Event Tent

North Stonington, CT

Like a lot of wineries, Jonathan Edwards Winery is an ideal location for weddings and wedding receptions.  During the spring and summer months, they are booked just about every weekend. I speak from experience and I highly recommend the staff here.  They are ideal hosts for any type of event.  This tent looks like something right out of medieval times with the pennants waving.  I keep expecting to see some knights, princesses and perhaps a court jester or two.

Jonathan Edwards Winery

North Stonington, CT

Day 2 on the Connecticut Wine trail found us at our favorite winery.  I probably spend a little to much time here, but I do enjoy their wines.  Not only do they produce wines grown from their vineyard here in Connecticut, they also produce variety of wines with juice purchased from California vineyards.  They start the fermentation in California, ship the wine to Connecticut for barrel aging and bottling.  I'm hardly a wine expert, but even I can tell the difference between Connecticut grown wines, and those that are produced from California vineyards.  

Dalice Elizabeth Winery

Preston, CT

This winery is very new to southeast Connecticut, having only been operating for about 3 years now. Like most vineyards in Connecticut, they supplement their own juices with that of other grape juices purchased from wineries in New York.  They have a very modest tasting room.  The grounds around the tasting room are very nice.  Their wines are very limited, and in my opinion, a little over priced.  This was our final stop on this day's travels along the Connecticut Wine Trail.  Three down....13 more to go! 

Sharpe Hill Vineyard- Tasting Room

Pomfret, CT

The tasting room at Sharpe Hill Vineyard was adorned with some very interesting antiques.  I sort of like this little fellow.  Don't think I would want such a light fixture in my home though.  

Sharpe Hill Vineyard-Outside the Tasting Rooom

Pomfret, CT

Sharpe Hill Vineyard

Pomfret, CT

Our second stop along the Connecticut Wine Trail was The Sharpe Hill Vineyard in Pomfret, CT.  This is perhaps the most beautiful vineyard I've seen in Connecticut.  The tasting room, restaurant and the grounds around the vineyard seem like they came straight from colonial times.  They produce award winning wines and also boast a Zagat rated restaurant.  

The vineyard must be very popular.  It was very busy the Saturday we visited.  So much so, that we had a hard time tasting all the wines they produce.  They were just a little bit understaffed to accommodate the large crowd of people who were there.  I can see why this place is popular though.  It's a gorgeous place to enjoy a glass of fine wine.

Sunrise Reflections

New London, CT

I happened to be up way too early for a Sunday last weekend, and found this early morning sunrise being reflected in these windows.  It does pay to get up early.  You can find other reflections at Weekend Reflections.  

Taylor Brooke Winery II

Seen outside the tasting room

Seen inside the tasting room

Woodstock, CT

Taylor Brooke Winery

Woodstock, CT

The wine industry in Connecticut is growing.  Over the past 10 years, I know of at least 4 wineries that have started producing wines in just the southeast part of the state.  To promote the wineries and tourism, The Connecticut Vineyard and Winery Association has all of these wineries listed on their Connecticut Wine Trail.  One can pick up a "passport" at any of the wineries and it is hoped that you'll take the passport to each of the wineries where you can get it stamped.  If you can get stamps from at least 16 of the wineries, you turn your passport in at the end of the season, and you are eligible to win a trip.  Sounds like a good thing to do on a summer's weekend.  This is stop number 1, the Taylor Brook Winery in Woodstock, CT.  One down..... 15 more to go.

Herreshoff H-20

Mystic, CT

Some people actually were able to sail their boats at the Wooden Boat Show.  This is a day-sailer, designed by Nathaniel Herreshoff, who designed a number of undefeated America's Cup yachts as well as other very successful sailboats.  He designed this particular boat as a replacement for one of his most successful boat designs, the H-12 1/2, but the boat was never built during his lifetime and the design sat for 80 years almost forgotten.   Today the boat is being made by the Bristol Boat Company, following the design created by "Capt. Nat" over 80 years ago.  You can read more about it here.

Nice Deck

 Mystic, CT

For Sale

Mystic, Ct

Some bring their boats to the Wooden Boat show to sell.  This one was for sale.  I don't think it sold however.  I thought about buying it, but realized I would never be able to retire and enjoy it.   

I know it's a custom boat, but I'm not sure why it's so special.  

Pretty Maids All in a Row

Mystic, CT

Mystic Morning

Mystic, CT

The best reflections are found early in the morning along the Mystic River.  I need to get up early more often.  Have a nice weekend, and check out the other great reflections at Weekend Reflections.

CT7210H

Mystic, CT

I didn't catch if this particular boat had a name or not.  I could see myself in this one.

Nice Varnish

Mystic, CT

Some of these wooden boats look so good, one wonders if they ever get put into the water.  It certainly is a labor of love to keep these boats looking as good as they do. 

Island Maid II

Mystic Seaport

The Island Maid II was built in British Columbia in 1945.  She measures 47' and displaces 33 tons.  She fished the waters around British Columbia until 1994.  In 2003 she was purchased by Michael Baccellieri of the Slough Boatworks located on Puget Island.  She was restored and refitted and is currently owned by the Pease Boatworks of Cape Cod.  She has entered many wooden boat shows and has won many awards including best of show, and best conversion.  

