“What is “country chic”?” posed Mark, Amy’s dad while watching the news coverage of Chelsea Clinton’s wedding. It was the dress code for her big day in Rhinebeck, NY. This past weekend, I had the opportunity to visit Ancramdale, NY, my roommate’s home town snuggled in between the Berkshires and the Catskills in the Hudson Valley. The wonderfully relaxing weekend consisted of: eating freshly grown foods, taking in the incredible views, breathing the crisp air, attending my first christening, eating meals with new friends, having no cell phone service at her house, and providing Mark with examples of “country chic”.
The stunning sites.
Fresh corn from a local farm corn stand.
The Schneeberger family dog, Lucy.
The family farm land; the road to Amy’s uncle’s; an original WWI Renault Tank.
The Hammertown Barn in Pine Plains is home to a variety of charming pieces for the home from various stores. This, a two-story, 18th century horse barn, is one of three locations (this is the original site).
We met Amy’s childhood friends for dinner at Baba Louie’s in Hudson, the closest large town around. We had the Pomodoro Biano (with fresh mozzarella, roasted portabellas, roasted garlic, tomatoes, red onions, chêvre, pesto and parmesan), left, and the Isabella Pizarella (with roasted sweet potatoes, roasted parsnips, caramelized onions, roasted garlic, fresh mozzarella and shaved fennel, drizzled with reduced balsamic vinegar and parmesan), right.
The old family farm. Their last name, Schneeberger means “Snow Mountain” in German.
Amy with her husband’s dog, Teachey. Kurt, her husband, retuns from the Marines very soon. They are both very excited for his return home.
I can’t wait to go back.
