December 24, 2012
An inflated sense of elf
Winfield man goes the extra yard to decorate for Christmas
Chip Ellis
Bryson Hoff, 6, admires two of the approximately 50 Christmas-theme inflatables in his grandfather's yard. On nights he doesn't have school the next morning, Bryson dances in his elf costume and hands out candy canes to people in cars who pull through the driveway.
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Chip Ellis
Bud Turner and his grandson, Bryson Hoff, enjoy showing off the elaborately decorated yard.
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"I think I'm at about seven this year," he said.

"That one is new, and so is that one," said Savannah Hoff, 11, Turner's granddaughter, pointing at two of the inflatables.

Fighting the chill in the air, Bryson and Turner walked through the yard pointing at their favorite scenes of Santa last week.

"This one has a leaf on it," Bryson said, brushing off the foliage the wind had blown on to its side.

"I guess I'm about the same age as he is," Turner joked, looking at Bryson.

"Whatever doesn't move, we put lights on," he said. "That's how we get our pizza," Turner said, describing how he gives directions to delivery drivers.

Residents who live along the riverfront in Hometown have a beautiful view, as the lights along the back of his home reflect on the water.

The lights are strewn along tree branches of dozens of trees with no organization.

"Kids see all kinds of things in the lights," he said comparing them to cloud formations.

One nearly 70-foot-tall tree was decorated several years ago by a friend of Turner who owns a tree-trimming business.

"A lot of them we don't take down, just plug them back in every year," he said.

Turner said his lights don't seem to bother his neighbors, as he shuts them off at about 10 p.m., except on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

And how big are Turner's November and December electricity bills?

"Well, I don't talk about it," he said with a laugh. "My wife does."

Reach Kate White at kate.wh...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1723.

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