Little River Bed and Breakfast

A Day Trip for the Senses 13 May 2013, 5:00 am

Bridge of Flowers, Shelburne Falls, MA

As mentioned in our last "Top 10 Things To Do" list, a great day trip or side trip from the Monadnock region is the Mohawk Trail area in western Massachusetts.  And one approach to this trip would be to make it a "Day Trip for the Senses" and include visits to Yankee Candle, Kringle Candle and The Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls (in season).
Depending on the amount of time you spend shopping or doing other activities, you could easily visit all three locations in one day!  You’ll want to consider the order in which you visit though, since Kringle Candle is the most north of the destinations, Yankee Candle is the farthest south, and Shelburne Falls is in between (and a little west).
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Top 10 Things To Do... (Part 4) 29 Apr 2013, 5:00 am

King Arthur Flour in Norwich, Vermont

Well, here is the fourth and final installment of our "Top 10 Things To Do" lists.  That is... until we start adding more!

• Go on a custom-designed tour of the region (Scenic Roads, Wool and Fiber Shops, National Historic Sites, Monadnock Visual Arts, “Filmed in NH”, Ice Cream and Chocolate, and more).
• Visit St. Gaudens National Historic Site, the Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge and other places of interest along the Connecticut River Valley (bordering Vermont).
• For food and baking enthusiasts, make a pilgrimage to the King Arthur Flour campus (Store, Baking Education Center, Bakery and Café) in Norwich, Vermont and explore other yummy stops along the way.
• Rent kayak or canoe (or cross-country skis or snowshoes in winter) and enjoy the outside!  Did you bring your bike? We can help with bike routes too.
• Experience New Hampshire’s coastline in Portsmouth and the Seacoast Region.
• Step back in time at Canterbury Shaker Village, Enfield Shaker Museum or Strawbery Banke Museum.
• Take a scenic drive in the White Mountains.
• Explore New Hampshire’s Lakes Region.
• Enjoy a day of history in Boston.
• Indulge your senses at Yankee Candle, Kringle Candleand the Bridge of Flowers in western Massachusetts.

Mount Washington Auto Road, White Mountains

Kayaking on MacDowell Lake

 

Top 10 Things To Do... (Part 3) 15 Apr 2013, 5:00 am

Alpacas at Spring Pond Farm

• Hike Mount Monadnock.
• Take a self-guided tour of Historic Covered Bridges south of Keene.
• Hike Miller State Park.
• Explore Keene’s Main Street and Colony Mill Marketplace.
• Visit an alpaca farm.
• Browse antiques shops in Peterborough, Wilton, Greenville, and more.
• Have lunch at Pickity Place (advance reservations required) and explore sites in Mason.
• Discover Hillsborough’s Stone Arch Bridges.
• Explore Willard Pond – Great for hiking, swimming, and kayaking!
• Get out on the greens – Golf at Crotched Mountain GolfClub, Monadnock Country Club, or Shattuck Golf Club.

Mount Monadnock

Gleason Falls Bridge in Hillsborough

 

Top 10 Things To Do... (Part 2) 1 Apr 2013, 5:00 am

Hiking the West Ridge Trail in winter.

In a continuation of some of our favorite things to do in the area, here is the second installment!

• Hike the West Ridge Trail at MacDowell Lake.
• Take a ride to Harrisville – Browse Harrisville Designs. Walk the historic mill town.  Have a snack at the General Store.
• Hike Cranberry Meadow Pond Trail from Old Street Road to the pond, and back.
• Drive to Hancock – Walk the trail at old railroad depot.  Have lunch on the porch at Fiddleheads.
• Have lunch or dinner AND ice cream at Kimball Farm (seasonal, May to mid-October).
• Get sandwiches from Dublin General Store or Nature’s Green Grocer and have a picnic at MacDowell Lake.
• Visit Frye’s Measure Mill.
• Get a majestic view of Monadnock from Cathedral of the Pines (May – October).
• Browse some of the local antiques and consignment shops.
• Give geocaching a try!

