Thursday, April 28, 2011

Widows Walks


I have always been fascinated by windows walks.
There is something so beautiful and romantic, and I would add in tragic, about them.

"A widows walk (or roofwalk) is a railed rooftop platform often with a small enclosed cupola frequently found on 19th century North America houses. A popular romantic myth holds that the platform was used to observe vessels at sea. The name comes from the wives of mariners, who would watch for their spouses' return, often in vain as the ocean took the lives of mariners, leaving the women as widows."

( I love how this photo/painting morphs into the railing and sky)

Almost every morning I ride out to our beach and there on the channel is a beautiful house/cottage with a enclosed widows walk.


I often imagine, being the hopeless or helpless romantic that I am, waiting there gazing out into water waiting for my sailor to come back.


Now I know that my sailor does not like the water much so I know that that will never happen, but I would love to be able to lose myself into the horizon day after day and night after night.

There is something so calming and peaceful about the site of the water and the endless possibilities of the horizon.


I would love a place to escape to where the days troubles just fade away into the distant.
I am sure a many wonderful conversations would be held on a widows walk as well.


Here are a few that caught my eye today while browsing around...





Um, yes please!!



I hope that you all have a wonderful weekend and I wanted to thank you too for the sweet comments left on my last post. I love this community and all the wonderful support, you truly are wonderful friends. :)

I am off for another weekend of basketball!! :)

HUGS!!!


Photobucket

51 comments:

beachcomber said...

cute houses...i've always loved american timber houses! how nice it would be to have a window walk next to the sea....
cheryl x

Valerie@chateaualamode.typepad.com said...

I'm like you, such a romantic, and I love the idea of a widow's walk as well. It would never work in my neighborhood though. That's the bummer about living in tract homes....no personality.

Connie the crafterbug said...

These are beautiful pictures. I understand what you mean about being a romantic waiting for your love to come. I have the picture "the tempest" by John William Waterhouse, it reminds me of this whole idea.
Connie

Brenda Pruitt said...

Oh my, those endless possibilities are mind-boggling, aren't they?
Brenda

Joyce - Quilted Nest said...

You've educated me. Didn't know about widow's walks before. Beautiful!

Anne said...

What a fun post and delightful pictures! I love widows walks, towers, windvanes... house bling! Have a wonderful weekend, Michelle!

Seawashed said...

Well I learned something today. I never knew about the widows walk! Have a beautiful weekend.

Low Tide High Style said...

I love a beautiful widow's walk, even though they are kind of sad in their origin. We have several homes near us with them and I just think the views must be amazing from up there!

Kat :)

Anonymous said...

There is such a mysterious romance about a widow's walk. You are fortunate to live by one. I can imagine sitting there and relaxing by the water. Beautiful photos!

Have a fun weekend my friend!
XOXO

The Feminist Housewife said...

I want a widow's walk...without the widow part, of course. ; )

Heaven's Walk said...

Oh to live that close to such a wonderful place, Michelle! I don't think I'd ever want to leave! :) Hope you have a fun weekend, my friend! I'll be out playing in the soggggy garden! lol! ♥

xoxo laurie

Brandi said...

Wow Michelle, I have never heard of the term widow's walk before this post. Your images are beautiful. Knowing the meaning behind the term leaves me feeling kinda sad! If you ever have the chance please rent "Arn the Knight Templar", for some reason this post reminds me of that movie. it's such an awesome movie and I'm sure you would like it! Here's the link to the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EAqu28Dd-M&feature=related

A Vintage Vine said...

I read the post as Window Walk and could not understand....then went back and reread it...I think I am in the same rut as you and it is affecting my reading!! HAHA! This was very inspirational....I love that first picture!

High Street Cottage said...

Oh, we call them "Widow's Walks" here in California. There is a house up the street a bit with one that wraps around the entire top floor of an old Victorian.
I love it! But yes, it can be a bit, well , unsettling, especially called "widow".
Love your post Michelle, xxx tami

Finding Home said...

