Cannon Beach Cottage Tour ’16: Beach Haven and after

Saturday, 10 September 2016

A benefit for the Cannon Beach History Center

We departed from the delightful Anchor cottage at 4:40 PM for the rather long walk back to the one modern-ish dream house we had not yet seen.  I rather doubted we would get there by tour’s end at 5 PM.

We had a quick gander at the exterior of a cottage across the street from the Anchor, just west of The Sea Star cottage.

“Heeszel’s Hut”

The cottage sign. I do like a cottage to have a name.

Just around the corner to the east is a set of tiny cottages, each with its own name sign, that I have admired before and today admired again.  I’d have a perfect photo of each of them, had not a vehicle full of lucky vacationers pulled up to one and begun unloading groceries.

Cozy

Comfy

Care-Free

We then applied ourselves to walking back to the modern house, past the Stephanie Inn and the Cannon Beach Lodge.  We arrived at the last tour home at 4:48 PM.  (We were doing them all out of order.)

#2: Beach Haven

a modern ocean view home

from the programme:  This stunning home was built in 1982 by J. Thomas Ayers and Alan Schoenberg in the Cannon Beach tradition of exposed shingles.  This is the perfect example of an oceanfront dream home.  The home was designed to be passive solar with the observation area and bathroom and sauna on the top floor.  The metal connectors on the beams throughout the house were designed by Carl Friedman, who was a local at the time.  The connectors were designed to look a bit like razor clams, a local delicacy in Cannon Beach.  The custom rock work inside was done by Nikos Maragos, a Greek stone-mason who did lots of work in Cannon Beach.  

Beach Haven entry

UH-OH! The tour officially ended at five.  We had not dawdled…well…maybe in the Sea Horse (the cottage with a tower).  11 stops is a lot for a four hour walking tour.

The home was still open, but with no one in sight.  We went into the the ground floor level and when I realized it was all bedrooms, with the main living space upstairs, I backed out because it was too late for me to be going slowly up and up and then even more slowly down the stairs.  Allan ascended and there found no tour guests (and why should there be at 5:02 PM!), just a volunteer who was unsuccessfully trying to close a window with a complicated latch.  He was able to assist, much to the relief of the struggling volunteer who could now close the house up.

 

the view

rock work by Nikos Maragos

a view deck

the view

looking down on me, outside, decided to get a photo of the beach

the west side of the Beach Haven

on the beach below, a bonfire ready to go

looking north to Haystack Rock

I thanked this man for adding a splash of yellow to my photo.

(Why is this beach so much more beautiful than ours?  Even more than Haystack Rock, the best feature is the lack of vehicles on the beach.  Unlike the beaches by Long Beach, it is NOT a state highway!  I don’t even see the point of an ocean view that includes trucks and cars driving back and forth.)

looking south

the south wall of Beach Haven, with the high up windows that Allan had helped close, and autumn clematis and the neighbours’ sweet peas.

the porch next door

Allan’s photo

another view house

ocean view garage

In case you are wondering, a home like the one by that garage would sell for over $2 million dollars.  I am not joking.  In Cannon Beach, even a small non view cottage is round about $400,000.  That is one reason why, despite my love of the cottages there and the vehicle-free beach, I don’t live on the north Oregon coast.

When we arrived back at the Tolovana Wayside parking lot, I received a text from Seaside gardener Pam asking us to join her and Sean at the Warren House, which turned out to be right across the street.

Warren House Pub

Allan’s photo

They had finished their meal but were willing to linger to visit with us and talk about the cottages.  We had seen them only at the central cottage (my favourite, the Sea Horse!) Pam’s favourite had been The Anchor.   Sean’s architectural taste runs much more toward the modern than mine, and in fact, his own fabulous Gearhart home is for sale.

Pam and Sean at the Warren House. Yes, Sean is just that glamorous.

Earlier in their meal, part of Pam’s sandwich had been stolen by this frequent visitor to the pub deck.

Sean’s photo

Sean’s photo: “His name is Crackers because he likes oyster crackers.”

You don’t have to choose to feed Crackers; he just takes what he wants.  Allan and I managed to eat a plate of nachos without attracting his notice.

We stayed for bit after Sean and Pam left, and then departed by the back door of the pub, where I saw one of the cutest dog faces ever.

Allan’s photo

His only interest was in waiting for his people.

ADA access

faithful pooch

I wonder if Pam knows about the pleasant garden seating behind the pub.

east wall of the pub

We had sat on the west facing deck with a slight ocean view.

This had been a day of delight, especially getting to finally visit the Sea Horse (the House that Jerry Bosco Built, the cottage with the square tower).  It will be in my dreams, waking and sleeping.  This was possibly the last of the “tour days” of 2016, days that lead to many blog posts and put the quotidian blog far behind.

