This small house

Southside Senior Center board member Pauli Chapman was recuperating from hip replacement surgery when she read the Dec. 12 Home story about Colleen Roe’s quest to find a home for the exquisite miniature K-9 Bed and Breakfast Inn.

“I thought it would be perfect to bring it to the center,” Chapman says. “I e-mailed Colleen and told her we have hundreds of people coming through our lobby.”

Roe won the miniature B&B in a raffle in November. She loved its delicate artistry and admired the craftsmanship that went into the project, but felt it deserved to be displayed and enjoyed in a more public forum than her home.

After her story was published, Roe received several e-mails from agencies offering to display the K-9 Inn. She chose the bustling Southside Senior Center.

“Of all the things we’ve had on display here in the lobby, this is the only thing that stops everyone,” says Executive Director Kerry Wiltzius. Center members have already raised funds to have a glass dome built for the B&B. Wiltzius said this will protect the home and make it easier to move. “It’s too tempting to touch,” she says with a smile.

Volunteer Ellen Nelson says, “Every time you look at it, you see something new.”

“I think adults enjoy this more than children would. The attention to detail is wonderful,” says fellow volunteer Betty Cosand.

So, the lamp is shining in the dining room of the K-9 Bed and Breakfast Inn, and the silver tea service sparkles in the living room. Thanks to Roe’s generosity many are enjoying this beautifully crafted miniature showcase.

Wiltzius says, “We plan to keep it around here forever.”