Michelle,

Make sure that your widows peak has ventilation! Hubby and I stayed somewhere once, years ago, that had a widows walk. We went up with a bottle of wine thinking it would be so great, we melted, and it was October!

Great images!

Take care, Laura

NanaDiana said...

Michelle-Those are beautiful, romantic, tragic iamges for sure...and I love them all. I love the sea and miss the ocean here in the Midwest. We are close to the lake but that is about as near as I can come to the ocean. Have a great weekend- xxoo Diana

Tonya @ Love of Family And Home said...

I had never heard of a widow's walk until now!! I've seen them, but never knew they had a name! Very pretty pics! The beach house/cottage by your beach looks pretty amazing!! It must be beautiful where you are!! Have a great weekend my friend!

Tricia said...

I would love to have a widow's walk, because then that would mean I live at the beach :) Have a wonderful weekend!

~Tricia

Amy Kinser said...

Those homes are just beautiful! I love using my imagination like you were talking about. We can go all kinds of places in our minds, can't we?

Bless you dear friend.

Completely Coastal said...

Below is what I had written and saved in my files about widows walks... you'll be as surprised I was, haha!! Love the last shot!

A widow walk is not what I thought it was! It's not a roof deck or cupola where the wives of sailors could stand and watch the sea to search for their returning husbands. They actually didn't have the time to do that. These platforms were originally built to keep houses from burning down -not romantic! Buckets of sand and water were stored there so that they could be poured down the chimney in case the fireplace caught on fire, which seemed to happen quite often.

Deborah said...

How romantic, yet sad :(
Love the photos hunny especially the last one..it reminded me of the movie "Nights in Rodante".
It must be so hard waiting for your sailor to come back home and I could understand how she'd want to be looking out into the horizon :)
Love your photos and this interesting lesson!
Have a great week hunny!!!
Much love to you xoxoox

Deborah xoxoxoxo

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

HELLO SWEET FRIEND! I remember seeing these widow walks EVERYWHERE when I lived in Massachusetts. I lived right across the street from Beverly Cove, where it was a residential area. The cove was overlooking Salem and so many of the homes there had widow's walks. How are you today? Dreaming of the beach? Me too. I can't get away from it...with this gray and cold weather. Maybe I should be thinking about the gray and cold days at the beach and be satisfied with that! SENDING YOU A BIG HUG and thanks for being my friend. Anita

Valerie said...

Hi Michelle, Love to hear you are a true romantic. A lot of friends are also true romantics, I fall into this also. Thank goodness my husband is also. (makes life fun). The widow's walk is amazing. Loved the story and the pic of the widows walk that flows into the water. Your pics of the lake houses. Just dreamy!

Lisa @ Fern Creek Cottage said...

Those houses are dreamy! Can you imagine living on the ocean?! It seems like all the stresses of the day would fade away when looking at the crashing waves.

Pamela said...

They all look so dreamy and peaceful!!

The Single Nester said...

I had a friend who had the most gorgeous house (pre-divorce)right on the Potomac River outside DC. She had a widow's walk and it was amazing. I have always remembered it fondly and when the Lotto winnings come thru, I will be getting one!

Desire Empire said...

I often refer to myself as a sailing widow so I think I need one of those. Love the houses.
Have a great weekend
Best Carolyn

Cynthia@Beach Coast Style said...

wow!!! I am almost breathless that first photo caught my eye I can just imagine a paint, an easel and some endless mind wandering and I could paint up anything! All of these homes are just breathless. It would be hard to just pick one of them.

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Oh good evening beautiful one!

WE HAD A SUNNY, WARM and WONDERFUL DAY HERE! The daffodils are trying to open up, the birds are singing and the bunnies are starting to make their nests. I do believe it is spring in Minnesota!!!!!

