"Holidays"
Section

I can always use help getting more Big Pictures so let me know whats Big near you and become an official Bird Dog. If you want to see the Big Things already reported go to my "Bird Dog Tips" page.

Driving down Woodward Avenue from the Fairgrounds to the Joe Louis Fist at the foot of Woodward we passed the Fox Theatre and came upon these Big Gift Wrapped presents. This was an unexpected find. Luckily we were able to whip into a parking lot driveway to grab this shot. I don't expect this to be around long.

Andy introduced Lindsey to "Bird Dogging" when they sighted this big ornament across from Bordine's Nursery in Rochester, Michigan. I've gone to Bordine's for decades now. It's a wonder that it's still there since it takes up a great deal of now, very valuable land south of Rochester. I would miss it since we often stop to purchase a gift there for people when we are visiting in Motown.

For Spring Break we went out to New Jersey to see Ben and Annie in New Jersey and Andy north of Philly. When we turned onto Rte 38 after crossing the Ben Franklin bridge we were going past Bayards Chocolates. Once again they had something seasonal out, this time Big Bunnies. See down below for a shot of 2 Santas out front. This image is only one of the two that were out front during our stop.

This is the only image in this category taken at M. Schettl Sales outside Oshkosh, Wisconsin. There are lots of images on the Big Animals and Food and Drink pages that were also taken there, check them out! We were on out way through the Flea Market to the Object Garden when Debbie spotted this Nutcracker. I have to tell you, everything and more is for sale at Mel's.

The whole Hejl gang was on the way to lunch after getting the insiders Disney Center tour in downtown Los Angeles. As we walked by a building with a Christmas display in the lobby this giftbox called out to me. I had to climb my way up but I think the results were well worth it.

No trip anywhere is without an opportunity to grap a good Big Picture. This Muffler Man stands outside the Joor Muffler Service station in Los Angeles. Since we were there at Christmas the owner had the MM dressed for the season. He has cut back a bit since these outfits cost over $5,000 to produce and they don't last long due to the deteoriation caused by the weather.

There's a town in southern Indiana named Santa Claus, no kidding. The Holiday World park is there, no surprise. (Which do yoy think came first?) You can send mail there postmarked "Santa Claus, Indiana," we did, of course. Right by the post office was the Santa Claus Motel with these two Big Santa Clauses standing in front, a twofer, too good an opportunity to pass up.

On our way out of town, actually village is a more appropriate name, we unexpectedly passed by the town hall. What more appropriate display in front, of course another Santa Claus -- Dedicated to the children of the world in memory of an undying love.

We continued our trip westward to Evansville, Indiana. There, near the intersection of I-64 and US-41 stands this sad Santa Claus. The market/gas station where he stands in the parking lot is closed and he is surely in need of love and care. If you feel that you need a cause you might try adopting this Santa Claus and restoring him to his prior glory.

I found this Big Pumpkin in Hong Kong when I was there on business last fall. When walking through the mall attached to the hotel I spotted workman starting construction on it. Fortunately they finished on my last day and Greg was able to get this photo. I did have to kind of sneak in from the rear since the area was cordoned off and a guard was on duty.

There's a small "Garden Center" if you can call it that on Keystone Avenue just north of 71st St. Anyway, they had this inflatable pumplin up for Halloween and Thanksgiving, so Debbie and I stopped by for a photo opportunity and to pick up some cornstalks.

I was visiting Andy in Pasadena in early December. He was getting ready to tape a session of Jeopardy the next day. We were driving on Colorado Blvd and saw this Nutcracker outside One Colorado Blvd, a small outdoor mall. We naturally had to stop and add this to the collection.

As Andy and I were walking back to the car after getting the above Nutcracker, we almost walked into this giant ornament outside Canyon Beachwear in the mall. By the way, we went to the Jeopardy taping but Andy didn't get on. He is rescheduled to early February 2003 with a late April show date.

