Visiting Charming Chatham (NY)

Hi everyone! This past Saturday, my sweet husband and I took a drive to Chatham (N.Y.), about an hour southeast of Albany. A quaint, rural community, it has attracted large numbers of city dwellers both as occasional vacationers and as second home owners.

The clock tower joins the steeples of several local churches as noticeable landmarks.
Visiting Charming Chatham (NY)
Driving into town, a massive, abandoned brick building with chippy green doors and windows looms large. Ahead lies a roundabout leading into the extremely quaint town center.

Visiting Charming Chatham (NY)

Crow Cottage: one of several retail business on Main Street.

Visiting Charming Chatham (NY)

Chatham Bookstore, along with most other Main Street business, has a lovely flower display,
decorating this downtown area in princely fashion.

Visiting Charming Chatham (NY)

Settled in the 17th century by the Dutch, the town was incorporated in 1795. I thoroughly enjoyed the architecture and architectural elements as we walked through town.

Visiting Charming Chatham (NY)

A fun store, American Pie’s shelves overflowed with wares: 
bed and bath, jewelry, and other home goods.

Visiting Charming Chatham (NY)

Love the painted brick and the striped awnings. Couldn’t pass up the photo op.
Visiting Charming Chatham (NY)
A piece of an old wrought iron fence with a brick wall background..
Visiting Charming Chatham (NY)

Time for lunch at Our Daily Bread, a restaurant that received a good review 
in a NY Times article I read. Gorgeous breads are made daily.
Visiting Charming Chatham (NY)
I enjoyed a yummy Mediterranean platter while my sweet husband chowed down on delicious 
Egyptian Two Lentil soup and a Greek salad.
Visiting Charming Chatham (NY)

We crossed the street and shared a flight of beers at the Chatham Brewing (just $3 for all three).
The highlight of the day for my sweet husband. He thoroughly enjoyed all three: Imperial Stout,
Chatham Brewing Porter, and Maple Amber (front).

Visiting Charming Chatham (NY)
A nice display in Chatham Brewing.
Visiting Charming Chatham (NY)
After our beer tasting we drove south of town just to have a quick look.
Driving back into town gave us a good view of the clock tower, constructed in 1872.

Visiting Charming Chatham (NY)

Next we headed just outside of town to the Old Chatham Sheepherding Company,
makers of award-winning cheeses. This is one of t he views along the way.

Visiting Charming Chatham (NY)

Of course we passed a barn…

Visiting Charming Chatham (NY)

or two…

Visiting Charming Chatham (NY)

or three. But this one is the Sheepherding Company itself, where guests are invited to…

Visiting Charming Chatham (NY)

visit the sheep and buy some cheese, on the honor system.

Visiting Charming Chatham (NY)

Then we headed home via the small towns of Kinderhook and Valatie (Dutch names),
stopping at The Berry Farm to buy some luscious blueberries.

Visiting Charming Chatham (NY)

Can you feel the juices running down your chin?

Visiting Charming Chatham (NY)

They are too irresistible; I cannot leave them —

Visiting Charming Chatham (NY)

The owner invited me to take a stroll “out back” to photograph the greenhouses,
berry bushes, and rows of flowers.

Visiting Charming Chatham (NY)

Pretty pink Coreopsis.

Budding sunflowers.

Visiting Charming Chatham (NY)

What better way to end this post than with a bright-faced sunflower?

Linking up with these great blogs:
We Call It Junkin
Vintage Inspiration Link Party
Savvy Southern Style
A Delightsome Life
Thursday Favorite Things
Natasha in Oz
The Scoop
Wonderful Wednesdays Blog Hop

Bye for now,

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25 Comments

  1. This post is just loaded with goodness! I would go there in a heartbeat! Everything from the shops to the food to those views! It really is a piece of heaven on earth! Thank you for sharing this one with us friend! Loved it all! Nicole xoxo

  2. That sweet sheep was smiling as was I when I read this post. What a beautiful place. What a perfectly blessed day!!!

    1. Ha! I think he was smiling at you because he knows what an animal lover you are, Mary Ann. Yes, it was a perfectly blessed day 🙂

  3. Oh, my, Diana! what an amazing day! Great photos of a quaint town and beautiful countryside! Makes me want to visit home (VT). Thanks for sharing!

    1. Hi June–so sweet of you to say. My mother's from VT and all her "people" are still there so we get up to Burlington, Barre, and Montpelier every now and again. We go to Bennington quite a lot since it's only about 45 minutes away.

    1. Your welcome, Donna 🙂 Thanks for the kind compliment. I'm kinda partial to that crazy sheep myself. I'm thinking about posting it on fb and asking for captions…

  4. Absolutely beautiful…my father was born in Schenectady & I always enjoyed visiting relatives in the area way back when. This reminds me of the small towns on our drive there.

    1. I find out more and more everyday what a small world it is 🙂 Not too many people have heard of Schenectady–

  5. Hi Diana,

    Visiting via Kim's, where your link caught my eye, and I'm so glad I popped over to discover such beautiful images of the simple life, charming indeed! Although the architecture and landscape is different, the little town of Chatham has many similarities to my own Mediterranean neighbourhoods on the island of Crete. Your photographs have mesmerized me, for their colour, composition and mood! I'm off now to explore the Adirondack ambiance of your blog!

    Poppy

    1. Hi Poppy–thanks so much for the visit; I shall return the favor 🙂 Thanks also for the kind compliments about my photography. It's an art form I truly love.

  6. Thanks so much for sharing another one of your wonderful adventures. Love your pictures!

  7. Gorgeous article. Just a little fun fact; the first red barn picture was actually a barn converted into a house.

  8. Diane….the farm market pictures are lovely……but you had taken them at The Berry Farm as well as the flower pics glad you enjoyed your visit

    1. Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry for the mistake (which I've corrected). I'm so glad you found my blog so you could see how much I enjoyed your farm! (And so I could set the record straight.)

  9. oh no problem Diana…stop by in the winter months and see the 6 greenhouses in full production of vegetables,… and take all the pictures you like

  10. Grew up in Chatham, so many wonderful memories. All my friends and class mates no matter where we live or have lived, still call Chatham "Home"

  11. Perfect word, Diana – charming – reminds me of a town I love to visit nearby! I do appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

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