March 9, 1988
Life of a Different Kind in
Picturesque New Hampshire
By ElEANOR S. MARTIN
Two weeks before the New Hampshire primary, all roads led into New Hampshire. Now that things are back to normal, the traffic has slowed down, and you can get into a super market without six secret service men surrounding you.
My granddaughter has move to New Hampshire and writes of the many wonders of the state. I like the sound of it being the state with the lowest unemployment in the nation. I'm not so sure about that; maybe I'd better back up, and say it's one of the states with lowest unemployment.
She says anyone who wants a job can get one there. Kentucky, take note.
In New Hampshire when the colored leaves are covered with frost, take warning, the long stretch of frigid weather is near.
Winter starts early with deep, deep snows. My grandchildren climbed to the top of the roof of their house, to sweep the snow off. When they finished they jumped into the pile it made on the ground. One got stuck and had to be dug out.
Now they have to shovel paths for the animals. They have two dogs and two cats. They all live together like a happy family, the dogs take care of the cats and the cats take care of the dogs.
I never remember jumping into snowdrifts, but I remember jumping into piles of leaves that had been raked up to be carted away. I think I would like to jump just one more time into a pile of leaves before my bones get too old for such nonsense! And who hasn't jumped into a haystack?
The charm of bed and breakfast inns beckons you everywhere. One I heard, when you register and go to your room they send you a plate of warm cookies. If you don't like chocolate, hunt for another one. I'd like that! And so would you.
They took my granddaughter out for her birthday, to a restaurant that has kept up with the times, Upon entering, the tables were set with white linen tablecloths, china, crystal and silver, the whole works. You start with the outside silver working in. The food was excellent she said. And before the meal was finished they brought in a birthday cake, and sang happy birthday to her, and everyone clapped.
I imagine the tourists looking for winter sports, would love the magnificent ski slopes in New Hampshire.
Let's not forget Mt. Washington and the cog railway to the sky, one of the main attractions of the state. It is the highest point north of the Carolinas and east of the Rockies. Here the average temperature of 27 degrees. You might start out with a sweater, but soon wish you had a blanket to wrap around you. I read this in the February New England Get Aways. It takes three hours to make the trip. It also has a road if you have the courage to drive. A private research weather station located on the summit once recorded the highest wind ever observed on earth at 231 miles per hour. Such an interesting article.
On dark days the maple woods look dark and foreboding, but wait until the sap starts flowing into little troughs dripping into buckets drop by drop. It looks as if the trees had necklaces around their necks. You can rent a maple tree for $39 and have your own maple syrup from your own leased tree.
They will tap a sugar maple tree and do all the work of gathering the sap, boiling it down to a rich syrup and shipping the 100% pure, natural results! As for me, I shall stick with good old Kentucky sorghum molasses, borrow a cup full and bake some gingerbread.
Mary Eleanor and her grandaughter Cheryl Wallace Gibbs