Owego’s 32nd annual Home Tour & Auction was held on December 8. Lori and I joined the afternoon tour and it knocked our socks off. (Well, it knocked our shoes off anyway, out of consideration to the homeowner’s newly-restored wood floors.)

The four homes and two businesses participating in this year’s tour are all steeped in historical significance and feature a variety of architectural styles and interior design choices. More than that, though, we were blown away by the owners themselves, most of whom had these very same homes severely damaged in the devastating flood of Setptember 2011. It was a privilege to meet these people and hear what they endured and see they brought their beautiful homes back to life, better than ever. They were effusive in their praise of friends, neighbors, family, and strangers who helped them recover. They were equally generous in welcoming a horde of people to come admire these great homes and their restorations. They were gracious hosts, answering questions and offering yummy home-made goodies.

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