Monday, November 1, 2010

Back from New Hampshire

Thursday morning we set out for New Hampshire, which is one of our favorite places to go.  As you know, we never go south, only north and west.  I can't tell you why, but we love going to the Hudson River Valley, and to the Berkshires, and Vermont and New Hampshire.  We've never made it to Maine, but that's on our list, and I really, really want to go to Nova Scotia.

Our favorite spot in NH is Keene, which is a college town and reminds us very much of where we live.  Funny thing about that.  We are at our happiest in either somewhat urban areas, cities, or college towns.  Keene is a pedestrian's delight.  Very wide sidewalks with benches that just invite you to sit and people watch.  One of the things we love about the area is that motorists actually stop at crosswalks if they see pedestrians.  Not only do they stop well ahead of the walk, but they actualy smaile and wave to you if you wave to them! n Shocking, I know.  In all the years I've lived in New Jersey, I've never seen a smiling driver stop (without screeching) to let anyone walk.  Yeah, they'll stop, but they are not happy about it.  Come to think of it, when I drive, I'm just as grumpy about it all.  So, all that good behavior in NH is so pleasant.

Keene, like many college towns in the northeast, is blessed with lots of good eats, really good eats, and reasonably priced, too.  About 15 minutes or so from Keene is a little town, Walpole, which has the most amazing chocolate shop going.  We forced ourselves to go and sample the goodies.  Can you say:  large round mug full of hot chocolate.  Dark chocolate.  Nope, not cocoa, chocolate.  As in 320 calories of it without the milk.  As in worth every last calorie!  We went there on Saturday afternoon.  In the morning, we had done our Keene walk, antique moments, library, etc, etc.  4 hours of it. So we rewarded ourselves with the most amazing mocha cake and that hot chocolate.  So much for watching weight.  Well, we did watch it; we watched it and enjoyed increasing it very much.

On this trip, we wanted to explore Portsmouth, a settlement and seaport established in the early 1600's.  We got a tiny taste of it, and definitely need to go back for a long weekend, preferably when the weather is a wee bit warmer.  It's a fascinating area, full of history, and we need to really explore it.

We had such fun figuring out a good dog name for when we get a little doggie.  I figure that the Hubbo will need an activity when he eventually retires, and we think we're going to get a small pooch.  Right now we're thinking maybe a dachshund, or a small spaniel, or maybe a pug, something small, smart, and adorable.  And then the Hubs can walk it and train it and do whatever doggie people need to do.  Me, I'm a cat person, but I know enough people with adorable doggies that I think I'll enjoy having one.   Of course this is a few years into the future, but hey, ya gotta be prepared.

And now it would be nice if I tackled the endless laundry.  Does your laundry expand at night?  Mine does.

pencraftco - I'll check it out.  Sounds like an adorable breed.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Might I suggest considering a Rat Terrier. I've had dachshunds (still have a standard wirehaired), basset hounds and other various assorted dogs. The Rat Terrier is a delight. :)

Scrabblequeen said...

I must concur...little terriers are wonderful pets. They've got the smarts you mentioned, and often have very fun personalities, too. Your visit to NH sounds like a perfect weekend get-a-way to me, up to, and including the chocolate!

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