On the verge of a new year !

It's December 30th, 2009 and we are rapidly approaching a new year. 2010 and it's really a celebration for us, because our Inn is celebrating it's 120 th Anniversary. The inn has been run continuiously since 1890 and we are celebrating this winter, offering a free giveaway each month for a two night stay at the Inn.

We're really excited to be a part of such a historic event. Our guests each month will be entered into a drawing for the getaway. There will be 4 drawings: January, February, March and April.

We wish you all a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.

Snow

Well it happened this afternoon. While we were watching a Christmas classic: It's a Wonderful Life, it started snowing. About 1-2 inches have fallen through the evening. Winter is finally here and it's beautiful.

The first snow is always so pretty. Then when the vehicles run over it and the plows push it aside, the dirt appears and it looks like mud. Yes mud that then gets trampled in the house on your clean floors. A constant battle of keeping the floor clean as well as dry so no one slips when they come in. A never ending task for winter and that's when the snow just isn't pretty anymore.

But the best part of winter is building that first snowman with hopes that he will last all winter. Snowball fights and clean air with a crispness to it. But my favorite thing is remembering the holidays from when I was young. Santa coming, decorating the family tree and being so excited Christmas morning. I guess there really is a kid in all of us. I believe, do you?

Where has the time gone?

Okay, it was just Halloween and now this next week it's Thanksgiving. Time is going by so quickly, that I can't keep up with it. Somebody call and let me know if Christmas will be sooner than I think. Either that or getting older really cuts back on your time. They say that when your young you make the most of the time you have. Your days are fuller because your more active and do more things in a day. But when you get older, you slow down and it takes more time for you to accomplish the things you did when you were young.

What ever happened to having more time for yourself and your loved ones when you got older. At my age, I don't have time to spend with loved ones, I'm too busy trying to find the time for daily chores since I move slower.

Growing old supposed to be more fun than this. I need to feel younger so I can keep up with growing older. Figure that one out.

What next?

Okay, when the snow starts falling as early as October 13th we know something new is about to happen this upcoming winter. Until your then told a week later that the weather will be 70 degrees. What has happened? Is this the new norm?

Well my arthritis says it's getting colder as the pain intensifies, but then again my knees are saying something totally different. What happened to the time when your bones started getting stiffer as the cold weather sets in - then you knew winter was on it's way. Next thing I'll be reporting is a tropical heat wave coming our way. It's time to build those underground bunkers to protect us for whatever's coming next.

I can go on at times, it happens everytime I watch a rerun of Gilmore Girls.

Fall has arrived!

The colors are beautiful, I could sit all day on the front porch just looking at the trees of many colors. Had a chance to take a drive Thursday and it was a spectacular symphony of yellow, orange, green and reds just making themsleves at home in the trees.

Clean up is never fun when the trees start dropping their leaves. Imagine 25 acres of leaves and tell me you enjoy raking. Just kidding about the raking, we just rake the 2 developed acres the inn uses, the rest of the acreage becomes mulch. Healthy for the ground and is good for the trees.

The colors are coming

Looked out the front window this morning and there is already color on one of the trees. About 15 to 20% of the tree already has orange/yellow leaves on it. How can this be so early in the game. And that tree is usually one of the last ones to turn.

Summer came and gone so quickly and because of the bad weather we missed so much of it. There were six weeks of rain I thought would never end. Yes it meant that I didn't have to worry about watering the lawn or flowers, but it kept us inside and close to being stir crazy. Not that we aren't close to that on a normal basis, but it was a good excuse for it this time.

But I am looking forward to the colors of fall around here. I could sit on the porch for hours just looking around at what nature has to offer. Well, I'm done day dreaming now.

Tooting his own horn

Sunday night Mitch is playing with a big band at Christmas Farm Inn in Jackson. Festivities start at 6pm. So if your in the area, stop in.

August in New England

Wednesday morning and we've reached the halfway point of the week. My arms are giving out with the amount of daily laundry I'm washing and folding. So far I've hit my 24th load since Saturday. I think in my next life, I'll make sure to have a career that has nothing to do with laundry.
Looking forward to this weekend and visiting the Artisan Fair in Jackson. So many local craftsman all in one spot, the perfect shopping scenario.
Weather shows clear through next Thursday and that's a real plus, since we've had so much rain.

Saturday Afternoon

August, on a Saturday afternoon and sitting on the front porch is where I can spend all day. Cool breeze and a glass of lemonade while I wait for guests to check in. It's my picture window to the world, or at least to the neighborhood.

The only thing I'm missing is a BBQ with friends. Every one's working and family is too far away to have a gathering of any sort. Meanwhile, I'm enjoying nature at it's fullest. A couple weeks ago, we ran to the store for supplies and our guests saw a moose by the barn. It's the first spotting since we purchased the inn in 2005. We have our daily visit from the bears, as they knock over the garbage cans and also the chipmunks and squirrels as they frolic through the trees. Deer and their fawn, owls, a raccoon once spotted and even a red fox. Nature is a beautiful thing and it's not something you see everyday when you live in the city.

Rain, Rain go away!

