Havana Tour of Homes set for Sunday afternoon 12/11/08 Angye Morrison Email this story to a friend When it comes to Christmas, it's all about family. At least that's what the decorations at Becky Tiller's home indicate. The Tillers' home is one of six featured in this weekend's Holiday Tour of Homes in Havana, sponsored by the Havana Garden Club and the first event of its kind in Havana since 1993. The tour also includes the Collins, Vickers, Baxter, Ashmore and Johnson homes. Each home, Tiller said, features its own "flavor," and style of decoration, both inside and outside the homes. Tiller's home features handmade items, such as her husband's woodwork and her own ceramics, to ornaments she's crafted herself, such as one made from a portion of her daughter's childhood dress. The Tiller home features two Christmas trees, one decorated with red ornamentation and cardinals at the home's entryway, a first this year, which also features lighted Christmas gifts beneath it. The other "memory" tree, located on the sun porch, is more of a family tradition and features ornaments from the Tillers' travels, as well as family ornaments that hold special memories. There's a train below the tree, and a ladder on the side being climbed by two friendly elves. Sprinkled throughout the home are Department 56 Dickens Village ceramics, featuring authentic Victorian-era English homes, shops and other buildings, as well as characters and carriages. Tiller has collected them for years, and said they give her great joy. So much so that she keeps them displayed throughout the year in handcrafted and antique display cases. Tiller said the decorations in her home are "nothing out of the ordinary," and her family wouldn't think it was unusual at all for their home to be decorated this way. "I decorate for every holiday," she laughed. "To my family, this is just the way we do things." What "tickles" Tiller, and gives her great pride, is that people are willing to pay to come and see the decorations she has so lovingly placed throughout her home. Not because she's anxious to show off her home, but because of the charities that will benefit from the tour. "They are really good causes, and we (the garden club) is pleased to be able to help," she said. All proceeds from the tour will go to provide meals through Community Cares, as well as providing toys for needy children through the efforts of the Havana Police Department. The club will also make a donation to the St. Francis Wildlife Sanctuary. Other homes on the tour include: The Schel and Malissa Collins home is located at 315 Dogwood Drive. Built in 2006, the home is a "Southern Living" style structure, the home is decorated traditionally and uses the colors of the season: red, green and gold. The Dan and Pat Baxter home, located at 301 E. 9th Avenue, will feature Santa Claus sitting in the driver's seat of a 1920 Model T Ford Speedster. Inside the home, you'll find an extensive nutcracker collection and a large family Christmas tree. The Ralph and Frances Johnson home, located at 218 Live Oak Lane East, was built in 1987 and features three fireplaces. The home is decorated with Christmas items collected since 1964, including 12 glass Christmas ornaments from the couple's first Christmas, and a Nativity scene Frances painted herself. There's also a collection of Snow Village lighted houses by Department 56. Located at 563 Frances Drive, the home of Vic and Amy Vickers is decorated with lots of family memories, including items from the family's travels. There are collections of lighted houses, Anna Lee dolls, Santa figurines and Hershey ornaments from Hershey, Pa., in addition to several trees throughout the home. The Enwood and June Ashmore home, located on the first fairway of the Havana golf course at 201 Live Oak Lane East, features a large collection of ceramics and a year-round village in the sun room. Admission to the tour, set for Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m., is $10. Tickets can be purchased at the Hazel J. Baker Community Center, located behind the fire station in Havana, on the day of the tou, or in advance by calling Tiller at 539-4700, or Mary Bert at 539-6968, Judy Davis at 539-016 or Linda Williams at 539-0389.