Piink house

Sunflowers

When sunflowers almost make your home invisible.

Fallingwater

I have always had an interest in architecture, and when you talk about American architecture you need to talk about Frank Lloyd Wright, and when you talk about Wright, you have to talk about Fallingwater, the home he designed and built for the Kaufmann family in rural Pennsylvania. I have long wanted to see it myself and finally had the opportunity this week. As expected, it is a spectacular home in in a spectacular setting.

Although the house is a collection of dozens of interesting visual details and design elements, it is almost exclusively identified by one view... across Bear Creek below the falls. It was my desire to find a unique way to photograph the structure, but in the end the familiar viewpoint is needed to complete the visual experience.

Brings back memories

This is not the most interesting photo I have posted, but chancing by this little building brought back memories for me. The curious brink/tile is the same material that my grandfathers home was constructed with. It was a small but comfortable house with the brick painted over in a cream color. I have not seen it in decades but it is still fresh in my mind having spent much time in and around the house.

Secluded home

Not actually that secluded. There is an expressway just above the hill, but from the vantage of Devil's Cove it is very much in the wilderness. The cove is narrow and not easily seen from the bay and neighboring homes are well hid by the woods.

Powdered sugar

Slow Children

With all the terrible weather across the country we are only dealing with gloom, with none of the usual snow. Not seeing much sunshine this time of year is common, but that does not make me wish it was not so.

Yellow house

Stone porch

Batcheller mansion

The Batcheller mansion in Saratoga Springs is a Victorian inn with distinctive style and character. According to the website, it has hosted "U.S. Presidents, European Royalty, Dignitaries and Hollywood Celebrities."

Built in 1857

That's pretty old for this part of the world, at least for the Town of Webster. Back then Webster was only a teenager, having split from the town of Penfield only 17 years earlier.

And speaking of splitting, it is appropriate that the American flag is displayed as we celebrate our independence from England, and the birth of our United States of America.

To all my American friends, have a happy and safe 4th.

Gingerbread house

Darwin Martin House

The last time I visited the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Martin house in Buffalo NY it was early in the restoration process. Yesterday I was very impressed with the progress and quality of the work being done. Much of the house is in wonderful shape and a new visitor pavilion is also impressive in design and architectural quality (very different but with echoes of the Wright design). A 90 minute tours is offered and I recommend it if you have any interest in architecture, history and design.

As modern as the house looks today it is interesting to note that the original complex contained horse stables, not for pleasure riding, but as the primary means of transportation. Martin did not acquire an automobile until several years after occupying the home.

Valentine

It seems more and more people are decorating their homes for Valentine's Day, so at first glance this is pretty normal. But what made me smile, if you look closely (click to enlarge), is the row of Valentine teddy bears inside the porch.

I think there is love inside.

Cottage

Carolers

Everyone has their Christmas decorations up by now, but still no snow.

Squirrel

Taos Pueblo

One of our day trips was to the Taos Pueblo, a little over an hour drive north of Santa Fe. These structures are a thousand years old and were built, and have been continuously occupied, by a tribe of Puebloan people.

I found myself walking in the footsteps of Ansel Adams who photographed these same structures in the 1940's. Here is a link to a very poor reproduction of one of his photos on the Government National Archive site.

Being constructed of only mud brick and log supports it is impressive that the three and four story structures have stood the test of time.

The oldest house

I was surprised to learn that Santa Fe has the oldest church, oldest government building and oldest house in North America.

The section of the oldest house dates back to the 1600's but parts of the foundation have been determined to have been laid in the 1200's by an early Pueblo tribe.

That is pretty old for North America.

Pueblo style

The second architectural style of Santa Fe is Pueblo style, or more accurately, Pueblo Revival style. Actually I should have listed that as the first approved style because it is the oldest. Originally it was made of sun baked mud bricks stacked then plastered over with more mud. The exposed wood beams were to support the roof, but of course that style of building is not used today... only the look is preserved.

There are, however, examples of very old buildings still standing that are genuine adobe (not Photo-shopped)/Pueblo... some even hundreds of (or even a thousand) years old. That is some good mud.