Stranger in the Woods by Carl R. Sams II & Jean Stoick

I am probably one of the few people that actually ADORES winter time.  I look forward to the jolly bustling in December and the sweet, beautiful quiet of January and February.  I love simplicity and there is something so sweet and simple about staying inside, snuggled with my favorite people.  My husband and I love to pull out our newest books and sit by the fire in cozy silence after putting our little man to bed.  But before we do so, there is at least an hour set aside for the joy of story time.  My son’s nursery is completely dedicated to my family’s love for reading.   Instead of piles of toys to clean up, I am constantly re-shelving his books.

One that never seems to make it back on the shelf in January is Stranger in the Woods by Carl R. Sams II and Jean Stoick (winner of 27 National and International Awards).  As a nature lover, it is a perfect story about how we and the animals can enjoy the outdoors during this time of year. The images are beautiful and the story is written with a lovely, poetic voice.  I can see my father (a lover of all outdoor spaces and animals) and my son (a future snowman aficionado) building snow creatures and leaving food for their favorite animals to enjoy.  I almost feel like the sweet inscription was written for the two of them:

“For those who protect wild places and to the snowman that lives in every child’s heart.”

last year, i photographed an *amazing* wedding and the private property has become available for events!

and because there’s no one better than elizabeth, our sweet bride, to talk to about it, here’s a little interview!

elizabeth, finally, events at glenlary is no longer under wraps!  yay!  will you share the history and how you decided to have your wedding here?

GlenLary was built in the early 1800′s by my great, great, great grandfather and passed down through the generations. In 1905, my great uncle sold the house so he could travel the world. From the black-and-white photos we have of him riding through Europe on a Penny Farthing it’s clear that he had a great time, but the loss of GlenLary was a harsh blow for our ancestors. From the time of his youth growing up in Winchester County– just miles away from GlenLary–it was my grandfather’s dream to bring the estate back in the family. In 2007, that dream came true.

The entire Lary family has been traveling to Kentucky every summer since to spend a long weekend together. The first time I set foot on the property, I fell in love. The beauty of the home and the grounds, and the deep history behind it just took my breath away. I dreamt about getting married at GlenLary from that moment on and I feel so blessed to have had that dream come true. Now my dream is to spend family holidays with my own grandchildren there. Just writing this gets me all teary-eyed! I know, I know. I’m a true romantic – what can I say?

After such a successful fairy-tale wedding, we decided to open the house up for public events. We needed to ensure that we could keep the property in our family for years to come. As many of your readers probably know, owning a home comes with endless expense. And with the Lary family all living in different parts of the country and tied to their own expenses, we needed to find a creative solution to support our new family property. So we matched my corporate event planning background with my mother’s marketing expertise to create: Events at GlenLary. With love and dedication the estate will remain in our family and as a special gathering place for others for generations to come.

what was it like to invite all your guests ‘home’ for your celebration?  it must have been an incredible introduction to the bluegrass for the ones that hadn’t been here before!

When Steve and I decided we were going to get married at the house, we knew that we had to make it an unforgettable experience. We were asking our guests to travel from as far as Miami, New York, New Jersey, and California. We timed our wedding to coincide with the Keeneland horse races, so that our guests could get the full Blue Grass experience with our wedding as the grand finale. We felt so privileged to introduce them to this unique part of the country. The looks on their faces as they arrived at the property were priceless. They had never seen anything like it. Photos, however artful, do not do the house justice. Our family claims it was the most breathtaking wedding they have ever or will ever attend.

i feel like i’m driving inside a painting when i pull up to the gate…it’s so calming!  the beauty beckons you to slow down and enjoy life.  what are some of your favorite things about glenlary?  (i’m a little partial to the gray stripes in the entryway and deep front porch!)

Oh wow. Can I say “everything”?  As soon as those high white gates swing open, I feel like I’m being transported into a movie. Between the dramatic entrance and the high ceilings, the old wood floors, and just sitting outside by the pond and breathing in the fresh Kentucky air, I couldn’t choose a favorite if I tried. To me, it is the most peaceful place on Earth.

the cabin behind the home is amazing, how do you envision it being used?

We were fortunate enough to find the original wood from a small cabin that used to be on the GlenLary property but had been moved to another part of town many years ago. We bought back the historic wood and are reconstructing the old cabin with the original wood in a “new” way. Since we have a large family, we wanted everyone to be able to stay together at the “Farm,” as we call it. So the cabin is being built right behind the current house and will provide extra room for our family when we come to visit. Right now, there are 21 of us. But we’re growing by the minute!

details, we need details!  when will it be available for events and weddings and who should be contacted?

The entire property will be available for booking starting July 1st, 2012. We welcome everything from weddings to charity galas and debutante balls to corporate events. We look forward to hosting extraordinary events in 2012 and for decades to come. If someone is interested in booking the GlenLary Estate,  they can contact me at elizabeth@eventsatglenlary.com.

to see more of glenlary & elizabeth & steve’s incredible day, check out this feature on style me pretty and our gallery!  i hope these photos serve as a mini tour of this breathtaking spot…i know how difficult the new year scramble for a venue can be…and imagine when you aren’t engaged over the holidays and trying to find a place! well, here’s a *great* new option!!

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i love the emotion that happens with dances…and i adore this particular grandfather who has everyone in his vicinity laughing and smiling from his good humor and wit.

it’s a special thing to have a grandfather…especially when that grandfather is this one.

lesley, thank you for having me share your day with you…you are remarkable!

p.s. brides to be, we’ll be here next Saturday along with some wonderful company!