Most of the photos here at Rabbit Run Cottage
can be enlarged just by clicking on each one!
There you go...see? Easy!

Friday, November 30, 2007

Stillness In The Late Afternoon Chill

It was a cold day but I love the cold...to paraphrase Rhoda Morgenstern, "I like the cold, I figure I keep better!" And on a day like this, a walk was in order. I love to get out and take little strolls around my small town. There are so many lovely old stone houses, some that are now sweet shops, some museums and even more that are still private residences. I also stopped by Benham Grove.

Benham's Grove is situated on land that was originally part of a 50-acre farm owned by Aaron Nutt, one of the founding fathers of the City of Centerville, and transferred to his son in 1813. A later owner of the farm, Lawson Allen, sold the 10-acre tract that would become Benham's Grove in 1843.

In 1844, Joseph A. Benham, prominent Centerville merchant, acquired the property at an auction. Benham built the present farmhouse on the tract about 1885. In keeping with its rural setting, the house was built in a less ornate, more functional Victorian-era style that relies on subtly elegant details.

My city purchased the property in 1991. After renovations, the facility opened in 1992 as a community gathering place. It is a popular site for weddings and parties of all sorts. You can see why!

The last golden leaves of Fall... Beauty is found in each of the four seasons. And there is one of those beauties now!

16 comments:

Rosie's Whimsy said...

What beautiful photos! There is so much detail to look at, I'll be scrolling up and down for quite awhile :-)

Melissa said...

Love the pictures - and whose sneakers are those? They're too cool!

Mom2fur said...

You live in such a beautiful area, and you have a great eye for seeing lovely things!
Thanks so much for the anniversary greeting over on my blog. I had a wonderful time out with Mike. I guess I was talking too much, 'cause today I have a really bad case of laryngitis!

Rosemary said...

What a beautiful place. I want to live there too. It looks like Stars Hollow (Gilmore Girls)
I was just thinking that I need a pair of brown Converse.
Now I am getting them.
Rosemary

Sandi McBride said...

Such wonderful pictures...and Hon, excuse me but I couldn't find Claire and Mike's site...what did I do wrong other than go to the only Claire on your fave side...help!

Janet said...

Sue,
You take such great pictures and have an eye for finding just the right detail. Just one of your many talents, like writing and decorating...oh are you blushing?

I would like to visit those shops, they sure look cute.
Janet

Andrea Frazer said...

Sue, I do believe you need to start a greeting card business. I'm thinking "Rabbits Run" would be appropriate. I'm brilliant with coming up with names - don't know HOW I do it!

JANET said...

Beautiful photos! Looks like a Dickens Christmas in the making. Thanks for visiting Catfish Bytes!

Andrea Frazer said...

For Godsake, woman, you don't need to want to write one day. You ARE a writer. Women are so hard on themselves. We don't owe anybody anything. No "when I am this" or "when I am that". We ARE that. If you didn't have balls of steel, how could you adopt two kids while your husband was away at war? How could you collect porcelain rabbits like a mofo? How could you one day make Brian Dennehey rue the day he did not take you for his own? You ARE a writer. Email me anytime.

Andrea.Paventi@gmail.com

Mockingbird Hill said...

Just checking to be sure you have the flight number of my plane and the arrival time. And, I like to drink mint tea every morning and...what did you say? Oh...did I forget to tell you that these pictures are like a travel brochure and that I just have to see this place and that I was coming to visit? Oh, sheesh...

Carole Burant said...

Oh Sue, what a gorgeous area you live in, I so love all these stone houses and Benham Grove looks delightful!! You better start making lots of room for us to sleep in cuz you're making us all want to come over there and visit you!!!! hehe xoxo

PAT said...

This is an absolutely amazing post, Sue!! I love it all. Gracie is a cutie pie!

Pat

Sheila said...

Gorgeous pictures Sue, but I bet you'd need boots not sneaks today. It's snoooowing, and the wind is hooowling...LOL
What a pretty place you live in..
Hugs
xx

Indigo Robe said...

Wow.... thank you so much for this unexpected present today! Your photos were an absolute joy to behold!

Margie

Gretchen said...

Okay...Sue, your pictures are GORGEOUS. I don't know why you aren't in the process of putting together a coffee table book! Totally serious, here, friend. I especially love the lamppost shots. And the lighting...oh, the lighting. So gentle and beautiful. Pure elegance in these shots. At the very least, you should frame those and sell them at your local farmers' markets.

Grace...what a cutie.

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