It’s Drive By Time (yes, really we should call it “Drive By Shooting” but this is a non-violent blog and I just can’t bear to title it with such a horrible name!)! I had so much fun getting these photos for you, it had been way too long since our last Drive By neighborhood tour! I really felt like you were all right there ooh’ing and ahh’ing with me. Some of them were so hard to shoot! These houses are not all out in the open, mind you. We are talking gardeners in the front lawn, gates and privacy fences, bushes and shrubs and GUARD DOGS. Luckily my husband was with me to drive as I did the shooting.
I really put myself out on a limb though for a few of these shots, so I have to apologize on the ones that are crooked or slightly out of focus! I was so nervous about getting caught by security crouching down in the rose bushes. Sometimes I had to just shoot and run like crazy! It really can look suspicious when you come leaping out of the shrubbery and get startled by unsuspecting dog walkers. I hate when that happens. But it is all a part of the dangerous world of drive bys.
So, fasten your seat belts — here we go! These next few houses are in the Irvington and Grant Park area of Portland. These houses are more out in the open than the ones coming up in the next neighborhood so we didn’t have to deal with so many obstacles. I love the purple door and trim on this one! It became pretty clear to me after viewing my photos in the first part of the tour that I was drawn to Tudors…
And check out their downspout! No detail too small!
Ok, now we drove over the river to the westside of town to Dunthorpe, not too far from where I live now. This is a beautiful old neighborhood my parents used to live in. I’ll show you their house in a future drive-by, I forgot to take a picture of it! Dunthorpe is one of my favorite places for drive-bys because the houses are not McMansions or wanna be mansions, they are the real deal. Really old stately places owned by people who don’t need to impress you, they are beyond that. They like their privacy.
This next house is the one where I risked life and limb for the sake of my blog post. See the bushes in the forefront of the photo below? Yep, those are the ones I had to crawl through to get a glimpse of this beauty.
Once I got in the bushes I was able to get a little closer:
Once I made it to the “other side” I took a look around and saw this!
Oh! Happy Gasp! Can you imagine the parties I could have here?! I was so excited! I saw something you couldn’t even see from the street! I got a little lost in the moment and before I knew it I was running across the lawn towards the fireplace (see how it is a little bit blurry? That is because I am running as fast as my legs could go, closer and closer!).
I was really picking up speed when my husband shouted to me from the car:
“Meli? Meli?! Where are you?”
Darn, I had to turn around and make my way back to the car. Next time, if I leave my husband at home, I might make it around to the back entrance. Before I jumped in the car, I snapped a quick picture of the neighboring house.
For the rest of the tour my husband made me stay in the car. He threated to leave me in the bushes next time — he was so embarrassed.
Ok, now this was my personal favorite (below). It was really hard to get a picture of because my husband would not let me get out of the vehicle, but I did the best I could while hanging out the car window. I loved the lights hanging in their front window! This was my fairytale house. The gate was absolutely beautiful!
Many of the houses had their gates locked shut. Probably as a precaution against people like me.
I really really wanted to get out of the car and get a little closer to this house and to that white gate! But, this was the best I could do while strapped in the car. This is such a homey home!
Now this house (below) was in such a picturesque setting! It was hard to really capture how striking the landscape was. The other amazing thing was that the property was surrounded by a moat. I’m not kidding! We figured that out when we backed into it. Another awkward “Drive By Moment”! Time for us to leave the neighborhood!
I have more pictures to share but they are going to have to wait for another Drive By.
Thanks for joining me everyone! If you missed the first Drive By from October 2007, click here!
Oh my…what fun you two had. And what incredible homes you snuck around. Next time could we see pictures of the insides???? I’d like to see how you could work that one out!! ha ha. Thanks so much for sharing.
LOVE the tour!! Oh and that downspout!! How very creative!!
Melissa -
I love those areas of homes in Portland. You can’t be far from me – I’m in Canby. I love to do drivebys and I’m always afraid I’ll get caught. I don’t usually get out of the car because I want to be able to speed away, if needed. Thanks for sharing your adventures with us. I can’t wait for more!
~Adrienne~
This post makes me miss Portland! The light cast in those photos reminds me of visiting my grandparents; that sort of luminescent grey that isn’t depressing like the grey we have here.
There’s some really amazing neighborhoods, aren’t there? Juneau just doesn’t have that….character. Downtown has some older homes built in the early 1900′s, but mostly it seems we have homes built in the early 80′s, which all look alike, or new construction, which all look alike.
Who would have thought … your the house Paparazzi!!!! I am dying laughing, can just see you in the shrubbery, running across someones lawn to ‘shoot’ at their big BBQ, my husband would have left me there:) Rachael
p.s but worth it, what fabulous looking houses:) Thanks for risking limbs or even life for us:) Rachael
What a fun, fun tour! Next time I want to go with you. You live in one of my favorite cities! I just imagined I was next door to the Rhodie Garden. . .or is it the Japanese Gardens? Whatever, it was a terrific tour!!!
LaTeaDah
What gorgeous homes! Thanks for sharing the yummy photos. Living in a tiny Paris apartment, it’s hard to imagine having that kind of space. They are all beautiful!
