The Amish Forest - Part 2

The dogs and I were hiking a nearby forest which I started calling the Amish Forest because the property is directly across the road from an Amish family's farm:

We'd met the owner and explored a side trail already (see Part 1, posted yesterday), and now were headed back toward the gravel road where we'd begun. At least I'd been told that's where this lane would take us:

And it was all exquisite:

The dogs were happy and so was I:

We came to a deer stand in the woods and the dogs ran over to see it:

The wild blackberries bloomed along the lane wherever enough sunlight came through the tree canopy:

Fergus and Seamus gave me their biggest smiles:

And then I saw a couple of Pink Ladyslippers. I'd thought it was too late for them, but deep in this forest, I suppose things bloom later than other places:

It was clear to me that no one uses this lane for vehicles anymore. I could tell by the fallen trees across it:

Soon I could see the Amish farm fields through the trees and knew we were close to the road. There isn't much traffic on the gravel road, but I called the dogs to me and told them to heel, just to be safe:

We emerged from the woods at the Amish family's chicken coop and free range chickens. I don't know how he keeps them safe from predators:

And our car was just up the road a bit, across from the Amish farm. It had been a short, but pleasant walk and so very close to home that I'm sure I'll be back again soon:

Mahoney Road, Stockholm New York - Part 1

It was still mighty cold, but we had a sunny day and I was on my way to the feed store. So as long as I was on the road, I took a detour onto Mahoney Road for a driving tour. The first house I encountered was this comfy, inviting place up on a hill:

Most of what I saw were homes one might expect in a suburb and I supposed that those who were employed in Potsdam or Massena but loved country living were moving out this way:

But there also were farm fields and forests:

And this pasture, surrounded by forest, with a gate sign which read, "Angus Xing." There were no Angus, either black or red, to be seen that day, however. They must have stayed back at the barn:

Way down at the bottom of a hill, at the edge between a farm field and woodland, was this deer stand:

Another suburban type home up on a hill. This one had a "For Sale" sign, so I looked it up when I got home. Alas, it had already been sold and the price was no longer listed:

The only traditional, old family farm I saw included this classic barn and silos:

A house with a wonderful front porch:

And Brasher State Forest lands, with lanes leading back into the trees which I might explore with the dogs when the weather turns nice:

These modern barns looked as if they were used for power equipment of some kind:

This appeared to be an old farm house, though I saw no barns. But there was more yet to see on Mahoney Road and I'll post Part 2 tomorrow: