Justin "turns" J&J&J "chigger sauce" with special tools from Extra Ingredient

Justin checks the consistency of this year's J & J & J sauce, otherwise known as "Chigger sauce," a family tradition. Professional kitchen tools from Extra Ingredient make the job so much easier...

Lighted balls sighted in California

Lighted balls glow brightly in Fair Oaks, CA, a suburb of Sacramento, 2,775 miles west of Greensboro. These dazzling ornaments were made by Libba, Jonathan's daughter, and her husband Rod and their daughter, Kenzie. Libba's passion is representing the "missing" missing and under represented through www.outpostforhope.org; Rod's passion is his family, golf, and shooting an occasional duck; by day he's a financial advisor, helping teachers, nurses, and hard-working folks save and invest for their retirement years.

Historic Aycock in cold December.

Pete and Dave brighten Historic Aycock Neighborhood

Pete & Dave brighten Historic Aycock with lighted Christmas balls. Aycock neighbors know "if its fun it will get done," and pull off lighted balls, luminaria, a bonfire, and caroling all in the same afternoon/evening.
jonathan

white house gets jiggy with lighted Christmas balls

thanks everyone...Can't tell you how much it means to have some of those lighted balls from NC hanging in my yard. my house needs all the joy it can find, if you know what I mean. Merry Christmas, Barney

Pick up a copy of Saturday's News & Record for an illustrated 'how-to'.

Hey, this is Barney weighing in from the White House. Dubya asked me to ask you if he could have some of those NC Lighted Christmas Balls. Could y'all help a dog out?
barney

because something that is yours forever is not precious...

faithful friend, dog, and family member of Eric and Kristen Leathers, dear friends to so many...

Fisher Leathers 12/8/2003 - 12/8/2005

Lighted balls migrate to Historic Aycock Neighborhood

out of the clear blue, lighted balls appear on Percy Street. Check them out.

There's no known cure for this

The lighted balls are spreading. Folks know there's no known cure, yet they go ahead and make and launch them anyway. Lighted balls seen on West Market Street. Also spread up and down Rolling Road, E. Greenway and Chapman Street, and Ridgeway Drive. Madison Avenue also has a few. If you see a Lighted ball, drop us a line, send us a digital photo, and we'll post it.

Most frequently asked question

"How'd you get those balls up in the trees?" Baseball with last summer's kite string. That's how we did it. Screwed an eyehook into a baseball. Pitched baseball over tree limb. Tied string on to lighted ball. Pluged in an extension cord. Pulled string like raising a flag. Watched the lighted balls cast a glow into the faces of passers by, older men and women seeing again the glow of Christmas long ago and babies wrapped up tightly seeing the glow, maybe for the first time. Knew we were on to something. Last year, Sunset Hills was launching pad for over 200 lighted balls. This year, one hundred neighbors attended a workshop, well playgroup. Made 130 balls. Drove through neighborhood after dark. Noticed that the things that separate one neighbor from another weren't visible: fences, boundaries, driveways. Instead saw one giant solar system. Again, reminded of the importance of community. True fellowship is inclusive, otherwise its not inclusive. This is bigger than we think it is.

The evolution of the revolution

On her way home from college. Christmas break her sophomore year, the middle daughter, Alison, saw an unusual display of lights - a half-dozen balls wrapped with mini lights. Shiny objects attract crows and industrial design majors. No sooner home, the wide-eyed artist grabbed me and we high tailed over to Holliday Hardware. Fetched chicken wire, twisted, rolled, molded, and voila, an ordinary piece of scrap became a magical sphere...waiting to be crowned with a zillion mini Christmas lights. Shown here, the Queen of Toad Hall wraps a newly formed ball with 200+ mini lights.