The setting sun glowed so brightly from the Astoria Megler bridge that for a moment I thought Cape Disappointment was on fire.

the setting sun from the highway on the Washington side

Next: back to everyday stories of gardening…with a visit to one of my favourite gardens later in the week.

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Cannon Beach Cottage Tour ’16: Sea Star and Anchor Cottages

Saturday, 10 September 2016

It felt like a long walk to the two vintage cottages at the north end of the tour.

This will orient you as we walk past a couple of resorts.

On the west side of Pacific, even the garages have an ocean view.

a tall escallonia hedge

Hydrangeas do well this close to the ocean.

at the end of a block

Even if new, this house looks convincingly vintage.

another beachy view home

sweet peas and autumn clematis

Below: This 1982 home was actually the next stop on the tour, but we walked on.  Time was short, with only an hour left, and I wanted to make sure to see the vintage cottages.  We would return here if we had time.

a modern ocean view home

the beach access by the 1982 house

Fortunately for such a long walk, the weather had become cool and misty.

Allan saw a funny sign on the way:

maybe someday!

on the east side of the street, a view deck

Allan’s photo

We were closer to Haystack Rock now. (Allan’s photo)

We walked past the Ocean Lodge.

Ocean Lodge

cute guest cottages across the street from the Ocean Lodge

another guest cottage built to look vintage

Next came The Stephanie Inn, reputed to have an excellent restaurant.  Carol and I almost stayed there once.  Then we looked at the amenities online and realized that, while it would be a big extravagance for us, we’d be offered a “Complimentary beer and wine gathering in the oceanfront library” and “Complimentary late evening nightcap in the oceanfront library”.  We couldn’t imagine passing up such amenities and yet did not feel comfortable at the thought of mingling with other guests who would be, well, no doubt so much richer.  So we chose instead to stay at a more humble abode, the Sea Sprite (also on the map above).

The Stephanie Inn

Stephanie Inn

I thought then that we might have to walk back up to the highway to get to our destination.  I was thrilled to find a grassy path through to the next block.

Allan is way down at the corner; I am waiting at the grassy path.

Finally, we arrived  and were delighted to find the two vintage cottages across the street from each other.

#4: The Sea Star

The Sea Star

from the programme:  According to county records, this home was built in 1948, but may have been built sooner.  Upon the current homeowners’ purchase ten years ago, the cottage was completely renovated to look like a true beach cottage.  The home was remodeled by Mike Capper of Capper Construction, along with the fellow resident and storyteller, Peter Lindsey. Be cautious of the low vaulted ceiling upstairs.

ocean at the end of the block

front porch

by the front door

old photos

stone fireplace

back deck has outdoor stairs to upper deck and top floor

little shed in back yard

peekaboo view dining

view of next door cottage called “Snug”

my telephoto sees beachfront gardens

The upstairs had a small door the red chair is only a couple of feet tall, into a large storage area perhaps, and kids who lived there used to call it the “monster room” (where the monsters lived).

upper deck

looking north

looking down to the Snug Cottage

stairs to lower deck

main floor view window (Allan’s photo)

#3: The Anchor

Right across the street, to the south, was The Anchor Cottage.

from the programme:  This property was part of the original Warren homestead.  Frank and Irta Woodfield purchased the land in 1919, and in 1928,  “Anchor” was built by Dermot and Pearl Lagassee to rent as a summer cottage.  Dr. Tom and Sally Olsen purchased the home in 1970.  Frank Woodfield was a prolific and acclaimed photographer of the Oregon Coast during the early 1900s, and his wife, Irta, was a talented poet.  Both had a love of Cannon Beach that was obvious from their works, which will be on display in the home. “Beside Our Sandy Shore”, the short film featuring the life of the Woodfields, will be screening in the carport.  

You can read more about the Woodfields here. You can see some of Frank Woodfield’s photos here. Irta Woodfield wrote a book (of poems?), which I intend to track down.

Beside Our Sandy Shore

Anchor

Allan’s photo

Now that’s what I call a cottage!

front garden (Allan’s photo)

front garden view

around the back

view north to the Sea Star Cottage

northwest corner porch

Allan’s photo

in the carport

When I sat down to watch the narrated home movies in the carport, I became verklempt that all those people are gone.  The narration, by a man with an elderly voice, reminiscing about his childhood, must have been by Frank Woodfield.

a ghost from the past by Haystack Rock

family and flowers

Oh, how very much this movie moved me.  I did not care that we were running out of touring time; I had to see it all.  You can watch a movie with the history of the Anchor family here.

