HUGH COMSTOCK”S GREAT EXPECTATIONS

In 1927, Hugh Comstock builds Great Expectations. It is the first cottage he builds outside the City limits. I discover it by accident. 

One would think that in such a small town, any house would be easy to find again. However, when I walk, my head is constantly swiveling from side to side. So many cute cottages. 

I first spot this cottage in 2008 and snap this photo to post on Flickr. Everyone else love it too and it soars up to Explore-Interestingness where it gets more than 10,000 views.

Of course I am delighted and when I start this blog, I try to find it again.

It is a lovely morning and I have stolen the car from my husband to go exploring WHEN I SEE IT AGAIN! Hooray.

I have my cards and camera and so I step up to the gate

California poppies volunteer under the gate and

Roses bloom on the arbor.

The door bell rings as I enter.

Up the stone path I head.

I pass the garage ( totally darling)

And approach the front door. There is the bird house I remember from years ago.

I ring the door bell and a sweet-faced woman answers. She opens the top of the dutch door and I explain my blog.  She asks if I am aware that her home was built by Hugh Comstock!!! And it is named Great Expectations.

This is the last cottage Jo Ann Mathewson mentions in her book “The Fairy Tale Cottages of Carmel”. She only says it is “out of town”.

“Out of town” is 4 or 5 blocks outside the limits of Carmel-by-the Sea. And now is not far out at all. 

When I tell her that we lost her house, she grins and replies, “We have been here all along”.

She and her husband moved from San Francisco and bought the cottage  -then 400 sq ft. They set about remodeling it to its current 3 bedroom , 2 bath, 1795 sq. Ft  And what a wonderful job they did keeping the character of the house. Although I do not know, I would bet Mr. Comstock did the remodel himself.

She is going to the Farmer’s Market , but gives me permission to take photos to share with you.

A small patio and the garage face me when I turn from the door. 

I love this wren house and garage door.

A simple table and chairs sit here

And the fence behind it is full ornaments.

I start back down the path , admiring the trellis on the side of the garage.

I turn to the east on this garden path that forms the structure for the garden.

A sundial anchors the round bed

Another path leads to the west.

A bunny quietly observes me.

It is a charming view back toward the cottage.

I am particularly fond of the yellow birdhouse in the small wheel barrow

This area is enclosed by a fence

I step outside the fence and find another path.

The fence adds structure,disguises a service path and provides a place for bird and bird house to perch

And for roses to climb

Nasturtium bloom along the path.

The owner has mentioned the many growing zones of Carmel. Her site is near the sea and she must deal with wind and salt air. Here Yarrow and California Poppy mingle

With Santa Barbara daisy 

 

wild geranium

And lavender

Time to say good-by to this Comstock Cottage. I am so glad I found it again!