Monday, March 12, 2012

last weekend, in the Catskills


Total sales for the weekend? $1.
(now you know why I think about closing for the winter)


The store was, um, quiet, so I did a lot of reading.


Saturday afternoon my husband, seeing my developing bad mood, (why did I think it was a good idea to open a store?) watched the shop for a while, and I took a walk around the village of Margaretville. First I went in the library and my mood immediately started to improve. Our house is in a rural area midway between Margaretville and Andes (which I wrote about here), so I think of country when I think about the Catskills, but the many small villages that dot the region (and all of upstate New York) are filled with charming old houses, such as these in Margaretville.




They will be even prettier when spring comes with its buds, blooms and blossoms.




Notice the Victorian dollhouse on the porch. (Click on pictures to enlarge.)




I was quite taken with this sculpture.


And this house. A purple house and an extra hour of light make everything look better. 

29 comments:

  1. I love looking at houses. That was a fun tour. I like the extra hour of light this time of year too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad you enjoyed it--I am going to take more pictures of the area to share with you guys.

      Delete
  2. Totally gorgeous houses! Thanks so much for posting those photos! Yeah, a $1 weekend isn't much incentive; hopefully the warm sunny days ahead will see business rapidly improving.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Business is much better from June-December; that's why in some towns the small stores shut down in the winter. Warm sunny days make everything better!

      Delete
  3. Hello Jen:
    We have absolutely fallen in love with each one of these splendid houses. And how wonderful to be able to include them in a walk, to peek over the garden fences and, possibly, even catch glimpses of the interiors through an open door.

    But how depressing the $1 takings. We are so sorry but, possibly, the moment has come to reconsider the store which you cannot, with the best will in the world, consider to run as if a charity. Rent, rates and taxes all must be paid and it does not make any sense to throw good money after bad. Oh dear, we are really sad for you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad you enjoyed it--I will take more pictures of local houses when everything is in bloom.

      I may close the store at the end of the year. If I lived there full-time it would be different. Since I can only be there on weekends, and have little time to do anything else (besides mind the store) when I am there, the pleasure of the store is diminishing. Don't be sad--I have a good life, and have gained a lot from this experience. No regrets!

      Delete
  4. What a very pretty area you have chosen to open a store in! Hopefully business will pick up as the days lengthen.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Business will pick up in May--the winter is slow, and spring comes late.

      Delete
  5. These houses are wonderful! I would like to see more and walk around myself! I have seen you still have that rocking chair... it is so nice! I hope business develops and as days get warmer you will sell more! I keep my fingers crossed, Jen! Hugs, Christa

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad you enjoyed them and will start taking more pictures of the area. Thanks for your good wishes, and it's so nice that you appreciate the chair!

      Delete
  6. Uh, there are some days we make no money at all. And then, we will sell a couple of hundreds in one day... unexplained, we try to figure it out, just average it all out I guess. It is tempting to not even go in if there are no sales, but we just don't know. Hopefully things will improve. We certainly hope so here too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Such an unpredictable business. But in our area--rural, lots of weekenders, Jan-May is always slow, July-December good.

      Delete
  7. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Beautiful houses Jen, they remind me of our honeymoon spent (partially) at Rabbit Hill Inn, Vermont. I love the old clapperboard houses and churches that just shout out New England.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Catskills is very much like Vermont. The amazing thing is that it's a 3-hour (or less) drive from New York City.

      Delete
  9. A $1.00? And the owners complain the flower shop is quiet....

    I had my own store for 8 years are the then recession called for closure.

    And I've continued to enjoy every bit of my life since then.

    You'll still go up on the weekends won't you?

    xo Jane

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jane was your store a flower shop?

      We bought our house in the Catskills ten years ago and plan to keep it forever. So even if I close down the store, I'll find an excuse to keep this blog going.

      Delete
  10. Beautiful area. Winter sale sounds good, while people tend to buy some spring regarding things in this season. Reading and enjoying these photos I thought about the store.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope someday I can visit Japan--I need to broaden my horizons.

      Delete
  11. Charming library. Is it inviting as much inside as outside?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is lovely--and plenty of people using it too. Reminds me of my childhood library in Virginia.

      Delete
  12. Hi what a lovely blog you have shame about the shop.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Jen,
    What fabulous homes, just lovely! Fun touring other places! As far as the store goes, it can be pretty depressing sometimes with all the ups and downs of retail, speaking as one who's been there, done that. Now, my BF and I have 2 spaces in 2 different antique malls, it's also up and down but at least we don't have to be there all the time. Have you thought about doing something like that, still have the fun of the hunt, decorating and thrill of selling but not the hours being there.
    It's an option if you want to keep a finger in the bus. Just a thought!
    Rebecca

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have thought about an antique mall--there isn't a good one in our part of the Catskills, and the ones near Boston, are very expensive, but I'll keep looking.

      Delete
  14. beautiful houses!!!

    don't get discouraged. I'm sure things will improve, like the weather, with the weather :)

    have a wonderful week xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your encouragement! It will definitely improve.

      Delete
  15. Here's hoping that this warm spell will send some folks out into the country and your way. If not, maybe you're gonna have to double the price on whatever you sold for a buck!

    ReplyDelete