Wednesday, August 13, 2008

A Natchez Getaway -- Chapter Two (The Road Less Taken)

Thank you for joining me for Chapter Two of my journal of our recent trip to Natchez, Mississippi. If you haven't read Chapter One and would like to, you can click here.

After breakfast Saturday morning, my husband and I joined his brother and his wife and drove around some residential areas in Natchez. Now, if you read my blog regularly, you know that I love exploring "off the beaten path," looking for places and things that aren't found in tour guide brochures.

I think this house qualifies. When we got close enough that I could see what it was, I got so excited and think I said something like, "Oh, my gosh! I've got to get some pictures of THAT!" ... to which my unflappable husband drolly replied, "You want to wait 'til I stop before you jump out?"

This is what I got so excited about (be sure and click on the pictures to enlarge them and get the "full effect") ...

Isn't that the neatest thing you've ever seen! You have to admire the imagination involved in creating it, not to mention the work that went into it. Here are some closeups of the different "vignettes" featured in this "masterpiece" ...

Aren't these little fellows adorable!

As if this wasn't enough, we went around the block and saw the back of the house which was also "decorated" ...

I didn't think I'd find anything else to compare to the "uniqueness" of that unbelievable house, but a couple of blocks away we saw this beautiful old Victorian house ...

So, you say, it's a pretty house, but what's so unique about it? Well, take a closer look at the top windows ...



That figure you see looked like a ventriloquist's dummy that had a strong resemblance to Charles Bronson. Is that creepy, or what?

The house itself was very pretty, and I especially liked the stained glass in the front doors ...

As we left the "unique" neighborhood, we discovered these beautiful homes perched high on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River ...

Can you imagine looking out your front door at this gorgeous view of "Old Man River?" ...

This is another house overlooking the river and I liked its colorful gold and red paint ...

This is a picture I took of the "bluff houses" from further upriver using a telephoto lens ...

And speaking of the river, here are a couple of pictures I took earlier in the day ...

I am fascinated by huge old oak trees, with their twisted and moss-covered limbs, and often wonder how old they are and if they were just saplings during antebellum days.

We passed by one of the antebellum homes and I stopped and took these photos of the roots of one of the massive oaks beside the street ...

And while I'm on the subject of old trees, I'm going to end this chapter with some of my pictures of old oak trees and Joyce Kilmer's beautiful poem about "Trees" ...

I hope you will join me for Chapter Three of my Natchez story which will include a visit with "The Turning Angel" and other famous "residents" of the Natchez City Cemetery.

Sincerely,

12 comments:

Southerner said...

Can you imagine the inside of that house! All I can think of is Clean Sweep or someone to help the poor soul that actually thinks this is stylish! It has to be an old woman with a lot of cats. She probably was scared of the freaky woman(?) standing in the old victorian window as a child. At least it scared her silly and in full color!

Picket said...

Morning girl....I always love your tours...you find some of the most amazing places! I loved the houses but the river and those oak trees just make me sigh! Beautiful post friend...just beautiful!

Unknown said...

Hi Janie,
The little house with all the decorations made me smile! My guess is that it is a happy little old lady that lives there! I'm sure she gets as much pleasure out of making her home special as we all do working on ours!

Your photos are wonderful...especially the oak trees and the river!

I love the way you see beauty in things so many of us take for granted!

I read Greg Isles book Turning Angel, and am looking forward to tomorrow's post!
diane

Tracey said...

Lovely old trees! I am anxiously awaiting chapter Three :)

Linda S H said...

Hi Janie, Loved the post! The stained glass windows in that house are really pretty! The over-decorated house made me laugh and the first thought I had was "She had to have a really tolerant husband!" LOL Then I saw all of the USA decorations and the Marine emblem and thought she must have someone or at one time had someone in the Marines. Bless her heart. I wondered if that was the "Killer Dog" in that picture of the back! Or maybe he was "stuffed" like in the other house! lol I've always loved that poem by Joyce Kilmer! Like you, I am fascinated by trees!

bj said...

What an enjoyable post, Janie...
I got a kick out of the little house, too...amazing!

nikkicrumpet said...

Another beautiful tour. Those old oaks are so majestic. I loved the houses...the "much-adorned" house made me laugh...I bet whoever lives there isn't boring. The old victorian was pretty...but a bit creepy with the old lady in the window. I'm not sure I'd want to knock and their door and be invited in....eeeeek! Thanks for the tour!

Anonymous said...

Dee from Tennessee

Oh those trees...

Lovin' this tour!

Anonymous said...

Janie, I am blown away by your wonderful photos. First that crazy house with all that stuff. I blew up the photos and the detail is so involved. Wow! Then the upper windows of the Victorian. Stained glass and so beautiful and then the whimsical paintings. Wow. And the following photos show the beauty of Natchez. I have not been there, but now I want to go. Thanks for the second day of a terrific post. Can't wait until the third.

Jeanne

Scooterblu's Whimsy~Rhonda said...

Great tour! I love that poem about the trees! My dad use to recite it all the time when we were young! I haven't heard it in years! That first house was VERY unique! LOL! Wonder what the inside looked like? LOL!

~RHonda :)

Nancy Rosalina said...

Hi Janie, Loved the tour! All I can say about that decorated yard and porch on that house is Bless Their Hearts, someone has put alot of work in that decorating and has to keep it clean, oh, goodness!! That house with that woman, I didn't like...too scary!! The other homes are gorgeous!!! Thanks for sharing them. Blessings, Nancy

StitchinByTheLake said...

I love the decorated house! I can just see joy seeping out the doors and windows. The person who lives here obviously has a strong sense of self and individuality with little regard for the sameness of sodded yard after sodded yard. I just love that! Blessings, marlene