Historic Harrisville

Hancock Depot

 

Top 10 Things To Do... (Part 1) 18 Mar 2013, 5:00 am

Early Fall at MacDowell Dam

When guests ask us about things to do while they are in the area, we usually end up following their question with a slew of others... What do you like to do?  How much time do you have?  Are you interested in outdoor or indoor activities?  Etc.  With that in mind, we've had a little fun creating our own "Top 10 Things to Do" lists and breaking them down by time available... 1 hour, 2 hours, half day, and full day.  Now granted, our lists are not exhaustive... there are plenty of things we didn't have room to list... and they may depend a little on weather or season, but we figured they are a good place to start!  Here's the first installment...

• Walk the trails at Shieling Forest
• Explore MacDowell Dam and Lake
• Check out the County Covered Bridge in Greenfield
• Browse shops and cafes in Depot Square and downtown Peterborough
• Drive the auto road to top of Miller State Park (seasonal)
• Visit the Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) Headquarters store
• View the exhibits at the Monadnock Center for History and Culture or Mariposa Museum
• Shop at the Peterboro Basket Company
• Visit Rosaly’s Farmstand (seasonal, spring to late fall, PYO berries and flowers)
•  Enjoy ice cream at Kimball Farm in Jaffrey (seasonal, mid-April to mid-October)

Glacial boulders in Shieling Forest (Can you see Rob?)

Sunny day in Depot Square

Do you have a favorite?  Let us know! 
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Marshmallows and s'more! (Cookie Tour 2012 Recap) 9 Dec 2012, 8:38 pm

snowman overseeing the last of the cookie making!

Wow! What a Cookie Tour!!!  This was our third year participating in the Currier & Ives Cookie Tour (now in their 8th year) and although we expected a larger turnout, this year exceeded the last two years by far!  As one of the ticket sales locations, we sold at least 100 tickets in just the first hour!  (Last year we sold 46 total.)  We had made 24 DOZEN S'Mores Cookies (yup, 288 cookies) and actually ran out by about 3 PM.  (Last year we made about 200 cookies and had some leftover.)  And although we were able to come up with a back-up plan and substituted some very fresh-baked and still-warm Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies, we even ran out of those near the end.  Thanks so much to everyone who participated in the tour... and a special thanks to those who came by the B&B late in the day and missed having one of our original cookies.  Your understanding was truly appreciated.  The great news is that this should translate into more proceeds going to this year's Cookie Tour charity recipient, Santa's House in Jaffrey, for their work providing gifts to local children in need.


As mentioned above, our cookie this year was a S'Mores Cookie - a chewy graham cracker cookie with a homemade marshmallow and melted chocolate on top.  (If you are just looking for the S'Mores Cookies recipe, you'll find it here as a pdf.)  Although the cookie is delicious with store-bought marshmallows, we decided to go with homemade ones to give the cookies just a little something extra.  If you've never had them, homemade marshmallows are these fluffy little bites of melt-in-your-mouth sweetness... and they aren't even that hard to make!  So for those of you who would like to give them a try, here's the way I did it.. with pictures!  (You'll find just the Marshmallows Recipe here as a pdf.)

gelatin and cold water

 1. Line a cookie sheet with plastic wrap or a non-stick mat and spray lightly with cookie spray.

2. In the bowl of a stand mixer with whisk attachment, sprinkle gelatin over 3 Tablespoons cold water.  Let stand about 10 minutes.

sugar, corn syrup, and water - boiling

3. Meanwhile, combine sugar, corn syrup, and 1 1/2 Tablespoons water in a small saucepan.  Bring to a boil over medium or medium-low heat and boil rapidly for 1 minute.
 

after several minutes of beating

4. Pour the boiling syrup over the gelatin that has been soaking and beat at high speed.  Add salt and beat for a total of about 8 to 10 minutes.  (Marshmallow will get very thick and sticky.)  After about 10 minutes, lower the mixer speed and add the vanilla, then slowly increase speed and beat just long enough to incorporate.
 

marshmallow spread to cool

5. Spread marshmallow evenly onto prepared pan, as thin or as thick as you'd like (will make an 8x8" layer, about 1/2" thick).* Wet hands or spatula with a little bit of water to smooth out easily.  If desired, take another piece of lightly oiled plastic wrap and place over the top of the marshmallow.  Let the marshmallow sit at room temperature for a few hours or overnight, until completely cooled and set. (*A plastic scraper worked better for this than a rubber spatula, but don't try to get every bit of marshmallow off the beater and bowl - it is very sticky and you'll go crazy trying to get it all.  Then, when you get back to spreading out the marshmallow it will be even tougher to smooth out.)

cutting with a cookie cutter

6. Cut marshmallow into desired-sized pieces using a pizza wheel, kitchen scissors, or cookie cutters (spray with cooking spray then wipe off to leave a very light layer).  Dust with cornstarch, potato starch or confectioners' sugar and store in an airtight container (for up to a few weeks).

yum!

