I love, Love, LOVE the old pioneer rock houses that are out west, so when I was visiting relatives in central Utah in May, I drove around and took a few pictures of some rock houses. Luckily, there are quite a few of these little beauties that are being restored and they’re gorgeous.
While I’m showing you pictures of these rock houses I have a really fun story to tell you. Remember this red door that I posted as part of my May Photo Scavenger Hunt?
A few days ago I got a comment that said something like “imagine my surprise when I saw the red door on your post and realized that it’s the view I see when I look out the side of my house!” (Hi Bonnie!)
It turns out that Bonnie lives right across the street from this pretty little red door. Ohmygosh! What excitement. To think that we could have met that morning when I was driving around taking pictures of rock houses in her little town.
Several e-mails have ensued and I’ve been blogstalking poor Bonnie. I can’t help it. In my defense, she’s living my dream life in a rock house that they’ve beautifully restored.
You’ll really be in for a treat if you go spend some time at her blog catching up. Among all of her other talents, Bonnie is a wonderful cook and you wouldn’t believe the treasure trove of recipes.
I’m intentionally not showing a picture of Bonnie’s rock house — you can see it in her blog header. It’s adorable. Isn’t this little blog world amazing? It’s so fun to meet new people — it seems there’s an adventure around every corner.
The house above is the one that started my conversation with Bonnie — the red door is on the side of the house, not visible in this picture.
And the house below is my true-love rock house. It causes a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye. This is the house that BigDaddy grew up in and that MyDadLovesMeBestSister and I spent our childhood visiting grandparents. My grandpa died when I was 17 and the house was sold. It was a beautiful little house when I was growing up. Grandpa was an amazing gardener.
It fell into disrepair in the 80’s and 90’s and looked awful for a time, even sitting empty for awhile. A new family owns it now and they’re at least trying to take care of it. The picture above is from 2 years ago. I must say, I’m not a fan of the cover-the-first-four-feet-of-rock-with-cement method, but at least it’s not crumbling like it used to be.
Now they’ve added a front porch. It looks so different. Even the trees aren’t the same. Oh well…time marches on, doesn’t it?
Gosh, this post took a sad turn. That wasn’t intentional. I really just wanted to show you some pretty pioneer rock houses and tell you that I found a fun new blog friend, so enjoy!
XOXO,
Anna
What absolutely gorgeous houses. I think it would be lovely to live in a neighbourhood like that. Isnt it sad when your memories are changed and you go back to see things you treasured – at least it hasnt been knocked down and is still there for you to see.
those houses are beautiful!
Those are very pretty houses – I do love the way US houses have porches and lots of space (unlike our little shoebox). How amazing to have made a new friend through a photo though – what are the chances?!
If only all my crumbling features could be fixed with a light covering of concrete – oh wait, they probably could but not in a way I’d enjoy!
What a coincidence that you would show a photo of that red front door and one or your readers recognised it as her own. I can imagine that it’s a bit upsetting to seeing your grandparents house quite changed, and not necessarily in a good way.
wonderful photos…love the old rock…
time marches on doesn’t it…remember the good times!
wishing you all the best & thanks for the link to a new blog!
What lovely homes!! I have been house hunting lately and I want one of those homes! I am not real seriously looking because I love the home I am in, but I am looking for a nice house with MIL quarters for my Mom.
Those houses are great! Can you imagine having to build them? My goodness, the pioneers were pretty amazing.
That is so crazy…It’s such a small world isn’t it?
That would be right up my alley to see those houses.
They are really cool, aren’t they?
Those houses are so pretty. How fab that they led you to a new blog friend too!
xx
How fun!! Now you have another blog friend! ;0
My grandfather was a minister in a little church in a little town in Mississippi when I was a child. The house (the manse) was just beautiful to me. I had not seen it for many years and once took a detour to drive by it on a visit home. What a disappointment! All changed and not for the good. Sometimes it’s better to just stay with your good memories, isn’t it.