Kayaks

Mystic, CT

In conjunction with Wooden Boat Publications, Mystic Seaport hosted the 23 Annual Wooden Boat Show this past June 27-29.  This is probably one of my favorite events each summer at the Seaport.  There were a number of elegant and classic wooden boats on display.  There were vendors not only selling wooden boats like these kayaks, but just about everything one could possibly need to build, outfit, restore and maintain a wooden boat.  I hope my photographs capture the beauty of these fine boats.  

Schooner Australia

Mystic Seaport

Followers of this blog know that I spend a lot of time at Mystic Seaport and have featured many images on this blog from the seaport.  I always find something new there to photograph and to share here.  Such was the case the weekend of the annual Wooden Boat Show, one of my favorite weekends at Mystic Seaport.  On this weekend I spent some time learning about the Coasting Schooner Australia which is exhibited up on blocks and protected from the elements.  Originally named Ella Alida, it was built in New York in 1862.  It was sold to British interests, moved to Nassau, renamed   the Alma and was used during the Civil War to run blockades.  On one such mission she ran a ground and was captured by the US Navy.  She was then auctioned off and renamed the Australia and then sailed the Chesapeake Bay for more than 60 years carrying all sorts of cargo.  She then served as a yacht  for the du Pont family, who donated it to the Seaport in 1951 to be used for education.  In 1961 she was hauled out of the water for restoration, and it was determined that decay was so bad that she couldn't be resorted.  So now she sits as an exhibit illustrating the ship's construction.

Arrigoni Bridge

Middletown, CT

I've driven up and down CT Route 9 between Old Saybrook and Hartford many times and have always admired the views along that highway, especially of the Arrigoni Bridge, which crosses the Connecticut River at Middletown.  I finally took some time to stop and walk along the Connecticut River to capture some views of the bridge myself.  

Pond Reflections

Mystic, CT

I discovered this pond while hiking one of the trails at the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center.  More importantly, on this day, the pond offered a great symmetrical reflection of the fallen branches.  As usual, I'm sharing this with Weekend Reflections.  Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend. 

Antique Toy

Niantic, CT

Children growing up in the mid 1800's likely would have played with a toy like this.  Although the Smith-Harris House has been restored to resemble what it would've looked like back in the mid to late 1800's, none of the furnishings or accents are original to the house.  When the city of East Lyme bought the home and property and were considering tearing down the house, they hired someone to clean the house, and haul off all the furnishings to the city dump.  So a lot of genuine antiques were sadly lost.  

Smith-Harris House c 1845

Niantic, CT

This was my last stop on my recent tour of historic homes in East Lyme/Niantic.  The Smith-Harris house, pictured here, was built for Thomas Avery in 1845, a local farmer who apparently was pretty well off back in the day.  The house is an example of the Greek revival style of architecture, a style common for houses built in the 1800's throughout New England and the Mid-West.  It is listed on the Registry of Historic Places as the Thomas Avery house.  The home was occupied by family's descendants for 110 years when the house and 103 acres of farmland were sold to the city of East Lyme for municipal uses.  The house was boarded up and was frequently vandalized to the point that the city considered having the house torn down.  Local citizens rallied to save the home, formed a commission to oversee its restoration and today maintains the home and surrounding land as a museum.  

Samuel Smith House Barn/Shed

East Lyme, CT

Some parts of the Samuel Smith House and farm have been left intact from the late 1600's.  I think this structure was added in the early 1800's and served as either a barn or shed for the farm.  

Old Bench

East Lyme, CT

I think the piece of furniture could be considered a "gossip bench".  At least it reminds me of similar pieces of furniture I've seen that were called gossip benches.  This was found inside the Samuel Smith house.  I don't know if this bench dates from the late 1600's or not, but it looked pretty old to me. More likely, it was made in the 1800's. Could you imagine the stories that were told on this bench? 

Privy

East Lyme

Out back behind the Samuel Smith house there was no waiting back in the day.  This one is a 5-holer! 

Samuel Smith House

East Lyme, CT

My tour of historic homes in East Lyme next brought me to the Samuel Smith House.  This a great example of a 17th century Connecticut farmhouse.  The the oldest parts of this house were built around 1685 and there additions made to the main structure in 1735 and 1812.  The house and property now belong to the city of East Lyme and is being maintained by "The Friends of the Samuel Smith House".  Their goal is to restore the property as living museum of a 17th century farm.  It was identified and registered as a National Historic Landmark in 1979.

Golden Reflection

New London, CT

On a recent photo walk through the side streets of New London I ran across this reflection.  I had to look twice to insure I was actually seeing a reflection and not a display behind these store front windows.  The trees in the window are indeed located across the street.  Have a great holiday weekend, and check out the other great reflections on Weekend Reflections.

Teacher's Desk/Student's Desk

East Lyme, CT

Although some might think I'm old enough to have attended grammar school in a single room school house, I assure you I attended a school where each grade had its very own classroom.  I do remember attending kindergarten in what could be considered a single room school house.  It was a house at one time, but it only housed the kindergarten class.  It didn't look anything like this school house however.  This is pretty much what a school house like this would've looked like back in the early 1900's.

Note the forerunner of today's iPad on the desks.  

Little Boston School

East Lyme

The school was originally founded near the Thomas Lee house and farm by the Second Ecclesiastical Society of Lyme in 1734.  The building pictured here was built on land deeded to the Society by the Lee family in 1805.  Classes were held in this building up until 1922.  It has been restored to resemble what it might have looked like back in the early parts of the 20th Century.

Spinning Wheel and Chair

East Lyme, CT