JOSH’S LAZY ROASTED GARLIC & POTATO SOUP....

I love soups.

Any kind.

Hot or cold.

So when fall comes around I am always on the hunt to try some new ones.

While shopping on the Beckman 1802 website I came across this Roasted Garlic and Potato Soup recipe and had to try it!

My table is set for just the two of us - no need to share this soup as it was so tasty!!

I served warm rolls with this hearty soup...

...and we ate in the dining room.

I set the table with matching blue checked bowls...

...and a bread plate, all purchased many, many years ago at the Christmas Tree Shoppe 

These would actually be a nice compliment the new, Limited Edition Taylor FETE bowl:

This Fete Bowl is handmade and hand painted in Aurora, NY and will be signed by Rebecca Proctor, Creative Director at MacKenzie-Childs.

I served the soup with this large silver spoon that Mom passed down to me!

I anchored the soup bowls with my 38 year old Corelle luncheon plates and MacKenzie-Childs enamel dinner plates, and placed the serving bowl on top of my Courtly Checked compote....

and I used Pottery Barn flatware.

My hand painted candlesticks held battery operated candlesticks from Ikea.

I followed the recipe from their website, Beckman1802.com...

...and only the only thing I would add is some more spicy seasonings...

...pureed it in my blender and added a few cups of stock...

..and heated it quickly on the stove....

...and I must say, it was delish - very garlicky and creamy!

And I served it with garlic dinner rolls:

I highly recommend this recipe and it can be found HERE

Sharing with Worthing Court

A day in Sharon Springs with the Beekman Boys....

This past Sunday, Mom and I went to Sharon Springs, NY to tour the Beekman Farm....

....the mansion was built in 1802...

...and the land is maintained and nurtured by these three men...

Josh......................................................Farmer John............................................Brent

 Farmer John fosters the goats....

...who took a liking to Mom...

...especially this one who kept nibbling on her!

Brent nurtures the flourishing flower gardens and Josh cultivates the vegetable garden that nourishes them throughout the year!

We were invited to taste the berries and cherries - and I caught Mom nibbling on a scallion!

The Beekman Mansion is a lovely home, sporting two USA flags, one that represents the year 1802 with only 15 stars, and our current flag....

....the back of the home has a lovely porch overlooking the flower gardens, fruit trees...

...and rolling hills (where they married)...

...a calming pond...

 ...with 2 chairs (However Brent says it's HIS "quiet" spot)...

....as we were saying goodbye... 

...we stopped in town at the Beekman 1802 Mercantile...

...and made a few purchases ~ sweet Alanna was working and she was just a delight to meet...

...and we also had a few laughs upstairs...

...and tasted delicious Goat Cheese Ice Cream, infused with alcohol ~ YUM!...

...from the Little Pink Elephants (Facebook) (Website) ~ visit them to see the delectable varieties and flavors they have created...

...by then we were famished...

...so we walked across the street to the American Hotel...

...which was built in 1847...

...and enjoyed Sunday brunch...

...and we had time to shop some more...

 ...and then we went exploring in Canajoharie to Wintergreen Park:

It was a fulfilled day with Mom and another little adventure crossed off my list!!

To read about my first trip to Sharon Springs, go HERE

I am sure that Brent was saying "and check out Patti from Pandora's Box"

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An afternoon in Sharon Springs, NY....

The historic village of Sharon Springs is located about 50 miles west of Albany, NY.  

The small village has a population of a little over 700, and apparently a lot of goats!

My interest in this village was peaked when the Beekman Boys entered into a collaboration with MacKenzie-Childs.

Who are the Beekman Boys?

Well, when I finish reading this book, I will know more about them!  But for now I will share the little I know!  

Josh and Brent moved to Sharon Springs, escaping their professional lives in NYC and purchased the 19th century Beekman Mansion on a farm outside the village and opened up the Beekman 1802  Mercantile in the center of town.

This did not all happen overnight, and their story is intriguing, fascinating and amusing!

Goats appear to be the inspiration behind their brand of skin care products; there are two rooms to get lost in soaps and creams and lotions and balms and wonderful aromas!

The new test kitchen in the rear of the building has a wall covered with painted kitchen pans, trays and gadgets, many donated by the "neighbors" in town:

 Here is another clever display in the same room, and check out that ceiling!:

The stairwell leading up to the home decor portion of the store has sections of vintage printed wallpaper which is so unique and eye-catching!

The presentation of furniture and accessories is lovely....

...and I adore this idea of hanging empty frames from the ceiling:

If you are lucky enough to visit the Mercantile, hopefully Serafina is working.  She is charming, knowledgeable and will sing you an inspirational song - a young woman whom the Beckman Boys are very lucky to employ!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Next door is the Cobbler & Co, 12 rooms of unique gifts:

Across the street is the historic American Hotel, built in 1847 and brought back to life in 2001 after many years of neglect...

...and offers 9 guest rooms, a pub and a restaurant:

 An American Emporium houses McGillycuddy's Natural Soaps, where the Beekman Boys learned the craft of making goat's milk soap:

As you probably know from prior posts, I can be a bit of a stalker ~ on the way out of town I spied a  "Do Not Enter" sign and an ornamental temple on the property.  Someone telling me not to do something only invites my "inner stalker" to creep up and take a peek:

Almost hidden under greenery and vines I found that this was the property of the Magnesia Temple and Baths...

...situated along the stream that flows through the village:

The Falls  flow into this stream that trails through town...

...and a mild scent of sulphur can be detected in the air.

I definitely want to return to Sharon Springs again and do a little more exploring, visit the Beekman Farm, find the Falls, and dine at the American Hotel!

Until then, I will finish reading the Bucolic Plague and enjoy my purchases from the Beekman 1802 Mercantile:

Shop Beekman1802 HERE

Find them on Facebook HERE

History of Sharon Springs HERE