Dr. Patti Mullins has spent nearly three decades collecting trees, ornaments and various other Christmas decorations of every shape and size.
Mullins truly treasures the time she spends and looks forward to the beginning of September when the task of decorating the interior of her home begins.
“I have been decorating for Christmas for more than 25 years, and I enjoy it tremendously,” Mullins said. “Everybody waves as they drive by, and there seems to be constant traffic in front of my house every night.”
The 1975 graduate of Newport High School also considers the holiday season to be a truly exceptional time of year.
“Christmas is special to me because it gives us a certain day to celebrate the birth of Jesus,” Mullins said. “I think the holiday season is also great because it allows people a chance to spend time with their family and friends.”
Daily work on the outside of her residence and office commences during the middle of October, but the reaction Mullins receives from the youngsters make worth all the hard work and effort.
“I take pleasure from seeing the children coming by to see all the lights and outside decorations,” Mullins said. “You can see the excitement in their little eyes as they drive by.”
James Butler and Mark Wilson perform the work outside of both her home and office building. Bambi Huff, who has worked with Mullins at her office for 16 years, performs the interior decorating at the business. It received first place in the commercial division of the Lions Club’s annual Christmas lighting contest, and Mullins is especially fond of her row of red Christmas-light covered crepe myrtles.
The dentist and Newport native intends to continue adding to her assortment of holiday decoration and even has a special guest planned for next year’s Christmas display.
“Every year we just try to add more, and we would like to get the whole street decorated eventually,” Mullins said. “We are planning to have Santa make an appearance in 2010.”
The process of returning her home and office back to normal begins around the first of January each year and is surprisingly swift when compared to the amount of time needed during the first stage
“It doe not‘t take nearly as long to take everything down as it does to put it up,” Mullins said. Taking everything down usually only lasts for about two to three weeks at the most.”
The items Mullins uses to decorate with have come from several separate locations, but most of the larger ones have been purchased at a specific store in a large Texas city. They do say everything is bigger there, and that seems true especially for Christmas decorations.
“I have things from all over the place, but most of it is bought at a store in Dallas,” Mullins said.
It is probably not simple coincidence most of the display pieces are acquired there. The 26-year dentist is a season-ticket holder and passionate fan of the city’s football team, the Cowboys. Mullins even owns her seats from the Cowboy’s former football stadium. Check out the Snapshots link on our homepage for more photos!
