Take a Peak - Grande Finale

The House on Moose Lake, Alberta

My husband and the owners of this house are acquaintances through business and when on vacation in the area, we had the opportunity to tour the gardens and take photos with permission of the owner.  Their home has previously been published in decorating magazines so this is not foreign to them to be published for their garden, which is magnificent!

The Paths and Gardens

The Patios and Decks

The Pond

The Fountain

The Bunk House (for guests)

Thank goodness for my husband and his IPhone!  I, of course, depleted my batteries in my camera so Jeff graciously indulged me serving as assistant photographer.

The View (Moose Lake) and Docks

Quite a lovely home and the view is breathtaking!  I will have to find out who did their landscaping.  They have an ongoing project on another portion of their property so the labor continues in this magnificent landscape.  Hope to visit again perhaps in the spring/summer for some more photographic delights.

Take a Peak XIV

Tall grasses abound in this landscape near Moose Lake, a few kms from Cold Lake.  Don't you love the stonework on the house in this number XIV in the series?

The drive that winds its way to the house is punctuated with Schubert Chokecherries and spruce.  This shows a great usage of a colourful foliage tree accented against green foliage.

The last in this series (coming tomorrow) is a garden tour of a home on Moose Lake.  The home itself has been featured in magazines and is stunning!  The grounds will make your jaw drop.  Don't just take my word for it.  Check back for the greatest of the great in Northern Alberta.

Take a Peak XIII

Now this feels like a cabin in the woods or in the mountains yet it is in the same town.  Take a Peak XIII backs onto the lake.  The landscape serves to offer some privacy, though not from photo happy people like me.

Everyone, happy news!  In a day or two I will post the Grande Finale to Take a Peak!  Featuring a gorgeous home on the lake front complete with ponds, beautiful winding paths, rock gardens, fountains and much more!  You have to see this jaw-dropping beauty!  Come back soon!  I'm so excited to share this with you.  You should have seen me as my husband and I walked this property, with permission, cameras in hand!  Like a school girl, I was!  :D

Take a Peak XII

Take a Peak XII offers some beautiful plantings that help soften the lines of the home and make it feel more a part of the land.  Ignore the power pole and lines.  I am trying to.  Not finished yet.  Is it too much on a theme?

Take a Peak XI

This is number XI in the Take a Peak series.  I love the landscaping around this home and the house, well, it is enormous and contemporary and gorgeous! 

I'm going to keep you coming back for more as I am not quite finished with this house and garden tour.  Check back soon.

Take a Peak X

Another beauty.  This is number X in the series.  I didn't realize I had taken so many photos!  No, I am not in real estate.  I just love these houses!  Retirement anyone?

Take a Peak IX

Another beauty.  Take a Peak IX.  Visit again tomorrow for the next installment.

Take a Peak VIII

Number VIII is also a close-up of a home previously featured in the Take a Peak series.  The mass plantings of geraniums with dracenas for height continues the theme introduced in the hanging baskets and rail planters.  I love the gingerbread trim!  (Is that what it is called?)  Here's another angle of the same house.  Aptly named as it faces the lake too. 

Take a Peak VII

This VII of the Take a Peak series is a close-up of a previous segment in the series.  Can you find it in the others?  A hair salon is operated from this house. 

Come back soon for more of this house and garden tour "Take a Peak" series.

Take a Peak VI

This town is full of amazing architecture in houses!  This is VI in the Take a Peak series.  I love the covered veranda and the black trim.  Notice the design of the driveway.  Cold Lake is original in its housing architecture (there are some older homes here but I am only featuring the ones that caught my eye).  Doesn't it make you want to buy a home there?

Take a Peak V

Ahh, Take a Peak V actually features a whole row of amazing houses facing the lake.  Again in Cold Lake.  I love the homes with the gingerbread cutwork.

Take a Peak IV

This house is in Cold Lake and is huge!  I'm not sure if it is one residence or if there's a business housed here.  I saw no signage.  I especially love the upper most portion of the house.  I believe it is called a widow's peak. The residents have a lovely unobscured view of the lake.  It is next door to Take a Peak II.

Take a Peak III

Part III in Take a Peak features something a bit different.  This lovely log cabin was built initially as a kit, meaning the framework was a kit.  The owners then designed the inner structure of the house.  It is gorgeous!  She is working on the landscaping and currently is installing pavers.  She also teaches horseback riding and assists individuals less physically able to learn to ride.  She is an amazing lady and I am glad for the chance to have met her.

Take a Peak II

The second in my "Take a Peak" series.  This house is across the street from the marina in Cold Lake.  Another beauty featuring a country style garden.  Many of these homes house businesses such as hair salons, plumbers, etc. 

Take a Peak

Recently we travelled to Cold Lake, Alberta with the intent of going to Race the Base (see http://shirley-adventuresinanotsounusuallife.blogspot.com/2010/08/race-base.html) which we did, and I found so many lovely homes near the marina and around town that begged to be photographed!  Here's the first in this "series".

I love this style of home.  It looks traditional (I always lean toward the more traditional in interior decor and landscaping) and reminds me of the grandeur of homes from Gone With the Wind though perhaps on a smaller scale.  Isn't it beautiful?