Lots to do in New Hampshire

Hancock, NH
temps in the 70's again!
Sunny-Lovely Fall colors

We back tracked 182 miles to Hancock NH.  Why, you ask?  The full effect of the Fall colors hadn't hit me yet and we had some special people to visit.  A former coworker of Eric's retired a year and a half ago, packed up his little family and moved from Las Vegas to New Hampshire.  His wife did not see the house before they bought it, but he did an awesome job of picking the perfect place!  

It is a former apple orchard with 89 apple trees.  Unfortunately they were not tended to properly and Al and Heather are working to bring the place back.  Stuff grows so quickly here that the woods had overtaken much of the property. What a spectacular place!  

The amazing Garden

The Barn and Tractor

What an amazing view!

Welcome to the farm!

The Chickens

Happy People

Saturday was National Alpaca Day!  So what do you do on Alpaca Day?  Why you head to Purgatory Falls Alpacas.  This amazing place is home 70 alpacas, some were rescues from other farms that realized they were a little more work than thought, some were the result of owners passing on and one little guy was saved from euthanasia because he has blue eyes.  I thought I wanted a couple, but have since come to my senses.  But who could resist these cute little guys?

This little guy is Cocoa Puff

Isn't he just too cute?

Some sport a mohawk

What a great place this was

All that sunshine and petting of alpacas made us hungry for a little ice cream.  We headed over to Connolly Brothers Dairy Farm.  They sell Raw milk, meat, maple syrup, hay, manure and of course fresh homemade ice-cream.  Anyone who follows this knows I love my ice cream!  I tried the pumpkin and it was amazing.  Some of the best I have had, so creamy, perfectly spiced.  

Good Job ladies!

After we had our fill of deliciousness, we headed over to Frye's Measure Mill, a water powered mill dating back to the 1850's.  Some of the Mill's first products were round wooden measures and pantry boxes.  Today they still make the measures, the oval pantry boxes and Shaker boxes with iron candle holders.  The items were beautiful and I was in love with the simpleness of the boxes.  Rounded wood, stained and painted beautifully.  Oh if I had a house, I could go nuts in places like these.  They also had lots of the primitive folk art prints and iron sconces that I just love.  Good thing I am homeless.....

The original Blacksmith shop

the fire station

I know, amazing, right?

The river is getting smaller

Love the weathervanes

It was a full couple of days, enjoying old friends and common pasts.  We had a lot of those 'Did you ever think' moments.  They have done well, their two kids are lots of fun and I am truly happy for them.  I love when good things happen to good people!  You made my weekend!

Next stop is Cape Cod.  I can't wait to get back to the ocean!

Franklin Pierce, 14th President, Homestead

Troy, New York-Visit with old friends

Troy, NY
Temps, low 80's (yep, I said 80's!)

We met Steve and Jane in 2006 on a cruise around the Marqueses and Tahitian islands.  We had such a great time during that 10 days, we have stayed in touch over the years.  We did the Hawaiian Island cruise with them last fall and they were guests at our home in Las Vegas.  We always have a time full of laughter and good times.

When we first made our travel plans for this year a stop at their 20 acre abode in Upstate New York was called for.  We have been camping on their lawn for the past 3 days and have been touring around seeing everything.  Great Hosts!

Troy is home to Uncle Sam.  Samuel Wilson was a cook in the army during the war of 1812.  Soldiers began calling him Uncle Sam and soon Uncle Sam was the personification of the U.S.  Uncle Sam is buried here in Troy at Oakwood Cemetery.  This cemetery is ancient (by my west coast standards) and families have purchased plots for the whole clan it looks like.  The markers are beautiful and it is definitely worth a walk around.

Jane's amazing roses

A little woodpecker enjoys the feeder

Uncle Sam's resting place

The crematorium

What a goof ball!

It is difficult to do a 4 person selfie!

A nice dinner out at Verdile's

With a couple of scoops from Mr. Snowman

quite good!

Max, the bear

Beautiful Roses

Big Jake

We have enjoyed food, (lots of food!) and yummy wines and Jane makes the best Bloody Mary's.  We are leaving tomorrow and will miss them!  We are making plans for a Scotland trip in 2016.  Can't wait!

Thanks for the hospitality, Steve and Jane!

Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum

Hyde Park, NY
sunny skies and lovely weather

Tuesday we headed a little South to Hyde Park, NY-FDR's birthplace and lifelong home.
FDR was born in Springwood-a large farmhouse bought by his wealthy father 15 years prior.  the Roosevelts were prominent members of New York society for many generations.  He lived in the house throughout his life and even spent many times there during his presidency.  Visitors to the home included King George VI and Prime Minister Winston Churchill.  Our visit was not on that grand scale and they even charged us.  Guess we don't stack up. haha...

The library

Nice Portrait

FDR was an avid reader

His childhood bedroom

His Presidential bedroom, Eleanor's was the next room

The balcony overlooking the Hudson

The view is amazing

FDR's office at Springwood

The steps and rails he would use to walk up

The Portico was added to make the house more presidential

Franklin and Eleanor's resting place in the rose garden

The Presidential Library was the first Presidential Library and designed by FDR.  The Library and Museum houses 44,000 books and large collections of manuscripts, photo's, recordings and film.  The building was completed and turned over to the government in 1940.  It was use for meetings with world leaders and four of his fireside chats.  This is the only presidential library used by a sitting President.  

Driving his little dog around Hyde Park

Letter from Albert Einstein regarding the "Manhattan Project" 

Of Course, he drove a Phaeton

Special equipment so he could drive

I enjoyed this place so much.  I learned a lot about this amazing leader.   I plan on viewing the PBS series about him and Eleanor.  Eleanor is certainly someone I want to learn more about.

There is so much to see there, you could spend a whole day.