Outside Looking In
Christmas houses
One of the popular events in the area around the holidays in the Lyon County Historical Museum's Holiday Home Tour in which people can tour various homes in Marshall that are decorated for Christmas.
The Home Tour will be held on Sunday, Dec. 4 from 1-4 p.m.
The home of Tanya Hunter and Charlie Aufenthie is one you won't want to miss. I got a chance to visit their home recently and it features nearly 200 Dickens-style scale houses (although there are various brands) artistically displayed in the living room. One section has homes up a mountain that reach the ceiling that gives you the feeling of a Swiss village.
Tanya has been collecting the houses, businesses, churches, schools and the figurine people, animals, trees and more that go along with them since 2010. In fact, she has so many now that she is unable to display them all in the room so she alternates some of them each year.
There are no duplicates, but Tantya does have two styles of buildings such as schools, churches and banks, so she displays the pieces as though there are two different villages.
When the houses are lit at night, the display is stunning and gives off a warm and cozy feeling.
The fascination with the buildings and accessories came when Tanya was growing up in Wanda and the bank there had a large display of Dickens-style houses around the holidays.
She eventually acquired her first two houses at an after-the-season clearance sale at Menards in Marshall in 2010 and the collection has quickly grown since then.
Charlie, her fiance, even had a small collection of his own that he displays at his State Farm office.
Tanya has acquired the majority of her houses through gifts or purchasing them at garage sales or thrift stores.
Hunter and Aufenthie's home also features a Christmas tree in nearly every room of the house, nine in all, as well as a collection of vintage Christmas ornaments.
"I'm really into Christmas," Tanya said with no surprise.
Tickets for the Walking Tour are only available at the Lyon County Museum in Marshall.
There are four homes to tour in all.
Veterans Day
Because of the general election, Minneota gaining entrance into the state volleyball and football tournaments again, North Pole Extravaganza and a few other events, Veterans Day came and went with little fanfare on Friday, Nov. 11.
The high school held a Veterans Day program on Monday, Nov. 7 because there was no school on Friday due to the state tournaments. Friday was bitter cold and windy, so few people were at Veterans Park looking over the pavers and remembering those who served our country.
I, for one, feel bad that we don't do more for the veterans in our local towns. What they experienced in their life while serving in the various branches of the military is hard for most of us to comprehend.
Please let a veteran know how much you appreciate them.
We salute you all.
Christmas at Opera Hall
Last year's "Old Fashioned Christmas" hosted by the Society for the Preservation of Minneota Heritage (SPMH) was such a positive event that the group decided to host another special holiday event.
Christmas at the Opera Hall on the second floor of the Minneota Public Library, will be held on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 3-5 p.m.
Included in this year's event will be a photo booth, crafts and refreshments. There will also be Christmas carols and tree lighting at 4:45 p.m.
SPMH is asking that you bring a non-perishable food donation for the local food shelf.
Bethel Thanksgiving
As mentioned previously in this column, Bethel Fellowship Church is hosting its annual Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, Nov. 24, with serving beginning at noon.
This is a wonderful event that is always well attended. It not only gives people a chance to have a holiday meal with others.
The free family-style sit-down dinner is open to the public and will consist of ham, turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberries, stuffing, corn, squash, bread, pie and ice cream, and beverages.
Reservations are preferred, but not required.
If transportation is needed, it will be provided by calling David Myrvik at 507-828-7433.