This little door led in from the car port.

And a window at the back of the carport looked in to a wallpapered room.

the front door

front porch window box

This poodle had been touring along with us all day. (Allan’s photo)

porch view (Allan’s photo)

on the mantel

anchor window

Allan’s photo

old fashioned windows

the wallpapered bedroom

looking out the narrow side door to the carport to more ghostly images

In the kitchen, below, behind the woman who is listening to the owner’s stories, is a corner window over the sink with a view of the ocean a block to the west.

When I commented what a great view for washing dishes, he told me that the neighbours to the west had had their house lifted and moved north slightly, thus opening up the ocean view that did not used to be there.

looking north to the Sea Star as more tour guests arrive.

It was 4:38 by now and the tour ended at 5:00, and it was at least a ten minute walk back to the modern house we had not yet seen.  I had a feeling we wouldn’t make it, but we would try.

 

 

 

 

 

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Cannon Beach Cottage Tour ’16: a garden and a dream house

Saturday, 10 September 2016

A benefit for the Cannon Beach History Center

We now walked to north of the Tolovana Beach Wayside.  The rest of the tour took place in these blocks:

along the way: walkers engaging with a very tame bunny by the main road

Allan’s photo of the much admired bunny

Along the highway, Allan saw this sign and remembered that we had toured the Lost Art of Nursing Museum on the 2011 tour.

#11:  The garden at the Inn at Cannon Beach

I had planned to leave this garden-only stop for last so that we’d for sure have time to see all the cottages.  We had walked up to Hemlock, the main road, not sure if there was a cut through.  (I see now from the map that we could have walked along Pacific all the way to the next home on the tour.)  I saw the tour marker pointing to a place and when I figured out where we were, we toured the garden after all.  (My original plan would have worked out better for time.)  I thought the inn was a big fancy “dream home” until I took a step to one side and saw the sign: Inn at Cannon Beach.

me having a moment of confusion (Allan’s photo)

from the programme:  Take a stroll through this lush garden centered around a courtyard pond.  The grounds at the Inn at Cannon Beach are the perfect example of how a hotel shows Cannon Beach at its best with nature teaming with the beautiful garden.  You’ll notice a bountiful variety of hydrangeas, fuchsias, water lilies, and Crocosmia Lucifer, among others.

Allan’s photo

bunnies on the front lawn

a walkway between two wings of the inn

Akebia on the arbor. Mine never have made pods like these.

akebia pod

outdoor seating

bunnies everywhere!

I know they damage gardens, yet…dang, they are cute!

the pond

more wildlife

Allan’s photo

agapanthus (Allan’s photo)

Allan’s photo

debonair

fuzzball

departing through the pergola

I overhead guests saying they had very much enjoyed their stay.

the front lawn bunnies; if only they would stick to just grazing on the lawn

sign post across the street. Cute how Australia is upside down.

#1:  “vintage beach retro” dream home

I appreciated that this year the description of the tour said “vintage cottages [and] beach dream homes”, making it clear that not all the homes on offer would be old. As an avid fan of tiny vintage cottages, the new description saved me from surprise when I saw large modern houses.  This one, while big, looked like it could be a well done add-on to a historic cottage.

from the programme:  One of the newer homes on the tour, built in 2000, it is the perfect design of vintage beach retro.  The home was built by local architect, Jimmy Onstott, whose work has appeared in Oregon Home Magazine.  The ironwork was done by Darryl Nelson, a 3rd generation Timberline blacksmith.  Many of the features in the home are antique or salvaged, including the front door, which is from a Portland school.

We’ve twice toured a cottage in previous years with metalwork by Darryl Nelson.

the front garden

hardy fuchsia (Allan’s photo)

west end of front garden

west side path

the front door from an Portland school (Allan’s photo), great for leaving notes!

Just watch, pretty soon we are going to have a chalkboard on our manufactured home front door!

an old fashioned pantry off the kitchen

lovely Jadeite dishes

out the back

looks very much like a vintage cottage, well done! (Allan’s photo)

a sittable skylight (Allan’s photo)

Allan’s photo

dreamy tub with skylight (Allan’s photo)

Here are some more photos from the website of the interior designer.  Even though this house was modern, it was most definitely dreamy.

next: a long walk and two vintage cottages

 

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Cannon Beach Cottage Tour ’16: The Sea Horse

Saturday, 10 September 2016

A benefit for the Cannon Beach History Center

Cottage 6: The House that Jerry Bosco Built (The Sea Horse)

from the programme:  A firm believer in historic preservation and restoration, Jerry Bosco created this Victorian cottage in 1952 from historically significant materials.  Each room is an architectural wonder, from the stained glass windows, marble floors, to a gold leafed chandelier and a “Pi R Squared” bathroom made from old Portland address tiles. Prior to his passing, Jerry established the Bosco-Milligan Foundation in Portland, Oregon to fulfill his vision of a place where his collections could be used in education and training programs.  

