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