What's striking is the contrast: a blue rectangle in a near-colorless square. The effect is eerie -- and enchanting.

That is absolutely stunning. I LOVE blue and that blue is perfect. What a cool way to light up an entryway.

Absolutely incredible. I love this, Gary.

The other colors seem to disappear.....yet they are splendid in themselves. The interior of this house is astonishing. I hope to have other pictures at a later date on another blog. Thanks Steve!

This is paradoxically cool and warm to me. I love all things blue anyway. It would be worth a trip to Bloomington to see this .Your efficient narrative complements the blue tone, and the 1:2 dimensions of the lighted rectangle are "perfect."
Thanks.

Your art just never ceases to amaze. Merry Christmas Gary.

Simply amazing! Rated

That's a marvelous, character-filled house uniquely dressed for the season! Thanks for the photos and the background story!

Once again, a shining beacon of light. Thanks for sharing this Gary it's beautiful. (I do so love blue)

What a fabulous house. This is magical.

Unreal this was! The scene from a distance was spectacular.

I Totally LOVED the Picture of the blue lighting. The old architectural homes and building are my all time favorite ones. The details of the the architectural and craftsmanship detailed designs, in all of them are totally amazing to me.
I can only imagine what the house looks like inside. Beautiful home all the way around. I would love to get an old house to remodel.

Thank you for sharing this with us.. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year..
Great post..

What an amazing choice it was to light the home in this way. Such a distinction from the generally gaudy display of lights, which though they can be so much fun, this delights in its spare and ethereal contribution to the mass and dignity of the building. Wonderful!

Blue Christmas lights are my favorite. This is lovely.

That circular entry looks like the opening to a time portal, with the lighting like that. They moved the whole house? Incredible.

Hello everyone! thank you all for your thoughtful comments!
Well.....Christmas Eve tomorrow, and we will be getting tons of precipitation here. I hope to catch up with everyone tomorrow.
Sweet dreams!......

What an odd juxtaposition of modernity with Victorianism. I love the gloom of that surrounding gray-green sky.

Oh my!

You have such a knack for unearthing the unearthly, Gary. This is majesty in all its dark brilliance.

Glad tidings to you and yours!!

blue that is as cold as ice and hints of death.
hardly the theme of the season but certainly besutiful.

How absolutely magical that lighting is! And how absolutely magical you are my friend for bringing it to us and for being you.

How beautiful, the architecture, the lovely light and your writing. Your eye is so sensitive and original. R

Gorgeous, stunning, and inviting. I just want to stand there and marvel at it. Thank you!

Beautiful. Just wonderful.

Beautiful. Just wonderful.

Wow--it does have a "moon light effect." And it is a beautiful blue--my other favorite color along with green.

Rated.

The light is surreal, but what an exceptional house! I love old architecture and old homes. Restoring them is an art form in itself. It's fascinating how they can jack a settled house back in to plumb and level shape after decades of settling and moving them is nearly beyond comprehension.

A couple years ago a similar project was taken up a few miles from here and they actually placed the house on a large barge and moved it across the Manatee River in nearby Bradenton. I'll go search and see if I can find a link to any info on the move.

If not I would still like to wish you a very Merry Christmas, Gary. You've supplied me with awe and inspiration over this past year and I would like to let you know how much I appreciate it.

Here is an article about the move I mentioned with a couple of knock your socks off photos.

http://www.observernews.net/artman/publish/article_001758.shtml

Wow, that is a treasure.

As beautiful as expected. A small victory for preservation, and as so, a gift to all.

Gorgeous, Gary. I think of this blue as "Chagall blue." Calming and inviting.

"Still, when you consider the lonely spirits who meander along this lovely avenue, watching with eternal deliberation the hardships of the living, the blueness of the light makes clearer sense."
Lovely, through and through.

gary, sublime voice writing. thank you. merry christmas

Lovely, lovely. I have a friend in East Aurora, New York. We stayed in the Roycroft Inn, where the reception was held. It's kind of a pilgrimage for furniture designers like my husband.

Damn, the most appropriate words have been pretty used up: stunning, gorgeous, beautiful, art. What's left? Oh yeah, sublime, and this quote from the art critic Walter Pater.

"To burn always with this hard, gem-like flame, to maintain this ecstasy, is success in life."

Who says the flame always has to be flame coloured?

Merry Christmas, Gary.

It was wonderful to wake up to all of the great cometns this morning.
I appreciate each and every one of you for coming by.
I hope to catch up w you all later today, or on Christmas.
thank you.......Merry Christmas!!!

