new england adventures || the crane estate

The sun has begun to shine more frequently here in New England, and (as expected) my happiness level with being here has increased right along with it.  

Also we have found a house!  We are under contract now on a victorian (with a cupola!) built in 1900--this makes my design heart so happy!  

And so that temporary make-shift feeling is starting to go away.  

This is such a beautiful part of the country, full of stories and history, and despite our frequent homesickness, we LOVE discovering it all!  

One of the places we have discovered is the gorgeous Crane Estate in Ipswich.  Oh beautiful manors that have rolling lawns to the ocean, you are our very favorite.  

I think maybe it is kind of an undiscovered gem here?--although I'm sure it must get busier once school gets out.  (Ugh, this is a never-ending school year. . . only two more days!)  

Anyway, everyone I've mentioned The Crane Estate to, has never been.  We however have been three times in the few months we've lived here!  

We have picnics on the lawns and wander down onto the beach and pretty much have the place to ourselves.  We just kind of pretend it's our house. . . or that we are servants at the house.  You can see the kids practicing greeting our guests--Downton Abbey style, in that picture above :)

Besides the incredible manor & bowling green & Great Gatsby-esque outdoor pool & gardens & outbuildings, the property ends on the best beach we've found so far--lots of sand dunes and trails to explore too.

We've yet to have a really warm, goosebump-free beach day, but I am promised they do actually come!  The kids crazily get into the frigid water sometimes. . . and insist it's not cold. . . and try to get me to come in too.  Nice try. . . no polar bear plunges for this girl.  I prefer my water Caribbean style.

We hadn't planned on getting in the water this day, so didn't wear our suits.  But Andy can never resist getting further and further into the water until his pants or shorts or soaking wet.  It happens every time.  Here he is wrapped up in a blanket while his pants hang on the fence drying off. . .  :)

 

Looking forward to a summer full of adventures with this little crew of mine.  xo

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