Russell Orchards

The day we were driving back from Castle Hill we stopped at Russell Orchards also in Ipswich, MA. What a charming place!

They offer their own fresh produce, condiments and wine.

Antiques for show!

I was wondering why there were so many mommies with little ones in the parking lot. Here's why.

I was impressed with how white and regal looking this dude was below.

They also have apple, blackberry, raspberry, cherry, currant, blueberry and strawberry picking here. A fun thing for kids too!

We saw some other signs of Fall.

We also saw some floral beauties here.

I hope you enjoy this little visit to Russell Orchards. I love when we make a random stop somewhere and it is full of charm!

Thank you for stopping by! ~ Val

Castle Hill - Part 2

The 165 acre estate where the Great house of Castle Hill is stunning. It's hard to believe this was only a summer home. 

 

A line of statues is on both sides of part of the massive grass mall in the back yard.

In the middle of the back yard is the Casino.

There was once a saltwater swimming pool in the center of this structure.

 

Included were bathhouses, cabanas and an indoor ballroom! Off in the distance is the Atlantic Ocean although you can't see it due to the rolling green mall.

 

Massive chess and checkers! I don't know if this is original or not. 

It takes a while to walk the length of the back yard. That is the house you can barely see in the center to show perspective.

Eventually you reach a beautiful area where you could lie out on the grass and enjoy the sights, smells and sounds of the ocean.

To get to the beach it was a MUCH longer walk. I think we took the wrong trail! It started like this and we thought we were close.

Then we just kept walking which got harder as the sand became fluffier. If you have ever walked a distance in fluffy sand you know what I mean! We both felt it in our legs the next day.

Fun Hollywood East facts - This site has been seen in a few films. The Witches of Eastwick (1987), Flowers in the Attic (1987), and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009). Apparently the grass mall was used in the first episode of the Amazing Race 17. 

I hope you enjoyed this visit. It was a treat for us! Thank you for stopping by. ~Val

Castle Hill - Part 1

Jim and I visited Castle Hill in Ipswich, MA. A first for both of us! This land was first owned by John Winthrop, Jr., the son of the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony back in 1637. 

Designed by David Adler

Afterwards it was owned and run by farmers. Today there is a mansion on site that was built by Richard T Crane who purchased the property in 1910 building the stately house in 1928.

Back Side

There are many charming elements about the home and exterior decor. Of course there are cranes!

 

Part of the coastal land has been donated to the state and is named Cranes Beach. I always thought that was due to the crane population in the area but apparently it has to due with the family name!

Inside has some gorgeous wood detailing.

I will be back next week with the grounds which are beyond amazing and immense. It has its own beach on the Atlantic but it was quite a hike to get to the shore! 

If you live in the area, I would recommend visiting. Besides the Great House, there are 4 miles of roads and trails to enjoy.  There is a schedule of concerts, movies and more that take place here. You can even book your wedding!

Thank you for stopping by! ~Val

Appleton Farms

Appleton Farms is close to 1000 acres of New England at its finest. Located in Ipswich and Hamilton, MA it is perfect place for happy cattle. 

The land was stunning! The farm was started back in 1636 by Samuel Appleton and it probably looks almost the same as it did back then. There are some old crumbled foundations on the property that must be centuries old. 

The land was deeded to the Trustees of Reservations in 1998 by the Appleton family and can now be enjoyed by everyone. It has been kept a working farm and even has a store for its beef, cheese and yogurt.

There were plenty of happy cows.

I don't think this guy was happy to see us!

The wildflowers were beautiful.

Birds. I hand the camera over to Jim when there are birds since I usually can't make them out in the trees!

Eventually I will invest in the camera lens attachment for better bird watching photos.

Do you see some serious camouflage in the center of the photo?

Then a red winged blackbird decided to kick the crane out of its territory!

This walk was absolutely beautiful.We only explored a small part of it. This is another one of those places that would be an amazing autumn walk!

I hope you enjoyed this nature trip with us. Thank you for stopping by! ~Val

This Week's Blog Post

Replenished Ear Wires

I received a shipment of ear wires from Bali, Indonesia this week so my inventory is replenished.

Bali wires have always been a favorite of mine for their quality and style. Someday I would love to be making my own ear wires for resale!!!

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

**WARNING** There is a snake in this post!

Jim and I took a ride over to the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary.  This space is over 2,000 acres of reservation for nature.

Some of the trails are boardwalks through a swampy environment.

Of course I almost fell a few times!

We saw a muddy frog.

As well as a frog who likes to keep clean.

Lots of snakes (the harmless kind).

The deer were not too afraid of us since they feel safe in this sanctuary.

There were happy mallard ducks.

Lots of birds. I envy those of you who can photograph birds. That is no easy task!

Including Woody Woodpecker! Jim spotted this little guy this from a distance. He is super far away so the picture is a bit fuzzy.

I have always enjoyed looking up at majestic trees against a blue sky.

There were many twisted tree formations.

The beavers are hard at work on this land. They even chopped this tree down with their teeth!

The pictures do not due the nature justice. Everything was worthy of gazing at.

I can see that the photos do not do justice since I cannot figure out what I was focused on in a bunch of the pictures! It caught my eye in real life. If I could have had a professional photographer by my side I could have had them capture my fascination!

This walk was perfect. Nature therapy is one of the best forms of relaxation…..right up there with laughter!!!

Jim enjoyed it so much that he brought his son there afterwards and they discovered much more than we did since the place is so vast. Apparently there is a grotto there (not like the Playboy mansion one). They brought bird seed and the birds actually ate out of their hands!

Thank you for stopping by! Have a beautiful week! ~Val