Outdoor Space

Front Porch

The Getaway has a front porch that adds so much living space in the summer and fall months. The porch is a 38 x 10 foot area which adds 380 square feet for guests to use. We have a gas grill for cooking and an outdoor dining area. This is a great place to sit outdoors on a quiet summer summer evening and watch the fireflies light up the bushes. By the way, the cover photo for this page was taken on the side lawn when the paintbrushes were in bloom.

The porch has received a bit of a make-over recently. Matthew has put down a new floor and Audrey and I put our heads together and came up with a bit of a new seating arrangement.

2nd Floor Hideaway

This hidden away porch always delights guests. As soon as I open the door, smiles appear. Last year we had our first guest stay over the 4th of July week-end and they were able to watch the fireworks from this spot. Everyone around here knows that Minerva has the best fireworks and this spot is the perfect place to enjoy them. The porch faces the beach which is where the fireworks are held. It is screened in so you can sit outside and enjoy the show and not be bothered by flying insects. Green Mountain is visible through the trees. I have recently learned that this type of porch is known as "The Sleeping Porch" I guess that means we need a bed or two out here.

Jasper - The Stone Hound

Once upon a time four world weary travelers stumbled upon a place called The Getaway in a tiny hamlet by the name of Minerva, NY. They were long on the road, running a bit late and trying to reach the elusive dream of a restful moment out of the city. Drawing near to their destination and looking forward to a comfy chair and perhaps a glass of wine. Silence had descended upon the group, each of them gathering their thoughts, wrapping up their day and wondering what the morning would bring. Heads were nodding, the peaceful moment they were seeking was close. The car was meandering across the Hudson Bridge out of North Creek when a nodding head happened to nod in just the right direction. “Wait” he said. “Slow down, what is that?” Four sets of eyes turned and glanced out into the river upon the stone hound, looking for all the world like a giant hand had picked him from elsewhere and set him gently down onto his new home as if he were a reminder to those passing by that yes, there is still magic in the world. There was a brief wondering conversation amongst the group about this stone hound as they continued on their way, their heads were no longer nodding and the excitement level was building as they drew closer to their resting spot. “Look “said one, “there is another hound” and they started asking themselves, who created them and why are they here? At this very moment, when the questions were flying back and forth, the group crossed a second bridge, the bridge at the bottom of Mill Hill, just 2 miles from their destination. They spotted the hound standing at the foot of the dam and were happy to see that there was a place to pull over so they could snap some photos. They continued on their way to The Getaway where the very first thing they said to their hostess was “Tell us about the stone dogs, do you know who built them, how does he do this, why does he do this? And so they heard about Jake, about how he worked magic with the stones, how he created wonder and stirred imaginations with his creations. They went to their rest that night thinking about the hounds and perhaps hoping that the next day they would see more about town. Hearing the tale of their wonder, Jake arrived one day at The Getaway with ditch stone castaways that had burst from mighty Gore Mountain and he worked his magic. And now, The Getaway has its own magical stone hound watching over its guests and reminding them that no matter how hard life gets and how far away from the magic you get, it is always possible to come back to it even if just for a moment, just long enough to renew your faith in the world.