And finally, for those who came later and received the Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies, here's the recipe for those (as a pdf... or below)!

1. Cream together margarine, sugars, and peanut butter with mixer.
2. Add vanilla and eggs, and beat well.
3. Add flour, baking soda, salt, and oatmeal, and mix well by hand.
4. Stir in chocolate chips.
5. Chill for two hours.
6. Preheat oven to 375 F.
7. Drop cookie dough by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 375 F for 10-12 minutes. Do not overbake.

ENJOY!

Forget "Black Friday" and Celebrate "Plaid Friday" 21 Nov 2012, 8:00 am

Don't get caught up in the crazy bustle of pushing and shoving that is "Black Friday" and make it a leisurely and fun experience.



Where does the plaid come in?  We ask citizens to dress in plaid on November 23rd to make their support for locally-owned businesses and community visible, reinforcing their own commitment while giving others a reminder to think local first.  Wearing plaid, a fabric with unique colors woven together into a larger pattern, represents the many diverse independent businesses and organizations that together form the tapestry of a strong local economy.

NH Open Doors Weekend 31 Oct 2012, 2:50 pm

This weekend is "New Hampshire Open Doors", a shopping and touring event of The Granite State.  The weekend event features crafts and distinctive locally made products, workshops, demonstrations, music and great dining options.

Monadnock region participants include goat and alpaca farms, crafters specializing in jewelry, pewter, glass, baskets, etc, painters, photographers, a winery and much more!  The weather looks wonderful for this upcoming weekend so come on out, enjoy the fun and get a head start on your holiday shopping with unique and one of a kind gifts you won't find anywhere else!

A Day Trip To Mason... 1 Oct 2012, 5:04 pm

We had a few hours today and decided to take a short road trip to Mason, New Hampshire.  Mason is a rural town just thirty minutes Southeast of Peterborough.  There are several attractions along the way that make this a fun quick getaway including two unique lunch opportunities.

Washburn's Windy Hill Orchard gift shop

Paula checking out the pumpkins

Corn Maze

We started with a stop at Washburn's Windy Hill Orchard, an apple orchard featuring Pick Your Own apples, a four acre corn maze, pumpkins and a small gift shop that includes home baked goodies.  We bought some apples and took a few pictures but didn't have time for the corn maze (we definitely have to make it back) as we were very hungry and did not want to delay our arriving at the ultimate destination...Parker's Maple Barn.

Uncle Sam's House

OK, we ended up making one more stop before Parker's...we passed the home of Uncle Sam.  We don't know if he is "The" Uncle Sam but the picture explains it.

Parker's Maple Barn

Next stop...Parker's Maple Barn, a rustic barn serving up great breakfast/lunch fare in a fun atmosphere.  Paula had their Apple Cinnamon Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast and I had a Corned Beef Hash Omelet.  We were stuffed by the end so we decided to browse their gift shop hoping to walk off some of the yummy calories!  Of course...as their name suggests...they make their own Maple Syrup in the late winter/early spring.

Potanipo Lake

From Parker's, we drove down the road to Potanipo Lake.  The colors were great and we enjoyed the scenery while making a mental note to bring the kayaks the next time we make this trip.  Just steps from the lake is a pedestrian covered bridge called the Nissitissit Bridge which crosses the river flowing from Potanipo.  Hard names :)  There is also a walking trail here.

That was the end of our trip and we headed back towards Peterborough.  Had we had more time, we certainly could have spent more time actually kayaking or hiking.  There is also one more place to stop while in Mason...and that is Pickity Place.  Pickity Place is a mecca for gardeners, foodies and anyone looking for inspiration and relaxation.  The cottage which was built in the 1700s was the model for the illustrations in the 1948 book Little Red Riding Hood.  In addition to shopping, make a reservation for a five course gourmet lunch (set menu).  Check out their website (linked above) for more specifics.