I found this informative article about their foundation. And in this article, you will find a photo of Bosco and Milligan themselves.

It was for sale!

The tower is hidden by tree branches.

As we approached the front door, we learned from the owner that the cottage had sold the night before for $425,000.  Oh, to have been able to buy this place.  (Never mind that friends pointed out the small shady yard, the neighbours’ modern house so close to the south side, and the stairs, which we will come to soon. )  We overheard that the house is only fifteen feet wide.

Allan’s photo

Allan at the front door

front window

looking up, east side

just inside the front door

To the left, in the southeast corner of the cottage, is a bedroom with floors made of marble from an old Portland bank.  Since I would not be easily going up and down the winding stairs, that would be my room (in my dream where I live here).

I would sleep well here.

east facing window at front of house

front window sill

marble from a Portland bank in the southeast bedroom

Along the narrow hallway that passes by the curved staircase, the bathroom is to the left.

It is a “wet bathroom” with the shower, toilet, and sink in the same room.

a closet up one step from the bathroom

On several real estate sites, I found this photo that showed how clever it would have been to step up into the closet, from where one could get a photo of the entire bathroom.

a screenshot of the clever angle

looking back down the hallway;striped rug is by the bathroom door

looking back down the hallway; a seat under the stairway

At the end of the hall, one enters the kitchen and dining room on the west side of the ground floor.

a open room with dining table, fireplace, and kitchen

window next to the fireplace

the ceiling over the dining room

the surprisingly modern kitchen (perhaps completed after Jerry Bosco died?)

Jerry Bosco’s lifetime…much too short

south kitchen window

The most delightful breakfast or reading nook in the world.

The nook might not even be all that comfortable. I do not care. I want it replicated on the side of my double wide trailer.

Allan’s photo

a narrow window (somewhere in the kitchen or hallway?)

Allan went up the stairs to be my eyes.  Could I have gone up?  The evening before, I’d suffered a knee-bending trompling by a big fellow who wasn’t looking where he was going, so just the walking between cottages was a challenge today.  I could have gone up, but I would have had to back down slowly and trepidatiously and I felt embarrassed to do so with so many people around. So I made the decision, perhaps the wrong one, to stay downstairs and count on Allan to photograph everything upstairs.  “Every detail, please!”, said I. By this time, we had encountered Seaside gardener Pam and  Sean, who were cottage touring in the opposite direction, so they will appear in some of the photos.

the curved stairs

tour host and guests

Tour host knew the history of many of the architectural details.

Sean’s on the right.

Pam looks at the details

I must insert this realtor photo to explain the following photo.

in the east side room

painting detail

looking out from the bathroom

The tower, accessed by a drop down staircase in the hallway,  was not open during this tour.

the tower access

I found online some realtor photos of the tower interior:

the winding stairs back down

last look at the upstairs

Pam and me outside

Meanwhile, I had been looking around the outside of the cottage.

the north side

north side porch

The lot and cottage to the north used to be part of the property, and when I had walked by here in 2010, the woods had been tangled and mysterious.  The clearing of the underbrush is why I had not recognized this place earlier in the day.

clear and tidy

photo from 2010 of how wild it was then

We were told that this cottage to the northwest had been part of the estate and had been sold separately, explaining why I remembered it as a much larger landscape when I had peered in in years past.

looking at the north side of the Jerry Bosco house from neighbour’s driveway

the tower, in the center of the cottage

North side porch; you can see Sean in the dining room.

Pam and Allan

I see that the cottage had a name: The Sea Horse

THE SEA HORSE—THIS IS THE HOUSE THAT JERRY BUILT

Jerry died far too young; he was only 49.  I wish he were still alive, an old man enjoying his marvelous creation.

chimney and dining room window. If only I had gone around that corner to view the west wall of the house from the outside.

Pam was looking up at something. I stepped inside.

The ceiling of the porch was a grid of paintings depicting sunrise to sunset.

sea horse window in the back door.

Getting photos of entire rooms was not easy for us because there were many people marveling over the cottage’s every detail.  For more photos, including many that show full views of the rooms, check out this real estate site.  I picked the one that might be most likely to be around even after the deal closes.  In case it goes away, look quickly!

We bid adieu to Pam and Sean, who were heading south while we headed north.

our buddies Pam and Sean

Next,  a garden, and a modern dream home.

