down the rabbit hole

There is something magical about the neighborhood in which I live. One of the delights is that one never knows what to expect next. Unquestionably I live in a wonderland.

Walking along the avenues one day a year or so ago I spotted something rather unusual. Rather ... something oddly large. Not something you would not expect to see on a walk ... matter-of-fact, I can name a half dozen or so houses with windchimes hanging from their eaves. But that day I felt like Alice. I had to stop and think if I had consumed anything from a small bottle that morning labeled: Drink Me.

In my hood, I have favorite houses. Ones I feel compelled to visit on daily walks. I pass by and sorta nod hello asking nothing in return but to be there and admire them. That's eleven-twenty Spruce. This place is awesome. Nothing left to make this house better, thought I. This house is my favorite on the block to begin with ... Like a cottage taken from a fairytale. The perfect pitch to the roof, the colors it is painted of greens with berry-red trim and white ... the porch has a welcoming bench stacked with pillows that sits under a stained glass masterpiece ... and of course the beautiful evergreen trees that surround it makes it perfect. At least in my eyes. But that day something else made it more than perfect.
Enchanted beyond compare.

Someone in our town makes these huge pipe chimes ... You've probably all seen the small versions. Windchimes made from different size silver pipes, cut at different lengths and of several widths. The sound can be incredible. The larger the richer and deeper the tone ... they resonate and carry each note in the air, sharing like church bells. But this guy in our town makes these chimes bigger than life. The pipes are each the size of tree trunks. The finished chimes can be two-stories tall. And one day when I was walking past my favorite cottage ... There it was. One really enormous, I mean HUGE windchime hanging in the big walnut tree by the road.

I was so taken I thought nothing could possibly make that moment better. I was wrong. At the very moment I was standing there, the wind picked up. And with a firm gust, the chimes began to play. I could have died on the spot and been happy.

You know what's best of all? Whenever there is a breeze, I can hear them at my cottage. Across the roads, over the trees ... I can sit on the porch here ... and listen to them ... playing ... there. The wind carries the notes all the way to visit me.
Now that's enchanted.

. :: listen to the chimes :: .
.::..::.
(UPDATE: file isn't wanting to load/play. Bummed!)

=^..^= love, Alice ::zU::

Comments

[Rella]

Ohhhhhh how divine......how magical.......how fabulous that you did not even have to put them up yourself. Instead, the green cottage with berry red trim did for all within earshot to enjoy. I would have done the happy dance as well. Blissful moments like these are what makes the heart light and happy. Simple and magical. On the opposite end of this spectrum, I just hung teeny, tiny chimes outside Mr. J's room so that he could hear the ever so delicate tinkling when the breeze blows as he sleeps and I was thinking the thoughts of how I needed to find similar delicate ones to hang outside my little nest. I run my fingers over chimes after chimes every place I go to shop and none have been just right yet.
thank you for sharing this bit of magic with us. and the photos...can I just say my heart longs to leave the desert and look upon such greenery and flowers again. Sigh.

xoxoxox Rella

[Carrie West]

Magical sounds. They are as blissful as yummy foods and lingering scents we love... One needs the scenses stirred every now and again!!!!

Mine have been stirred! Thank you!~

[Mo'a]

Just yesterday as I knocked on the door at a friends house a breeze came up and as it did a wonderful sound like church bells filled the air...I looked to my right where the sound had come from and there I saw the largest chimes I have ever seen. The sound was as enchanting as my friends words when she opened the door..."I am delighted to see you" she said, her voice blending with the sound of the chimes.
How delightful that on the day that I heard these chimes for the first time, you are writing your wonderful story of the chimes in your magical neighborhood.

[Patti Koosed]

What a magical lovely post.
Love it
Patti

[Patti Koosed]

Hey sweetie, thanks for the comment on my give away and you can be sure that next year you can enter twice.

I am really anxious to see what Deb comes up with. She has everything she needs to make a collage.

Patti

[Rose]

i totally agree! these are absolutely beautiful.

[Deborah]

Pure enchantment indeed! I love windchimes...and I love the magical way you tell a story.

[Rose]

yeah absolutely! we'll visit each others blog for ideas:)

see you around~

[christine rose elle]

As always, you create enchantment!
And I loved all your dollies! Thanks for sharing them with us!
xoxo
Dollybelle

[kim]

there is nothing like the gentle breeze rustling the pipes of wind chimes, i have some on the sun porch that i love to listen too especially at night! come to my place and see the newest member of our pack...i couldnt resist her..
xox

[Felicia]

What a delightful place :)

[Pherenike]

Fabulous Story about the windchimes. My boyfriends mum has at least 20 wind chimes in different sizes hanging inside and outside her house. Its a very musical place on a windy day!

[Laume]

I feel a friendly relationship with certain houses too. Have you ever heard of the fairytale houses built and inspired by a man named Hugh Comstock in Carmel, CA? If you search flickr or google image with those words, you'll find lots of lovely photos of them.
I think I've also heard of the man who makes the giant windchimes. If not this particular one, than a similar artist. I know enjoy hearing windchimes on the wind, but there was a time when it drove me batty. One has to wonder if the immediate neighbors are so enchanted with the sound? I've lost a lot of my hearing in the higher octaves so now I have windchimes that I can barely hear. "Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone..."