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Friday, January 9, 2009

THE BIG AND THE LITTLE OF IT...........




I'm not sure what cute, little BUNNIES have to do with MANSIONS
but this is such a cute picture !

Our West Texas town has some lovely and HUGH mansions.
This one has such a high, stone fence around it, I never could get a photo of the front.
Notice the 'black box' thingy on the left there...I think it is one of those
"you have to know the secret password or you don't get thru"
type things...I was scared to get closer than this in case they have
BURLY BODY GUARDS with orders to "shoot between the eyes" !


Just able to peek over the top of this fence to get a glimpse of the
MAGNIFICENT house......I see the beautiful, upstairs porch....

I FINALLY got a photo of the BACK of this wondrous house....
and it is MAGNIFICENT ..
guess the little round "crows nest" on top is where the
burly guards stand watch.....
Here is another beauty...
and BIG...

And.....another !
This one has always reminded me of a
STORYBOOK house... just a bigger version of the house in HANZEL and GRETEL...

NOW, THIS one is not BIG...
IT'S HUMONGOUS !!!!!

See what I mean.....?
I can't even imagine what the inside of this mansion must look like....
********
YES, there are lots of really large and beautiful houses here,
but, for some reason, I, personally, am drawn to.........

THE COTTAGE STYLE !!

.........COZY

..................WARM


This little cottage tucked in large trees and a lovely lawn
just looks so inviting to me. It just says..
COME ON IN...WE'RE SO GLAD TO SEE YOU !

Another ivy covered cottage not far from MY cottage....
it's an older home in an older neighborhood but it still has it's
cottage charm....

SWEET !

One of my very favorites ! ..CHARM is just ozzing out the windows!!
In fact...I do believe it IS my favorite, little charming house...
I love everything about this sweet place, from the corner lot, the picket fence that
seems to NEVER need painting, the old-fashioned light with a name plaque hanging from it,
to the black shutters and the white railing around the large and inviting front porch.
At certain times of the season, she has a WICKER porch swing with pretty pillows....
Other times, you will find 2 large, white rockers that look so homey...

The same house has a lovely, brick fence, and I can just see the top of
something...a play house, maybe ?
It has shake shingles and the little house is
RED....
O Honey !

I can't capture in a photo the warmth of this little jewel...
I find myself driving by it all the time. One day, I parked in front and was just "looking".
A car drove up into their driveway and a man stepped out, walked over to my car and
asked if he could help me...... I said, "No, sir"...just admiring this precious house."
He said it was HIS home and not to feel bad about "stalking" it because his wife
did the exact same thing before he bought it for her. :o)
All I can say is...
SHE SURE HAS GOOD TASTE !! :o)



YES...the very large homes are lovely...and, if I could afford it (and a MAID), I probably would like living in one...NO...I KNOW I would LOVE living in a big, beautiful house. Just never could afford one and now, I'm old, so I would HAVE to have a maid to do all the cleaning...then I would want her to do all the cooking...then....I would want her to drive me everywhere..(like Driving Miss Daisy)....SEE...I would get waaay too spoiled!

BUT, I AM DRAWN TO THE SMALLER, COTTAGE STYLE...maybe it's because I've always lived in smaller houses....I don't know.....

They always remind me of my mother and that's REASON ENUF...

**********************************************

LET me leave you with a SWEET saying.....
Picket....close your eyes...don't look!

WHEN TRYING to lose weight...

"EAT JUST A BIT OF CHOCOLATE every day (well, every other day might work) to prevent binging on SWEETS...sounds FABULOUS to me and.....I can't even IMAGINE who made that saying up !! ?? !! ??

love ya'll, bj ;O)

39 comments:

ksarra said...

I feel the same way about cottages too BJ. When I drive past huge mansions, I can appreciate the architecture, but even if I won the lottery (which won't happen since I don't buy the tickets) I wouldn't want to own one. What I want to try to capture is the feeling I had at my two MawMaw's homes. Simple, small, sweet, cozy, and FILLED with unconditional love!!!

Bo said...

Good morning BJ...loved the tour of mansions & cottages...I always wonder why only 2 people seem to live in those huge houses & what must their utility bills look like...LOL...Big hugs, ♥ Bo

Southern Lady said...

I, too, love the sweetness and "homeyness" of cottage or cabin style houses ... like yours.

They seem to say, "Come on in and sit a spell," and what could be better than that!

Rosie's Whimsy said...

