A Driving Tour

How many of you just love to take a certain road on your way downtown or to the store so you can see a little eye candy. As my favorite time of year approaches, when dusk comes upon us earlier so that while I am on my way home at night I can still spy my way into a beautiful home. I love getting out for an evening jog as people are arriving home and I can see the lights turning on, the the family settling in for the night, and peak a glimpse into the beautiful bay windows at what lies within.

So I did a little driving tour for myself and for you. I have some favorites streets to meandor down, especially when I am escorting guests around town. I remember coming home from a dinner downtown with my outta town family and so I took my favorite St. Mary's to Lassiter Mill route to make our way home. As we approached North Hills, my mom commented, "Thank you SO much for that lovely tour." So I wonder, do I get my I spy from her??

So first up, one of my favorites on St. Mary's:


I haven't stepped foot in the house but I can already see the kids playing on the front lawn. The sunroom is calling my name for a Sunday morning coffee and N&O. 


Now we head down Anderson. Too much eye candy to take in. I don't have a snazzy SLR so my slim pics(ins) will have to do. Can you get an idea of some of the styles I love?

And now off to darling North Raleigh. To some homes I love in quiet neighborhoods. I drove through one night and just loved seeing the garage doors open and people getting home from work. A few kids darting through to a friends house. So I couldn't snap too many pics... but I will need to show these to my realtor as inspiration....

This house SCREAMS unassuming as you make your way home. I Love IT.

Give me a rocker and a cup of tea and I will be your BFF forever on this porch!

Yes, the glossy black door and shutters make my heart skip a beat.

And my absolute favorite house EVER. Drive north on Six Forks and  you will pass this quaint bungalow. I couldn't get a great shot so it is so worth the effort. Heading north, its on the right between the light at Sawmill and Strickland.

Darling meadow to the right and sweet country barn to the back. This blog needs to give me the confidence to knock on doors and then take pics! I adore this home - check out the front porch bench.

What are you favorite roads and neighborhoods to drive down? Any other favorites of LWR readers?

Backyard Neighbor

One of my favorite recent Raleigh finds is one I passed at least 100 times before I stopped to check it out. A passing glance brings you back in time to a bygone era- and those in the know or with a spark of curiosity and a sense of adventure have found a Raleigh gem- The Vintage Village on Durant Road in North Raleigh. Since a recent move further away from downtown, the Flea Market at the State Fairgrounds is a little far for a weekly trip to fill my trash/treasure hunting hobby (that's a whole separate post!) The Vintage Village is a perfect smaller scale replacement. Fewer people to jockey around means your better luck finding that milk glass bowl you were searching for! I personally won't rest until I find an elusive factory cart to refurb into a coffee table.

Vintage Village from Durant Road

Nestled right across from Cafe Capistrano, this tucked away market treats you with several different vendors- Suzanna's Antiques, The Two Old Birds, Sam's Country Porch, and The Shack By The Track. I assume the nice gentleman I spoke to at Sam's Country Porch was Sam. He provided a story for every piece I asked about, 40's era table fans, an old spice cabinet, an entryway table, and he really really wanted me to buy the black and decker stove I was curious about. He was a spitting image of my Grandpa and he grew up in Cary in the '40s when it was a tiny town of just a few thousand people. 

The Two Old Birds have the tiniest two story building
I've ever been in- full of treasures!

These church windows would be perfect for the right house.
So many antique shutters to choose from!

Sam's Country Porch has fresh fruit and veggies every day
from a local farm.

Suzanna's Antiques

So much history!

I want one!

perfect for container gardening

Fishing Rods- a few of these would be a great addition to a lake house corner

Check out the chippendale design of the lawn furniture!

Adorable gardenscape

I think a birdhouse collection is in my future

I hope you enjoyed coming with me to the Vintage Village! Check it out sometime- you will thank us :-)

Finding Your Inner Athlete at Shelley Lake

It’s officially time now to start the Fall training. You all know what I am talking about – training for your Fall race and getting back out to enjoy the crisp cool outdoors. I know in Raleigh we could have more a few more weeks of air conditioning, but the morning and evening temperatures are quickly becoming more bearable to be outdoors. The gym is no longer my first option.

Nothing makes me happier than seeing this:

So it made me start thinking about running routes. Where do you get out in the morning or after work? Are you a solo runner or do you head out with your friends?

I have long loved the Shelley Lake greenway path. I have two places for parking, depending upon my preferred chosen course, and of course the Sertoma Arts Center is an excellent locale to meet up with running friends. (And you know you have back up rest rooms and water fountains for that just in case…)



I adore seeing other people out and about on the pathway – walking, jogging, playing with their kids… and also having the mile markers on the trail for a bit of help and motivation. Well, at least before the Garmin days….

So I ask – as I take my good ole time signing up for this race, but I am out pounding the pavement to prepare, Tell us! !What are your favorite running routes? And do you have your Fall race picked out yet? Do tell!

And here are some other great images of Shelley Lake greenway path:

What LWR is All About...

LivingWell Raleigh is about enjoying and loving the Raleigh we all know. And getting to know more about the Raleigh we adore. But sometimes we need to remember to look within as to how we are all, well, LivingWell.

This made me stop and think. Enjoy!

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Old Raleigh

One of the consistent themes of Raleigh's past and present is it's growth rate year over year. I am completely enamored with this image of Raleigh in the 1870s. Such humble beginnings considering the time I spend in traffic on 540 every day. Check out the old fairgrounds at the top, and the 'Asylum' and 'Penitentiary' at the bottom. 

I recently read 'On The Occasion of My Last Afternoon', a novel by Raleigh's own Kaye Gibbons that outlines life in Raleigh around Blount Street during the Civil War. For anyone who walks around town and thinks 'I wonder what it used to be like...' you'll get a lot out of this quick read. You get a different view of the Governor's Mansion, St. Mary's, the Fairgrounds, and I'm still trying to place the 'flats' of Raleigh. 

More pictures to come, though the next ones may be a bit more updated...