Judy Bard: “That’s new. And I got two of those cause this was the first time I was able to really find something. It’s bigger than I thought they were gonna be.”
If you walk about fifteen minutes off campus on Noyes street, pass the train station, pass Coffee Lab, pass the United Methodist church and then walk a few more blocks, you’ll run into Judy Bard’s house. Depending on the season, the front and side yards might be adorned with colorful pinwheels in the ground or twinkle lights wrapped around the trees. One thing you’ll always see, though? Inflatables.
Judy Bard: “I would say there are a couple hundred, there’s over, over 200 probably.”
For almost two decades, for every season and holiday, Bard has been decorating the outside of her Evanston home with blow-up decorations. Right now, the yard has been taken over by bright polyurethane – a watering can full of tulips, a couple springtime gnomes, a peacock and a flower wearing sunglasses. All stand over two feet tall. And it all started with one turkey.
Bard: “I was living someplace else in Evanston and dear friends of ours were living across the street over here before we bought this house. For Thanksgiving, I put a Turkey up there. I got this inflatable Turkey and where I was living at the time at Evanston, I had no place to put it. Put it there and then somebody promptly stole it.”
She did not let that stop her. The next year for Halloween, she put out more and the rest is history. Now, there are too many for anyone to even try to steal. In recent years, she has done her best to cover all holidays, making sure everyone is represented.
Bard: “Certain things have a Christmas theme, so I put up stuff for Hanukkah because that’s what we celebrate. And then this year I put up a Kwaza inflatable.”
While her spouse gives her tips on the layout, she sets up everything herself. And over the years, she has learned some tricks to make the process easier.
Bard: “I’ve now gotten to a point, getting a little smarter as I get older. To leave most of the cords in place. I have to still pull out probably another 20 or so for Halloween. But I leave a lot of them in place now. So, especially for this time of year when I’m just switching out a few things, it’s easier.”
Bard worked in sales for sporting goods for over 40 years. She would go from trade show to trade show, which is often where she would get new inflatables.
Bard: “I was able to acquire some of the inflatables at the shows at a really good price. I always liked not having to pay full price for them so I would stock up. At the trade shows were prototypes, so I’ve got some that were probably never made, or if you look closely at them, they’re painted as opposed to finished productions on things.”
Recently she retired. Now, she has more time for the hobby now.
Bard: ”I’m looking forward to seeing how I feel about it, since I’m retired, putting it up, I won’t have to fit it in between work.”.
Places like Amazon have been a great help to her. After all, not all seasons are created equal when it comes to the outdoor inflatable industry.
Bard: “The number of Valentine’s Day inflatables has just grown ’cause I keep finding more and more. Years ago there wasn’t access to them on the internet like there is now.”
In a couple of weeks, Bard says there will be palm trees and flamingos out for the summertime. After that, the fall ones will come back out, and then the holiday ones, and the cycle will keep going.
Bard: “It’s just fun to see them bringing the little ones from the daycare here and hearing them a little scared cause they bring them by at Halloween time. Little squeals and stuff like that.
What started with one stolen turkey has grown into a tradition.
Bard: “ It’s just grown and it’s been fun to see people’s reactions. Notes that I’ve gotten from students, from neighbors and things like that, just saying how much they appreciate it. I never did it for anything except it’s fun to do.”
For WNUR News, I’m Naya Reyes.
[nat sound of outside]