Gary,
This is a marvelous post. Your eyes must blur seeing the word "stunning" so often, but truly this post is all that and so much more. Thank you for sharing your talent in such a beautiful way.
Rated and appreciated.

Wow - God bless the folks who saved that house . . . the entryway alone is incredibly striking. And the way it's lit . . . just spot on.

Everything is making me cry today, and this is one Gary. Beautiful.

Positively ethereal. Strange the emotions buildings can convey when the architect is an artist.

What a vision...and Merry Christmas...I'm up early...hoping to catch Santa....xox

This is amazing. I think Steve Blevins said it all.

Now Steven, I hope you got some good stuff in your stockings..this piece is one I wanted to place in your conceptual stocking. Happiest of Holidays to you.

Lunchlady, the entryway is just one of the wonderful features of the decorations these folks do. They have a lovely fountain with lights and digital music!

Kathy, thank you so much and Merry Christmas to you!!

Hello Grif!! I am pleased you see the importance of the proportions!!

Trudge Thank you!

Hello Steve…You are welcome my friend….Merry Christmas!

Hello Guy…..yes, blue is my favorite, and the LED’s create hues we have not seen until around 15 years ago.

Sweet, I agree about the magic.

Hello Dr Spudman….from the street the house, in it’s entirety is a treat.

Hello fireeyes, thanks for coming ‘round! You are welcome. I hope Dawn and Diana allow me to photograph the inside at a later date.

Dr Susane..good to see you! It is so distinctive..amplifying the Moon light.

O’Stephanie! Congrats on the cover piece! Thank you!

Hello Trig! Those circular entries were rare in this period. I love the bend of the timbers and framing….

Polly, the sky has the most important color in the second photo…

Jimmy, yes! You said it right!

Lonnie, I wish the same for you and Family. Your last piece was incredible!

Wschanz, I see no hint of death, more an affirmation of mystical Moon Light, and the points of myth around it.
Thanks for coming by.

Coyote, Hello and Happy Holidays to you! Thank you for the comment!

Hello Walk, it grabs one does it not?

Rita, thank you very much for the kind comment…..

I will try to catch up w everyone today...
Love to all and may the blessings be.......

I hope they let you photograph the inside of the house too, I would die to see the inside of it. It is incredible on the outside, I can only amazing the inside of it. If you get to take pictures of the inside make sure you PM me about the post so I can see the inside too..
Bless you and yours today.. Merry Christmas

Hello Sparking. I’m fortunate to get to see this magnificent house as its restored..

Mypsyche, Thanks for coming over!

Hello Shiral, it is more silver than the color the camera recorded.

Hi Michael, I have a fondness for old houses as well. I live in one! There are sounds that are not easy to explain many times during the day and night. Sometimes there is the distinct smell of cigar smoke in the entryway. The house is a smokeless house. There are voices from the attic occasionally.
Thank you so much for the interesting link Michael!

Thank you mamoore!

Hi Lea, we have a healthy conscious effort to preserve in this neighborhood.

Deborah…yes, I have seen this blue in many of Chagall’s works…good eye!

I am so happy you appreciate that sentence Delia..thanks for the comment.

Hi Michael…I am very taken w your blogs and I need to catch up w you.
Good work.

Cat, Thanks so much for initiating this open call. Thank you for including it in your compilation!

You are welcome JK! I thank you as well!

C.K. Yes! I have never been there but hope to some day soon. I love the esthetic of the Arts and Crafts movement. Roycroft in particular…

Lumina, is one of those transitional spaces for a house that one remembers well.

Juliet, Thanks for the quote….the hottest part of the torch flame is blue……

Dennis it is great to have you come by with your kind, supportive words.
It is appreciated very much.

Owl, the front room is oval, with a fire place that conforms to the oval room and ceiling…stunning!

Cindy, yes it is a strange site, especially in the late evening when therr is no sound from the city….

Hi Kelly…..Ohh you are sweet and I am always very glad to see you.

Tom, the artistry to a great extent lies in the efforts of Dawn and Diana.
Thank you for coming ‘round.

Hello Robin! I hope you and Santa were able to swap some stories!

Patricia, Good to see you come back to be here among your colleagues. You were missed, and I wish you well. Thanks for coming over..

"....the blueness of the light makes clearer sense."

Yes, it does as it mesmerizes as does your gift with the lens.

A 'house moving" is an incredible thing to behold, the 21st century equivalent of a barn raising. Thanks for the photos and the links.

Lovely. Such a soft and gentle winter blue.

Lovely post for a blue moon night. Thank you and now that I know where to find you I will look forward to more of your writing in this new year.