Farmhouse Style Photos from the Helderberg Hilltowns
Hi there! To me, nothing says farmhouse style like images of cows, barns, and wildflowers. So today I’m going to regale you with some photos I took while on a recent outing with my sweet husband. Just south of us lies the Helderberg Escarpment, a hilly area large enough to house four towns and acre upon acre of farmland.
Annually, they hold an event called Discover the Hilltowns: Farm & Artisan Tour. On paper, it looked fantastic, but in reality, the forty or so destinations were spread wildly apart, and the ones we chose, not very GPS friendly, LOL.
Fortunately for us, we enjoy driving out in the countryside and the sun was shining. We did [finally] manage to find a couple of the “events,” including a place to eat, so all was not lost.
But before there was lunch, there were cows; I’m calling him Dexter.
We found him surrounded by young Dexter-wannabees. They are not what I would call happy-looking bovines.
There’s nothing quite like an old red barn, and this one with the lovely name attached, fits the bill perfectly. I’m thinking “Echo Hill Farms” would make a great stencil.
Just look at all that barn board–the red, the gray, and the white–and the chippiness, and of course, that ladder. All of the things we vintage-loving people adore.
Across the street, we slipped a few bills into a locked cash box and bought some [delicious] fresh corn out of this unmanned hut.
At our only artisan stop, Pat Lightbody gave us a chair caning demo in the sweetest little workshop out behind her home. She is a talented lady who also quilts, weaves baskets, and felts wool.
As you can see from this basket of felted yarn balls in the most beautiful jewel tones.
Down the road these fabulous barn doors demanded to have their photo taken.
Around the corner I discovered some old yellow paint and this fabulous, rusty strap.
Such an unusual color for a barn…
Not far away, we discovered a patch of “Woodland Sunflowers,” enjoying the sunshine as much as we were.
I have a passion for old door knobs and was pleased to stumble upon this gorgeous example on our outing.
We ended our leisurely country drive at Maple on the Lake and enjoyed this stunning view while sipping wine and nibbling our lunch–a delicious, $4.00 soup and salad bar. Not too shabby.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
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Just lovely!!! Your photos are part of why I Love New York so much!!
I’m pretty fond of it myself, AnnMarie 🙂 Glad you enjoyed the photos!!!
I miss your road trips with such bucolic scenery! Love the talent that lady demonstrated. Felted wool sings to me. Thanks for sharing, Diana.
Good to know Rita 🙂 I’m going to make sure a squeeze one in every now and then. Since I’ve cut back to two posts/week, it’s hard to fit everything in!
Beautiful photos. I’m heading back to Western NY next week to visit family and am hoping to see a barn or two. 🙂 – Karen
Glad you enjoyed them, Karen–hope you found some barns on your travels 🙂
What a great way to spend a day! I love your photos…
Thanks so much Gwen; it was a lovely day, for sure 🙂
Thankyou for these great pictures This barn remindes me so much of my Grand parents Barn and brings back so many memories and fun playing in the hay mow (?) Any way this 80 plus lady loves them . Hugs to you..
I’m so glad you enjoyed our adventure out into farm country, Bessie 🙂 Thanks so much for chatting with me!
Looks like a beautiful area and a wonderful way to spend the day! Thank you for sharing your lovely photos with us!
Thanks for the visit, Linda; so glad you enjoyed the photos 🙂
Great shots! What a wonderfully relaxing journey!
It WAS relaxing, Rose–so glad you enjoyed my photos 🙂
I did.
Beautiful photos. I especially like the four suspicious cows. Do you think they wonder why you want their photo? Thanks for taking me along for a day in the country.
Yes, and wondering who I thought I was that I could just invade their privacy like that, ha ha.
Scrumptious eye candy, Diana. The barns are fabulous and the felted wool beautiful. I watched a woman felting wool once and for the life of me I could not figure out exactly what she was doing. It’s some kind of magic, I think! And those cheerful daisy flowers! I can smell the smells of the flora which I used to smell as a child when I lived on a farm and went wandering in the pastures. Oh, those were the days of innocence!
I did want to mention the bovines. They do look unhappy. I wonder what would make them happier. I just wonder about things like that. I guess we’d have to know their specific situation and who cares for them, right? I hope they become happier somehow. They are such inscrutable animals aren’t they?
Sounds like you and hubby had a lovely day. Glad you got to take that little trip together. From the things you say on your posts I think you must be a very compatible and happy couple.
I agree with you, Naomi, about the felted wool–it does involve some kind of magic 🙂 It’s one craft that I don’t quite “get.” Love your adjective for the cows, “inscrutable;” one just doesn’t quite ever know what’s going on with them, LOL. We did have a lovely day and we’ve grown compatible over the years, as many couples do. We’ve always been on the same page about our faith and our children, but my sweet husband has generously “adopted” my love for vintage treasure hunting. I think I’ll keep him 🙂
As usual you have made my day with those wonderful photos. Wish I was your neighbor so we could explore together.
That blesses me to hear, Kitsy!! Thank you for the lovely comment 🙂
I love your photos. It looks like you had such a lovely day. Good friends, good food, good company, good weather, vintage stuff to look at; it doesn’t get much better than that!
No it doesn’t Kathy! It was a wonderful day; thanks for sharing it with me 🙂
I love every picture, though I am partial to anything with rust!
I hear you, Anita! You know I’m a rust lover, too 🙂
i love the picture of those cows. great shot. and the lady making a caning chair?!?! what i would love to learn that art. i love anything with caning. i’m a sucker for it. xo- maryjo
My father knows how to cane and I’m thinking I should probably take some time to learn it from him 🙂 It is a fascinating, dying art. Glad you like my cows, maryjo 🙂