CASA of the Pines celebrates the season – by Diane Morey Sitton
Twinkling lights, lavishly decorated trees, candy canes, nutcrackers and Santa himself: it was all on display during the 26th annual CASA of the Pines Holiday Home Tour in Lufkin, Texas – a “don’t miss” fund raising event that showcases festively decorated homes.
Besides discovering holiday-inspired ways to embellish entrances and porches; creative ways to display Christmas bells of all sizes; imaginative ways to turn collections into holiday décor; new ways and places to display Santa; and practical ways to personalize holiday décor using family heirlooms and other meaningful items, tour-goers attending the holiday event helped a good cause. CASA of the Pines (Court Appointed Special Advocates) is a social service organization that trains community volunteers to advocate on behalf of children in crisis.
A touch of nostalgia highlighted the Ron and Robin Crocker home where homemade stockings hung from the mantle, a grandmother’s cookie jar collection decorated a hallway, and a sock monkey collection filled a den. Highlights in the “cardinal room” included an antique red and white checkerboard-pattern quilt and cardinal likenesses that added color to pillows and paintings. Christmas bells dangled from wreaths, large candlesticks and garlands shone throughout the house.
A red and white color theme was prominent at Patti Smithhart’s Acadian-style house, starting with the red lanterns and baskets of red ornaments at the front door, going through the ribbon-adorned wreath and jar of peppermint candy in the kitchen, to the pillows, tree ornaments and table settings on the back porch.
Gleaming golden deer in the front lawn welcomed tour-goers to Daniel and Jennifer Webster’s home. Inside, nine glorious Christmas trees dazzled visitors, including a large tree embellished with purple ornaments – Jennifer’s favorite color. Other highlights included numerous small nutcrackers displayed atop counter and tables; life-size nutcrackers displayed by a holiday tree; the Mr. and Mrs. Santa outfits displayed in the spacious, walk-in closet; and tour helpers dressed as toy soldiers and the Grinch. Holiday cookies and other refreshments were served on the large back porch.
This year, the PineCrest Retirement Community invited tour goers to share their Celebration of Trees, a 15-year-old tradition that showcases some four dozen or more theme-based holiday trees displayed in hallways, the dining room, exercise room, chapel and other areas. Themes such as the good old days and Christmas in the country were expressed through ribbons, ornaments, toys, keepsakes and signs. As if that wasn’t festive enough, tour goers could meet the Grinch, take their photo with Santa, and visit the hot cocoa bar. One resident invited tour-goers to visit her apartment where a small tree featured gingerbread men, an assortment of wooden spoons and other utensils, and a sign that read, ”Baking makes life sweeter.”
If you haven’t yet discovered the fun of attending holiday tours, you are in for a treat. Besides helping good causes, you acquire ideas and a powerful dose of holiday spirit.