Plans set for Holiday Home Tour

Noreen Hyslop photo The home of Danny and Darlene Shelton on Timberlake Drive in Northwest Oaks will be among those featured on this year's Holiday Home Tour on Saturday, Dec. 5. from 1-4 p.m. [Click to enlarge]

The annual Holiday Home Tour, sponsored by members of the Dexter Heritage House, will be held Saturday, Dec. 5 from 1 to 4 p.m.

Four homes and one church will be included in the afternoon event and include: the home of Brian Crawford, 723 Saddle Spur Road; the home of Don and Angela Jones, 15340 Woodcreek Drive; the home of Bud and Patty Shell, 307 Chautauqua Lane; the home of Danny and Darlene Shelton, 1209 Timberlake Drive; and Faith Lutheran Church, Saddle Spur Road.

"We are very excited about this year's tour," Kathy Newell, Heritage House president said, "they are all unique, and I think the visitors will see decorations for the Christmas season unfold in a variety of ways."

The Crawford home, which has a French Country cottage style, will feature four Christmas trees with an overall old world theme, an antique ornament collection and a crystal collection as well.

"I like to incorporate decorating ideas I enjoyed at home growing up and many of these I attribute to my mother," the host pointed out.

Angela Jones will also make the decorating of her large, new home a family affair having enlisted the help of her parents, Doran and Wanda Vancil.

Christmas colors will coordinate with the rooms in the home including the green and yellow sunroom. Look for how she uses the popular lime-green color in this room.

Patty Shell has turned her house with less then 1200 square feet, into a retirement home and in the remodeling making it completely handicapped accessible, should the need ever arise.

"I plan to keep the accessories that I use every day and add touches of Christmas. The mantle in the living room, featuring a large deer, will depict nature with its greenery, nuts and berries. My goal," she said, "is to be able to take the Christmas decorations and store them under the bed for instance instead of having to box them and store them elsewhere."

Darlene and Danny, in a recent conversation about the commercialism attached to Christmas will remind their guests the true meaning of Christmas with nativity sets in the living room. Each room will have its own Christmas theme including a bedroom in Disney decor enjoyed by one of their sons, Brandon, as he grew up.

She also has her first ornament presented to her when she was a child.

"I think," she said thoughtfully, "our house this year will hold a lot of Christmas memories.

With the many comments Heritage House members received last year when the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) was included in the tour that it was decided to continue this tradition. Faith Lutheran Church will be featured on December 5, with members on hand to share with visitors a view of their lovely church as its members prepare to observe the holiday season.

Tickets will go on sale Monday, Nov. 23 at Chrisman Tire on Business 60 at Catalpa. The price will be $15 per ticket. All money from the tour will be used for upkeep of Dexter's oldest home.