Oh yes, I like the little cottages so much more. Although, having a big burly guard or two to look out through the windows wouldn't be too bad :-)

Stacey said...

I would prefer the cottage too. They are just homier to me.

That cake is torturing me - trying to lose weight! Lordy, I love chocolate. :)

Kathleen Grace said...

I think the large house with the wire fence and guard tower looks like a prison! Give me a (not so) little cottage any day:>)

Anonymous said...

That was fun, BJ. I love looking at homes, too.

"Blossom" said...

BJ the first photo where the black pedestal is, is called a pedestal combination keypad box. Our business manufacturers them. We also manufacture the gate and gate arms. The home is lovely. Love seeing all your drive bys'.
Blossom

Janene said...

First I want to say I curse you for showing that delicious chocolatey cake...Mmmmmm! You are killing ME! LOL
Next, I'm with you. Although I would love to have lots of space...I like the feeling of coziness! And you can only get that from a cottage!
I want a cottage style home...instead of this mansion that I live in! LOL
Have a great weekend!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

BJ, I agree. I love cottages. They have an inherent warmth and make you want to go in to visit. There are some mansions that are warm, too, but that's harder to achieve in a large structure.

That cake looks TOOOOOOO good!

Please pick up your friendship award at my blog, BJ. I was horrified when I looked down and your blog wasn't on my blog list because I enjoy coming here to visit. You have such a nice cozy home on the net, and you're such a warm, friendly person. I had been lazy and going to other posts to click on blogs I like, and decided that was getting to complicated. So I added some last night to my list, thought yours was on there, but you are NOW on my bloglist. I hope that's okay! :-)

XO,

Sheila

SmilingSally said...

I agree with you about those HUGE houses: I'd like one IF it comes with a maid!

Anonymous said...

Great post today girlfriend.I love to look at any house, large or small. This house we live in now is only about 2000 sq. ft. and I can hardly keep it clean, so guess I shouldn't even think bigger.But, I sure love looking at them.LOL

Love Ya,
Chris

Anonymous said...

Morning, BJness! Oh, I loved the house tour! Wouldn't it be fun to be able to ring the doorbell and say, "I've been admiring your house, could I take a tour?" lol Love the advise on chocolate too! Yummy stuff.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Those mansions are lovely to look at, but I am with you BJ. I love cottages....beach cottages, country cottages even city cottages. But my favorite style of home is an old farmhouse...
xo
Penny

Marcela said...

Beautiful pictures BJ
I also prefer cottages:)
They are cozy, and wonderful to live in.
Have a great day:)
Love
Marcela

Twice as Nice said...

Even if I could afford a mansion I wouldn't buy one. I think too much house means less "home".

annies home said...

I love small houses as well remember alan jacksons song itty bitty with a family of 8 we often feel that way about the walls of our house but let me tell you these walls are filled with love
thanks for stopping by my blog

Sarah said...

I smiled when I read your story about driving by the charming cottage to look at it -- there's a house in town I want to go and "visit" all the time too. (It's on 55th; I'll give you the exact address sometime when I see you). And yes, I would love to be featured on your blog! It's so wonderful of you to offer! Hope to talk to you soon!

Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer said...

cute bunnies! The huge gouses are pretty..but they don't look as homey as the cottages!

Amy said...

I just loved seeing the mansions and cottages. I am with you....I love the cozy, warm look of the small cottages. I always dream of one by the ocean...I can always dream! Thank you for visiting me. Please stop by again any time! Amy

the voice of melody said...

Love the cottages too, there's something so charming about them. And the white picket fence is so cute! I can just imagine stepping in the house and being greeted by a smell of fresh-baked pie. :)

nikkicrumpet said...

I loved seeing the beautiful pictures of those great houses. I also loved the song playing...perfect! Cottages are charming and fun too....hmmmm how about a great big COTTAGE. That would work!

Anonymous said...

Oh, you hit "my cup of tea" today! I always love looking at the huge mansions, but think about all the work to keep one nice and then I see a beautiful home like your favorite (and mine)and it just screams love and happiness to me! Thanks for sharing so many good pictures today!
Love,
Martha

Ginger said...

Put a white picket fence in front of a house and I am in love!!! That is my dream someday to have a home with a white picket fence.
Loved your story about sitting in front of the house admiring it, I did the same thing when I lived in Vegas. The guy came over and said hello and I told him I had been watching his home being built and I loved it. He invited my hubby and myself in to look around. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. lol. It was a 2 million dollar home with a racketball court in the basement. So beautiful.

Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...

Now that might be a diet I could stay on! Chocolate every day...yum! BJ, I love the little cottages, too. Sometimes those huge mansion look more like hotels or institutions than "home." I'd love nothing better than to move to a lovely little cottage with a picket fence...gotta have the picket fence! Oh, and gardens...did I mentions gardens?!
:-) Thanks for the tour...loved it! Let's go again! Susan

Becky said...

I'm kinda like you BJ. The mansions are beautiful...but I love the small cottage styles houses. They are the ones that feel warm and cozy!

Have a TERRIFIC weekend!

Tootsie said...

what good is a huge house? you never see your loved ones if there is that much room! I guess you'd get your exercise going from room to room....I prefer cozy to crazy big!
but not too cozy...some little people need to have some space to get out of my hair once and a while! lol

Maryjane-The Beehive Cottage said...

Wonderful tour BJ! I to love the cottages the best! Love the cozy feel to them! Thanks for the fun post!

Hugs,
Maryjane

Anonymous said...

Hi BJ! I must agree...I like the smaller ones better.

Great post!

Have a wonderful weekend!

tea time and roses said...

Hello BJ!

Happy New Year to you and your family! Wishing you the very best in 2009! Thank you so much for this lovely tour! I often wonder just what I would do with myself in a mansion, but I am sure I would find something!!:o) Really my favorite are the cottages. I would love one filled with roses of all sorts.:o) Yes, a rosy little cottage sweet and warm. Thank you so much for sharing all these lovely homes with us! You and your family enjoy a beautiful weekend!

Smiles...

Beverly

Deanna said...

Hey BJ! You made me homesick! You should post some of the houses on 19th. You might even snap one that belongs to one of my best friends.

Thanks for the pictures

Deanna :)

Beth at Aunties said...

BJ... I loved your tour of the mansions, but mostly of the cute cozy cottages whcih have a family written all over it... Cute story of the wife stalking the home until her husband bought it for her:)
Don't you just love looking and wondering about the people who live inside.
We have a gated area close to our home and we have dear friends who live there We ahve gotten to know the nicest three families who live beyond those gates. They are so giving and generous and are wonderful friends to this day. I 'd be afraid of losing a child though. LOL
I am glad that I live in my home, because I wouldn't want to pay the utilities and clean those huge ones:) LOL
Thanks for sharing!

Have a wonderful weekend!♥

Andi said...

Hi BJ! Thanks for stopping by to check on me. I'm just dandy but have been so very busy this week. I did finally get a new post on my blog.

These homes are beautiful but the cottages have the most charm to me...and the bunnies are cute too!!!

Hugs, Andi

Meggie said...

I know what you mean about the charm of a cottage like home, BJ. I've come to think that no matter what the size of a house, it is the feeling within, created by its owner, that makes it warm and cozy.

Anonymous said...

Wow, it's late to be visiting, I just lost the whole day some how. I love your beautiful homes BJ. The truth is a home is all about who lives in it not what it looks like on the outside. I love the cottage style homes too. From what I have seen of your home it is pretty in every room. You are what makes your lovely cottage a home and that is love girl.

Love to you my friend, Jeanne

Betty said...

Oh I can imagine the kind of person that would give that kind of advice about chocolate...me...weather it was true or not! lol
But hey it sounds like good advice to me.
I have been playing catch up and looking at all the mansions and pretty bird houses! Thanks for sharing so pretty.

Betty

Carole Burant said...

The mansions are gorgeous and how I'd love to go inside all of them to ooh and aah over everything but like you, I'd prefer a little cottage style house...in fact, make it a log home:-)

Love that chocolate saying, I think I'm going to follow the advice! hehe xoxo

Anita said...

Goodness that chocolate looks wonderful....

To each his own, as far as houses go. I've had bigger, had smaller, fabulous and not so great. My best friend always remind sme I could polish a turd to look like a diamond- so that is good enough for me and mine.

But if I DID have a big house again, I sooooo would have a BIG yard so I didn't need some wire face. Jeez. I'd prefer grazing sheep on the lawn that that.

Anita

Neabear said...

The big houses are beautiful. However my first thought is that I would never be able to keep them clean. And hubby would be forever forgetting where he left his coffee cup or glasses. Or his phone. But I help him find that by sending a message to his phone. Can't do the same with the coffee or the glasses though. Thanks for sharing!