Retired Fresno kindergarten teacher stays young one fairy village piece at a time

Retired teacher Dixie Lou Hall, 82, has been creating her Fairy Valley Village in her Fresno backyard for five years, and sees no end in sight.

Hall says her miniature village started with a handful of pieces bought by her late husband.

Many of her family members are represented on the names of pieces in her creation including Jewel Mountain named after her mother.

The village grows slowly. What’s important is that it grows, says Hall, who taught kindergarten in Fresno Unified School District for 36 years.

“Other older people can get out and do something,” she says. “It doesn’t have to be elaborate like this, but they can get out of their chair or their recliner and do something. It keeps you young.”

She adds with a laugh, “I still believe in fairies.”