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Couple celebrating 75th wedding anniversary hand created dioramas

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Adrianne Uphold/Observer-Reporter

Bryan and Wilma Cale have created more than 100 diorama boxes.

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Adrianne Uphold/Observer-Reporter

A horse scene made by Bryan and Wilma Cale

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Adrianne Uphold/Observer-Reporter

Bryan Cale won first place at the Washington County Fair for his cowboy scene.

Hard work, dedication and making crafts together is what keeps a marriage strong. At least that’s what Bryan and Wilma Cale of Washington think.

In 1975, Wilma was introduced to making dioramas in gift boxes from a friend in Ohio. Almost 24 years later, she has made over 100 dioramas.

“Sometimes I sell them, give them to friends or family, I’ve made over a hundred of them,” Wilma said. “They’re all over the United States.”

At first Wilma, 93, was the only one interested in making the small dioramas. But soon Bryan, 95, realized how much his wife was enjoying it.

“It keeps us busy in the winter months,” Bryan said.

When not exploring their craft, Bryan rides his bike around the neighborhood.

“During the summer, I’m out there keeping myself active,” Bryan said. “In the winter I’m down here with her (Wilma) in our workshop.”

The duo, who celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary on June 5, created a small workshop in the basement of their home. Inside, small gift boxes made from foam line the shelves of the home.

Completely made from scratch, each diorama usually takes weeks to make. The Cales’ buy small figurines from stores like Hobby Lobby, but anything they can’t find in the store they make themselves.

During the 2018 Washington County Fair, Wilma won one first place for a baby Jesus scene and a second-place award for a Christmas scene. Bryan won first place for a cowboy scene.

“We just have fun making them and giving them to friends,” Wilma said.

There’s 13 dioramas in the Cales’ home now, including a mermaid beach scene that Wilma created with seashells picked up in Florida, a giraffe nature scene and a family vacation on a beach. The couple hopes to keep their hobby going for more years to come.

“We love doing it,” Bryan said.

The couple plans to enter more of their work in this year’s fair.

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