By David Rogers. July 23, 2011. BLOWING ROCK -- It is aptly advertised as a "tour of homes", but the St. Mary of the Hills "Tour of Homes" is all that -- and so much more, as visitors found out on Saturday during the event. Photos by David Rogers

The homes were, as always, sensational. They included "Mountain Heaven" on Wonderland Woods Drive, owned by Janis and David Fite; "High Shelter" on Green Hill Circle, owned by Steady and Barbara Cash; the "Howard House" on Mayview Rock Rd., owned by Carol Dabbs; and the "No Name House" on Cone Road, owned by Will Merrill.

For 53 years, the home tour has been a great excuse around which to build a multi-faceted fundraiser for St. Mary's college scholarship awards and contributions to various non-profit agencies and their causes.

A Razzle Dazzle Raffle and Auction had many valuable items this year, and the raffle was drawing lots of participation.  Patrons bought tickets for $5 or five for $20, filled out their name and contact information on each one, then dropped their ticket in a "bucket" assigned to an item they might like to win.  Judging by how full many of the buckets were by mid-afternoon, this will prove to be a successful aspect of the fundraiser.

The "tour" also featured an old-fashioned "bake sale", Culinary Creations, featuring homemade desserts, breads, and preserves, as well as snacks, coffee and other refreshments.

HeART St. Mary Show and Sale featured plenty of artwork in various mediums, both for display and sale.

And A Note Card Table offered handcrafted note cards depicting floral arrangements from previous Tour of Homes events.

All in all, the St. Mary of the Hills "Tour of Homes" is a great addition to Blowing Rock's summer calendar, completing "symphony weekend" and standing on its own as a spectacular event for a great cause.

There were snarls of traffic, crowded sidewalks, and jam-packed parking lots, but these were only minor inconveniences compared to "the big picture" and all the good the Tour does for the High Country community and the boost it gives to the local economy.

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