Saturday, May 31, 2008

A Weekend Stroll

Here we are ~ one of the old neighborhoods in our town, Modesto, California. Modesto is the home of George Lucas (the creator of Star Wars - mom even went to High School with him...) and the home of the world famous Gallo Winery. We are located in the Central Valley of California, about 70 miles southeast of San Francisco, two hours from Yosemite and Carmel.
This particular neighborhood has a variety old homes - from Hansel and Gretel cottages to Craftsmans, Old Castles, Georgian Style and Cape Cods. So, put on your comfie shoes and lets go for a walk. Ok Doogs, you can get out of the car now.
We will start with one of the neatest old homes...
...an old castle that is just fabulous and has an old slate roof and lush gardens.
Some refer to it as the "haunted castle" so I did a little special touch below...
...looking kinda scary now....
Come along now...

...one of my favorites with the wrap around porch...
...cross the street, but look out for cars......love the flag...
...ornate reliefs on this beauty..
...oh look, a pink hydrangea!...
Very European looking...
One of many homes that are honored as a Historic Home. Sweet manicured yard.
Another view of this charmer. Lovely boxwoods and privets outline the neatly maintained porch.
Another Georgian style home that is another Historic Home.
A pretty touch to a gate.
Neat old rock wall! It really is quite different.
Great old 1920's Craftsman Bungalow. There are many in this neighborhood, however this is one of the nicer ones.
Come along....there are more to see.....

Let's go down this street where there are some charming Hansel and Gretel homes.
This sweeeeeet home is the home of my friend, Shirley. They added the match stick picket fence and the arbors. A few years back they received The Garden Of The Month Award from our local Garden Club. Always a treat to walk by to see their lovely yard.

Extra wide streets and look, no cars!

My husband's favorite home. There used to be handpainted squirrels under the eves. This charming home has recently been updated and has a yummy chocolate brown paint with a fabulous red painted porch.
Love the porch swing and white rocking chairs. Now where is the parade?
So inviting. They did a superb job on this grand home.
...Tired yet?....We're almost done....
Below is a cool old light that is on a home that looks as though nobody lives there. Now if any home were thought to be haunted, it would be this one. There never seems to be anyone home........


