Catskills - Sullivan County - Ulster County Real Estate -- Catskill Farms Journal

Old School Real estate blog in the Catskills. Journeys, trial, tribulations, observations and projects of Catskill Farms Founder Chuck Petersheim. Since 2002, Catskill Farms has designed, built, and sold over 250 homes in the Hills, investing over $100m and introducing thousands to the areas we serve. Farms, Barns, Moderns, Cottages and Minis - a design portfolio which has something for everyone.

Monday, November 25, 2013

Hudson River Renovation

This 2000 sq ft Hudson River hugging Ranch is getting the full treatment.



More outdoor living -


Improved and cleaner floor plan, thanks to a new 22" beam to span the load -


A study off the the master bedroom-


Adding lots of glass, and improving the insulation values…



Adding a wood stove, some skylights, and just generally improving every square inch of the place.



Sunday, November 24, 2013

"Fore dark, Sunday Eve'"

So it's Sunday afternoon, about a hour 'fore dark - and once again Nina Simone is caressing the early winter's light with Since I Feel for You - it's so bad, its too bad, it's so sad, I'm in love with you.  You love me, and you snug me, but what can I do, I'm still in love with youuuuuus, ahhhhoohhh, guess I'll neeeeevvvvvver see the lights, I get the bluuuuuuuuuuues 'most every night, since I fell for you……uuuuuuu…

'yooouuuuuu, made me leave my happy home, you took my loving' and now you gone, since I feel in love for you…..

'looooovvvveeee brings such misery and pain, guess I'll never beeee the same, since i feel in love with you……."

and it was fun day of wondering the woods with, respectively, jaime, Ben and Brian, and Leela.   It was coooolllll and windy and with a quarter inch of snow on the ground all the notice one needs to be forewarned.  Not the type of weather to linger unprepared.  But squirreled away a beer and a turkey chili at a friends talking about a swap his neighbor and he did, which bartered friendship and firewood for a clean scene of the nightly Narrowsburg sunset diorama.






And then my firewood delivery came - and after 2 days of phone calls and scheduling - I can say, whoever the fuck this guy is, he's awesome.  I mean, he's awesome.  


From me randomly finding this trailer for $180 delivered - and I kept calling 800-delivered like some dumb schmuck.


And the guy's girl answers the phone and actually gets him the message and can you believe it he actually calls back within an hour -


and after a phone call more takes down my address right the first time and is on his way.


And he takes instructions well, and backs his non-dump truck to my porch, he is nothing but country,   courteous, and hard-working.


And he backs up, pushes it off by hand, comments on my big wood pile to the north of my barn, takes my money, doesn't talk to0 much, pulls out of my drive with an enjoyment of that task, and leaves me with a profound feeling of what it's all about.


Whoever that masked wood delivery guy was, I Salute You.


Granted - 2 Johnny Walker Blacks, still another 25 minutes 'fore dark, I write my Sister -


"Thank you for Calling

I Miss you.

Look forward to seeing you real bad.

Love you."


And when you hit the note, you know it.

(and it's not even dark completely)

Friday, November 22, 2013

Barn 7 has left the building - Sold - Sullivan County NY Real Estate

Ever since we worked with Veronica on evolving the look and feel of this particular barn house, it's been a big hit.  Bit hit.  We keep changing it up, both from a design perspective and a floor plan perspective.  This one added a really nice front room, that takes a lot of pressure off the entry logistics.



It's on a bunch of acres, straddling Beaver Brook.


Nice sunny morning.























I don't think I need I need to even comment on this home's awesomeness.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Bob Dylan's 'Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues', Nina Simone version

(the key is to read it slowly)

When you're lost in the rain in Juarez
And it's Easter time too
And your gravity fails
And negativity don't pull you through
Don't put on any airs
When you're down on Rue Morgue Avenue
They got some hungry women there
And they really make a mess outta you


Now if you see Saint Annie
Please tell her thanks a lot
I cannot move
My fingers are all in a knot
I don't have the strength
To get up and take another shot
And my best friend, my doctor
Won't even say what it is I've got


Sweet Melinda
The peasants call her the Goddess of gloom
She speaks good English
And she invites you up into her room
And you're so kind
And careful not to go to her too soon

And she takes your voice
And leaves you howling at the moon


Up on housing project hill
It's either fortune or fame
You must pick up one or the other
Though neither of them are to be what they claim
If you're lookin' to get silly
You better go back to from where you came
Because the cops don't need you
And man they expect the same


Now all the authorities
They just stand around and boast
How they blackmailed the sergeant-at-arms
Into leaving his post
And picking up angel who
Just arrived here from the coast
Who looked so fine at first
But left looking just like a ghost


I started out on Burgundy
But soon hit the harder stuff
Everybody said they'd stand behind me
When the game got rough
But the joke was on me
There was nobody even there to bluff
I'm going back to New York City
I do believe I've had enough


(Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues, Nina Simone version - I recommend it one an early thursday melancholy early dark pre-winter evening)


Charles Petersheim, Catskill Farms (Catskill Home Builder)
At Farmhouse 35
A Tour of 28 Dawson Lane
Location
Rock & Roll
The Transaction
The Process
Under the Hood
Big Barn
Columbia County Home
Catskill Farms History
New Homes in the Olivebridge Area
Mid Century Ranch Series
Chuck waxes poetic...
Catskill Farms Barn Series
Catskill Farms Cottage Series
Catskill Farms Farmhouse Series
Interviews at the Farm ft. Gary
Interviews at the Farm ft. Amanda
Biceps & Building
Catskill Farms Greatest Hits
Construction Photos
Planned It
Black 'n White
Home Accents at Catskill Farms, Part 2
Home Accents at Catskill Farms, Part 1