Think warm thoughts and tour cozy homes this Sunday

MT. PLEASANT — As holiday decorations pop up and temperatures trend down, the Mt. Pleasant DD Chapter of the TTT Society leverage the season to benefit young girls in the warmer months to come as five homes open their doors for the 24th Annual TTT Tour of Homes, Sunday, Nov. 24 from 1-4 p.m.

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While Christmas and summer camp might not naturally have much in common, the Tour of Homes brings the two distinctly different topics together as the TTT Society sells tickets to raise funds for sending girls in fourth or fifth grade to camp. Those opening their homes for the tour this year include the following:

Gary and Sheila Allender at 1382 James Avenue

Connie Baker at 716 East Burkey Lane

Brad and Renee Gillis at 706 East Washington Street

Becky Wright at 700 East Harvest Drive

Dee Brooks at 1404 East Ashford Circle

The homes will feature a variety of holiday decorations and highlight the families that bring life to these dwellings.

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While Wright says her home will feature traditional decorations with antiques, the building itself still is relatively new built in 2013. While exploring this home, Wright invites guests to carefully look over the five “full, to overflowing” Christmas trees which contain some ornaments dating back to 1974.

The five trees in Wright’s house include a family tree with ornaments representing the interests of the four members of her family, a Santa tree loaded with Santas found on vacations or received as gifts, and a sewing tree decorated with “all things sewing related and handmade antique button garland.” Wright began her cow tree in 1983 while living in Ottumwa and missing the farm life of her childhood. The fifth tree in Wright’s home is what she calls an angel tree. She began this tree in 1992 after the death of her 17-year-old daughter, Elizabeth.

Wright’s home also will feature an 18-foot 1860s Smokey Mountain Tennessee Christmas Village filled with mountains, forests, a river, village, and farms populated with many people and animals in her studio.

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Brooks chooses to open her three-bedroom home for guests this weekend. Brooks’ home features a cozy fireplace in the living room decorated with an eye-catching turquoise color throughout, a formal dining area and large office. Her family assisted in bringing holiday cheer to her home via Christmas decorations just in time for the Tour of Homes.

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As a former TTT member, Brooks understands the importance of this fundraiser and the mission of the TTT Society. While the Society has used the Tour of Homes as a significant source of fundraising for the last 24 years, it’s mission to send girls to camp began in Mt. Pleasant over 110 years ago.

In 1911, six women came together with a determination to make their town of Mt. Pleasant a better place for young girls. At that time, they saw boys had ample opportunities over the summer to be active, play and hunt, but girls’ lives were much more limited. Since then, women like Brooks have continued to make up not only the Mt. Pleasant DD Chapter of the TTT Society, but 145 other chapters throughout 13 states and Washington, D.C.

Members of TTT Chapters pay yearly dues and make donations to make it possible for young girls to got to camp each summer and even offer scholarships. Mt. Pleasant’s chapter also fundraises, specifically with the Annual Tour of Homes to make a greater impact for deserving girls who might not otherwise have these opportunities.

To partner with the society in fulfilling their mission and to view five beautifully decorated homes in the Mt. Pleasant area, purchase tickets in advance for $15at Brown’s Shoe Fit or through T.T.T. member. To purchase tickets the day of for $20, simply show up to any of the listed homes and begin your tour.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com