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Highlands Today

Woman Creates Indoor Village

Kathy Waters/Highlands Today

Pat Van Dragt started before Thanksgiving decorating her sunroom with a miniature wintertime village. People have given Van Dragt miniatures over the years for her village. She also has collected miniatures each year.

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By MANDY SHEETS | Highlands Today

Published: December 4, 2007

SEBRING — The sunroom in Pat Van Dragt's home has been transformed into a snow-covered miniature village.

While some of the villagers are ice fishing, others are sledding, some rush off to school and one lucky woman enjoys a manicure.

"I think it's the kid in me that really enjoys setting all this up," said Van Dragt who played with doll houses made from orange crates as a little girl.

Much like a real town, it keeps growing. Her tiny village has been expanding every year since she started 20 years ago.

"I keep saying I won't get any more and then I see something new and different and I can't resist it," said Van Dragt, who said many of her friends buy pieces for her as gifts.

Her collection now has more than 100 pieces.

"I've outgrown the sun porch, so I expanded into the family room and even the dining room," Van Dragt said.

Each piece sparks a different memory for Van Dragt — like the Macy's Department Store that reminds her of when she used to work in New York City.

"I couldn't possibly pick a favorite, they are all special in a different way," she said. "They are each so unique."

Just about every one of the buildings has a light, which means the village really glows at night.

"It also means I spent a lot of time changing batteries," Van Dragt quipped.

Her neighbor, Jack Barber, said he enjoys the intricacy of the display, which features a lot of details as one peers into the windows of the building.

"There is so much to take in, you have to really sit and look at them to see everything," Barber said. "Even then, you miss something."

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