Hootin' Anni's Day Trippin' : Tour of Homes

Showing posts with label Tour of Homes. Show all posts

§ More Babbling....

Just what home would you choose if you had to? Out of 50 most expensive homes for sale [1 from each state in the union], it was difficult. But I narrowed my choices to two. My ultimate dream home has always been on the Pacific Ocean. Ocean views with all glass walls...high on a bluff, with so many acres called mine, my nearest neighbor would be MILES away!! Anyway, just for fun one morning while perusing the web so as not to wake up Bud in the quiet hours, I scanned the most expensive homes up for grabs. I was astonished that the 'expensive homes' were so LESS expensive in some states...location, location, location!! And I definitely wasn't impressed with the one in Texas - of all places, Dallas? No way. I'd prefer the Texas HILL Country! Note to self: "I must start playing the lottery; and win!!!"

Here is my top choice: Michigan

[19.5 million]

Known as Granot Loma, this 26,000-square-foot log cabin comes with an enormous hot tub, a private harbor, an apple orchard - and of course, a private island.

The fact it's on a private island appeals to me greatly. Besides I like the rustic home AND its wooded surroundings.

Here is my runner-up: New Mexico

[13.65 million]

Nestled in the foothills of Santa Fe, this manor offers phenomenal views of the Sangre de Cristos from many of its rooms, which include a formal living room, a grand dining room, and a library.

Oh, oh...did someone say a library? Of my own? Yep, that would be a selling point for me.

So, if you have about 10 minutes of spare time, try and pick YOUR ideal dream home from the most expensive homes for sale by state. Awwww, come on, dream a little. It's cheap entertainment!! Check 'em out by using the arrows at the top of the listed pages!! HERE I'd be most interested in your choice[s].

no copyright infringement intended

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I did a little bit of holiday decorating again. This time I strung the lights on the sleigh and reindeer garland. I was hoping it resemble the reins from the hands of Santa, but it didn't. They're up and lighted!!

When that was done I finished with the fireplace. Of course, living here in South Texas it rarely gets below 40 degrees at night, so there really isn't any need for a fire in the fireplace [we do have some firewood, only for cold nights/mornings when the power is out for some reason]. Anyway, I decided to add some candle glow...

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Reading our local news online via my phone, I was all smiles when I read this report!! I'm gonna share the photo that was linked from Facebook...

It made me feel good to read something positive, and the patrolman also felt the need to show that there ARE good people out there!! Someone wrote on his patrol car "Thank You"! In lieu of all the negative cop stories etc. these days...well, did I say I liked reading this?!!

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One more thing; I have a question: In all my years, I have NEVER eaten a scone. I found a holiday recipe for cranberry scones with maple butter. Erik, our son, LOVES cranberries!!! Now my question is...are scones tasty? Your input is invaluable to me.

§ Sunday Morning....Part III

Remember, the history of this area where I call home was not incorporated as a city of Texas until 1852...so, unlike the "Old World" with history dating back centuries ago, we are the "New World"!!

Within the Park's Boundaries,
there is a beer garden [behind the fencing] and a rose garden

At the American Bank Center and the seawall, I turned to walk a more westerly direction. I was now facing toward what the city has dubbed the area ahead of me by a few blocks, Heritage Park. Here, through many decades of occasional house moving, old, historic homes have been relocated into one section of land...all with Texas State Historical Markers [which you should be able to read about each one if interested; click to enlarge]. Walking the brick pathway I stopped at, and photographed, nine homes for this post: Some excerpts have been re-edited by me for shorter length...

excerpt: "The French family settled in Corpus Christi in 1882, owner was a builder of the Texas-Mexican Railroad..."

excerpt: "The house was owned by a rancher and once used as a hospital during the Yellow Fever Epidemic..."

excerpt: "Veteran of the Spanish-American War and WWI, he was a prominent cotton farmer, and owned a cotton gin..."

excerpt: "Gugenheim, a Native Texan, came to Corpus Christi, to become a wealthy man..."

excerpt: "One of two houses originally constructed by Mrs. Sidbury in 1893..."

excerpt: "Julius was three when his family moved to Corpus Christi...opened a Dry Goods Store..."

excerpt: ..."Widow McCampbell hired an architect to build a home in Corpus Christi's Irishtown..."

