MORAN — Ken and Connie McWhirter, Bob and Karen Sager and Chris and Annette Cole will open their doors Saturday for Moran’s first Holiday Homes Tour.
The tours will run from 2 to 5 p.m. Proceeds from ticket sales, $10 per person, will be given to the Moran Public Library to buy children’s book. Advance tickets are available at TLC Greenhouse in LaHarpe, McGinty-Whitworth and Diamond Daisy in Iola, and at Main Street Styles, City Hall, Emprise Bank and the library in Moran. Tickets may also be purchased at the tour homes.
Moran Family and Community Education Unit will serve refreshments from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Moran Community/Senior Center as guests listen to holiday music.
THE HOLIDAYS wouldn’t be complete at the McWhirter home at 508 W. Church St. without an heirloom Nativity under the Christmas tree.
“The Nativity belonged to Ken’s mother and is the first thing my children look for each year when they come home for Christmas,” Connie McWhirter said.
Throughout the 34 years the McWhirters have been married her Christmas tree collection has grown to include 114 trees of varying sizes.
“My collection of trees came about the second year we were married. Our first year we couldn’t afford a Christmas tree so the next year Ken got me two trees and my collection grows each year,” she said.
Full-size decorated trees will be found throughout their home while smaller trees are used as centerpieces, placed on the mantle and tucked away in all corners of the home.
“Wherever I go I look for Christmas trees. I find them at flea markets, yard sales and many are gifts,” she said.
The McWhirters began decorating their home on Nov. 1, which isn’t out of the ordinary.
“I have always loved to decorate for Christmas for my family, this year we are sharing our festively decorated home with our community” she said.
In her position as a librarian at Moran Public Library, Connie McWhirter has a special interest in Saturday’s event. Years back she also owned a flower shop in Moran.
FOR THE SAGER family it just wouldn’t be Christmas without a trek into the countryside to find that perfect Christmas tree.
“We always have a live tree. We might find the perfect tree in a pasture or growing alongside the road in the ditch. It doesn’t matter where it comes from as long as we like it,” said Karen Sager.
The freshly cut tree also emits a pleasant smell throughout the house.
The Sagers have lived in their home at 1696 Highway 59 for 36 years. The home has been in the family for several generations with Bob’s grandparents, Roy and Cora Ellis, moving into the home in 1935.
Sager has a large collection of Santas, each one marking a milestone in the family’s life.
“My husband gave me my first Santa after the birth of our first child. I have Santas playing baseball to mark my children’s athletic endeavors and a carpenter Santa which we purchased while we were remodeling our home,” she said.
A pantry in the kitchen is filled with elves that were given to Sager by her husband and a Nativity is nestled atop two old wooden chests.
“There are some decorations I like to keep down low, like my Nativity. I want my grandchildren to be able to see it without having to climb on a chair,” she said.
Festive dolls and bears gently reclining in antique rocking chairs also give the home a warm look.
SNOWMEN ARE a favorite decoration in the home of Chris and Annette Cole at 4240 Nebraska Rd.
“I guess I get my love of snow and snowmen from my dad. He bought me my first two snowmen and to this day when it snows he calls me to see if I saw the snowfall during the night,” Annette Cole said.
The Coles have lived in their country home for two and a half years, moving to Moran from Iola.
“We both attended school in Moran and after living in Iola for 20 years decided to move back home,” she said.
Cole said she enjoys working with ceramics and a favorite of her children is a snow house she made and painted.
“I’m sure I would hear from my kids if they didn’t see the glow of the snow house each Christmas,” she said.
Cole doesn’t fancy herself as a collector but visitors to the home will find a number of snowmen placed around the home among several Christmas trees.
“We have two cedar trees and one artificial tree. It’s kind of funny, I told my kids I would never have an artificial tree because Christmas isn’t artificial. I know I will get smiles when they see the artificial tree,” she said.
A tradition each year in the Cole home is Annette making batch after batch of sugar cookies from a recipe that was handed down from her grandmother.
“My kids, grandkids and nieces and nephews just love the cookies. I enjoy getting in the kitchen and baking the cookies with my grandson, who is 4. He is up to his elbows in flour and dough but it is so much fun,” she said.
Cole said she hopes the Holiday Homes Tour puts people in the Christmas spirit.
“I am looking forward to seeing my neighbors and friends that I don’t get to see as often as I would like,” Cole said.
