Every year for the last handful of years, the town of Prescott Valley, with the help of local businesses in Arizona, has put on a light show that people can drive through and enjoy for free. It's probably nothing as spectacular as New York's Rockefeller Center, but for us here it's one of the highlights of the season (Pardon my pun. Lol).
This year, as I drove through with my family, I found myself chuckling at some of the fun memories certain displays brought to my mind. And someone who's a fan of Alias Smith and Jones is likely to see the same images I did and chuckle too. ^_^ Click pics to make em bigger if you so desire...
First we pass by a little mine where it looks like somebody just struck paydirt. Sure reminds me of a small group of hopeful prospectors that hit the big one in the Sangre de Cristo's... I know I'm mixing quotes and episodes up here, and probably not quoting it very well at that, but:
"It's not a bad way to get rich, really. Just enough work so that it feels honest!"
Stagecoaches... you'd think after the first time around, our boys would have chosen a different way to travel... Then again, it might not have been as fun for us without all those fun episodes involving close-quarters stage rides. But mark my words, boys. Stagecoaches are bad news! :-P
We move on and find ourselves in a profitable little boomtown. barber shop, bank (Chocolate-brown Heyesian eyes light up with a gleam upon seeing that, I'm sure), large general mercantile, and a small but welcoming saloon there on the corner. Nice town! However, upon closer inspection...
This... is not the town for us. Poor Kid'd be getting restless about now I think. I'm not sure this is a town where he'd suggest getting a drink at all... let alone first! (Not even in a town where they can just walk in like a couple of Texas Rangers.)
This one was supposed to be a shot of a cowboy working around in front of the barn, but I missed my shot. There were quite a few cars behind us at this point and the pressure of not lingering too long to take pictures was cutting me short. But it still goes with the other western shots so I left it in. I especially like the Coyote in the back. Makes me think of Mac's ranch and the little spread owned by the Jordans in "Posse that Wouldn't Quit."
Last in this mini western series of displays is the rodeo. To the best of my knowledge, a rodeo didn't appear on the show Alias Smith and Jones, but this sort of made me think of the Yuma Arizona horse race the boys bet on in "Miracle at Santa Marta". It's a bit of a stretch, but this is how my mind works these days ;-)
On a shameless hometown plug, Prescott Arizona is known for it's "World's Oldest Rodeo". This display is near and dear to a native Arizonan's heart. We do love our traditions. :-)
I know, I'm not-so-mildly show obsessed... but these lights put a big smile on my face and made me laugh at my own silly connections. I hope you can enjoy these as well.
The rest of these pictures are just a sample of the other displays that can be found in the Valley.
I wasn't able to capture every display, as the lights from other displays would bleed over and make it confusing, but here are some of my other favorites.
There are three gorgeous tunnels like the ones pictured above. First is the snowflake tunnel, and then one made of candycanes (Which came out lousy in my photographs so it's not pictured), and finally the holly tunnel near the exit.
The cross is one of my favorite displays. It stands tall and beautiful, normally set slightly back and well defined from the rest of the displays. Jesus truly is the Reason for this Season...
The first Noel...
Thanks to all who served and to those who still do!
The horses in this Cinderella display are some of my favorites. Mystical, beautiful and perfect in a fairy-tale. I never could quite get the shot, but they're animated to go from mice and pumpkin to horses and carriage.
Last but not least is this none-too-fancy display attraction near the very end
Yes, this is a modern-day outhouse. A port-a-potty. As fancy as this all seems, one has to remember what a bunch of hicks and rednecks we are. For prime example: You might be a redneck if you decorate your port-a-potty for Christmas and put it in the local holiday light display as an advertisement! Lol.
I hope this brings some late Christmas joy to those few folks who find this, and especially to Karen, whom I thought of right away as I drove through the western and nativity-themed parts of the Valley this year. May God bless you today and may those blessings continue throughout the new year and always!!
With love and greetings,
~Clarissa
If you don't believe that the spirit of someone who has passed on can connect spirits of the living who loved them...think again. I clicked on the first photo to enlarge it and viewed all the photos at the bottom of the page before I ever scrolled down and read your blog. My thoughts about each light display almost mirrored yours perfectly when I read them. They brought to mind the same episodes and quotes.
ReplyDeleteThis has made my day. I can't tell you in words what a blessing you have been to me this past year. I've have looked forward to each and every email and comment you have sent me. I truly believe that the spirit of Peter Deuel is at work and connecting the people who love him. Please keep blogging and sharing more of your beautiful southwest with the rest of us. It is after all the back drop for many of AS&J's episodes and for my story. Only a true die hard obsessed fan like you or me could make these connections. I mean really, do you think anybody else in the world would have looked at the wild west town display and said, "Oh, look a bank! (smiles)" "Oh, and a jail. (frowns)" Only those of us with this healthy obsession of ours. Thank you for sharing this with me and the rest of the AS&J nuts out there. You are blessed to live in such a beautiful place. May God bless you with abundance of joy, peace, health and happiness in the new year.
Love and peace,
Karen :')
P.S. Ain't nuttin' wrong with bein' a redneck hick. I'm from Kentucky, believe me I know a little about bein' one. There are only four traffic lights in my entire county. So when I say I live in the country, I mean country. And where there's country there's bound to be rednecks. ;')
Well it took me long enough to realize there was a comment here and then reply lol. Not used to the way the site works yet.
ReplyDeleteI'm so very very glad you liked this! We passed through the Valley three times this year, and the first two times I just about kicked myself black and blue for forgetting my camera. It was something I wanted to share the second I saw those displays lol. They've been there a couple of years, but with my obsession burning fresh this year, it made it special. Can you believe that jail?? Right next to the saloon where a man can't take a relaxing drink without thinking about the sheriff walking right in...What a crazy irritating place to put the bloody jail.(made me laugh all the way home, let me tell you.)
And maybe I will keep blogging around some here. I'll keep an eye out for more scenes and random connections around home. You can be sure I'll post them if I can capture some.
Only four traffic lights?? Gee, can we trade hometowns for a while? Lol. I think my county has decided that the more traffic lights the better anywhere they can put em. They've put in about ten in the last five years. I'm not sure why it is really either. It's as though the people think that putting in more stoplights will keep us rednecks out. Let me tell ya, it ain't workin. I do remember when it was only four... They'll be the death of me yet! Lol.
Thank you so much for your compliments Karen, and I hope your year is full of joyous blessings, laughter and peace.
Clarissa :')