Okay, it's time to do the annual - no more rain dance. I've got calls into the west coast, mid west and even Europe to help us with this. Last time we summoned a snow dance, our connections in Vegas performed the dance and the next day it snowed there. This time everyone needs to focus on the White Mountain region of New Hampshire. Everyone knows what to do and at 3 pm (est ) today, the ceremony will begin.

Will everyone have a moment of silence before the ceremony begins and then the dancing will start.

The Good Ole Days of Summer

Remember being on the porch in the late afternoon waiting for your turn to turn the handle on the ice cream maker. I was never so excited to have my turn and then I couldn't wait for my turn to be over. These days, I plug in the machine and then go sit on the front porch and wait until it's finished.

The afternoons are much different, but the ice cream still makes me feel like a kid again.

Summer has arrived!

This is day two of the beautiful sunshine that all New Englander's love and enjoy! We've waited long enough this season and we're not gonna give it up now. One good thing: I don't need to worry about watering the lawn for a while.

Set up the geocaching event and the charity is the Conway Area Humane Society. Looking forward to visitors coming to take part of the event for such a worthy cause.

Quote of the day:
Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.

Oprah Winfrey

4 th of July festivities

BBQ's galore around here. Fireworks tonight night in Jackson along with ice cream in the park. Tomorrow two parades: one in Bartlett and the other in North Conway. Then the traditional craft fair at Gibson center, the fireworks and entertainment in North Conway. There's alot going on this weekend and we're hoping to get away from the Inn at least to see the fireworks.

The 4 th always brings back fond memories of getting together with friends for a BBQ/potluck. Of course the food was tremendous from appetizers to a complete selection for dessert. Holidays are about family and friends.

Have a great 4 th!

Monday - The work week begins

Mondays have never been my favorite. From the old work week of Monday through Friday, I would say Monday is the least favorite. Starting a whole new week and it being 5 days from another two days off. This coming weekend is the 4th of July holiday weekend. Parades - of course we only have one float in our parade this year. Yes this is Mayberry all over again. We'll have the traditional firetrucks, emergency equipment, a few people on bikes, etc., but only one float. One thing about living in a small town, things are limited in some areas of the community. But I definitely won't go without the traditional BBQ. Friends of ours in California would always get together with a BBQ, fireworks and alot of talking. We could talk for hours about anything and not run out of things to say. We would start planning a couple weeks early, sketch a menu and call everyone to see what they wanted to bring. The food was fantastic - I guess were were foodies and at the time didn't realize it. But it was always a great get together. I looked forward to all the holidays with our friends. Even though we are in NH now, we still help plan their menu. It makes us, in some way still feel apart of the festivities.

Happy Fourth of July everyone!

Friday is the best day of the week

I don't care what anyone says, I really love Fridays. Mainly because I'm used to the old work week Monday through Friday scenario. Of course that's not our schedule now. Having a B&B changes your schedule from week to week. Sometimes you work 4 days, sometimes it's 7 days. But in my mind Friday still gets my attention. These blogs can really get you rambling.

Middle of the week

Today was a little wet off and on, but this evening is gorgeous. Sitting out on the front porch, the cloud hanging low over the mountains. What a beautiful sight at sundown.

Stopped by to visit with Les today and set up our charity event for the North Conway Area Humane Society. Runs through the summer and we've already hidden the geocache boxes in the valley. A few more things to organize, but then we'll set it up on the web site.

Looking forward to a nice weekend and maybe going to the Bridge Dance in Jackson. It's great to live in a small town, it reminds me of Mayberry.

June 20, 2009 Weekend

If your looking for something to do this weekend, then check this out:

Gorham's 49th Annual Mount Washington Road Race Saturday 10:00 am

Berlin's Cultural Festival Saturday


Though it will be a little wet in some areas, the Mount Washington Valley has tax free shopping in over 60 outlet stores.

Bike Week in New Hampshire

Tomorrow starts Bike Week in New Hampshire. In the White Mountains some of the activities are offering a discount:

Half off the Gondola Ride at Wildcat Mountain

One Monday and Thursday the Mount Washington Auto Road is open only for bikers and your passenger rides free.

Restaurants are offering discounts as well.

The weather is beautiful and the journey endless.

The season begins!

The Mount Washington Valley comes alive this weekend as things open for the summer travelers. From kayaking to horseback riding, the excitement is just beginning. The waterfalls are flowing as snow from the mountains continue to melt.

We're sprucing up the grounds, preparing the pool and cleaning the BBQ for our guests to enjoy this summer. So lace up your boots and come and take a hike with us, through the majestic White Mountains of New Hampshire.

Sunday Morning on the Porch

It's Sunday morning and we're enjoying a cup of coffee with guests on the front porch, our window to the world. The Chipmunks are active and the Robins are plentiful. If I could just get those chipmunks trained to sweep the driveway, life would be good.

First Time Blogger

My first blog, boy has technology gone far beyond what I would have ever imagined.

It's a beautiful day in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, The temp is 71 degrees and our guests are enjoying all that the area has to offer.

Our friendly neighborhood bear (Benny) was by for an afternoon nap in the Inns oldest maple tree. This name was given to him when we first met in the spring of 2005. He was a young bear at that time that must have just left his mother. Though a small crowd gathered and took photo ops, it didn't seem to bother his resting.

Benny 2005