Petra Yasin was born in the Czech Republic, but she’s lived in Lake Highlands for years. When friends Laura Dodgen and Rhonda Deininger told her the LH Women’s League Home Tour was not to be missed and invited her to join them on tour day, she admits she went home and Googled it to see what she was getting herself into.
“Now I have an idea of what to expect,” she told me while waiting in line to see the first house. “I found some photos online.”
Most of her family still lives in Eastern Europe, where Christmas is celebrated in much the same way as it is here – with one exception.
“Jesus himself brings the gifts,” she noted, “not Santa Claus.”
Paige Trostel, a Kindergarten teacher a Stults Road Elementary, took off work for the day to tour the homes with her grandmother, Bonnie Gillis. She says she has a special appreciation for the Women’s League and the thousands of dollars they give every year to LH area schools.
“We have members come in and volunteer at my school all the time,” she told me. “They are a huge help.”
For Barbara Chitwood, Caitlin Yeldel and Karen McCaulay, Holiday in the Highlands, as the tour is called, is a family tradition.
“I love how the houses are so unassuming from the outside, but then you walk in to a beautifully decorated showplace,” said daughter, Caitlin. “Plus, we do it for the scholarship program.”
“That’s a good reason!” said mom, Barbara. In addition to money for school programs, thousands each year go to college scholarships for graduating LHHS seniors.
“We’ve seen a lot of variety in the houses over the years,” added daughter-in-law, Karen. Special effort is given to selecting a mix of existing homes and new construction, traditional style and eclectic modern, heavily decorated and minimalist chic.
“I think it’s fun to see what I can do with things I already have a ton of,” said Kim Waters, who said she enjoys attending the tour to get ideas.
Carol Ann Davis agreed, saying she liked the Davenport home on Windy Hill best.
“It was livable, comfortable. I thought ‘I could do that.’”
While waiting in line, groups of women discussed their favorite things about the houses they’d just toured.
“I loved the carpet in girl’s pink room [at the Moseley home] on Colfax,” said Paulette Padalino. “Precious.”
“The blue chandelier in the master bath was my favorite,” said Pam Fusella.
Pat Ehmer lives in Allen, but she enjoys the tour and says she comes every year.
“The houses are so elaborate,” she said, “I have gotten some great ideas. One year, I copied a snowman with 3 wreaths, it was adorable.”
“Every year I hang antique Santa mugs from my chandelier using grosgrain ribbon,” said Suzanna Voss. “That’s an idea I got from home tour.
“It’s like a living Pinterest board,” added Vela Tomba.
Kristi Kendall graduated from LHHS in 1990 and first attended the tour with her mom when she graduated from college.
“I’ve never missed,” she said. “The best part is seeing old friends from the neighborhood.”
Now that her mom, Vicki Fuller, can’t get up and down the stairs in the houses very well, she attends with a fun group of friends and they make it an all day affair.
“At least until we have to pick up the kids from school,” she joked.
Kristi has a 3rd grader and a 2nd grader at Moss Haven Elementary, and she is expecting a new baby.
If you weren’t able to attend the tour but you’d like to make a donation or get more information, you can visit the LH Women’s League website here.
You can see my photo slideshow here.
