Couple has decorated for seasons, holidays for 20 years
<p>Peggy and Fred White talk on Tuesday about the ideas behind each of the decorations that are currently on display in front of their Hayden home. The couple decorates the outside of their home for nearly every holiday.</p>
<p>Near the front door of the White residence in Hayden, a stuffed Mickey Mouse doll stands next to metal pumpkins and carrots as it holds a pitchfork hand-crafted by Fred White himself.</p>
<p>A variety of decorations, including a pig made by hand by Fred White, brightens the front entrance to the White residence on Tuesday at their Dalton Gardens home.</p>
DALTON GARDENS — Drivers and passersby who round the bend at Mount Carrol Street and Prairie Avenue in Dalton Gardens are always greeted with a pleasant sight.
Whether it's hearts and cupids for Valentine's Day, a Father's Day golfing extravaganza display or a haunting Halloween scene, Fred and Peggy White decorate the front of their home with the changing of each season and holiday.
To celebrate the coming season, the Whites presently have an autumnal display complete with a full moon hanging above a backdrop of a field prepared for the harvest. Metal sunflowers, cornstalks and carrots pop out of the ground next to a toy tractor, and a farmer Mickey Mouse has his pitchfork at the ready.
"I think it's awesome because it slows the traffic on the street because everyone stops to look at it," said the Whites' neighbor, Capt. Ken Robinson. "When you come 'round the corner, you never know what's going to be here, and it's always original."
Peggy and Fred have decorated their porch and walkway each season for about 20 years.
"I love the holidays," Peggy said. "I've always enjoyed decorating and coming up with themes."
The decorations range from thrift store treasures to Fred's hand-fabricated metal creations, including the harvest pig he made from an old propane tank.
Fred said the decorations are especially appreciated during Halloween when children are trick-or-treating.
"Little kids come over and parents want to know if they can look at it closely," he said. "They’ll take pictures."
"I love the little kids’ faces," Peggy added. "They’re always so filled with excitement, and ‘What’s this?’ and ‘Can I touch this?’ and 'What’s this there for?'"
Peggy said she enjoys when people stop by with their kids or grandkids, and she always appreciates the letters she receives from people who take a moment to thank them for their time and creativity.
"Life is so harsh, and fast," Peggy said. "If I can see a fourth-grader stop and look, or a teenager walk by and look and laugh, it makes me feel good. Simple as that."
Peggy said she used to help decorate classrooms when her children went to Dalton Elementary, so continuing to decorate where it can be appreciated by all is something that has stuck with her. And Fred's ability to create — he even made her scaffolding so she could easily reach higher places — has been a welcome necessity.
“I couldn’t do it without the other half,” she said, smiling at Fred. “He gets mad that I want everything so precise.”
The Whites welcome visitors and invite people to contribute decorations to their inventory "if it means something to you to be in the display," she said. At the moment, Peggy is searching for mannequins to embellish their Veterans Day and Memorial Day scenes.
Robinson has even helped out by loaning the Whites some of his lawn ornaments and other whimsical items and assisting with storage.
"If Ken leaves, he's in trouble not knowing what will be there when he gets back," Peggy said, causing all to laugh.
Later into September, the Whites plan to update the harvest scene with a back-to-school flair.
"It's fun because you never know what you're going to see," Robinson said.