 

 

 

 

 

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Cannon Beach Cottage Tour: Brallier Cottage and Tolovana Hall

Saturday, 10 September 2016

A benefit for the Cannon Beach History Center

cottage 9: Brallier Cottage

I knew this cottage was not the one with the square tower because it was two blocks inland.

from the programme:  County records indicate that Frank Brallier [for whom a street is named] purchased the lot in 1916, and the colonial Dutch style cottage was then built in 1926 by Mr. Mattson who also built the Wave Crest Hotel just next door.  Rumor has it, the front room of the cottage was a store and post office.  Few modifications have been made to this beach cottage over the years, and the current homeowner, who purchased the house in 1991, has endeavored to maintain the cottage’s original integrity.

The cottage is just below the Wave Crest Inn.

The Wave Crest Inn was on a previous tour.  I liked it so much it makes me happy just to see it.

the glorious Wave Crest Inn

the donning of booties to go into the cottage

living room

Allan’s photo

a cozy set up in the livingroom

by the heat stove

I love a claw foot tub, and especially a green one.

claw foot luxury

old fashioned corner sink

main bedroom with classic beadboard walls

kitchen wainscoting and wallpaper

I love the cutlery rack.

perfectly vintage kitchen

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo: Notice all the beadboard, a classic beach cottage material.

Allan’s photo

view out the back: a row of tiny cottages

Allan went upstairs on his usual mission to show me around later, through photos.  I might have made it, but yesterday evening at the Slow Drag I’d had a fellow bump hard into me, trompling one foot and bending my bad knee backward, so walking between the cottages was about all I was up to today—no stairs.

an open railing

sweet

I love rooms with sloping attic roofs, because from age 10-18 my bedroom and sitting room were in an attic.

This would give me wonderful sleep.

dreamy nook of sleepiness

love the pointed doorway

all angles

How well I remember low-ceilinged sit spots from my own attic room.

going back down

When Allan returned to the main floor, I was already outside.  He noticed a complete set of Foyle’s War on the shelf and struck up a conversation with the owner.

The cottage owner explained to Allan the historical photos on the wall.

His mother is to the left of the 3 women posing in borrowed WW1 uniforms.

old Tolovana Park

Allan’s conversation continued with a tour guest whose mother had been in World War II in England.  Allan came outside to get me to write down the titles of the two excellent shows we just saw about that time:  The 1940s House and Home Fires.

#10: Tolovana Hall Gardens

from the programme:  This beautiful garden shows Cannon Beach at its best with a beautiful array of hydrangeas, fuchsias, fern shrubs, and even a sundial.  The garden is lovingly maintained by the Cannon Beach Garden Club.  The Garden Club started in 1926 and will be celebrating their 90th year.

When we approached Tolovana Hall, on the east side of the main road through town, I recognized it as the place where I had attended a garden club lecture by Lucy Hardiman last autumn.

Tolovana Hall

Allan’s photo

Tolovana Hall

Allan’s photo

plaque: Tolovana Club 1951

from the west side deck

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

inside: tea and cookies

Allan’s photo

one of several bouquets by the garden club

more garden club bouquets

Allan noticed this map on the wall, with one of my favourite places featured.  I did not notice it at all.

The Sylvia Beach Hotel!

interlude

We would now return to cottage #6, the one we had skipped because it had been too crowded.  I was still anticipating finding the cottage with the square tower, rumoured to be on this year’s tour.  We hadn’t found it in the south end cottages, so I must have been mistaken about its location.  It would either be among the four cottages to the north of the Tolovana Wayside…or it wasn’t on the tour after all.

From Cottage Tour 2011: This is the tower I was looking for.

We walked two blocks west down a slightly sloping road toward Pacific, the road with beach front houses. I noticed a cute set of four cottages that had been for sale last time I was here, in 2011.

row of cottages today

and for sale back in 2010

And then….what did I see…as we came down the slope toward cottage #6…

THE SQUARE TOWER!!!

I realized that cottage 6 WAS the cottage with the tower.  I just had not been able to see it from the street right in front of the cottage, and I had not looked behind me as we had walked on to the next one.  I went down the side block just to see the tower as I had in 2010.

looking north over the modern house next door

Next: Perhaps the dreamiest cottage on the west coast…

 

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Cannon Beach Cottage Tour 2016: Ulrich Cottage

Saturday, 10 September 2016

A benefit for the Cannon Beach History Center

cottage eight: Ulrich Cottage

from the programme: Step back into the forties at the Ulrich Cottage.  Michael and Mary Serres purchased the cottage from Frank Brallier in 1939.  The Serres built the cottage in the early 40s.  It is now owned by their three daughters.  The original interior features knotty pine from Mollala, Oregon.  The only addition is an add-on to the rear porch, enlarging the bedroom and creating an indoor shower.  The fireplace was built with rocks from Silver Point, most likely by Paul Bartels.  The family remembers the Coast Guard checking for black-out lights and curtains during WWII.  Note the black-out light on display.

historic photo of the cottage

Ulrich Cottage today

We were warmly welcomed by one of the owners saying we could go in with shoes on and to feel free to take as many photos as we liked.

I peeked down the path to the back garden.

I remembered this cottage from a previous tour, mainly by large woodsy lot behind the house.

front door with storm door (Allan’s photo)

living room, right inside the front door (Allan’s photo)

classic stone fireplace

beach collection on the mantel

extra sleep spots off the living room

woodsy view from north window

from a display of historic photos in the living room

in the living room, next to the kitchen: “Grandma’s refrigerator—65 years old and still working.”

in the kitchen: “Ice box used for cold storage, 1943-63. Grandma’s refrigerator replaced it for cold storage.”

Allan’s photo

old fashioned kitchen sink

back window view

You go through the bathroom and the shower room to get to the back porch.

from the back porch (Allan’s photo)

back porch

woodsy view from back porch

main bedroom

Allan’s photo: The owner said they don’t have a tv; “We play games.”

games

main bedroom window

I liked this cottage very much and appreciate how much of its original look has been preserved.

Next: two cottage gardens.

 

 

 

 

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Cannon Beach Cottage Tour 2016: Whim Sea Cottage

Saturday, 10 September 2016

A benefit for the Cannon Beach History Center

We arrived early at Tolovana Wayside Park at the south end of Cannon Beach and had to wait half an hour to pick up our tour maps.  This was not a problem.

Allan’s photo

Haystack Rock in view to the south at Tolovana Wayside

looking south (Allan’s photo)

some puffin lore

I wish Washington State powers that be were as smart about beach fireworks.

almost 12:45: The maps are about to be released

I had heard rumours that the cottage with a tower whose interior I most longed to see (other than June Kroft’s cottage, which I knew was not open this year) was on the tour.  I had hoped for it every year that the tour took place in the Tolovana neighbourhood.

In 2010, I had been so frustrated when I learned that the one year I missed the tour, the tower cottage HAD been one of the featured cottages.  (In 2009, my mother was ill and I completely forgot about the tour till after it had taken place.)

From Cottage Tour 2011: This is the tower I was looking for, photographed over its neighbour.

The house with the tower had been set back behind a tangled woods so that I had not even been able to approach.

Because I recalled (or thought I did) that my dream cottage was south of the wayside park and close to the beach, we headed that way first.  There were two possibilities on the map that could be it.  We also thought if we started with cottage 6, our touring might be less crowded.  Most map holders had strolled north to the cottages numbers 1-5.

The south end of the tour was within this area.

on our way (Allan’s photo)

tour goers ahead of us

Everywhere we walked in Tolovana, we saw bunnies.

Right next door to that rabbit trio grew a garden that could have planted by Mr. MacGregor.

I wonder if the bunnies are the bane of this gardener.

approaching cottage six, we overheard “You can’t even move in there.”

When we came to cottage 6, it was full of tour goers, and the entry landscape was so unfamiliar that I said, “That’s not the one I’m desperate to see; let’s come back to it”.  We walked on to try to avoid the thickest crowd.

a handsome pampas grass, given all the room it needs, around the corner from cottage 6

The tour rules are posted at each cottage.  The kind museum director has given us press passes for the past two years so that we can take photos.  You will find that many cottage owners tell tour guests that they are welcome to take photos anyway.  At at least two of today’s cottages, the host was announcing to all arriving guests that photography was welcome.  (I see that I broke a rule by not wearing booties over my socks!  Ooops!  I thought clean socks were good enough.)  It astonishes me that anyone would even consider using the restroom or opening drawers in a tour home.

Cottage Seven: Whim Sea

from the programme:  This quaint beach style bungalow was built in 1940.  Thelma and Harry Brandes purchased the property in 1970 and were the owners for over 30 years until it was sold in 2005 to the current homeowners.  The 600 square foot cottage was no longer habitable and was remodeled by the previous owners’ nephew, David Vonada of Tolovana Architects.  Vonada’s vision was to make the home feel like a traditional beach cottage.

Whim Sea Cottage, and the putting on of protective booties, a tour ritual

 

Allan’s photo

east side of cottage

looking west, two blocks to the beach

Allan’s photo

view from the living room

river rock fireplace

brilliantly beachy art

modernized for lots of natural light

Allan’s photo

in the bathroom window

Allan’s photo

quilt reflected in the tiny back garden

a bunny in the garden (Allan’s photo)

As we depart, more people bootie-fying

Our plan had worked; we were now running a bit ahead of the biggest south end crowd.

We walked on, with me hoping that one of the next two cottages would be the one with the square tower.

Interlude

As we rounded the corner, I recognized one of my favourite cottages from all past tours.

This little cottage is one of my top ten favourites from 9 years of touring.

north side

east side

Allan’s photo

You can see the captivating interior in the middle of this post from 2010.  Look for Windshell Cottages, after the photos of the tower that I was seeking today.

Allan walks to the west end of the block to take a photo.

 

We knew the next tour cottage couldn’t be the tower one because it was set on the east side of the street.  My quest would continue later.

 

 

 

 

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12 September: Cannon Beach Cottage Tour—Oznick-Muncy, Quinn’s, and Sea Salt

Saturday, 12 September 2015

Cannon Beach Cottage Tour

a benefit for the Cannon Beach History Center and Museum

Oznick-Muncy Cottage

from the program:  This modernized traditional craftsman style dream home was built in 2007 and is a great example of how the past meets the present.  The owners used a contemporary approach to their living quarters by featuring original art by Cannon Beach’s own Bill Steidel and Portland’s Richard Thompson.  Be sure to check out the beautiful man-made fireplace which is constructed from original Oregon river rock.

Allan’s photo; as you can see, we were allowed to take photos here.

The table settings had belonged to the owner’s great grandmother.

Allan’s photo

from the local shop Sesame and Lilies

 

Quinn’s Cottage (a vacation rental)

From the program: This classic maritime architectural style cottage was built in 1930 and the current homeowners purchased the home in 2004.  This home is a traditional Cannon Beach cottage with exposed shingle siding and parlor windows.  The cottage is thought to have started as a single-walled fishing shack in the early 30s and slowly got added onto over the years, with the most recent addition of the second floor from about the 1970s.

Quinn’s Cottage

Allan’s photo

Quinn Cottage living room

borrowed from the vacation rental website, as I failed to photograph this cute desk by the front door.

kitchen

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

The upstairs was not available to view because of the narrow stairs. The volunteer host’s daughter guarded the way.

You can view photos of the upstairs on the vacation rental website.

Sea Salt

from the program: This beautifully tranquil home as built in 1986 and formerly sat across the street from an earlier version of the Surfsand Resort, which was located on Spruce Street.  It is rumored that Sea Salt was one of Surfsand Resort’s units and was later relocated and remodeled in 2006 to its current location.

Sea Salt is a vacation rental, so you can see more photos here.

Sea Salt

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo: The house looks modern on the outside but has cottage charm inside.

downstairs bedroom

A peek out the bedroom window revealed this chimney!

and a Buddha in the back garden.

upstairs bedroom: Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo, upstairs deck

Allan’s photo from the upstairs deck

Sea Salt side yard

The view down the street toward the beach, two blocks away.

interlude

We had a walk to a few blocks to the next cottage and we photographed cottages, gardens, and beach.

a cute little cottage

with a corner table

We walked down the highway for a block and admired the gallery building across the street.

cottage just uphill from the gallery

Allan pointed out that we could walk west for a couple of blocks and take the beach road to the next cottage, so we did.

What I liked about this fancy big house was the copper roof.  This two bedroom, two bath home two blocks from the beach with hardly any yard is for sale for $635,000.

my kind of cottage

I took so many photos of that white picket fence cottage exterior that I felt I might be bothering the folks inside.  They must be used to it.  I knew they were home by all the shoes on the front porch.

note the windowboxes!

Allan’s photo; I was using my cane and was mighty glad to have it.

I like the porch and dormers.

house with honeysuckle arbor

Allan’s photo

just my size, with garden space: would sell for $325 to 400 thousand or so here.

a back yard of the beachfront row of houses

I asked “May I photograph your horse?”

“Yes, you may.” (Allan’s photo)

intersection of beachfront road and dune path

looking north

Allan had a look at the rock.

Allan’s photo: the iconic Cannon Beach symbol, Haystack Rock

Allan’s photo: grass planted to stabilize dunes does not look to us like native beach grass.

Allan’s photo

Next:  We turn the corner at the end of that block and arrive at the next cottage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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12 September: Cannon Beach Cottage Tour—Hidden Villa

Saturday, 12 September, 2015

Cannon Beach Cottage Tour

a benefit for the Cannon Beach History Center and Museum

Cannon Beach. This year the tour was in the “presidential blocks”, pretty much right above the words Cannon Beach.

