Wednesday, May 13, 2009

The Craftsman Challenge: Round 5 (Sublime to Ridiculous!)

This has to be my favorite front yard in South Pasadena. I wonder... are contemporary Druids living here? I can think of no better image to revisit my beloved Craftsman Challenge. Here's a review to bring new readers up to speed:

The idea began with my complaint about how it's almost impossible to use a camera to capture the true beauty of a Craftsman home. My blogging pals stepped up to the plate to prove me wrong...

Petrea added her touch here and followed up here, Ben at The Sky is Big in Pasadena joined the fun here, Mister Earl came alonghere and here and started getting silly here, Sarah Jane over at Hatching a Patch jumped in with this , GOSP reader Barbra joined in with this, Keith at Gem City Images added to the collection with this great shot just as Elaine, our Northern California buddy in Willits added this, and fellow San Gabriel Valley blogger Pasadena Adjacent added my favorite hilarious addition to the Challenge canon with this beautifully irreverent (and well-spotted) example of Craftsman architecture.

And a little bit like the architecture itself, my challenge endures! I'm happy to say, yet another contender steps into the ring for a chance at the title of Craftsman Smackdown queen. This is the perfect opportunity for me to introduce a new Los Angeles-area blog, A Photographic Journey, by GOSP reader (and photographer-extraordinaire) The Chieftess. Take a look at her masterful shots of Craftsman homes, and be sure to check out her other photographs. I think you will enjoy the thoughtful, elegant and just plain beautiful images from around Southern California. Welcome to Blogland, Chieftess!

17 comments:

Buenos Aires Photoblog said...

That looks awesome. I wonder how they get into the house.

Buenos Aires Photo

Hilda said...

What the…
Is that tree still alive? What a curious thing!

Dixie Jane said...

When inviting friends, the home owners must have to say, "Just hop on over." Or maybe, "Bring ladder."

Yakpate said...

I am house-hunting... and thanks to your influence, I departed from my usual fixation with ultra-modern to inquire about a small craftsman with a city-lights view. Unfortunately, it already had 15 offers!

Virginia said...

Hey Chapstick,
What's up with that limb? Makes it hard to cut the grass I'd venture.
V

Anonymous said...

"sycamores gone wild"
Thanks fro the winky link. All those poppies made me sleepy

Anonymous said...

Excellent, Bones! I love sycamores, and good for these people to have the sense to enjoy a bit of whimsey.

TheChieftess said...

Love the pic Laurie!!! But, are you sure it's a Druid home? I thought I saw the Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins in the window...

Margaret said...

We walk by that house everyday on our way to school. My daughters have been desperate to climb for going on eight years.

Double "D" said...

Wow! What a magical tree and house.
I can see my 3 little grandsons scrambling
all over that wonderful, wonderful tree.

First Sycamore I've ever seen like that.
I like the mood of the scene done in B&W.
Good catch!

Linda Dove said...

I think maybe they needed extra seating? Porch not quite enough for them? Horizontal trees are so very cool!

dbdubya said...

I'll bet the tree trimming services that drive by drool when they see this house. They could trim or chop down a tree without having to climb a ladder.

Verdugo Park in Glendale has a very similar tree that's looked like this one for 50 years. I'm guessing this one has been this way for just as long.

Ken Mac said...

looks like the tree is going to devour the house!

Ashley said...

Wow! Your terrific picture reminds me of one of my favorite children's books, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, where Max's bedroom becomes a jungle! "Please don't go, we'll eat you up, we love you so!"

Judy Williams said...

Oh My #%^!# GOD!! That tree!!! Holy moly.

Laurie Allee said...

Thanks, everyone.

Welcome Buenos Aires Photoblog!

Hilda, yes the tree is very much alive. Isn't it kooky and wonderful?

Yak, I'm not surprised a Craftsman with city lights views had 15 offers. Where on earth is there a Craftsman with city lights views?!?!?

Dixie Mom, I knew you would love this place.

Okay Virginia/Ginger... I see how this is going to be... nicknames it is! ;-)

Double D and Margaret, my little one really wants to scramble up that tree, too. I could see this being an ongoing problem if we had to walk past it to school...

Thanks for checking in and commenting today, gang. You guys make it so much fun to be here. Until tomorrow!

Anonymous said...

Photos have come really nice..keep going..great work..

Nice photo...wonderful thoughts....

Thanks for sharing...

_________________
Andrew
Entertainment at one stop