I’ve enjoyed learning about rock houses from you today. I don’t believe I’ve ever heard of them before. Going to check out your friend Bonnie now.
oh be still my heart~ i want to be bonnie!!! i loVE her house! i dream of living in the country. and her cute city doesn’t look too bad either ;) how far is that from salt lake?
That’s so neat! Cute houses, too.
Isn’t it crazy just how small our world can be at times. Thanks for the tour of these sweet homes – now I’m off to meet your new friend and I’m thinking I will be drooling a bit :)
Hugs – Karen
Oh be still my heart, I LOVE these houses. We have nothing like them on the west coast. I lived in Saint Louis, as a kid but was only 4, so I do not remember much.
This is why I love blogging, look at what a small world it is xoox Clarice
What fabulous houses – I would love to live in any one of them! Remember to visit for my tales of Woolfest – lots of sheepie photos were taken!!
this is an amazing post…thank you! we have a few OLD rock house here in Rancho Cucamonga…I guess because we have a ton of ROCKS…lol…sometimes I hike up in the preserve and theres whats left of an old rock house up there from the 1800s….
and what a small world…what a great story!!!!
Well I learned something, I didn’t even know about rock houses, I don’t think I’ve ever seen one. I can see why you like them. I have a thing for the old old square log houses and would love to have a small one with a metal roof and a front porch in my back yard that I could use for a sewing studio. In my mind, in my dreams, I can just picture it :))
Oh, my gosh, Anna! Those houses are fabulous! They have such charm and character. Beautiful photos, chickie! Now I want to go to Utah. :)
Have a happy Sunday.
I absolutely LOVE those houses Anna. I should have driven around. Hunka had Utah as his territory for years. We never really drove around the neighborhoods. Now I know we should have. How sweet that you took that photo of your house your dad grew up in. Loved it. Thanks.
Hugs!!
Anna,
Thank you for the kind comments about my blog. It was a great day when I came across your blog quite by accident and noticed “The Red Door”. I feel like I am on tour in my own neighborhood through your lovely photos. So strange that I even recognize your Dad’s home. Small, small, world made better by the internet.
You have done my neck of the woods proud.
love the stone houses.
benedict.
:)
Ok, lost in translation again. Rock houses? Are these just houses made of… rock? If so, we’d call them “stone houses” but they’re so common here that in fact we probably wouldn’t. They would just be houses.
I knew that Americans called stones rocks but didn’t realise that this extended to building materials. Here, a rock is a big lump of unevenly shaped stone that you’d find on a hillside or a river – too big to pick up.
Anyway, very pretty houses.
Hey, you can move close to me and live in a rock house that’s 100 of years old. We can be friends! ;o) There’s one up the street that’s missing a roof but I’m sure that with some tender loving care, you’ll have it in tip top shape in no time. ;o) They are gorgeous. Thanks for sharing!
Anna,
I love rock and sandstone houses too. In my Hometown, there are many sandstone houses and there are a few rock barns too. I love them and wish that I had a rock barn or house. The houses you’ve featured are terrific! Now to go visiting Bonnie.
jody
I had not heard of the “rock” houses before but they are something else. Thanks for sharing all the pictures and that is a fun story of someone recognizing one of the pictures you posted.
I love stone houses too an barns – so cool.
There are some real beauties in PA
Oh, I love these rock houses too! Have you ever been to Fredericksburg, TX? There are so many beautiful rock houses there built by the original German immigrants years ago. We love going there and renting one of the old rock houses for weekend when we can.
Blessings,
GG
Oh my gosh! I’m in love!!!
Dear Anna – I LOVE these rock houses. I recently took a road trip through Utah and we saw lots of old houses, but mostly brick. They are so sweet & small. Here is a web site w/pix of where my dad grew up,- http://chesterfieldfoundation.org/slideshow-A.html – my grandma’s house was the Charles Higginson house, my Uncle owned the brick store. The Idaho Historical Society & Mormon church have bought all the buildings now & are restoring them. You can go visit – the little church is the museum. My grandma’s house has lots of her stuff – dishes, photos & her treadle sewing machine.
I have never heard these homes called “rock houses” how about Stone Homes