A hands-down charmer ~ and on my favorite homes list. This old salt box is the sweetest and the yard is always delightful with colorful flowers.
A little yellow Victorian sits comfortably next to a cozy Craftsman.
Yup....God Bless America!
Wonderful privets with the best architectural detail!
.....Where are the chairs? We need to sit and rest after this little walk!
Ah well, best get in the car and get Doogs some water. Little guy is tuckered out!
Thanks for coming along with us! If you would like to see more adorable homes in our town, click here.
This coming Tuesday, our sweet friend Melissa is hosting a Worldwide Drive by on her blog!!! It sounds like a wonderful way to get to see what other neighborhoods around the world look like! Here are her links:
If you would like to participate, drop Melissa an email or comment.
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I also want to tell everyone thank you for the comments you have left about our son and about our yard. You are all so very kind and we appreciate each and every one of you! And yes, I do dry our hydrangeas and use them in little bouquets here and there. They love shade, however there are a few varieties that don't mind the sun. We just use regular flower food on ours and don't cut them back in the winter. We do remove the old buds, but never cut the stalks. To get a blue hydrangea, you can buy a certain product to add to the soil to turn them blue. Honestly, they are one of the easiest plants to grow.
~~~
ta ta for now!











47 comments:

Kathleen Grace said...

I love these homes! The castle is my favorite. I have alwyas thought I would love a house with those kind of old details.Thanks for the drive-by:>)

Janet said...

Becky, Thanks for the great tour; I loved every one of them and I adore that light on the "empty" house. Did you know that melissa at the Inspired Room (wordpress) is having a drive-by post soon? You can link back to her and she will post your drive-by. I think yours would be a big hit.

Janet

Betsy Brock said...

Hi! Thanks for stopping by my blog and saying hello! What a cute little blog you have here...I've enjoyed browsing through. Your Scotty is just adorable! Love the mustache! :)

Life on the Edge said...

These are amazing homes! Each time I thought one was my favorite, then you'd show another beauty! You must live in a great place to have houses like this to see on your walks!

becky up the hill said...

Wow..there is alot to Modesto I have never seen. I am impressed. I love that old light on the house that no-one lives in..can you go back and get it for me? Double Scottie Dog dare you!

Sweet Cottage Dreams said...

hahahahaha Becky! Not even a Double Scotty Dog dare ya would tempt me! I'll happily give you the address...or better yet, find one on eBay. haha. I think they are called antique craftsman style porch lights. xo silly girl...the other Becky...

Miss Jean said...

Becky: I live near there and I even don't know where those houses are!!!! Shame on me. Love the castle! Now that Maggie is "street legal", we'll come over and go on walks. Think you can keep up? She'll run you ragged!

xxoo
Jean

Cottage Contessa said...

Wow Becky! Thank you for taking me along on the wonderful tour and showing me these GORGEOUS homes. Oh how I would love to peek inside them all!! Hope you're having a lovely weekend sweetie!
Amanda (aka Cottage Contessa)

Patina said...

Becky, those are wonderful homes! They make me want to do yard work and buy lots and lots of flowers.

Dena said...

Hi Becky,

That was the most beautiful tour! I would love to live on a street like that, everything looks so charming :) Thanks for taking me along.

Hugs,
Dena

Rosie's Whimsy said...

What a wonderful stroll! This is such a nice way to get exercise. hehe I love ogling over other peoples homes. :-) Rosie

Anonymous said...

Hi Miss Becky and Doogs!! Oh my goodness we are so glad we popped by today for a vist, what a gorgeous place is Modesto! Love these homes!! Just gorgeous! It's been beautiful to visit for a while :) And your hygrangeas are so beautiful! Such a gorgeous color! My Pa has them growing along the shady side of the house since I was a little girl I have adored them, blue purple or pink any color will do me! White are amazing too! I am emailing you tonight sweetie!
Huge hugs.
Jenn and Jacqui
H amd Mis P
xoxo

Cowboys and Custard Mercantile said...

Hello dear Becky..
I love your guided strolls around your neighbourhood The style of houses is so different from ours here in Bath which are nearly all built from Bath stone...a honey coloured limestone.
Another startling difference is that there is no litter ..not a sausage! It is so refreshing to see such immaculate streets and sidewalks.. We are a messy nation here in the UK and there is far too much rubbish about on the streets..
Hope your boy is home now safe and sound.. oh what a homecoming that will be!
With love
Michelex

Ginger~~Enchanting Cottage said...

OH!! I love when you take us for a walk!!! I took my husband last time and even he loved it. We don't agree to much on homes he like newer I like older buy he said he could easily move to that neighbor hood. I will take him for a walk after work. I hope he's not to tired!
Thank-you for all your work on showing us these beautiful pictures, and posting the other link. I love your friends house, I l like the lace curtains in the window. I have always had shutters but had to take them down when we changed the window to different sizes, I told my husband that I would rather but up lace than shutters. They are still wide open because I just have not found the shade and lace that I what.
