Flower farming

Farming provides a constant reminder that things are always changing, moving forward and growing. and it’s also a visual cue to not take things for granted.

Because what was happening 7 days ago is old news in the garden and what’s happening today is fleeting. And summer never seems quite long enough here in the Catskill Mountains.

Our historic 1860’s farmhouse will be getting a fresh coat of paint this year. As the 3rd owners of this blessed place it amazes us how well it has aged. Years ago lumber was milled from trees grown “naturally” in the forest, not trees grow on tree farms. The old wood is somehow harder and maybe it’s because of this. We won’t have too much scraping to do, mostly on the north side of the house and look forward to putting a coat of white paint of the old girl. Our farmhouse is a backdrop for many a country farm weddings here at The Inn at West Settlement.

Winter thaw.

Early spring always brings with it much excitement around the farm. Once the snow has melted away and we can see the earth the dogs and I walk the property not only to say hello to all our plant friends but to see what damage the snow, high winter winds, and gushing water from the snow melt might have down to our trees old and young. This year unfortunately we lost a large branch of our one of our willow trees. Willow trees with their shallow roots are so susceptible to wind damage. With a little tender loving care and trimming we hope it will live on. The daffodils are up 1 inch. The town snow plow did a great job not only keeping us plowed out but also keeping the road gravel out of the gardens. We are so thankful for the care they give to one of the numerous jobs they perform to keep our country roads in great shape.

It's always a pleasure to have work with local photographer Joe Damone. www.joedamonephotography.com

Wedding Photography in The Catskills at The Inn at West Settlement 

Living in Andes New York in the heart of the Catskills and photographing weddings in the Catskills for many years I have had the pleasure of working at many of the best wedding venues in the Catskills. This week I would like to showcase one of my favorite venues, The Inn at West Settlement in Roxbury New York http://www.innatwestsettlement.com run by the ultra-competent and always friendly Kimberly Lynas! The Inn has so many great places to capture fantastic rustic barn photos it's hard to describe so I have included a few photos showing some of my favorite locations.

September 2019 - What a gorgeous to have a wedding!!!!!

My daughter had her wedding here yesterday. What a gorgeous place to have a wedding!!!! WOW!!! Everything went perfectly! The place was really absolutely gorgeous! The owner ( her name slipped my mind) was just a joy to work with. My daughter Cieara said she was so easy going and was on top of everything. All the guests had such wonderful things to say about the place and the wedding it self. I personally was worried about how big the dance for is but it fit everyone and it wasn't crowded at all. We all had room to dance without being on top of each other. Cieara had 120 guests and most of which were on the dance floor. The farm house is beautiful where the wedding party stayed. It's huge! The place was so nice with very large rooms. You will not have to worry about where you're going to take pictures the property has so so many options. If you're considering having your wedding here I highly recommend it!! Don't even give it a second thought. Pictures really don't do this place justice. It's a place you have to go and see. We are from CT.and many of the guests had to travel much further than CT and they all said how beautiful the ride was and so glad they came. Really a gorgeous place.

June 19, 2019 An Idyllic setting for a wedding; truly a little piece of paradise!

An idyllic setting for a wedding; truly a little piece of paradise! My son Daniel married the beautiful Miriam on June 19, 2019. The Inn itself was a fantastic place to stay. The six large bedrooms and three full bathrooms allowed both the bride’s & groom’s immediate family to stay there and bond as a new family. The kitchen is large and well stocked with staples and it seems that most of the bridal parties that stay there leave a little something behind to enhance the visit. All the rooms are large and comfortable, and there is a large flat screen with satellite TV. For the musically inclined, there is a piano, drum, and other instruments decorating the large living area. Best of all, the owner, Kim, is remarkable - thoughtful, kind, and incredibly helpful.

Kim offers full use of the “prop room” for vases, dishes, all sorts of things to make the room unique and beautiful. She also has gorgeous flower gardens, and she helped us select & cut flowers for the centerpieces, which she also helped put together. The barn has these incredible solid wood tables for dining, so no tablecloths are even needed. Kim also has a collection of beautiful china, glasses and flatware to use. The bride’s mother brought along some family china that was no longer being used, and donated it to the collection after our bride and groom used it at the wedding. It was very special and sentimental, and I can’t imagine having that flexibility in many other places.

This was my first look at the property in person and let me tell you, the pictures simply don’t do it justice. The “before” pictures of the bride and groom getting ready, the ‘first look” and family photos were taken in the beautiful farmhouse just prior to the wedding. 

The outdoor site for the wedding is spectacular! After nervously watching the hourly weather forecast, we were relieved by a late afternoon shower that immediately cooled everything down. (But no worries, Kim has a rain option available and tons of umbrellas handy.) The sun came out and the outdoor ceremony was on! Watching my son marry his beloved under that beautiful arch, topped with the extraordinary quilted chuppah (made with love by the bride’s Aunt Laurie) with a pond and a mountain in the background was surreal; it felt like the garden of Eden itself.

After the ceremony, the guests moved to the cocktail party on a lovely grassy area outside the barn. It is large enough to accommodate the food, the bar and the guests, yet still feels intimate. The photographer whisked away the bride and groom for some amazing photos outdoors. The caterer Kim recommended served up delicious, beautiful food both at the cocktail hour and the dinner. We moved to the upstairs of the barn for the dinner and dancing. 

As the sun was beginning to set and the guests entered the barn, it was a breathtaking sight. The room was aglow, the wood tables gleamed, all the flowers (several vases per table) were stunning. Kim has these old windows that we were able to set up on a table at the entrance to the barn. Instead of place cards, the table numbers & names were written on the window panes, another unique and personal touch. There is a perfectly sized dance floor with plenty of room for a band, if desired, or a DJ. On the opposite end of the room was the bar, a small seating area (with Kim’s grandmother’s couch!) and a table for a wedding cake or in our case, cupcakes and cannolis.

It was an unforgettable wedding, followed by a lovely brunch the next morning in the barn. Truly a weekend to remember for everyone who attended! I can’t thank Kim enough for every kindness she showed us, and for helping create memories that will last a lifetime. - Stacy A. mother of groom

Elegantly Rustic Catskill Mountain Barn Wedding venue

est. 2009

Roxbury, NY