We were at the Indianapolis Zoo right before Christmas with the whole gang when we found this Big Teddy inside the Aquarium. Luckily Annie had her digital camera with her and snapped this image.

In Harmony, Ohio at exit 62 off I-70 is Rainbow Industries. They rent inflatables. I've seen many of their products around the country. Here is a scarecrow decked out with a Back to School sign. They also had an Uncle Sam and a big gorilla.

I guess I would call this type of Big Thing a semi-permanent. I'm breaking ground here with this hobby so I'm not sure. What awesome responsibility. I feel like Meriwether Lewis, not many people get such a chance at discovery.

This wasn't the most interesting Big Thing but it was pretty damn big and it was close to home outside Bloomer's Nursery in Turnersville, NJ. Sometimes one has to give up a little dignity to try to get an interesting image. What can I say?

This snowman was almost exactly across the street from the Nutcrackers at Bayard's Chocolates on Rt. 130. (see below) Thanks to Riverton Pool & Garden check them out, they seem to have a lot of great seasonal items, I'd shop there if I lived nearby. (GPS=N40*00.461, W074*58.349)

This snowman was captured in Germany during our trip in December, 2000. There were many Big Things at the Christmas mart near where we were staying.

Barb the Bird Dog gave me this one. I'm still not sure how I found it, and I'm even more surprised I found my way back. I think this Snowman has seen better days.

These Nutcrackers stand proudly outside Bayard's Chocolates on Rt. 130 in Riverton, NJ. Debbie and I were on a day trip to Pennsbury Manor and took 130 on the off-chance that we would get a "Big Thing" or two. It turned out to be a pretty good day for Big Thing sightings. And, O by the way, this was The day after Thanksgivng and the temperature was around 70 degrees. (GPS=N40*00.461' W074*58.350')

Just across from the Water Works Waterpark in Seaside Heights, NJ is the Casino Arcade guarded by a couple of these nutcrackers. They didn't look like they were having much fun but at least they were in the shade.

This Nutcracker guards the entrance to Storybook Land on the Black Horse Pike in Hammonton, NJ. There are a bunch of "Big Things" inside the park but I refuse to pay an admission fee. (See, I do have some standards.)

In Berlin they have a number of Christmas Marts around the city and it happened there was one near the small hotel we were staying in. The marts were a lot of fun, small booths selling food, small gifts and other seasonal items. These presents were in the middle of the mart.

I've had my eye on these Santas for years. They stand on the porch for Bayard's Chocolates on Rt. 70 close to the Cherry Hill race track. I never remembered to take my camera when Ben and I were on our way to the computer fair at the racetrack. I was reminded of them when Debbie and I captured the Nutcrackers outside Bayard's other location in Cinaminisson. (GPS=N39*55.526' W075*02.979")

This Old time Santa stood on a corner welcoming visitors to the Christmas Mart. He was the first "Big Thing" I saw during our visit to Berlin.

This more modern Santa stood back to back with the Old Time Santa above so not only did I get a "Big Thing" shot in Berlin, I got a two for one!

Here I am eating some mushrooms at the Mart. Lot's of food everywhere but you had to be careful with the sausage. Germany was in the middle of a Mad Cow Disease uproar. The newspapers called it the "wurst" kind of situation.

Just down the road from Storybook Land was a nursery with this Santa out front. A rare double hit of Big Things. One good day I'll tell you.

Another inflatable found on Route 9 in North Jersey. Obviously it was around holiday time. How come only Frankenmuth MI celebrates Christmas year 'round?

This Inflatable was captured on the way back from Atlantic City. Hogbin's Nursery had this out. The Hogbins were very accomodating when we stopped to take this photo. We've purchased a number of plants at Hogbin's over the years.

Another Santa taken on the way down to the Jersey Shore. The one legged pirate is also outside this establishment.

This funny looking object, (I'm not quite sure what he is) was also captured at the Christmas Mart in Berlin. Cute isn't he?