You’re so funny! I do this too. My family just rolls their eyes when I stop and pull over to take a picture of a house. I even like to go out at night so I can get a glimpse at the insides! LOVE the dragonfly gutter. We had a tudor style house way back when but it was too small for 6 people. I think I like the blue house best. Have a wonderful evening. Blessings… Polly
This was just way too much fun! Typical husband stories too, I love it! Really beautiful homes, details, landscapes, the whole thing. Thanks for the tour, it was delightful.
What fun! Loved this tour! Thanks for risking life and limb. LOL
Hugs!
Kat
Another great tour! Those homes are beautiful! I can see why you are drawn to the Tudor style!
holy smokes girl. i want to move there. i loved every single house. gorgeous!
i do the same thing, and guess what my husband does the same thing, he’s mortified.
o well,
jessi
Now, THAT’S my kind of drive-by!
and that outdoor fireplace? I WANT IT!!!!
Thanks for that!
Martha
Huge smile plastered on my face while reading your drive by results Melissa! Thanks for the inspiring tour. I think we should all start a one sunday a month drive by entry in our blogs. Then we could spend the day being armchair drivers on our computers. It would take us much farther than our cars would and give us a glimpse into some beautiful neighborhoods we might not see otherwise.
Take care,
Lisa & Alfie
Thanks for sharing – luv these homes! I would take any one of these
HOW ADORABLE?!!!!!
I love your drive-by’s! And gracious, your comment re: your seven-year-old’s thoughts on organization was just hilarious. Kids are so fun.
Have a fantastic weekend, and keep up the great posts! I love when I hit the Inspired Room part of my Google Reader!
-e
Oh, wow, those houses are so impressive!! It is so much fun to see how other people live, and to dream!
Oh MY!! I am laughing so hard right now….LOL. I can just seen you during your drive bys! You husband sounds like mine….
Those homes are absolutley stunning. My fav is the one with the purple door and trim….
Hugs,
Penny
All I can say is, “ahhhhhh! Purely wonderful!”
Such a funny post!! The homes are fantastic. I can see why you risked life and limb to get a closer look. They are really wonderful. Your description of the event was very humorous!
Melissa, some magnificent houses. I often drive by those sorts of houses and wonder “who gets to live there?” and wonder who is so blessed. The only thing I hope is that they appreciate it and aren’t arrogant twits.
Melissa,
Ohhh, I felt like I was running along side of you giggling our heads off! How fun! You are such a hoot, Melissa. I just love your style. Thanks for risking life and limb to take us on your drive-by! You are simply adorable.
Hugs,
Debbie
Oh! I would live in any of those fabulous homes! Gorgeous. Thanks for sharing the beautiful eye candy with us all.
have a wonderful week.
Blessings,
Sandy
You are hilarious! This was great fun and I didn’t have to get out of my jammies to tour the neighborhood. I love tudor homes, too! The details and hominess are so wonderful and very English looking. There is a sweet Tudor in town I want, but you know about wanting. Hubby is content here. I want, I want! ha!
Thank you for the fun!
xo
Becky
BTW, these look like larger versions of the storybook cottages featured in February’s Cottage Living.
This is a great post! And funny too as I envisioned you going Indiana Jones in suburban Portland
I’ve never been to the Irvington and Grant Park area, but I have got to go! Those houses are amazingly dreamy!
This is the best idea. If it ever stops raining here, I will give it a try too!
Very lovely houses and what an adventure you had capturing them all Melissa
Oh my gracious, this was so much fun. I love drive-bys and you were the most amazing driver!
Thank You! It’s brrrr cold outside and I had so much fun on your drive-by without having to leave my cozy couch!
I loved your drive by shootings (we should be neighbors) I call home staulking…..I would love for you guys to see some right here in Miami (but ofcourse I don’t have a blog)I am living through all of yours,,,thanks
I so love this topic! I originally saw the post on Jennifer’s blog and have been tracking the spread of it which led me back here (to find that you started it!). I’m going to update my post on the subject to mention this one. Meanwhile, I hope you are well! I have been so completely ane utterly remiss about keeping in touch! I’m a cow. I can’t wait to get out from the landslide I’m under and chat more!
~Angela
Hi Melissa,
I’ve been reading your blog and it wasn’t until this post…via Cottage Magpie’s link…that I realized you were a fellow Portlander! Imagine my delight when I saw pics of houses in Irvington and Grant Park that I used to live near and DRIVE BY all the time. We are definitely kindred spirits, because I could drive by houses all day! (In fact, I may have spent this very morning doing that while my sick little girls rested/slept in the car. Is that wrong?)
Anyway, thanks for your *inspiring* blog! Love it!
Well, I have to say this was just about the most fun a girl could have without getting arrested for it. Thanks, Melissa! -Julia
I love those homes. My husband grew up in Grant Park. When we were first married we would drive through those same neighborhoods and dream. We have a nice house, much smaller than most of them. We love our house, but we love to go look and get ideas for landscaping and backyard projects. I would still love to live in one of those fairy tails.
Deanns inspiring blog post..Projects to complete…