A shopping weekend in Connecticut
by Jamee Gregory
 |
| The Smithy in Washington Depot, CT where local fruits, jams and vegetables are sold. |
| What could be more fun than a weekend in Connecticut visiting your daughter and son-in-law? My husband and I had never seen their home on Lake Waramaug in Washington. We didn’t quite make the cut for a sleep-over, but a visit to the luxurious Mayflower Inn is not a hardship. I guess less is more when the parental unit come calling. The ride on the Saw Mill Parkway was scenic; the remaining leaves colored bright yellow and red. The trip was just under two hours. Our room, with a wonderful four-poster bed swathed in pink and green striped taffeta, looked inviting. We had lunch in the bar, an attractive room with a fire. The menu offered spa cuisine but we opted for a hearty squash and apple soup. Our daughter, Samantha, invited us for cocktails at 6, so we decided to explore nearby Litchfield with its charming Green. Our favorite shop, Jeffrey Tillou, offered three floors filled with a marvelous selection of quality American paintings and decorative arts. The objects collected were unique, colorful and captivating. Everywhere one looked there was something compelling, like painted chairs, blue-and-white tureens, and enchanting folk art. |
 |
| Jeffrey Tillou Antiques, specializing in fine Americana, three floors and ten rooms of sensational antiques. |
 |
| Tillou’s wonderful juxtapositions of prints, furniture and porcelain. |
 |
| Early American art, painted chairs, and mirrors cover the rooms. |
 |
| L. to r.: Shelves are filled with Toby jugs, platters, lanterns and a horse and carriage dash across a table; A selection of silver-mounted ivory and and apothecary jars. |
 |
| Clocks, chests a painting of a young girl and her dog. |
 |
| An exhibit on display. |
 |
| R. Derwin’s selection of printed cotton shirts for ladies. |
 |
| L. to r.: Peter in front of R. Derwin, clothiers, on the green in Litchfield; The West Street Grill, a terrific place for dinner. |
| R. Derwin for men and women had some elegant country clothes, just the thing for a winter weekend. French Country Antiques had a terrific selection for Francophiles. Cooks must stop and sample the wares of Kitchenworks. Those seeking a house gift should try Flora and Fauna. A tray covered in ferns or butterflies would please the most discerning hostess. |
 |
| I find shelter in the rain before entering French country Antiques. Inside there is a vast selection including a dining table and large mirror. |
 |
| Posters cover one wall. |
 |
| Inside Kitchenworks, a colorful collection of le Creuset cook ware tempts. |
 |
| Flora and Fauna: Unique gifts in animal and flower motifs. Inset: Trays covered with fruit and flowers brighten a rainy Saturday. |
| Just as the rain came down we headed off for drinks, dazzled by the views from our daughter and son-in-law Roberto’s terrace. No wonder they rush off every weekend to enjoy the splendor of the lake with its charming coves, boat houses and gazebos. Surrounded by trees, up a winding path, they arrive and make a fire, relaxing after a busy week in town. We admire the high ceilings, the comfortable sofas, the original art and objects. After a cozy hour we head off to the GW, their favorite restaurant. Its quiet booths, murals and down-home food served as an inspiration for the Waverley. The sweet potato fries were the best! |
 |
| The Firehouse in New Preston, typical of the charming wooden homes that house each shop its antique clock and lanterns. |
 |
| Oliva, the wonderful restaurant where we dined. |
 |
| Pergola, my favorite shop, which offered plants, books and containers. A twig pergola and sophisticated plantings mark its door. |
 |
| Upstairs books, stationery and stone globes tempt shoppers. The shop’s displays are very chic. Stone planters by local craftsmen are filled with unusual house plants. |
| Saturday we explored scenic New Preston, where we later dined at Oliva, a wonderful restaurant in a house with a great chef. (Moroccan tagines and salads were unexpected and delicious choices!). We visited New Preston Dry Goods and admired their eclectic offerings. Then I fell head over heels for Pergola, a garden-inspired shop. Drawn in by their flower-covered twig pergola and planters featuring giant box-wood balls in stone planters, I was not disappointed. Unusual plants, one-of-a-kind containers, well-chosen horticulture books, both old and new, all captured my attention. Fake branches with tiny lights to be mixed with real blossoms were fun. Globes and stationery tempted. Dawn Hill Antiques was bursting with porcelain, furniture and local pottery. We shared a delicious lunch at the Pantry with Samantha and Roberto, enjoying the multi-grain bread, great soup and a big selection of colorful rugs, dishes, glasses and gourmet foods. This casual spot draws quite a crowd with good reason! |
 |
| Dawn Hill Antiques offers a sophisticated mixture of antique porcelain, contemporary potters, linens and books. |
 |
| An assortment of blue and white dishes at Dawn Hill, surrounded by quilts and tablecloths. |
 |
| Huntington and Hope in Washington Depot, with hand-stitched clowns in its window. |
 |
| Inside hand-sewn dolls sit side by side on a bench near books and prints. |
| Our next stop was Washington Depot where Huntingdon and Hope’s handmade dolls and clowns drew me inside. The Smithy sold local fruits, vegetables and jams. The Rome apples were worth a visit. Sunday dawned, bright and beautiful. The thermometer hit 65 degrees. After a leisurely breakfast at the Mayflower and the Sunday papers we headed back for a brisk four-mile walk around Lake Waramaug, admiring the beautiful homes and changing leaves. With hearty appetites the four of us headed to Nine Main where freshly toasted bread made each sandwich special. Muffins, cookies and coffee rounded out the meal. We bumped into our friend, Robert Couturier, who suggested a visit to nearby Woodbury for more antiquing. |
 |
| L. to r.: Nine Main, a favorite lunch spot , known for delicious toasted sandwiches, sweets and coffee; Woodbury’s charming Elemental Garden. |
 |
| The shop’s vast barn hold many treasures including garden statuary, globes, benches and planters. |
 |
| A typical shop. |
 |
| A three-paneled screen with books. |
 |
| L. to r.: 19th century reproductions of a shepherd and shepherdess would grace any garden; The scene from the street. |
 |
| A typical rich display of blue and white dishes. |
 |
| Peter at Glebe House, the oldest house museum in America with a Gertrude Jekyll designed garden, owned by the Episcopal Church. |
| We walked both sides of the village, visiting many shops. Our favorite, the Elemental Garden, offered a vast collection of garden furniture and decorative objects. Attracted by the promise of a Gertrude Jekyll garden, we visited Glebe House, the oldest house museum in America and learned of the Marshall family and its history with the Episcopal Church in America. Heading back to New York was hard. However, hours later I was pleased to see a message on Facebook from my daughter saying “Who knew you could have such fun with your parents?” So we passed the acid test. Now we look forward to a return invitation! |
Bookmark this page
E-mail to a Friend