Hidden Villa Motel

From the program: Hidden Villa Motel is a reminder of the vintage beach cottage resorts of the past  These cottages represent a bygone era in which beach-goers typically stayed in small, comfortable cottages rather than large hotels.  It has weathered well, accumulating the patina that comes with years of salt and mist, as well as stories and memories.  Locals rumor that author Ursula Le Guin found inspiration here as have numerous visitors who return year after year,

I would love to stay here sometime.  I wish I had discovered it as a vacation spot back in the day when it was run by a woman who lived there and was beloved of all her guests; back then, the courtyard was, I hear, brimming with flowers.  While it is now managed by a vacation rental company, the cottages are still entirely charming.  They have been recently refurbished with careful attention to vintage detail.  We had visited this resort before on the 2012 cottage tour.

Allan’s photo

Not all of the cottages were available for touring as some had guests.  We somehow managed to miss one of the units that was open to view.

Nautical Cottage

Nautical Cottage bedroom

peaceful view from bedroom along the street to the west

Allan’s photo: cottage bathroom

Allan’s photo; He liked the sailboat photos, too.

Allan’s photo: bottled water and tote bags were offered to guests.

The courtyard, where a big tree had blown down this past winter.

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

A tour guest enters Sunflower Cottage.

Sunflower Cottage is my favourite.

I dibs the sunflower daybed.

a pretty corner fireplace

Garden Cottage in tones of green

Garden Cottage

Allan’s photo

Shell Cottage

Shell Cottage

Shell Cottage

interlude

roses as we walk to the next stop on the tour (Allan’s photo)

 

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12 September: off to the Cannon Beach Cottage Tour

Saturday, 12 September 2015

We departed Ilwaco for the Cannon Beach Cottage tour, a highlight of my year and something I look forward to all summer.

7 Dees garden center, Seaside

Dennis’ 7 Dees, Seaside

Of course, we had to stop at 7 Dees on the way down to Cannon Beach.  Having just finished planting my ladies in waiting at home, I found myself not in the mood to buy new plants.  This may be the only time I have ever stopped here without buying.

I was sorely tempted by the violas in the foreground and now have non-buyer’s remorse.

Allan’s photo

I do love this arbor that is often set up in the covered display area.  Seems like it is more beautiful than practical, though.

Look! They have Fatsia ‘Spider’s Web’.  I should have bought it as a present for someone.

a harvest display

A tomato tasting was in progress.

Allan’s photo

all sorts of tomatoes large and small

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo

Allan’s photo, just some of the tomatoes

If I could transport myself back there, I’d taste more tomatoes and buy some plants.  I was in a hurry to get to Cannon Beach so we’d have plenty of time to find parking.

Cannon Beach

In our quest for a parking spot, we passed this cottage and had to pause for photos:

whale arbour

gate detail

I almost missed this mermaid in the lawn; Allan pointed her out.

We went to the Cannon Beach History Center and Museum for our tickets, because museum director Elaine Murdy Trucke had arranged for us to get press passes so that we could take photos in the cottages.

Allan’s photo

The other ticket sales and tour map venue was the Coaster Theater downtown.

Yay! This gave us special dispensation to take photos.  Thank you, Elaine Murdy Trucke!

Even with the press pass, we always ask permission to take photos in private (non vacation rental) cottages and explain that we write a blog and love to share cottage detail vignettes.  We then found parking closer to the tour by this cottage with geraniums in a porch cut-out.  I have admired and photographed it year after year.

geranium cottage

2013

geraniums in 2012

I could also call it Hydrangea Cottage.

I was smitten with a little bridge that crossed over to another cottage.

Underneath runs a stream with a seasonal waterfall. It would be pleasantly noisy in winter; today it was just a trickle of falling water.

stream at front of cottage, delightful!

We did the tour from front to back because of where we parked.  Our friends Dave and Melissa had come, as well as Debbie Teashon, who would be giving a garden lecture the next day, and longtime garden friend from the Rainyside.com forum, Jeanne from Portland and her mum.  We did not see much of them during the tour as they had begun at the other end of town.

As we walk between cottages, there are so many sublime gardens where I have peeked over the fence and longed to go in and explore.

a cottage across the street from the Hidden Villa Cottages, our first stop on the tour.

You know that the kind of cottages that make my heart go pitter pat are the very old ones and especially old ones that are privately owned.  You might want to go back to past tours and look at some of my favourites: A Collector’s Cottage (2013), this sweet one from 2011, and Priddy Cottage, which has been on the tour a couple of times.  My all time favourite was Windshell Cottage from 2010.

Next: The Hidden Villa Cottages

 

 

 

 

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