Tour photos, Part III

This is the final installment of photos from the tour. I should have said this before, but these photos just don’t do justice to the beauty of these homes. I was literally running from house to house trying to shoot just a couple spaces while people weren’t in them. And I didn’t have my tripod. So if you didn’t go, you really missed out. And if you DID go, wasn’t it a delight for the senses?

But I am pleased to announce that I will be organizing the second annual Historic Homes for the Holidays tour next December! The turnout this year far exceeded my expectations, so I’ll be back with a NEW lineup of houses next holiday season. Mark your calendars now for Dec. 6 and 7, 2019, and if you’d like to nominate a home or volunteer your house for next year’s tour, please leave a note in the comments.

This house was the oldest on our tour, built in 1906:

This might be my favorite vignette of the weekend. It looks straight out of a magazine.

Across the street is this perfect red Christmas house:

The straw bales were donated by the local U-Pick Red Barn for us to use for seating outside each house. Thank you, Walker family!

Simple Scandinavian style, white-washed floors and all. The rosemary wreaths in the windows are a perfect example of understated elegance.

My favorite new idea from the tour: garland under the mantel. Brilliant and different.

The Barn on 1st is still under construction, but it’s fun to see progress:

  

This rock home is always a stunner but especially at Christmastime:

 

Beautiful black-and-white Art Deco tile on the walls.

Back in the day, the servants used this back staircase to go upstairs. The French doors open onto what could be a second-story deck someday.

The homeowners collect American artifacts and showcase them in their home.

As I left this grand house, I looked down the road and saw the back of Promise Ridge. My heart ached as I thought about the contrast of Christmas in the tour houses versus Christmas in that house. I hope the money we donate can help the women living there today realize their dreams of a merry Christmas someday, a Christmas without worry, fear, or want. That’s kind of the whole point, isn’t it?

Thank you again, east Idaho, for your generosity and support. And here’s to another wonderful tour next year.

P.S. I’ll be posting photos of my own home in a few days—I always like to share holiday photos of the house along with a Christmas story. •