KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) - Just where the blacktop ends on a Nebraska street is Peggy Flores’ “beachfront” property.
At least for this summer’s theme, it is. Hanging from trees on strings like Christmas decorations are colorful flip-flops, hula hoops and even Animal from the Muppets, the Kearney Hub (https://bit.ly/1OCQlqp ) reported. Speckled across her lawn are surfers bitten by sharks, a lifeguard on duty, swans playing volleyball, a gorilla surfing and a sign for “beachgoers” to beware of the swimming conditions.
“I come from a big family, and we went all out on the holidays. We never bought a costume from the store and had wild Halloween displays. So, when I moved to Kearney, I thought I could do the same with my yard,” Flores said.
For the last eight years, she has been decorating her front yard in order to brighten someone’s day. The 47-year-old California native moved from Sacramento to Kearney in 2003 because, “I heard how friendly and quiet the community is. It’s a beautiful place to live. I’ll never give Kearney up,” she said.
“Everyone decorates for the big holidays like Halloween and Christmas, but the winter blues set in around February, and I started thinking about how I grew up and thought, ’Why not do a summer display?’” Flores’ imagination runs wild with ideas of how to incorporate important causes. “I do a theme for each season, and I try to incorporate things like Breast Cancer Awareness month, so I wrapped a baseball bat in pink tape for the geese to use, and the witches I had on display had a sign that read, ’Let’s scare breast cancer away,’” she said.
Every evening after getting home from work for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Flores takes to her lawn to add small touches such as a pinwheel, sand or more coins for the treasure chest and straightens any display the wind may have shifted.
As Flores explained her reasons for the theme, several vehicles passed. Most drivers slowed down to get a good look at the lawn while others drove back around for another look. One driver, honked, waved and gave Flores a thumbs up.
“That’s what this is all about. If I can just brighten someone’s day, all this is worth it,” she said.
This year’s summer theme is written on a toilet seat lid, “2015 A Day at The Beach.”
“This summer is extra-special, I dedicated it my landlord Dick Rains. He passed away about a month ago. He was the amazing man and gracious landlord,” she said.
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Information from: Kearney Hub, https://www.kearneyhub.com/
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