Friday, May 17, 2013

52 Photos Looking UP


52 week badge
This week our assignment is to look up.

Sally says: 'There is a whole world above us that we sometimes miss seeing because we simply forget to look up.'

I love looking at houses, especially ones built before the age of the Rambler, or Ranch house.
Most every city has  at least one street lined with beautiful old houses and large trees. Even our tiny town has a street or two like that.  One warm sunny day I took a walk and actually remembered to take my camera, snapping photos of the more interesting architectural elements of some of the houses along 6th street and around town. And since Sally asked us to look up, you will only see the top parts of some of the photos.

This beauty is only a couple blocks away from where we live. At one time, as it sat idle, I wanted to turn it into a bed and breakfast. Thankfully someone purchased it and has done a lot of work on it.


This beautiful Italianate home is currently without an owner. The yard is overgrown and I fear this beauty will fall into disrepair. Such a shame.



I just love this turret and the other elements!  Who knew roofs could be so fascinating??!! The owner takes loving care of this home.


Isn't this gingerbread trim sweet?  I've loved this home since I was a kid.


This low-slung American Craftsman home is gorgeous and well-kept. I decided to show the entire home just because...


Another turret.  The home needs some loving care but still keeps it's character.



My favorite house of all, this beauty was owned by an older woman with a bazillion cats. When she passed away the home was gutted and redone from the inside out. Now it  has a new owner who takes great care with this beauty.


Another favorite.  An elderly woman lives here by herself.  She and her late husband are German, and owned a bakery on our town when I was a child. I have fond memories of that bakery, and I loved to hear this couple talk with their German accent. You can see the home needs a bit of love.



Another American Craftsman House. It's a beauty and has stood the test of time.  I hope the new owners take good care of it.

You can see I get a little giddy about architecture, and I hope you enjoyed these photos.
Thanks for stopping by!

Be sure to check Sally's blog to see what others saw when they looked up.

27 comments:

Shel said...

I love homes too - and these are gorgeous!! The Italianate home,...oh I hope someone gets into that and takes care of it - it's my favorite amoung your shots!! Although they are all just so cool! So different than our 'every house looks the same' thing we got going on here in the desert!

Niky Sayers said...

I love your shots, You dont get houses like those over here in England in may of the streets all the houses match

Anonymous said...

I get such warm and cozy feelings seeing these wonderful homes from the past. I imagine the families having lived in them over the years...enjoying the veranda on a summer day..

Mary Harding said...

Love your photos of the houses in your town. Reminds me of parts of Buffalo where one of my children lives. Wonderful color combinations and designs. I am so glad you shared these.

Patti Vanderbloemen said...

You are so righ...every town seems to have a street lined with special or historic homes! I, too, marvel at the architecture of our past! Seems like your town has some real beauties, too!

Mary K. McGraw said...

I love looking at old homes and you have captured some delightful ones.

AntiquityTravelers said...

what a great trip through your neighborhood! some truly wonderful homes and architecture! it's hard to pick a favorite!

Claire said...

wow! what gorgeous photos! you must live in a very picturesque place!
have a lovely weekend :)

Becky Pancake said...

Thanx for showing us your town Alice. Those homes are indeed gorgeous. My favorite too is the cat lady's house.

Donna said...

LOVE looking at old homes. Thanks for posting!

Sandi Volpe said...

Thanks for sharing such beautiful homes love all the architecture!!!

Alicia said...

Beautiful shots - thank you for sharing the beauties in your hometown.

Honey from the Bee said...

Oh I love old homes, too! Alas we are destined to just look at them, as my hubby is not handy nor does he want to do all the work required to keep them up. So glad some of yours are well taken care of. I hope someone comes along and saves that beautiful Italianate.

Unknown said...

There is nothing more beautiful than the architectural lines and historical colors of old homes. Thanks for sharing these beauties with us.

brokenteepee said...

I can tell you from experience - with Victorans at least - that they take a LOT of care to keep them in the style to which they are accustomed. Especially if you buy one that was not kept up!

Maude Lynn said...

Gorgeous shots!

lynsey said...

Lovely images, beautiful architecture

Beti Horvath said...

Love those roof lines. I especially like the Craftsman!

glassbead, isinglass design said...

Those are some great rooftops! Thanks for the tour.

Laura said...

so lovely!

Karen Mitchell said...

You've found some gorgeous homes, I especially like the gingerbread cut outs and the homes with turrents. We don't see many of those here in Australia, it's nice to see beautiful homes from the other side of the world :)

Adrienne said...

What a great way to look up these week, I love those types of old homes much more to the cookie cutter manufactured homes, they have so much character!

thewovenspoke said...

I love old houses they had a wonderful style that is mostly lacking in newer houses thanks for the commentary and history of these beauties/

Elizabeth said...

I love those types of houses too!

Courtney Breul said...

Oh, all those curves, angles, porches and windows. I love them all! Really awesome shots.

LoriF said...

Loved these! I'm an architecture lover as well, and there's nothing I love more than wandering around taking their photos. Nice to hear some of them are being rescued!

Cindy said...

One of my favorite things to do - admire old architecture! I just loved this post and reading bits and pieces about the homes in your nearby neighborhood. The mention of the German couple who owned a bakery is fascinating...reminds me of my years in Germany and that we had a bakery nearby in walking distance from base housing. Oh the stories this former bakery owner could tell! Thanks for sharing the rooftops! :-)