One of the very first things we do for Christmas decorations is put up outside lights.  I have to, well actually John has to do that for me.  It is therapeutic for me. The twinkling soft white lights go on in the morning outside and then off when it gets light out, then on again as it gets dark. I love the sparkle and the twinkle. It makes the dark of the days less dark. My favorite is them peeking out of the snow but that rarely happens, yet this year it did, for a week and then a day and then it was done. But the lights did peek, and sparkle and  twinkle and shine under the white blanket of snow.