Chapter One, Winthrop New York

It was a difficult, stressful weekend up at the farm. The tractor's hydraulics failed and the front tire went flat - even though it had never been used. I called the seller for repairs. Then I noticed that the trench where the water line to the barn had been laid had sunk nearly a foot in places and I worried about frozen pipes. I showed the farm apartment to a potential renter. The winter's worst cold snap was bearing down us and I wasn't sure the farm house pipes could take it. Well, I did what I could and then headed in to Massena to buy a few supplies. On the way home, I passed through the hamlet of Winthrop:

Winthrop is an interesting place, a sister-hamlet to Brasher Falls even though they are in different towns. But it will someday be my mailing address, so I thought I'd pay it some photographic attention:

I purchased my bed at Winthrop's Wholesale Furniture, one of two furniture dealers in that tiny hamlet:

And I drove up and down the roads, checking out the houses and getting a feel for the place. This new home had great, woodsy brown siding:

And this beautiful barn was one of my favorite sights. But then I'm a sucker for old barns. This photo "embiggens" particularly well, by the way:

There were massive stone walls around this home and around its fields:

An old farm house with a barn far out behind it, now most likely owned by someone who commutes to work in one of the bigger towns:

A large and relatively new home:

And a smaller, older home looking friendly and comfortable:

A well kept home up on a hill. Did you notice that brown dog at the base of the chimney? He watched me quietly while I snapped the picture and then barked furiously when I began to drive away:

A modular home with a hip-roofed garage:

And a ranch style home with an attached, double garage. Notice how little snow is left only two weeks after I took the previously posted photos of Plumbrook, Grantville and Raymondville. Apparently there had been some really warm weather in the area since my last visit. But Winthrop had lots more to see, and the next five posts will give you the opportunity to explore it with me: