FRONT PORCH POST SAN LUIS OBISPO

On 11/23, they still had their pumpkins out on the porch which pleased me.  I loved seeing the bright colors on this pretty porch.  We had some time before we were to meet over at my niece's house for Thanksgiving dinner so we had time for a walk through town and a few neighboring streets.  I was on the lookout for nice porches.

It was very quiet in this neighborhood considering that it is a big holiday but either people were visiting elsewhere or they were all sitting inside around the TV watching football.  Anyway it was easy to get a few pics without being seen, lol. 

This porch is nice and I like the big green pot by the door in the last pic.

I could live here (said every s.i.n.g.l.e  time I pass a house with a porch I like no matter where it is located).

Happy weekend to you!

FRONT PORCH - SAN LUIS OBISPO

Not much of a front porch but i like the look of the house beyond the fence. 

I love walking through SLO slow.  There is  a good mix of historical houses and what I consider to be small town houses - which to me means most of them have a front porch. 

Today is a good day for a walk before the storm sets in tonight and off and on for the next four days which should bring some snow. 

FRONT PORCH POST -SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA

We got back from the coast several days ago and I so enjoyed the trip.  I will be posting some pics later.  I always love the time that we have up there to spend with the family (my sister and her family).  My kids are spread out all over (Oregon, Washington, Montana) but we still have one son who lives nearby and we go there on Christmas. 

We are expected to get, according to our local weather reports, some snow on Saturday.  Sounds like it could be a good size winter storm especially for the upper elevations.

Anyway I'm posting this one today because it's so colorful.  The porch is small but I would use that porch as a launching place to start my walk around the neighborhoods.

There is a sign in the front yard so it must be some kind of business but I was focused on the house not the sign so I have no idea what it is. 

How's your weather - I know some areas have gotten a lot of snow this last week.

LOVE AND MERCY

Brian lends his voice to “Love and Mercy” by a group of Afghani girls who were affected by violence there. Says Brian: “I’m glad music makes the children feel love and mercy. That’s what the music’s all about: making you feel happy.

SOMETIMES - IT'S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT THE PORCH BUT WHAT SURROUNDS IT

On one of our trips to Gig Harbor, Washington, I made sure to photograph some houses with unique front yards or porches and terrific views. 

This particular house I've photographed a few times, once when it was in full bloom like these photos in July and another time in September when it wasn't quite as "bloomful" as this.  The front porch is rather plain and I think we all could fill it up with nice things that give people like me something to look at when I walk by, however in this case, I'm satisfied with the plants.  The more I look at these pics the more I think that it is best to keep the porch uncluttered - I'm undecided on what I would do to that porch.

The hydrangeas (the color is amazing) down below belong to the house next door and then the view of the Harbor is directly across the street from them.

(I don't think I've posted this house before but if I did it was awhile ago and I can't keep track of everything I post).

 The side yard

the house next door

FRONT PORCH POST - REDLANDS

So ....as my sister knows, I'm a touch obsessive/compulsive about things and one of the things I get obsessed with is getting a lot of angles when taking photos of certain houses i come across on my walks.

I also love a little adventure and exploration in my life - i especially love getting away with photographing peoples' houses without them seeing me.  After years and years of doing this I've only been asked 3 times why I am photographing their house.  I just take off running when that happens or  I say I am thinking about moving to the neighborhood and just checking things out - like what is there to steal - is there enough around the neighborhood that can supplement my income.

I came upon this porch not knowing when I was walking up the sidewalk that there would be this nice porch up ahead.

It's not hidden away like the other porch I just posted yesterday.  This one is easily seen and so my decorating and activities on this porch would be a little different. This is more of a people watching porch - so I would bring the drink of choice depending on the time of day (my Slimefast type drink and coffee in the morning, or my water in the afternoon and possibly once in awhile my beer in the late afternoon or just water again. I drink a lot of water.)

I also would have a magazine or book and a few pots on the railings but not too much.  I like to be able to check out who's walking by, especially if they have a camera.  Of course my geode would be sitting on a table nearby.  I'm also thinking wouldn't it be fun to take those mason jars with colored water and line them up on the railing (I must draw a sketch of that).  When my sister visits she can bring her art supplies and we will sit out there and create art. 

How would you decorate a porch like this?

CAN YOU SEE IT IN THERE (FRONT PORCH POST)

This front porch in Redlands I'm sure hides a lot of treasures I'm just not seeing in the photo.  Next time I'm in the neighborhood I may just have to walk up there and take a look around - and if I'm caught I'll just say I'm peddling religion - a certain type.

