Essex County Route 69 (or is it 13A?)

We were driving on Route 73 through the Keene Valley when I saw a side road Labeled County Road #69 (although Google Maps calls it Rt 13A, or Hulls Falls Road). This spectacular old red barn and silo were on the corner, so of course I turned up the road to see what I could see:

There were small homes with wonderful porches and mountain views:

More old, red barns:

Some rather expensive looking homes with mountains in the background:

Smaller, more modern homes:

 

A red home with a turret for watching the beauties of nature in comfort:

The road ran alongside the Ausable River for a considerable distance and, at one point, half the road had fallen into the river and we had to thread our way across the remaining lane:

There were some very nice homes:

And log cabins:

And old farmsteads:

I'm not sure what this was - a barn, perhaps?:

And a home with a great rail fence. I didn't see any horses, though. When we got to the end of the road, I discovered that we'd arrived again on Route 73, so I just turned left and continued on my way:

Part 2 - Owl's Head Quilts

I'd made a purchase at the Owl's Head Quilt and Gift store in Keene, and then asked if I could take pictures for my blog (see yesterday's post). This is a continuation of my photo tour of the store. They had a whole section of quilts for babies:

And pink teddy bears:

And blue teddy bears:

And quilted teddy bears:

Braided rugs and mats:

Adirondack soaps:

Outside were Adirondack themed furniture, throws, weather vanes and a giant stuffed moose:

Adirondack bentwood rockers and pack baskets:

Throw pillows with such Adirondack images as bears, loons, pines and dragonflies:

And Adirondack chairs galore:

Locally produced jams and jellies:

Maple syrup and Adirondack soaps:

This chair, presumably made from a gnarled tree root, was certainly a one of a kind. But I'd made my purchase and taken a photo tour. The dogs waited anxiously in the car and were barking for me to hurry up. So I said good bye to the owner and continued on my journey home. And if you'd like to see more, the website for both Owl's Head stores is here:

Part 1 - Owl's Head Quilts

The dogs and I were on our way home from a weekend at the farm. The weather was unusually cool, so I decided to stop at Owl's Head Quilts & Gifts on Route 73 in Keene for a photo tour:

This is a companion store to the Owl's Head Mountain Rustic Furniture about which I posted on July 28 and 29.  They are right next door to each other and I think are run by a husband and wife. I entered the store, passing this black bear and a wall of wooden chests:

I asked for permission to take photos and then began touring the store. I am a regular customer, so I was already rather familiar with its layout. They had lots of candles of all types and antique sewing machines:

Quilted handbags:

Jewelry, butterflies, odds and ends:

More jewelry, plus Pussy-willow lights:

Gifts for babies:

Lots of quilts:

More quilts:

Quilts galore:

And blankets. Notice the Adirondack themes of canoes, bears, moose and pines:

Birch bark vases:

Quilted baskets, more antique sewing machines. But I was just getting started. I'll post more tomorrow. In the meantime, if you'd like to see more, their website is here:

From Keene, New York To The Hays Brook Horse Trail

We were traveling through the Adirondacks, the dogs and I, on our way to another visit to the farm. I stopped in Keene, New York at the North Country Taxidermy And Trading Post:

And began snapping pictures of their amazing merchandise and displays. This is where I discovered that my new camera's settings were accidentally changed every time I slipped it into my pocket and often just by handling it. I then began checking the main setting before every shot:

There were animal skins, heads and displays everywhere I looked:

I climbed up to the balcony and looked down to the showroom below:

Taxidermy is their main business but they also have many Adirondack themed gifts:

But we were on our way up to the farm, so I got back into the car and continued driving Route 73. Arriving at the Cascade Chain of lakes is always one of my favorite moments:

And when we got to the entrance to the Hays Brook Horse Trail, I pulled in. The access road is where I'd torn off a splash guard beneath my car on our last trip but that had been repaired and the snow had been packed down. I parked my car and the dogs and I began walking the trail:

This is a wonderfully scenic trail and a calming pinewoods sure to thrill one's soul:

For the dogs it's an explosion of fascinating aromas:

We didn't go far in on the trail because of old Wally and Winky. I returned to the parking area and let the dogs play in the surrounding forest:

Seamus was very happy to be able to stretch his long legs:

Daphne and Clover ran, wrestled and sniffed. But this was just a quick rest stop and we were about 45 minutes from the farm. So I loaded all six dogs back up into the car and continued on my way: