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