Wanna come with me on a drive by on San Juan Island?

Or more like a walk by, that is the leisurely pace of a getaway like this.

I feel like I’ve been away from my blog and blog friends FOREVER! I snuck away last week on a getaway to a B&B on San Juan Island with my husband. Sorry I couldn’t tell you where I was going at the time, but you know, killers and all might take advantage.

When you are as busy as we are with a business, church, and life, getting away together (and without the family or the puppy or the dog!) is a pretty rare thing! Honestly I am pretty sure this was the longest we had been away together just the two of us without our kids in 18 years. Crazy? Yeah, week long getaways just aren’t something we get to do very often. Clearly. Gah.

Last weekend when we had the unexpected opportunity to get away I shut down my blog and we took off for the few hour drive and one hour ferry ride to San Juan Island! Woo hoo! My daughter was well enough to be alright without me (after her appendectomy) and my parents came up to be tortured by I mean enjoy taking care of the Jack the puppy. We had a leadership conference at the end of the week, but the first few days of the week were all days off for resting and exploring San Juan Island!

Loved this house and all the pretty colors and details.

The landscaping around these homes in Roche Harbor was so amazing, the textures and shapes and colors completely captivated me.

When I get really close up to houses I am worried they are going to pop out of their door and hit me on the head with a frying pan. But I fell in love with this porch and the teal green porch roof. Ah. Had to get close to see it.

This blue house pretty much swept me off my feet and it wasn’t even done yet.

FABULOUS, isn’t it? Wonder who the new owners will be? Lucky ducks. Maybe they will let me tour it on the inside when they move in.

Whoa! That was an abrupt transition. Sorry to scare you, should’ve warned ya I was changing subjects like that. But in addition to gazing at lovely houses, we went to an Alpaca Farm on the Island and jeez, those animals are CRAZY! They play just like siblings. And they look just as crazy.

OK, back to charming things. I had a deja vu of this restaurant from when I was a kid. Such a memorable place!

And this hotel was so charming. Probably for rich people who wear golf shirts and own yachts. No offense if you wear golf shirts or own a yacht. I would like a yacht myself. I saw a 7 million dollar one in the harbor.

The garden in front of the hotel was a really old lovely garden. I could have spent hours just looking at all the plants. So gorgeous!

This flower smelled like chocolate. I’m not kidding, I’ve never smelled a flower that smelled like chocolate!! What is it?

This was a lovely lavender farm on San Juan Island. It smelled like ….lavender. Heh heh.

There is nothing as wonderful as being able to explore charming streets, shops and linger over coffee!

And, as a life long lover of the sea, walking around by the boats in the harbor is always my favorite thing.

Good memories, lovely place.

Where have you escaped to this summer? I’d love to hear about your summer adventures!

Time for another Autumn Sunday drive by!

Because I love “fairy tale houses,” I so enjoy finding houses that are not the cookie cutter variety.

This house is up on Queen Anne Hill in Seattle and has the most glorious view of the city.

This house was so unique, right down to the chess pieces in the yard!

I love getting close up and seeing the details. Notice the lanterns by the door, the iron work above the door, the details above the windows and below the window sills!

I wonder if they saw me lurking outside and shut their shutters. I promise I was out on the sidewalk and not in their yard.

As you look up to this window, you can see a stain glass skylight! I love that the windows are arched.

It is just a really unique looking house! I would love to see the inside of it!

I feel like someone might throw their hair down from that balcony at any moment.

Even the street in front of this house is a little fairy-tale-ish.

Do you have any fairy tale houses where you live?

Thanks for joining me on my little drive by!
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My husband and I are in love with this house. It is up on Queen Anne Hill in Seattle. It is just like a big old beautiful family house that you wish was passed down through the generations to you. And it would be nice if an inheritance came with it that covers all the maintenance, yard work and upkeep. As long as we’re dreaming.

It was really hard to take photos of it because of the privacy hedge and trees. I just wish I had been brave enough to sneak over the barriers and show you how awesome it was! But you can probably guess that it was amazing.

I really wondered what was in that room with the gorgeous big window. Look at how amazing their roof is too!

This is the street out in front of that house. You can see why Drive Bys can be challenging. You can’t always just “Drive By” a house like this. To really show off these lovelies you’d have to pole vault yourself over the shrubs and hope nobody notices the commotion.

The trees are really huge and hide the whole right side of the house.

The front entry area was really cool but it was impossible to photograph. Guess they probably like it that way.

More of my Fall Drive By next Sunday! It is fun to take you along on my adventures.

Thank you for being a part this series! Your participation and contributions in the comments have been so awesome.
For the entire series links, click the 31 Days Button below!

Find the rest of the 31 Day girls here.

What fallish thing are you doing Sunday afternoon?