Peggy Simons loves being near the water.
She and her husband, Dr. James Simons, a semiretired dentist and developer, already owned a beach home at Fripp Island. S.C., when they decided to build a home on the Savannah River and move from the historic Ambrose Clark house in Aiken to North Augusta.
Mrs. Simons oversaw the construction.
"I picked out everything down to the doorknobs," she said.
Disaster struck when a windstorm in the summer of 2004 destroyed all of the work. Neighbors told her it was a though the wind picked up the home and dropped it, she said.
The Simonses moved into the home just before Christmas last year and had a Christmas party during the same weekend as the North Augusta Christmas Tour of Homes. When they saw the cars of party-goers, many tour participants stopped by and asked whether the Simons' house was on the tour, Mrs. Simons said.
This year, it is.
AT HOME WITH
THE OWNERS: Dr. James and Peggy Simons
THE HOME: The three-story home, known as "The Pink House," has 8,000 square feet, five bedrooms and 5 bathrooms. It has two kitchens and a pool.
IT'S A FACT: There is an elevator in the home.
North Augusta Christmas Tour of Homes
WHEN: Candlelight tour 5:30- 9:30 p.m. Friday; midday tour 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; annual brunch and fashion show at 10 a.m. Saturday at the North Augusta Country Club, with clothing from Talbot's
TICKETS:$15 until 2 p.m. Friday, $18 at the door, $10 for brunch; available at Parks Pharmacy, the Greater North Augusta Chamber of Commerce, Jim Bush Florist and Stepping Stones in Aiken.
TOUR STOPS:
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