HAVE A LOVELY DAY DEAREST, Anita

michele said...

i love this peaceful, beautiful post...since i am in the desert right now--the idea of a sea breeze seems worlds away! i am so drawn to the ocean and know one day i will live very near to one.

michele

Yanet @ 3 Sun Kissed Boys said...

I can understand your fascination.

BTW, we have some Heat fans at my house so I can also relate with the basketball weekends (or weeknights).

Simple Home said...

I grew up by the ocean but didn't know about these walks until a few years ago when I read about them. Fascinating and sad.
Those beach houses are beautiful Michelle.
Blessings,
Marcia

the fishermans cottage said...

Lovely photos, what amazing homes, built like tiers.. oh to have a look inside thoses, I have never heard of window walks before so romantic x

Unknown said...

Michelle...you make me dream, lovely....
Laura@RicevereconStile

Sandi~A Cottage Muse said...

How romantic Michelle!
On my rides through Cape Cod this summer I will have to be on the lookout for these lookouts!

Kelle Dame said...

These images remind me of our honeymoon in Saugatuck. Can't wait to go back someday! The legend of the widow walk has stuck with me since my history of architecture class in college. I can't help but feel a little sad when I see one. They're so beautiful, yet so mysteriously haunting :) Beautiful post!
Kelle
xx

tinajo said...

I´ve never heard that word, thanks for sharing - love to learn something new in english! :-)

The first picture is really beautiful (and I sure wouldn´t mind those houses, yum)! :-)

Libbie said...

You are SUCH a beach house girl! I can see it now! THose are pretty fabulous homes! I love that deck wrapping around the first home! Just fabulous! & thanks for sharing the widow walk pic...so fun to see! They are pretty romantic aren't they!

Seaside Style said...

Hey Girly, great post! We have them everywhere here in the old antebellum houses on the river, they are as romantic as they are tragic and so intriging. Here in Beaufort where so much history of the several wars, if only those widow walks could talk!

XOXO

Julie@beingRUBY said...

Love these Michelle
I've always wanted a widow's walk.. although I need the cottage/house first.. haha

The first is very interesting.. love the illusion too.. Love your shots too.. that house looks fabulous... Have a great weekend.. ciao xxx Julie

rjerdee said...

Ah, yes...a widow's walk. Seems like an enchanting getaway...loved the painting early on in your post...so sweet with the figures of the ladies looking like posts on the railing...surreal.

Sarah @ Modern Country Style said...

Those homes are goooorgeous, Michelle. I've not heard of those before. I want one now!!!! Look at you, tempting me with loveliness!!

I hope your baseball was awesome!

Sarahx

Carrie @ Dittle Dattle said...

Thank you for letting my day dream for just a bit! he he. Hope you had a lovely weekend :D

Val said...

You took me to a beautiful place with this post. Thank you.

designchic said...

Love them too...so romantic and all of these beach houses are wonderful!! Thrilled to find and follow your blog ~

Leo said...

Wow - these houses are amazing. Almost like castles. So pretty!!!

Kirsty Girl said...

Gorgeous! I love these shots too! Beautiful.

wowaccountforsale said...

My, I'm starting to develop fondness about this window walks. The first photo and the story really kept my attention at daze plus those wonderful properties, mind blowing.

Martina said...

Have never heard abour widow walks before - so romantic! I envy you a little for being able to look at the ocean so often. Have a lovely day!

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Precious Michelle! Thank you for visiting yesterday! DO YOU KNOW IT SNOWED HERE YESTERDAY????? Tell me, please tell me you have spring? If memory serves me right, WE are supposed to have spring by the middle of May!!! I am still wearing wool and winter coats.....wow. But the love, the joy and magic in a faery tale life can take it...the sun lives in our hearts!!!Any new projects under way??

ENJOY THIS NEW DAY DEAREST! Anita

Rose West said...

I really love this post - I've always found widows walks fascinating too. There aren't any on this coast though - it must be more of an East Coast thing.

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