Our Tradition updated and a Veterans' Program from the 1980's!

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Hi, Everyone. 

Normally, I don't do posts or decorating for Christmas until after Thanksgiving. But, we had a big project that needed to be done.

For 35 years we have had these wooden deer prancing across our front yard and hooked up to a large red sled, made with plywood and plumbing pipe runners. 

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The deer were originally designed (by me) for a therapy program at the Great Lakes Naval Base hospital for patients called 'PRIDE'. The deer along with other projects were designed to be made in the wood shop, craft rooms, and ceramic shop--start to finish by the patients as therapy and a way to earn spending money. The Vet patients were paid for finished pieces (through the hospital) and then these deer and other items were marketed at local art shows and at the Chicago Gift show wholesale to small shops, as the Veterans made these wooden deer.

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They were originally all stained or sealed wood, from 3/4" plywood, and designed to be pulled apart and shipped flat in a standard sized box. The heads were separate from the body and pegged to allow them to fit in the box. 

I kept 8 after two years of marketing them, and 1 Rudy which was designed from 2 x12 stock allowing us to drill and install an electric red blinking light for a nose.

Our original 9---over the years--- after a huge tree limb fell on them, windstorms, snow, and sleet had pared the herd down to 5. Last year we bandaged up two and bravely had five limping deer and a Rudy, who was in bad shape and splitting.

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Hubby said it was time, and he made new one-piece bodies from the original pattern. These were then painted in the garage and due to cold temps, finished on the kitchen table. We used exterior paints and the tails and racks were coated in exterior white. 

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Here are the deer set up in the kitchen with their original legs, and new darker bodies. 

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Rudy kept his original body, but it was faced on each side with new layer of  plywood. Now, he is thicker, but then he thinks he is the leader and special anyway--!

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I was concerned that the Very Dark brown stain---would never show up at night, so we went on a hunt for some lighter coloring to add! 

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I always do a lot of research before I do anything. I wasn't looking for a totally realistic reindeer, but not a cartoon either. 

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I decided on sponging lighter areas on the rears and front chest area like real reindeer fur. I used a mixture of the original dark brown and lots of white (+a little yellow and red) to warm up the dark brown. 

A fluffing layer of white was sponged on with a large feathery sea sponge.

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I made a stencil for the eye fur. Reindeers have puffy fur areas around their eyes they use to protect them in bad weather. More light coloring on the nose area, neck, chest and bellies. I still had plastic eyes left over from the original supplies. (We had paid for and delivered all the supplies to the hospital, even saw blades and sandpaper).

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A little sponged shading goes a long way.....hopefully the spotlights will pick up the white. 

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Rudy was so happy his nose began signaling it was time to go outside!

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Good Reindeer that they are... they lined up at the door behind Rudolph. Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Vixen, 

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on Comet, Cupid, Donner ------

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and Blitzen!!! So darn cute!!

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A mini thundering herd....to be installed in the yard after Thanksgiving.

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Last year....The sled with the plastic pipe runners. Neighborhood kids, come and have their photos taken by Santa's Sled! 

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Such a fun tradition, and I can't help but think of all the smiling Vets, who were so proud to make these reindeer in the Great Lakes Naval Hospital Workshops for the Pride Program in the mid 1980's. 

I hope you enjoyed a little bit about our decorations! Can't wait to put them up again this year! 

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Sandi