I love exploring and this porch would be no exception.

What do you think you might find on that porch?

As I wrote the above an image just came to me; An amethyst geode -fairly large - about the size of a volleyball - and the owner brings it in at night for safekeeping.

I love houses with shingles such as they have on this house.

The wind is gone today and I get to go out and play~~~~ ...

Next week I'll be at the coast and I'm really happy about that.

FRONT PORCH POST

Love this house in Redlands.  We had to go down the mountain yesterday for a little shopping and because it's too windy on the mountain we walked for awhile through the neighborhoods.  It
was nice being down there again. 


Near the sidewalk is a wooden trellis with plants growing on it. 
Nice house!

A DIFFERENT VIEW OF THE HILLSIDE

I had never been able to photograph most parts of the lake - the hillside homes because I had never walked on these various parts of the shoreline before over at Lake Arrowhead.  I had only ever seen them in the distance from the car.  I was happy that I could capture some of the hillside homes (possibly for future sketching).  I will be posting more and more of the views that I've had the good fortune now to get to see up closer.  I still used my zoom on the camera but the lighting and position where I was helped to get close up.

I was standing near the UCLA Conference Center (which is a beautiful campus) just close to where this particular shore walk starts.

I love quotes - inspirational quotes so whenever I post mountain photos I believe a quote will follow.

“If you are faced with a mountain, you have several options. You can climb it and cross to the other side. You can go around it. You can dig under it. You can fly over it. You can blow it up. You can ignore it and pretend it’s not there. You can turn around and go back the way you came. Or you can stay on the mountain and make it your home.”— Vera Nazarian

WALKING LAKE ARROWHEAD

Went over for another walk around this beautiful shoreline yesterday.  We have had winds for several days and then yesterday had a break so I could get out and walk - and now today, the winds have started back up and will be strong through Tuesday.  I should have time to get some sketching done if the inspiration moves me. 

Anyway this wall was so beautiful I was mesmerized and it was hard to leave it.  I just wanted to move right there and camp out and live happily ever after...... living in a tent with a view of the beautiful wall on one side (and in my fantasy the leaves always remain that color) and the lake on the opposite side and the trail ahead and behind me. Instead I get to sit at home for the next three days praying that the winds die down with no damage being done anywhere.

I am grateful for a warm house and all the comforts bestowed on me so I'm fortunate for sure.

Happy Sunday to whoever might stop by. 

The trail as I passed by the wall.  Beautiful trail and weather yesterday. 

UPPER CEDAR GLEN

Cedar Glen is a little community in Lake Arrowhead.  Every year, at least  two or three times we drive by this house in different seasons.  With many small towns in the mountains you have the town and then an upper part of the town.  She resides right before you head to upper Cedar Glen - She welcomes everybody to Cedar Glen - whether you are a democrat or republican.

I love  how she's in the process of changing her colors, having decided to wear a yellow dress for the season. 

Maroon 5 - Girls Like You ft. Cardi B ....FUN TO EXERCISE TO

ANOTHER COLORFUL WALK AT THE LAKE NEAR THE HOUSE - LAKE GREGORY

I went out walking yesterday and stayed close to home.  It was a day of football at home so I like to go out for a solitary walk.

 Some trees were more colorful than last time and other trees that were SO colorful a week ago have now lost all their leaves - one in particular that I watched turn from green to red and bright orange are now carpeting the ground near the North Shore Inn.  It doesn't take long - I would say about three weeks for this particular tree from start to finish, maybe a bit longer.

Mt. San Moritz (as I recently learned the locals call the big pile of dirt that was dumped on the ball field after the work began on the dam project) is now slowly coming down.  It is right near San Mortiz Lodge, a beautiful venue for weddings but for the last two years has blocked the view of the lake and so many locals have complained about it - so this is a good thing - the dirt being taken away but i'm a little sad to lose Mt. San Moritz.
It looks like the whole top layer has now been shaved down ..it was a rather high mountain of dirt.

Since the lake has been so low in certain areas,  this guy has been out with a metal detector - I got a pic of him by zooming in and noticed the heron behind him.

I love the colors of the trees when you look up on the hills over the lake.  I often zoom in and sometimes get to watch them out on their decks having an nice lunch (I'm such a voyeur.)

There was a woman on the shoreline practicing her skills of "commanding" the ducks to come forth.  All she has to do is just throw the food out and they run like a bear is behind chasing them.  I kept my advice to myself so she could continue on...having..fun.

There were dogs and people enjoying the dog park along the trail yesterday.

Today is another trip over to Lake Arrowhead for another trail walk.