A Culinary Day Trip (NH and VT) 7 Sep 2012, 7:01 pm

Earlier this year, we ventured out to do a little "research" on day trips in the area.  Our initial goal was to go to Walpole to have lunch at L.A. Burdick's.  (We have been to Walpole in the past, and have had guests that have eaten at L.A. Burdick's, but we had never eaten there ourselves.)  But as we got to planning, we decided to turn the whole day into a sort of Culinary Day Trip in New Hampshire and Vermont!


First stop... Walpole, New Hampshire.
Walpole is a charming small town, north of Keene, with several restaurants, retail stores, and an artisan's gallery.  It is also home to Walpole Creamery (ice cream) and Alyson's Orchard (apples and other tree fruits).  The L.A. Burdick's Cafe and Chocolate Shop on Main Street is their flagship location (other locations include Boston, Cambridge, MA and New York).  Their restaurant in Walpole is one of a kind, serving lunch, a late afternoon bistro menu, dinner, and brunch (on Sundays).  The food, described as fine gourmet with a French-inspired menu, includes soups, appetizers, salads, and main courses with a good selection of daily specials as well.  The atmosphere is definitely upscale, but not stuffy.  For our lunch, we started with a selection of local, artisanal cheeses and had roasted chicken with risotto (a special that day) and an omelette for our main courses.  It was delicious!  We resisted the temptation however, to indulge in any dessert (although for the record, the pastries, chocolates, and hot beverages looked amazing!) but made a brief stop in the Walpole Artisans Cooperative and then headed north to our next stop.

Second stop... Rockingham, Vermont.
Not far off of I-91 in Rockingham, Vermont is The Vermont Country Store.  If you are not familiar with the Vermont Country Store, they are like an old-time general store... on steroids.  They describe themselves as "purveyors of practical and hard-to-find products", but what drew us to the store on this day was their huge selection of food items.  Nostalgic candy, jams, cookies, crackers, mixes, and a huge selection of local cheeses, many available for sampling, are all there.  Given that we had just finished lunch, we didn't do much sampling, but browsed the store and bought a little old fashioned red licorice for the road.

Next stop... King Arthur Flour in Norwich, Vermont (just across the Connecticut River from Hanover, NH and Dartmouth College).
With their recent renovations substantially completed when we visited, the new King Arthur Flour in Norwich, Vermont was a must-see on our culinary day trip .  The new Baker's Store, bakery/cafe, and education center are now all under one roof, designed with warm, natural materials and a modern feel.  Although you still enter into the old round-barn store location, it is now the central bakery/cafe and you really need to use your imagination to remember the former space.  The new store is bright, with a completely different layout, but it is still filled with incredible baking products and supplies.  If you are planning your own trip to King Arthur Flour in the near future, you may want to go during their official Grand Opening!  The festivities will take place September 20-23, 2012 and will include tours, free samples, baking demonstrations, prizes, book signings, guest celebrity chefs, and more!


As we finished up our shopping at King Arthur Flour, we had some serious decisions to make.  When we are in this area, we would typically stop at Lui Lui in West Lebanon, NH.  Lui Lui is located in the old Powerhouse and offers classic homemade italian food, wood fired brick oven pizza (the oven is shaped like a bright red tomato) and oodles of whimsical ambiance.  Unfortunately for us, it was too soon for dinner.  We considered starting the drive towards home via I-89 and stopping at Peter Christian's Tavern in New London or The Common Man in Concord, but in the end we decided to drive over towards Lake Sunapee and see if we could find any place on the water to grab something light.  We ended up in Sunapee Harbor, browsing the local shops and stopping at The Anchorage for an appetizer and salads.  Sitting on their screened porch, overlooking the boats in the harbor, our focus here was less on the food and more on the location.


For the drive home, we continued around the lake.  Not really looking for anything in particular, but taking in the area.  But then it happened!  First we saw the cows... then we saw barn with large letters "ICE CREAM".  We had to stop!  Sanctuary Dairy Farm on Route 103 in Sunapee is a family-run ice cream shop, open May to October, serving their own farm fresh ice cream and other quality products from regional producers.  Their brochure summed it all up!
"Where an ice cream cone turns every day into the perfect day."


In the end, our route took us 182 miles with 4 hours of driving time (according to Google maps).  We had left home 11:00 AM and were back by about 9:00 PM.

Good food, good sites... not bad for a day's research!

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