...excerpt: "Benito Grande moved to Corpus Christi in the late 1860s..."

For the last home, number 9 of photos, I could not find a marker, but read this online...

"Hattie Moore Littles is believed to have been one of the first black natives of Corpus Christi. In 1915, she and her husband, Willis, employed by John G. Kenedy, a rancher [of the King Ranch legacy], and were baptized the first black Catholics of Corpus Christi. John G. and Marie Stella Kenedy were their godparents. Hattie and Willis were employed by many prominent families in Corpus Christi. When the Littles retired, the Kenedys gave them this house. Its original site is unknown..." You can read more from the link I provided below...

After walking through the park and enjoying the shade of the live oak trees, I ventured on toward the ship channel and hoping to get some views of the Port of Call below the Harbor Bridge. On the way, a couple more museums. I will conclude my Sunday walk in the last episode to come soon!!

Read More on Historic Homes and Corpus Christi History:
heritage park
Corpus Christi Texas Time Line
Nueces County Historical Markers

Sunday Morning - Part I [Museum, Sculptures, Fountain]
Sunday Morning - Part II [Seawall, Shrimp Boats, Cargo Ships]

§ Sunshine and Natural Beauty in....

Blucher Park
Corpus Christi, Texas
January 2012

This natural area in the middle of the city, is adjacent to the county court house, the city library - near Upper Broadway Street [a hilly area that overlooks Water Street and the Bay]. It's a birding area that attracts all kinds of wildlife...including transients; sadly. Across the street from this park, there are several historical homes mostly privately owned and operated as lawyers' offices and Bed and Breakfasts [the Blucher home is now a Bed and Breakfast --along the side street you'll find the horse carriage house that was also owned by a man named Blucher]---

connected to: Macro Monday and Mellow Yellow Monday [linked buttons at BOTTOM of blog page]
ALSO LINKING TO:

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MONDAY MORSELS

George Anton Von Blucher (1863 - 1929), for which the park is named was born in Corpus Christi, Nueces, Texas, USA on 3 Oct 1863 to Anton Von Blucher and Maria Imme [both German immigrants]. George Anton married Alice May Crawford and had 6 children. He passed away on 25 Oct 1929 in Corpus Christi, Nueces, Texas, USA, and the family members are buried in the oldest cemetery in Corpus Christi - Bayview Cemetery. High on the bluff overlooking Corpus Christi Bay, George Anton von Blucher and his bride, Alice [Crawford] von Blucher, built their galleried Victorian home in 1904. Now known as the George Blucher House, reportedly, the Inn exudes an understated elegance and the hospitality of days gone by. Nestled quietly beneath towering magnolia, elm, anacua, pecan and oak, the historic George Blucher home sits just across the street from Blucher Park, an internationally renowned bird sanctuary. If you'd like to read about the historical George Blucher House...click HERE [you can find out the amenities, the history, the innkeeper background and the different styles of rooms available.]

AND!!!! I was totally impressed with a certain comment I rec'd yesterday in my Shadow Shot post....I titled my post "The Shadow of your Smile"...and the photo I chose to use for a shadow was of a Sandpiper on the shore of the Gulf. NIXBLOG....high 5 by the way...."connected the dots" and posted the comment regarding a movie of long ago..."The Sandpiper", and as part of the movie's soundtrack, the song...."The Shadow of your Smile"!!! Way to go...you impressed me to no end on that. :::beaming with awe::: NixBlog Daily is worth going out on the 'net to visit...images galore - a great blog. Also offered is a Friday Flower Meme on another blog.