Thursday Doors

About ten miles north of Concord, New Hampshire, there is the small town of Boscawen right off Interstate 93.

The New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery is located on 104 acres of land that was previously part of the state forest. This site was set aside on July 1, 1997 as the final resting place for NH residents who served in the Armed Forces and their spouses.

I’ve been to Arlington National Cemetery and a couple of our American Cemeteries overseas, and this state cemetery can hold its own. It is beautifully landscaped, lovely gardens, well maintained, and a humbling place to visit.

For 100 nights, from Memorial Day through September 11th each year, taps are played at 7 p.m. each evening. Following the 100 continuous evenings, taps are then played each Sunday at 1 p.m. rain, shine or show.

Why? “So We May Never Forget”

Mission Statement:  To provide and maintain a dignified final-resting place to honor all veterans and eligible dependents which expresses the State’s gratitude for their service to the country.

The New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery conveys peace through natural beauty and is a source of pride to veterans’ families and residents of New Hampshire.

Linked to Norm Frampton’s Thursday Doors, August 16, 2018.

Thursday Doors

On our road trip last week, we spent part of a morning in Walpole, New Hampshire, 17 miles north of Keene. It was settled in the 1700’s and named in honor of Sir Robert Walpole, the first prime Minister of Great Britain.

It is truly a quaint little New England town with winding roads and beautiful homes everywhere you look. It’s a small town. How small you might be thinking, well, the business area is one short block long.

You know it is a small town when we found ourselves looking for doors and passed Ken Burns walking on the road twice. I thought it would be quite gauche of me to hang out the window with my phone and take his photo so I didn’t, but I was tempted.

While I never tire of looking at the gorgeous historic homes, the one door I’m always headed to is L.A. Burdick’s because there I’m either going to find a fantastic meal or a treat from their chocolate and pastry area.

This time we were a little too early for lunch so had to settle for pastries and coffee. Poor us.

Don’t want a meal or coffee and snack? How about a pastry or a chocolate mouse to go?

I love the charm of Walpole from its picturesque homes to the amazing food at Burdicks.

I am always in awe of the big old houses meticulously maintained, but there was one rather small one, at least by Walpole standards, that caught my eye because of its dark green door and the porch decorations. The green doesn’t show up well in the photo, but it is a gem.

Welcome back to Norm Frampton, our fearless Thursday Doors leader. This post is linked to his August 9, 2018, post. 🚪

Road trip

New England is known for its handsome wooden covered bridges, but did you know we also have some remaining stone bridges?

Back in the first half of the 19th century, stone bridges were built by talented Scottish stone masons using native granite. They were constructed without mortar and were held up by the shaping of the stones. I don’t know about you, but I find that pretty amazing.

Last week, we went to check out the Double Arch Stone Bridge* that crosses the Contoocook River off Route 9 between Hillsborough and Keene, NH. It does not allow car traffic anymore, but it is still a picturesque historic site to walk across and take in from either side.

I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen beautiful red Cardinal flowers growing in water.

How was the weather for traveling? Hot and humid like it has been here for several weeks.

So, when it’s hot, one needs a cold one, right? Good thing we knew right where we could find some great craft beer in Keene – Elm City Brewery. My husband liked their Dunkelweizen the best, and I was torn between the Peachy Keene and the Raspberry Wheat which were both great.

We may need a cold one tonight because we’re suppose to hit 94°F with 47% humidity resulting in a ‘feels like‘ of 101°. Does that sound a little too warm for New Hampshire?

Texas, Florida and Nevada are coming in around the same number. I don’t know, but I’m thinking New Hampshire is not supposed to be registering the same temperature as these southern areas.

Then add in the every other day heavy rain and tornado warnings, and I think it’s pretty safe to say we have some major climate change going on. I may need two cold ones. 🍻

*NH Historic Marker #0027

Sweet Wordless Wednesday

Edible beehive courtesy of the chocolate and pastry artists at L. A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates, Walpole, NH. 🐝  It’s not for sale, but it sure is beautiful and makes you want to grab a fork. 🙂

Product Review

I don’t know about you, but I get excited when I find a product that really exceeds my expectations. Lots of things do what they say, but some just go a little further.

I’ve already gone on and on about Wet & Forget, so I won’t bore you again.

I will say I bought my one bottle this year for $26.99 and did a large white vinyl fence inside and out and had enough left to do quite a bit of vinyl siding.

This year’s challenge has been pot holes in the asphalt driveway approach to the barn. We’ve never had this problem before, but the ground underneath appears to be shifting, and we’re left with pockets that cave in and need to be filled.

After some research, I took a chance with Aquaphalt, and I found out it is a great product and easy to use. Open the bucket, spread the material in the hole, add water, tamp, and you’re done.

It can be purchased at Ace Hardware for $49.97 or at Home Depot for $99.97. Why anyone would pay double, I don’t know. Ace Hardware loaded it in the cart and then into my truck for me, and gravity assisted me in getting it out. I’m working on my second bucket, which once opened, is good for a year. During the purchase process, I also found out NH DOT is using it to repair small holes where other patches don’t hold.

Triple Crown Thornless Blackberry

Last summer, I purchased three blackberry bushes from Stark Brothers. That much I remembered, but I couldn’t for the life of me find the documentation with the particular name. Two were thriving, but one had died.

I wanted to replace that one plant so I sent Stark an email, gave them my info, and asked if they could look in their records and tell me the name so I could place my order.

Within 24 hours, I received an email informing me they were shipping me three new plants –free.

Customer service like the old days? Sorry for the sarcasm, but it is so seldom today that we encounter really good customer service that it is pretty exciting.

So, let’s share. What product have you bought that has exceeded your expectations or who has provided exceptional customer service? I always appreciate a good review by someone I know. 🙂

* Photos courtesy of the manufacturers.

Berries

I’ve been growing berries for about ten years now. I’m not an expert, but maybe could be called experienced.

We inherited two high bush blueberry bushes that were very large and highly productive for about five years. Then they stopped producing, and I thought it was lack of sun and pruning. I moved them, pruned them, and they revolted – no growth, no berries so far.

I planted three blackberry bushes last year, two survived, look great, and I’m going to order a replacement. No berries, but they look healthy.

Our schwartenzberry seeds we brought from Kansas grew in a raised bed and produced berries for pies that my husband not only enjoyed but also evoked great family memories. This year due to bad soil and compost mix that I purchased, they were petrified and pitched.

Love strawberries? So, do I, but we can’t grow them due to the chipmunk and squirrel population because they like them too. I tried it year after year. The plants did fine, they fruited, and as soon as the berries remotely started to turn red, they helped themselves to a bite thereby rendering it to compost. Hanging baskets? That just might work, but that would require too much work, watering, and over wintering.

The one row of raspberries we have has produced more raspberries this year than we have ever seen and filled our freezer to the brim while also delighting friends

I’ve had to go from giving friends pints and moved up to quarts, but no one has complained.

Today we picked five pints and a half a pint of bruised ones for the chickens.

I don’t know if you like raspberries or if you’ve ever thought about growing them, but let me tell you, they are easy keepers.

Plant them, support them, and once they are done fruiting prune out the dark brown branches. That’s it. The green branches will fruit next year.

I’ve given away eight pints to friends, have five pints sitting in the fridge, 34 pints in the freezer, and that doesn’t even count all that we’ve eaten fresh and on shortcake and in pie.

If you’re in the neighborhood let me know, because I’d be more than happy to share. 🙂

Thursday Doors

I am a sucker for a barn door or any kind of door that is hung like a barn door. It calls to my ‘Yankee’ spirit, and I’m always intrigued not only by the door but the hardware.

So, when a good friend from northern Maine, and I mean picture the Canadian border, sent me a photo of a great shed door it caused me to smile. I’m thinking the wood and hardware on that door could tell us quite the story.

It’s nice to have friends who not only understand my Thursday Door addiction, but also provide inventory from places I may never have an opportunity to visit. 🚪

Linked to Norm Frampton’s Thursday Doors July 19, 2018