The alley portion of this blog’s title is the result of rambles through the alleys of this town. Only our older neighborhoods have alleys outlining the lots, and I love wandering through them in any season. These are not the scary dark places of downtown with dumpsters, broken glass, and the smell of urine and stale beer. No, these alleys are magical places of personal design.
I might discover heirloom Hollyhocks blooming against aging bricks and pocket a few of the seeds.
The contrasts in property are evident—worn and tired or professionally landscaped. Either way, the Alley Cats wander with neglected steps.
City Chicks (banned in my town) surreptitiously cluck and scratch and produce crops of Hen Fruit and Cackleberries.
Often a tiny garden waves through the fencing–with a promise of tomatoes and beets
The alleys and backyards, sometimes ignored and soiled, usually a place to pause, are a gateway to wonder and imagination.
Love the hollyhocks, chickens…and all! So pretty!
Can’t wait to see what this summer holds in all the backstreets, alleys, and backyards!
I so relate to that first photo – worn and tired – and yet the life does seem to bloom on occassion. Thanks, Alice.
The worn spots magnify the beauty. Nice to see you in new form!
I missed the transition post – and missed where you had ended up. So glad to have found you again!
I like the chicks!
greetings by
http://flickrcomments.wordpress.com/2013/03/23/chicken-mass-production/
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Sorry about that–
LOVE the photos – esp. the first and last. I love gates…
I love old fences and gates too. they have such character.
I found myself thinking about that gate photo during the day yesterday. So great…
I love old alleyways! They can house such splendid secrets.
Don’t they ? Most underrated and underused.
WONDERFUL AND COLORFUL PHOTOS.
Thank you for visiting my blog today. I appreciate the time you took to stop by. May your day be filled with joy and peace.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
Thanks!
Fantastic photos, Alice. Thanks for sharing. Love that first one with the brave Hollyhocks.
I do love hollyhocks–the old fashioned single blossoms. i am determined to get some to grow against my own alley fence.
My dad used to grow them in our garden in England. Your pic brought back fond memories.
I love these photos Alice!
Thanks–can only claim one as my own. Durn camera…but I finally figured a way to take a few pic for the blog–I can’t wait!
I love your unique perspective.
Such wanderings do really anchor our perspective of appreciating our environment and what we could do about sustaining it.
Shakti
Very nice, Alice. One of my great pleasures, no matter where I happen to be living, is wandering the backstreets, sneaking peeks into people’s yards.
I cannot hike or go venturing these days, but the alleys hold riches.
Beautiful – I love the chickens.
Me too–want some! For eggs–then I suppose for pets when they get old.
I love sneaking with you through the streets. More. More. And aren’t you glad your town banned hens. My friend and I argue constantly over the joys of chickens. I grew up with 250 of them. I don’t miss their cackling one bit.
So fun to have companion sneaking through the streets with me! Well, 250 is a lot of chickens. I really love them and wish I could have 2 or 3. Funny thing is we live in beef, pork and chicken country and the smell of the feedlots and processing can get pretty strong. What’s a few more chickens?
These are such lovely back alleyways.. we don’t even have them in our new neighborhoods here. What a source of photographic inspiration! xx
They are a feature of mostly older neighborhoods, I think. We also have very wide streets–unheard of these days.
what a lovely peak over the back fence
So much for privacy, huh? I promise I do not climb up on things to peer over–
Beautiful reminders of how colorful, touching and wonderful the simple experiences are in life.
This alley reminds me that the simple and pleasant life ought to be…
Indeed–a good thought. Safe and personal spaces…
I can’t stop staring at the first picture. It’s just so beautiful. The red against the pale sandy wall.. And the cracks… So much character! Good eye Alice!
Well–not mine but a photo I have used with permission. I am still without camera. The picture links to the photographer and a mouseover gives the copyright data. However, it is a most splendid photo.
So that’s where the alleys fit in . wonderful. I’m sure I’d wonder about the occupiers and their lives too.
Oh, yes–that’s for sure–the people are fascinating. And the dogs. I am always finding new trees or plants too. Always so good to see you!
What a lovely walk, Alice! The holly hocks are so “spring” and the chickens just make me smile! Gates and trellis and vegetable gardens…my favorites, too! What a lovely post!
Thanks! Can you tell I have spring fever–no snow in those pictures. Lovely and warm here today–forecast 60 with snow coming for the weekend.
Beautiful. So inviting… Nice post, Alice. Jo
Thank you! We can find beauty anywhere I think. Shame on me, I have not visited your blog for awhile–I must do so.
Oh Alice – those hollyhocks, those bricks, that colour, those green leaves and splashes of red, the lines of the broken cement, gorgeous , and the chickens, and the hidden spaces… lovely post – what a treat…
Walking is the treat, I think. Scratching around this morning looking for the seed from last year’s walks.
What pretty chickens! Love the views you captured in your lens.
Can’t ‘take the photo credits this time around–The images are linked, and you can see credits if you hover over photos. Any how–Alleys are cool!
You like holly hocks….did you ever make holly hock dolls? http://sarasinart.net/2010/06/19/holly-hock-dolls-and-other-old-time-simpler-things/
Oh, I did make the dolls! Instead of using buds for a head, we peeled back the stem end until the green was gone. Voila–a tiny “face” appeared.
So few people know what holly hock dolls are. Kids now would just laugh.
But they are so beautiful…
How lovely! May I take a walk with you?
Let’s go!
What a lovely post. You have a unique way of seeing things and you describe them as you see them. You also see things that are special, and that others might miss.
Thank you–I am a frustrated naturalist with not talent for illustration and infrequent jaunts into the county, so I write about what I see nearby.
Your illustration comes from your camera and your imagination!
Your photos scream to me of spring and summer, I am so ready. Lovely post. I too enjoy backyard alley’s.
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
Oh, if I can get some things growing this year. Fun to walk those alleys, isn’t it? I love backyards…
Very nice!!!
Than you–so are you! thanks for stopping by.
Alice, these are beautiful but more than that the photos simply speak to one, don’t they? Your descriptive words add much as well, thank you, this is a wonderful and refreshing post!
Thanks–those alley walks are refreshing.