Downeaster

Here on the New Hampshire seacoast, we are lucky to have train service.

Our train station is not only architecturally pleasing to the eye, but the front south-facing window of the station is full of gorgeous plants, and there is a nice mural on an adjacent building to look at while you wait for the train.

Last week, a Master Gardener friend and I caught the Downeaster and headed a couple of stops south to Exeter.

First stop was the 70 year-old fabric store,  Exeter Handkerchief Store. Three floors of fabric for interior design including the top floor which is all bargains at $9 a yard. If you can’t find what you’re looking for there, I don’t think it’s available. And, if you want to peruse their selection from the comfort of home, they even have an on-line store .

After several trips up and down the stairs to make sure we hadn’t missed anything, we headed downtown and stopped at the Trackside Cafe* for some local breakfast fare. They still have an old-fashioned counter with stools that swivel. Nice. What did I have? Biscuits, gravy and home fries, of course. I passed on the beans although half of New England eats beans with breakfast.

We started walking towards town, heading to the Lamont Gallery, part of the Frederick R. Mayer Art Center, at Phillips Exeter Academy, where there is an exhibit, Lush Life, running from March 23 – May 2, 2015.

The Lush Life exhibit includes textured paintings, still life and landscape painting, portraits, fiber artist creations, and our favorite, “research forests in miniature.”

The miniature forests contained living mosses, ferns, and slime molds that were all nestled in glitter, beads, and smoke hoping to bring our attention to the difference between nature and bling.

We had a great day – train ride, stimulating conversation, fabrics, comfort food, and miniature gardens. A dream day for me.

Do you have something fun on your agenda this week?  🙂

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Trackside Cafe: Tucked inside the old railway station, the Trackside Cafe can be difficult to locate if you’re not a local. Ask how to get to Gerry’s convenience store, 66 Lincoln Street, if you get lost; you’ll find the Trackside Cafe inside Gerry’s. The Trackside serves breakfast and lunch daily. The menu includes breakfast combination plates, pancakes, omelets, breakfast wraps and waffles.  (Trails.com)