Halloween on Historic Harrison Boulevard

Tomorrow is Halloween and in Boise's Historic North End ~ Halloween is celebrated in a big way ~ especially on Harrison Boulevard. Homes are preparing their decorations in anticipation of a big crowd. The entire boulevard is blocked off to traffic as hundreds of children from the Treasure Valley flock the street for Halloween fun!

Historic homes are decorated with spooky graveyards.

Neighbors compete for the most creative decorations. What appears to be just a couple of carved pumpkins leads to a front porch filled with....

Lots and lots of carved pumpkins with two mummies guarding the the front door!!!

Up the street are ghosts and goblins ....

Enter at your own risk!!!

The spirit of Halloween is everywhere!!!

Oooh ... look out for this entrance!!!

There is a spooky castle on this street .... and watch out for the fire breathing dragon!!

Watch out for that castle wall!!!

Ghosts are everywhere and while kids will be delighted ...

I am thinking that some parents may end up feeling like this poor skeleton ....

Ready to go home and take a nap!!!

Happy Halloween!!!

Thanks for taking a spooky tour of my neighborhood.

Have a Happy and Safe Halloween

Lots of love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Tour 2 ~ Cottages of the North End

Grab a thermos of tea or coffee and come take a morning walk with me and Bentley too and we will show off just a few of the charming cottages in our neighborhood. First stop above is Amy's Garden. Amy is an Engineering Professor at BSU, but she also has quite the green thumb. She owns two cottages, side by side and uses one for visiting profs, friends and relatives. The entire front yard is full of veggies, herbs and wild flowers. In the back are her four chickens, Thelma, Louise, Florence and Beatrice. Next stop ... Bentley's place of birth!

Here is the cute little cape cod cottage where you were born Bentley. It's just on the next block. His birth mother Miss Lady lives there. His birth daddy, Mr Rags, comes to visit, but he lives in another house. Bentley, we don't need to check back at Amy's, the chickens are out back ...

This cottage below belongs to Inger. It is super tiny, about 600 square feet. It was originally built as a "sample house" to show off the architect's plans. Inger is a talented artist with such charming vision. Her little cat is watching us ~ especially watching Bentley!!

Inger added this little potting shed on the side. Isn't it the cutest???

Here's a fine example of Queen Anne style.

Picket fences are everywhere. Traditional white pickets, square pickets, iron ones too!

Porches are hugely popular in the North End. They are a must!!!

Porch swings are seen everywhere ...

Bungalow styles are popular too.

Cottage gardens are popular ....

And hula hoops too!!

Bentley and I are headed home. Here is our little cottage back behind our own picket fence ...

Thanks for taking a morning walk with us. Get a refill of coffee or tea and stop by to visit Cielo at her House in the Roses for Show Off Your Cottage Monday!!

Yes Bentley, you were born in that sweet cottage just one block away!!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Summer Sunday Stroll

Today I am joining The Tablescaper for Summer Sundays. I'll be taking you on the first part of a tour of my neighborhood. Bentley and I live in the North End Historic District, and specifically the Hyde Park Historic District. My neighborhood was one of the earliest developments in Boise, Idaho. Several years ago it was given the Historic District status to preserve our heritage. A few years ago Cottage Living Magazine (while it was still in print) named The North End one of the ten best cottage communities in the US. Here is our little shopping district.

We have cute little antique shops like this one. Dee Dee has owned Forget-Me-Knot Antiques for many years now and she has a great sense of style.

This shop belongs to my friend Janice. Blue Moon Antiques has beautiful vintage linens, trims and sewing notions along with other cottage essentials.

Goody's Ice Cream and Candies is a favorite. It's quiet right now on a Sunday morning, but in a few hours the patio will be overflowing!

Their handmade candies are yummy and the interior is just as you would imagine a vintage ice cream parlor should be.

Here is our used book shop and it is also our local little post office. At one point the US Postal Service wanted to eliminate this postal sub station, but we all protested and thankfully here it remains.

This barber shop has been in continual service since the 1950's and has not changed a bit!! I could just imagine Sheriff Taylor and Barney getting their hair cut here!

Urban Revival is a spot for picking up gently used clothing and accessories. Finally we have the Sun Ray Cafe. This place gets packed in the afternoons and weekends and is a favorite with cyclists stopping back for some refreshment after a ride in the foothills.

Thanks for taking this first part of out tour. On Part Two I will show you the cottage where Bentley was born, Amy's Garden and lots of the charming cottages and porches of the North End.

Yes Bentley, we are going to show everyone the adorable little Cape Cod Cottage where you were born!!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Old Houses Both Charming and Quirky

Ash Tree Cottage is 97 years old. It's charming, but it's also quirky as well. The floors creak, there is a mix of old cabinets in the kitchen and somewhat newer maple ones. There must have been an old wood burning stove in the kitchen as the old stove pipe remains.

Last night we were at a party at our neighbor's house. They have a historic victorian as well. It has all of it's own quirks. What we decided is that we love our old cottages, despite the creaking floors, small closets, little nooks, crannies and plaster walls. They are comfy like an old pair of beloved slippers.

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo