turned on my iPhone and clicked on the camera mode inside the car, and was back inside the car as fast as could be!
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Nothing tacky about those lights on a sub zero degree day. Damn, it’s cold out there! Stay warm, my friend.
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When I see -7 on the car dash thermometer, Don, I get scared to step back outside the vehicle. It’s a bit warmer today, and I am inside watching Syracuse play at Miami, jealous of the players and fans down there in Florida.
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What? No leprechauns? No pot of gold? No Dorothy and Ruby slippers? Not even a gay pride parade? Just a lone rainbow?
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The Kerbey slant: Slackards!
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No one can deny Christmas lights make us happy inside. I love them.
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But the lights pictured are outside, Kerbey. Oh, wait … I am glad whenever you may be happy inside, my friend.
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Wonderful post, Mark. My boyfriend and I disagree about Christmas lights — he thinks they should be gone by this point in the winter and I am always happy to see them. Also, the rainbow of light in your post reminded me of something in my post today. Thanks for all of it.
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Typical displays get a bit weary by now, but I will always cherish a rainbow and palm tree in the winter months, Ann. Off to check out your post now!
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wow! This is beautiful! By the way,here in PP the temperature is 24 and our feet are freezing, but I still wish to experience snow. 🙂
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You must visit the northeast of the United States, Lilly, and you will experience snow!
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I wonder how many people have delighted over that. Or gone home and made reservations and plans to head out to the real thing? We are currently receiving another white blanket ourselves. And the bitter cold makes it near impossible to encourage the kids to go play. What torture!!!!
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I always consider Super Bowl Sunday as the final turn on the track, back to the finish line of spring, Colleen. That thought bolsters my winter blahs. Eight more days. Hang in there. Go play in the snow, kids! Dress warm.
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We did! Well we went out. Play did not really occur as much as just existing in it. Good enough! 😉
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I love this. If I ever own a home, I want to be the slightly eccentric person with pink flamingos and this decor. It looks like so much fun 🙂
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Attractive enough for me to pull over on a 7-below night, for sure, Sheena. Twenty years ago, I did place plastic pink flamingos in my yard, too, but that was two houses and a different life removed from this one. Now my dear wife Karen places cool things wonderfully.
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Nice, Mark! Feeling warmer already!
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Yeah, I saved this one from this week for a Saturday morning spirit-lifter.
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