The mural is 7 feet by 4 feet and depicts a large brass kettle pumper, fire and smoke pouring out its chimney, rushing to a big fire in the background. Two lively gray-dappled horses pull the pumper, and firemen with handlebar mustaches and red shirts man the vehicle.

There is a horse-drawn fire wagon in the background—the very one Duffy rode in in the SLO parade—and firemen putting out the fire. SLO Firefighter Matthew Callahan was the one who called on Duffy's professional skills when the union wanted a mural. He's the son of Ed and Joan Callahan, formerly of Saratoga.

The elder Callahans now live in Danville, but the Duffys and Callahans spend Thanksgiving together. The painting took some four months and 100 hours to complete. Matthew sent at least 10 letters and emails, accompanied with instructions, photos and historical matter.

The firemen hailed Duffy's original rough sketch—replete with prancing horses and lots of smoke. Meanwhile, Matthew kept feeding her details. The mural scroll reads, "San Luis Obispo City Fire Department—Founded 1850." Fire and smoke weave around it.

The mural was painted in acrylics on canvas in the Duffy carport. "Getting that large a canvas stretched was a real wrestling match. I have never done anything that large before." The lettering especially took lots of time, lots of gold paint. The firemen picked up the mural and did all the framing.

Reproductions are available on canvas or archival paper. They are 28 by 16 inches, sell for $150 on paper, $280 on canvas. Duffy's numbers are 408.867.0508, K@kayduffy.com or www.kayduffywatercolors.com.

CHECK THIS ONE OUT: Cecilia "C.C." Bulich goes all out for holidays, especially Christmas. She loves to decorate using her collection of Anna Lee dolls—and that means every room in her four-bedroom Saratoga home bulges with dolls. It takes two weeks to complete the job: the dolls number 1,000.

Doll angels hang from the ceiling; Santa and his family in striped pajamas are assembled en masse; dolls appear above picture frames and on window sills. Reindeer, elves, mice, cats holding mice, carolers, Tiny Tim, geese and ducks nestle in every conceivable floor and table space.

And all are Anna Lee dolls. When Anna Lee died, her son took over the business, and he made an appearance in the South Bay to sign dolls. C.C. was right there to invite him to see her collection. When he did so, he admitted he'd never seen anything like it, despite all his years in the business.

"I particularly get a kick out of seeing the look in men's eyes when they see my displays. They won't admit they can be impressed by dolls," C.C. says. Cotton snow is very much in evidence in the family room and entry hall and small elves ski down the slopes.

Naughty angels with black eyes and holding slingshots hang over the bar in the house at 12379 Fredericksburg. Bulich has been collecting Anna Lee dolls for 30 years. The dolls are insured and kept in storage when they're not keeping watch over the house. They vary in size from 3 inches to 3 feet.

Bulich decorates for Halloween, Easter and Thanksgiving, but not on such a scale as Christmas time. Husband Jack Palmtag, retired developer (Palmtag Drive is named for him), views the transformation from the sidelines. "I do nothing. Just sit back and watch her work."

This attitude is quite justified: he has a bad back. The duo gives two Christmas parties yearly—one for neighbors, family and friends and one for her Coldwell Banker colleagues.

Says neighbor Rita Wittmer: "The house epitomizes the true spirit of Christmas. She decorates the outside for all of Saratoga to enjoy, and has an annual Christmas party for her neighborhood. She exemplifies true neighborhood love."

CHURCH COLLECTIONS: Saratoga Federated Church collects food and clothing and gifts for the needy at this time of year. The donations come from many different churches and individuals, not just Federated.

The sight of so many things donated and so many people working to sort, gift-wrap and deliver them is not to be believed, says Donna Huebner, who works on the project annually. Packages are piled high on every inch of available space, and every year it gets bigger.

"It's so nice to know people are making an effort to give to others, making a better Christmas for the not-so-fortunate," Huebner says. Esther Schmidt and Rita Olsen are two of the major elves at Federated.

Got a tip for Saratoga Sampler? Send email to maryanncook@earthlink.net.