NATCHEZ — With parades, tree lightings and decorations going up all around, it is difficult not to be in the Christmas spirit.

So when The Dart landed on Choctaw Street in Natchez, Nevelyn Chatman was doing her part to promote the joyful season.

“We’re just trying to get in the Christmas mood,” she said.

Chatman, with help from her family, was stringing multi-colored lights around the overhang covering her front door.

The lights were the first decoration to go up at the Chatman home, but there were plenty more stored in boxes and waiting their turn to shine.

“I’ve still got to put up the Christmas tree, but that will go inside,” Chatman said. “I’m just getting started.

After stringing up several strands of colored lights, Chatman moved on to the front door, which was being adorned with green garland accented with red bows.

But hanging the greenery wasn’t as easy as it looked.

Chatman encountered a few problems when trying to anchor the garland to the bottom of the doorway.

But, after a few tries, she was successful and the doorway was wrapped in Christmas green.

Chatman, who moved from an apartment to the house this year, was excited to have more space to decorate.

“(At the apartment) we only had a window to decorate,” she said. “There wasn’t any decorating in the yard there.”

Because there are no restrictions when decorating her own yard, she isn’t stopping her decorating at the door this year.

“I’ve got lights that we are going to put on those,” she said pointing out two large bushes in her front yard.

The decorating had just begun Saturday afternoon, but Chatman felt sure her house would be fully decked out before her head hit the pillow that night.

“Oh yeah, I’ll get it done today,” she said. “Once I start working, I don’t stop. It will get finished tonight.”

Lucky for her she had good help from the rest of her family.

“I’ve got tall help,” she said. “I need some height.”