Even though it’s the dead of winter and we aren’t outside playing on our lawn right now, we are thinking ahead to this summer.  Days are long, skies are clear and all we want to do is be outside.  That’s why we decided to add  a bocce set to our lawn game collection.

Bocce is very popular in Europe and was brought to America by Italians.  Descended from a game played in the Roman Empire, bocce involves rolling balls on a clay, asphalt or smooth lawn.  Anywhere between two to eight players compete in teams.  The United States Bocce Federation has a great website with information, playing tips, and tournament schedules.  They are aiming to get bocce into the Olympic Games!

Even if you are not as serious as those bocce enthusiasts, you will find our bocce set to be the very best available on the market. The Perfetta Club Pro Bocce Set I just ordered should last for years to come and be a focal point for many happy memories.  Our lawn is great, the views spectacular and we have no doubt that bocce is going to become a favorite pastime here at Winthrop Estate!

Fun in the Snow, a winter family vacation smile

What fun kids can have in the snow!  Dress them up, and send them outside.  At the Winthrop Estate, they can step onto the back lawn and tumble, build, sled, chase eachother, throw snowballs, make snow angels and more.  An hour later, then will return, unwrap their wet layers, and collapse by the blazing fire with hot chocolate and cookies.  Ah… a family winter vacation in the Berkshires at the Winthrop Estate.

The Three Muses, our fountain, in Autumn

This picture of the fountain of the Three Muses, made of marble from Baci, Italy, was taken in the fall when the Copper Beech Tree just to the east of the fountain was a rich burgundy. The trunk of the Copper Beech is probably more than four feet in diameter. The area under the branches is covered by a soft mossy green covering and the roots poke thorough in a few places and leaves can grow off them right near the ground. A few of the roots hold water after a rainstorm and I have seen birds bathing there.

Fall Foliage at the Winthrop Estate

From the verandah, you can see Yokum Ridge and now the hillside is covered with fall colors.  It is to the west of the mansion so the colors change drastically in the light from sunrise to sunset.  You can see the Copper Beach, the Japanese Maple, the Ginko Biloba, the Blue Spruce, and the varieties of Evergreens.  If you start to walk along the edge of the lawn or explore into the woods on our walking trails, you see even more variety of colors and leaves, and you smell the crisp, fall, sweet fragrances of autumn in New England.

One of the charms of the estate is that every room has a unique purpose. This is the music room, home to our magnificent Steinway. Being in the Berkshires, we’ve seen a lot of musical talent come out of this area. At the estate, sometimes we host chamber music or lectures in the music room. Find out more about our programs at www.LenoxAthenaeum.org.

Fun fact – the room needs to be a certain temperature to preserve the Steinway, and you’ll find this room a lot cooler and quieter than the others. It’s perfect for playing for a small intimate audience.

This part of the estate always surprises guests. The Winthrop Estate may be an old property (the mansion was built in the 1920s), and while we’ve done everything to retain it’s charm, we’ve also made some upgrades. In addition to this exercise space, we also have a massage room right next to the exercise room. A bride once brought in two masseuses and the entire bridal party enjoyed half-hour massages on the morning of the wedding!