Make a visit to the home of Doris Griffin at Christmastime and be totally enveloped in the Christmas spirit. The splendor of it all represents 53 years of a passion for collecting Christmas décor, and ideas that come mostly from magazines and catalogues that feed her creative mind with possibilities. “Every year I add something new,” she admits.

The overwhelming sensation comes from the attention to detail given throughout the home. It literally transforms into a Christmas village. There is a place for everything and everything is in place. Then a happy surprise pops up from some nook or cranny, where you might find an elf hiding among the greenery, or white owls on the fireplace hearth. They complete the theme found in the wreath above the mantel.

She has help making it all happen. Professionally Bill Cooper of Cooper’s Florist is in charge of putting up and decorating the trees and filling in the mantel decorations in the home. Likewise, her grandson Patrick and his wife help place the articles, a task he has been doing for ten years or more.

They begin the transformation early in November each year. This year they started on November 5.

Patrick said he enjoys helping decorate to achieve the true feeling of Christmas he always enjoyed as a child. “She brings it all together. There is a theme in every room,” he explains; before adding the worst part is taking it all down to put away.

Ms. Doris says, “It’s just something I love to do.” She has done it every year since they built the home in 1965.  Not only does she enjoy doing it, but she does it for her family of two sons, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

One has to wonder how she recalls where everything goes. She admits she thinks she will need photos in future years, as it is getting harder to remember.

The Post Searchlight was honored to be admitted to the home to share the wonder of it all and to meet Ms. Doris as she prepared for visitors.