English Box

I love the classic English Boxwood gardens at the Halsey House on South Main Street. Box is very slow growing and at times temperamental a sign of a garden with very established roots.

South Main Street ca 1648

The Halsey House on

South Main Street

is open to the public during the summer months. The design of this home with a two story front and long roof line making a one story rear is called a saltbox. In the 1980s the contemporary saltbox design was very popular with the back portion of the home having a dramatic open cathedral-ceiling living space. This home also has very nice gardens with excellent English Boxwood.

Water Mill Barn

Over the years many barns in the Hamptons got used as artist's studios. The loft like interiors lent themselves to making excelent work spaces. I was allowed to photograph the studio of noted painter Jane Wilson. I chose not to show the paintings in progress. It was nice to visit this simple honest interior from a time when so many artists had studio barns.

Along the Tracks

There is a dirt track that runs along the rail road tracks under the high Ts. At one time the town talked about developing this track into a bike path through the East End. I have taken my mountain bike on some parts of this path. Right along the tracks you see an industrial side of the Hamptons we do not see on a typical day.

Modern Style

My friend Brian designed this fantastic modern renovation at 194 Middle Line Highway in Water Mill. When I went to photograph the home I shot it at sunset so I could give a hint of the dramatic interiors. I then had a film tour of the main floor made, this tour can be viewed at http://www.hamptons101.com/ Look for the button that says virtual tour. If you want to view the home there will be an open house this Saturday and Sunday from 10am - 12 noon. 

Apple Pie with Cheddar Cheese Crust



I always think of Thanksgiving as a New England holiday. When I was growing up our family would meet in Connecticut for a big family dinner. My Grandmother always brought the pies and was most noted for her apple pie. In our family, apple pie was eaten with a sliver of sharp NY cheddar cheese. The idea is that the sharp cheese contrasts with the sweet pie. When I was looking through the American Heritage Cookbook I found a recipe for apple pie with Cheddar Cheese Crust. I have simplified the process to grating 6 oz of sharp white cedar and rolling it between 2 Pillsbury crusts. I use the trims to make the under crust. More details about the pie in future postings.

Shingle Cottage

When I first came to the Hamptons I was surprised to see dark shingles on the older homes in the area. I had spent many summers on Cape Cod where the shingles tend to have a silvery tone. I then learned that the shingles on the Cape are mostly white cedar and the shingles in the Hamptons tend to be red cedar. The red cedar turns a rich brown as they weather making a nice crisp contrast with white trim.