Photo by Scot Pearson The snow village depicts a playful and simple time with many homes and people all enjoying a special time of the year.
“We decorate for Valentines, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas,” said Doris.
The Byrd’s are lifelong South Bend residents, having lived in several homes during their time, finally settled at their current home in 1971.
“Our parents never really decorated the homes, outside of the Christmas tree, but we have always decorated for the holidays…some say to much,” they both comment.
“I just let those who do not like it, know that they can take another road if they don’t want to see it, but we get many more people stopping by telling us how much they enjoy our decorations,” said Bob.
When the community use to hold contests for the best Christmas decorations, the Byrd home was one of the must see homes, always on the “tour route” at that time of year.
“We get people who tell us that their kids will not go to bed unless they come by the house and see our decorations during the holiday season,” said Doris.
The Byrd’s have slowed down a little this year, forgoing Thanksgiving and jumping from Halloween to Christmas as Doris had a little surgery.
“People are still calling and asking for cookies, even with Doris a little laid up,” said Bob.
Doris, once the owner of Sweet Dreams Bakery, still manages to bake a few cookies during the holiday season. Bob, retired from Weyerhaeuser, was last seen driving the Bingo Bus for the Lucky Eagle Casino. But both now are looking forward to taking a well-deserved vacation.
“We have spent about three weeks getting the home ready for Christmas, and we are not really finished yet,” said Bob.
And what is unfinished? The tree of course, well two trees, one inside and one out.
The Byrd’s will be going out to get their trees soon, with a ten foot tree outside and might just have to raise the roof of the home to fit the tree of their dreams inside.
The internal and external lights are all wired to remote controls so everything can be easily controlled and they can turn on and off what they wish.
The external display is just the icing on the cake at the Byrd home, for the inside is just as decorated as the outside.
“Every year I get a new house for the village display,” said Doris.
The living room is transformed into a miniature snow village with log cabins, chalets and skaters all in their place. And with a simple flick of a switch the lights twinkle on, carousels move and the village comes to life before your eyes.
With the introduction of LED lighting, Bob does admit that the electric bill is a little cheaper than it has been in the past, as the home will stay decorated into the New Year as they will next get ready for the next holiday to decorate for.
“Its all for the love of the Holidays,” said Doris.