It’s been three years since I’ve been able to visit my old home town. Actually, I only lived in New Hampshire for eleven years, but I call it home. I would love to still be living there.
Visiting Tenney Farm
A favorite farm, in the town of Antrim, where I first lived when I moved north, is Tenney Farm. The greenhouses were being filled with little seedlings of all kinds, and loads of gorgeous hanging baskets.
We were picking out a basket as a gift for someone, and it was so hard to choose from the wide, and gorgeous selection of flowers.
I love, and miss, the small town feel of the area. I grew up in New England and miss the change of seasons. Spring is very welcome in the north, and much appreciated, after living through a long, cold winter. Unfortunately the Black Flies are out at this time of year, but they weren’t too bad yet..
Nature Inspiration
I’m staying with my daughter, and for the first few days we took walks in the woods behind her house. She does birding, so I tagged along for the fresh air. After we watched (from the house) a mama bear and two tiny, adorable cubs passing through the back woods, we stopped going for walks in the woods!
My daughter also volunteers and counts spotted salamanders with the Salamander Crossing Brigade. The volunteers go out on rainy nights and count the cool looking salamanders for science. Of course, my daughter dragged her old mum along for the fun! (Salamander photo in the slideshow below.)
A Trip to Harrisville to See the Yarn
I couldn’t be so close to Harrisville Designs and not visit! There was no room in my small suitcase for even one skein of yarn, but I loved viewing the shop. Will write another post about our outing on a beautiful Spring day AND the yarn I bought (ordered) once I got home!
Picking Tulips in New Hampshire
I certainly miss living in a place where Spring is celebrated in a big way. After a long cold winter, the plants go nuts and grow like mad. Gorgeous yellow forsythia were everywhere. All the daffodils were open, and the tulips were coming along. Everything grows fast, like it knows time is limited before the warmth is gone once again.
In Hancock, a quaint little town in the southern part of the state, there is now a farm that grows tulips. We stopped to check it out on our way home from Harrisville. My daughter said that they ask you to make parking reservations at busy times. It was mid-week, and we figured, “How busy could it be?” Well, for a mid day, mid week visit, the field (parking lot) was full of cars, the road was full of people, and the tulip field was hopping! We were stunned at the turn out. Wolf Pine Hollow Farm at tulip time is apparently a big deal.
Things to know before you visit:
- Parking is in a grassy (and possibly muddy) field.
- There is strenuous walking involved – from the field, up the road, up a hill, and through the tulip area. (We saw a parking area next to the tulip field and it looked like those with difficulty walking could park there – call first.)
- Pick your choice of tulips and pay $2.50 for each stem at a tent area at the field.
- Way back beyond the tent are port-a-potties if you need them.
- If you want ice cream, plan to wait, and wait, and wait. Our two tiny ice cream cones cost $11.50 and the girl admitted she didn’t know how to make change!
As is true in many small towns, the talk gets around. I heard stories about this place from the locals. Let’s just say that New Englanders like their small, quiet places and greatly resist most attempts to change things. A search reveals that the Farm is now up for sale. If you are a multi-millionaire you may be interested.
Time to Go Back South
After two weeks of visiting with my kids and enjoying the beauty of New Hampshire, I was heading back to heat and humidity. During my stay I reconnected with some old friends at my high school class reunion! Met up with my Aunt and cousin, whom I hadn’t seen for ages, and learned to play poker at my son’s house.
When I boarded the plane, I took with me some scrapes and bruises from falling off an e-bike (twice – I’m a klutz), and a tick bite on my back, but I was, as always, very sad to leave.
New England's Narrow Road 