December 15, 2018 @goldenoakfarm
So on Saturday, we had decided to take the day off and go play. There was a homestead that was decorated for Christmas out in Cummington in the hilltowns that I had never been to. It was a gorgeous day, like early spring, and partly sunny and warm.
I had been to the Williamsburg General Store decades ago but my husband had never been. So we decided to go look around in there. There was so much to check out!
What we left with…
The bakery! Jewelry, hickory smoked sea salt, Christmas ornaments, scented soaps (the lilac and lily of the valley really smelled like them), kitchenware, and so much more.
Then we stopped for lunch at a restaurant that had magazines for you to look through while you waited. I grabbed the Neiman-Marcus Christmas one. Whew! There was a gorgeous diamond necklace, with dozens of tiny teardrops that I liked. Until I saw the price: $52, 675.00…
After lunch we visited the tiny Goshen General Store and then onto Cummington. Their store is called The Creamery Coop and above it is a Sustainability Lending Library. There was a tiny craft sale in the library. I looked for a book about masonry heaters, but alas, nothing…
It was nearly time to go to the homestead. We arrived about 10 mins early and went up the hill behind the house. There was a gorgeous old dairy farm, impeccably maintained and run by 2 brothers, one age 79 and the other age 81. They had lived there all their life and had no one to take it over from them. They were looking to sell it. Such a shame….
The homestead belonged to William Cullen Bryant’s family and the original section was built in the 1760’s. It was sold out of the family and in 1865 William bought it and did major remodeling. The chestnut bookcase in his new study gives an example of the quality of workmanship found throughout.
These stairs to the 2nd floor have chestnut posts and banister. Look at the quality woodwork! The entire home was left to the Trustees and included most of the furniture and furnishings. There was chestnut wood everywhere we looked.
Plus there were goodies to munch and eggnog! Our only disappointment was the barn was not open for a tour. It’s a magnificent building and we asked if we could peek in the door and were granted permission.
So that was our day off playing.
Source:
Williamsburg Store: https://www.facebook.com/WilliamsburgGeneralStore/photos/a.291288744292041/555396731214573/?type=3&theater
Cummington Library: http://www.oldcreamery.coop/Content.php?76
Stairs: https://deskgram.net/explore/tags/WilliamCullenBryantHomestead
Bookcase: https://deskgram.net/explore/tags/WilliamCullenBryantHomestead
What a beautiful day trip! Thank you so much for sharing.