Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Catskills Weekend

looking down the driveway

My weekend was mostly work--cleaning out the store.
 Many things to the thrift store, others to sell on Etsy, to keep, to give as gifts. 


 But there were autumn leaves, everywhere.


Morning coffee by the waterfall.

A visit to a customer to see the soapstone counters in her kitchen. 
This magnificent barn is on her property.

Her charming yellow farmhouse in the distance.

Her pond, thick with water lilies,
 where she holds skating parties in the winter.


Why the sudden interest in soapstone? I'm saying goodbye to the world's ugliest kitchen. Every surface covered with laminate the color of Silly Putty. Tiles the color of Silly Putty, walls and molding the color of Silly Putty. After ten years of this (granted, only on weekends) we are treating ourselves to a new kitchen.

Soon the hammock will come down, and winter will be in sight. 

                                          Autumn

     The leaves are falling, falling as if from far up,
     as if orchards were dying high in space.
     Each leaf falls as if it were motioning "no".

     And tonight the heavy earth is falling,
     away from all the other stars in the loneliness.

     We're all falling. This hand here is falling.
     And look at the other one ... It's in them all.

     And yet there is Someone, whose hands
     infinitely calm, hold up all this falling.

                               -Rainier Marie Rilke (translated by Robert Bly)




25 comments:

  1. Hello Jen:
    The autumnal tones and tints of the Catskills countryside can surely never fail to enchant and delight. So very beautiful and now you can enjoy them without the burden of responsibility of the store.You must be a little sad but also relieved we suspect.

    Your kitchen does look to be a study in shades of clay....but, what excitement, a new kitchen is on the horizon! Keep us posted!!

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    1. Jane and Lance--I am already planning the things I want to do--high on the list are a visit the Bibliobarn, my favorite used books store and Two Old Tarts, a new bakery/coffee shop.

      I will keep you posted on the kitchen, but promise not to bore you with every agonizing decision and construction headache!

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  2. The trees in the second pic are such beautiful colours. Good luck with the design of you new kitchen. M x

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  3. Soapstone is the new granite? Soapstone has perhaps an even more organic feel,(although I still love dark green granite we installed in our kitchen when we moved up here), earthier, more natural. It's beautiful and exciting to re-do your kitchen. Enjoy!

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    1. I love granite--I went to a granite and marble yard once and went crazy. I was just stunned at how many gorgeous granites there are. And it's indestructible. I do think soapstone is the new granite, which is sort of annoying. One of the reasons I am considering it is there a very local soapstone business.

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  4. Hello Jen, I agree with you that the present kitchen could use some spiffing up. Is it just an effect of the picture, or is everything really monochromatic? Soapstone would be nice--softer than granite both in appearance an on dishes, and it has an old-fashioned look appropriate for the country.

    I am so happy to see the beginnings of fall color, and the waterfall is intensely beautiful. That barn also is a real winner--so many interesting angles and surfaces.
    --Road to Parnassus

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  5. Truly, everything is that color. In fact the entire interior of the house was painted that color, including the moldings and ceiling fans. The first thing we did was paint. The kitchen and bathrooms are the last to be done. I have not written about the house here, but probably will soon.

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  6. I can totally see why you like it there. It's beautiful! I didn't realize that hammock was yours! I thought it was a photo from a magazine. Is that waterfall on your property as well?

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    1. Yes. That's why we bought the place, along with a boxy 80's house instead of a charming farmhouse...

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  7. Thanks for this sneak peak... I love it! Your kitchen... yes, maybe time to change... I wonder what you will choose... the poem of RMR - wonderful! I love his poems in autumn especially. Thanks so much for this wonderful post - it is opening up my heart! Christa

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    1. I am reading much Rilke and Neruda these days. I love them so much!

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  8. Hi Jen!
    The photos are so beautiful! Especially the waterfall and the pond!
    Always fun with a new kitchen - yes the colour seem a bit ..salmon inspired...

    Thanks for the poem!

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    1. It is the color of raw salmon! Salmon sounds more acceptable than Silly Putty--you might even see it on a color chip.

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  9. Rilke, one of my favourites :) beautiful pics!

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  10. Sorry, but I think it a very fine kitchen as is but it's fun to remodel. I don't know whether I like soapstone or granite better. I think soapstone.
    You have fall already! We're still in summer here - in the 90's. I doubt we will have much of a fall.

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    1. The 90's! Oh that's so sad. Does it cool down at night?

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  11. Oh my Autumn is there, how beautiful! It is the most gorgeous season, soon it'll be here then. We just have little tiny signs right now, then it'll explode and in a blink it's gone. I guess that's why we love it so much. The kitchen...not so much. Good call on the redo and the soapstone. I must admit I have always hated granite so I'm happy to see it moving on. This will be fun, for us, maybe not you.

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  12. My comment part two. Are you playing around with your layout again or is my computer going buggy?

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  13. Your envoronment always enchants me. It seems that autumn is arriving at you a little bit earlier than here as far as seeing the leaves. They will deepen their colours and start to fall one by one...as the neat poem depicts imaginatively.

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  14. Your kitchen appears "pleasant enough". But, I agree that you'll enjoy a renovation. I'll be curious to see your color palate. And I have faith in your taste.

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    1. Oh no, there is nothing pleasant about it. It's truly awful.

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  15. I love the Rilke poem! As for the blow by blow of your new kitchen...we'll be hanging on every word and paint chip!

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  16. oh, it's such a beautiful time of year. your photos are beautiful. and the hammock so inviting.
    have fun with your kitchen!

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