Unbeknownst to most Glendale residents, a snow-covered winter wonderland lies hidden deep within the city.
In this holiday village, the snow falls freely while villagers tend to their yule-tide tasks — and the entire city is under the careful watch of Glendale resident Terri Jowdy.
Jowdy has been collecting articles to add to a pint-sized village inside of her home for 16 years, and can now fill five picnic tables with her miniatures, which come from a company called Department 56.
"Each one has its own special box, and I take them out every year," Jowdy said.
Jowdy's tables are covered with white cloth and clusters of cotton, giving the impression of a fresh snowfall, an effect that is echoed by the painted snow that graces the tops of several of the homes and buildings.
And though many of the homes in her village are reminiscent of earlier centuries, the town also hints at modern times.
A splash of high-tech can be seen in the town's movie theater, dance hall and fake-snow factory, and contemporary icons such as Disney, Jack in the Box and Lego also make appearances in the town.
The village can spring to life at the flip of a switch, with glowing windows, sailing ice skaters and moving construction workers.
"Each year I've seen it grow and it's just spectacular," said friend Theresa Alexander. "She's spent years accumulating things and even made a few things herself."
To make this year a little more special, Jowdy has cast a calm night sky over the village, created by sprinkling white Christmas lights amid dark blue paper.
Jowdy's hobby started years ago when she watched one of her friends create her own Christmas village and decided to try it herself.
As her collection grew, her friends often stopped by with their children to view the sight.
"They come and look around, it's something they don't see in their own homes," she said.
As her collection has nearly reached its limit, Jowdy said she is not sure how much more she will collect, but plans to continue to display the figurines as part of her own unique Christmas tradition.