Take care,
ginger

Kathi said...

What a lovely stroll. Thank you for inviting me, Becky. Those homes are amazing. Thank you for stopping by my blog and for your kind comments. Kathi

Fifi Flowers said...

GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD! Thanks for coming by site... come back!

Anonymous said...

Your photos are lovely. You Americans sure do have beautiful neighbourhoods! I am impressed by all the manicured gardens.

Kate

Mary said...

Oh what fun! Thank you so much for taking us along on the tour -- those houses are fantastic!
xoxo,
Mary

Susie Q said...

I love these homes..this sort of neighborhood. Shirley's is adorable! We have a community near here called Oakwood. I LOVE the homes there and always wanted to live in it. I find homes to buy but, with sales so slow now, we will stay put for awhile.
I LOVE the pillow case...I need to do a photo series of where everything is...I will someday soon!

I hope I get that toile tray!!! : )

Love ya,
Sue

CiNdEe's GaRdEn said...

What a fun tour. Thanks for letting us tag along(-:

Neutral Dwelling said...

Great tour of charming homes!

Julia @ Hooked on Houses said...

I got such a kick out of the "haunted castle." Sure looks spooky! -Julia :-)

Vee said...

Fun, fun tour! Love how the doggy helped you go incognito. ;>

So many lovelies that it would be impossible to select a favortite, but I really like the chocolate brown bungalow as it reminds me of my great-grandparents' home.

A lot can be said about displaying a crisp flag, too. I love that!

Irene said...

So much time and effort, love of beauty and good taste. Thank you.

Teresa said...

Great tour-brings back sweet memories of growing up-
You live in a beautiful area-Thanks for sharing.

The Old Painted Cottage said...

Hi Queenie, thanks for this inspirational drive by's tour. Those Hansel and Gretel cottages are absolutely darling. I could so see myself living in one of those little cottages ((dreaming))

oxox
Jennifer

Unknown said...

Wow What an amazing post! You put a lot of work into it. The homes are great!

farmerjulie said...

such a cute town! I had no idea!! Lovely!!

Anonymous said...

Wow, what gorgeous houses...they're all lovely...can't decide which is my favourite.
Margaret and Noreen

Cindy said...

I had no idea there were so many cute homes in Modesto!

Terri said...

What a great neighborhood! I'll have to tour mine and show everyone.

Rosemary said...

Wow Becky,
I love that castle looking home. I would love to live in that one.
You have a lovely area.
Thanks for visiting, and yes I have a little vintage trophy collection.
Visit again soon,
Rosemary

Anonymous said...

These are fabulous pictures!!! With each picture, I would think it was my favorite until I scrolled down to the next picture.

Great Tour!

Nancy said...

beautiful homes and flowers and what a great walk to have nearby.
Nancy

bee'nme said...

He Beck - I'm in a full *SWOON* over thse homes - my how lovely! Thanks so much for sharing the photos...just gorgeous!

Hugs and blessings,
Becky S.

black eyed susans kitchen said...

Becky, That was a lovely walk! Some of those homes are sooo inspiring. Maybe I should go buy a lottery ticket today (lol) and then I can have a castle too. Susan

Sugarplum Cottage said...

My favorites are the homes with porches that go all the way across the front. Thanks for the tour, these lawn look so well manicured.

Hugs, RoseMarie

The Downtown Boutique said...

How beautiful! There's an area like this in Durango, CO that I just love. It has all the old homes with the huge yards and wrap-around porches. Thanks for taking us on this great tour!

I love your site, and would love to know your trick for averagin 264 hits a day!

Angie
The Downtown Boutique
Rio Oso Designs

Cupcake said...

Thank you so much for the tour of your neighborhood. One of my favorite activities is looking at houses and imagining what it would be like to own this house or that which is so different from my own basic multi-level:-)


It's an etsy: www.glitterme.etsy.com

Thimbleanna said...

WOW! What a beautiful neighborhood. I think I'd have to pick that castle too -- especially since you made it haunted!

Stacy said...

What a beautiful neighborhood! I am sure I have seen a couple of those houses before...maybe featured in magazines?

Sam I Am said...

wow..what amazing homes!!! i'll take a castle please!! :)
Man..this makes me wanna sell my home and move lol
great pictures..thanks for sharing them :)

Anonymous said...

I just loved your post. I love to look at old houses that aren't situated in a track subdivision. Aren't they wonderful! All of them have some little thing that makes them stand out. Thank you so much for sharing your walk with us.

Unknown said...

Thanks for the neighborhood tour.That was fun!

Unknown said...

We have been in Modesto, but I don't remember seeing these cute older homes. Thank you for sharing all the great pics!

Nikki via The Scarlett Rose Garden said...

Wonderful homes! Your friend's home is positively storybook perfect!
Nikki

sbrooks11 said...

This is just a beautiful site. I am so glad I happened across it. Thank you for sharing the music, words and wonderful pictures. I shall add it to my favorites and come her often. Sharon