.
And if you can use it, I promise I won’t judge.
Much.
.
.
Turns out 7 year old boys were right. No good can come from bathing.
.
.
Eating roadkill? If you’re starving, sure. But I draw the line at smoking poo.
.
.
Hmm. Sounds like that was some pretty potent shit he was smoking.
.
.
That is just… wrong.
🤢
.
.
If she was serving candy corn grilled cheese, it serves her right.
.
.
Damn, Martha. At least make him take you out for a nice dinner first….
.
.
Stepping inside this splendid hotel is like walking through a time machine. Back to the grand old days of luxury accommodations…
.
.
When you “summered” in the mountains and the resort was your seasonal home.
.
.
Elegant, but warm and inviting at the same time.
.
.
Walk through the first floor to the rear of the building….
.
.
Into the rotunda with fabulous views…
.
.
Even when you look up.
.
.
Step outside on the massive panoramic covered porch…
.
.
And you get an idea of how large this resort really is.
.
.
10,000 acres to be exact.
.
.
.
The porches go on forever, positively begging you to grab a cocktail and relax. Which we did. Because who am I to ignore a begging porch?
.
.
One cocktail down, we made our way back inside, found an elevator…
.
.
And rode it down to the basement where we continued exploring.
.
.
In case you were wondering, our basement does not look like this.
To be continued.
.
.
Be warned Hallmark, your days are numbered.
.
.
And the humble potato is hammering that final nail in your coffin.
.
.
Nothing says I love you like a Happy Anniversary potato.
Please pass the butter.
.
.
If you’ve ever visited Mount Washington and driven through the valley, you know there’s one structure that dominates the landscape.
.
.
The regal Mount Washington resort. Built in 1902 she’s been the hotel to the rich, the famous and everyone in between. The cheapest room is over $500 a night and if you want a king size bed with a view? Prepare to pay $1,500.
.
.
As you turn in the driveway, geese.
.
.
Geese… everywhere.
.
.
Circle past the front door to the parking lot, which is a bit of a hike if you’re too cheap to pay valet… which we were… and then stroll back.
.
.
Past some climbing vines….
.
.
And an impressive row of chrysanthemums.
.
.
Everywhere you look? It’s spectacular.
.
.
Even the portico ceiling.
.
.
And then you walk inside….
To be continued.
.
.
We have a master bath in need of a major update and renovation. While cruising the net for inspiration I saw this:
.
.
I think I’m going to have a hard time talking the husband into this…
.
.
But you have to admit it’s pretty spectacular.
.
.
To heck with shopping that mall….
.
.
I’ll just hang out in the ladies room and pour myself a cocktail.
😉
.
.
When you take scenic drives around the White Mountains of New Hampshire you’re going to pass through a lot of notches. Roads that are cut straight through the hills make for some fantastic photos.
.
.
Unless you’re riding with my husband who hates having anyone in front of him and is constantly jostling for position.
.
.
I can’t tell you how many great shots I’ve lined up just to whizz past them in a blur.
.
.
My husband may be well into the senior citizen age range but you’d never know it by the way he drives.
.
.
Ever come up behind an elderly driver and have to slow to a turtle’s crawl?
.
.
I can guarantee that’s not my spouse. He’s the one coming up in your rear view mirror who makes you move into the next lane to avoid him riding in your back seat.
.
.
It may not look like it, but he was doing about 90 here, passing from the right, next to a big rock. Good times.
.
.
After we exited Crawford Notch and I drew a deep breath?
.
.
We finally visited a place that’s been on my bucket list for years….
To be continued.
.
.
We’ve become a society with no limits. And while I don’t pretend to be a prude, I still believe there’s such a thing as common decency… in action and speech.
I’m a democrat who dislikes Donald Trump, but I wouldn’t install a “F*ck Trump” sign on my lawn like the family down the road who have a giant “F*ck Biden” poster prominently displayed on their garage.
Decency. It’s definitely in short supply.
You’d think I’d be used to it by now. Heck, after a years worth of that Cosmopolitan smut nothing should surprise me… but the ads I saw for apparel the other day did.
.
.
Charming.
.
.
I honestly can’t think of a worse Christmas gift.
.
.
As someone who always needs a cocktail, I find myself more than a little offended.
Sarcastic, slightly off color, double entendre humor? Big fan.
Rude and crude, put it all out there without nuance, shock value humor? Not so much.
.
.
Leaving the Kancamagus highway, we took an alternate route. Up and over the Bear Notch road.
.
.
In certain sections, the autumn color was stunning.
.
.
And from the scenic lookout where I screamed at my husband to stop the car….
.
.
Pure perfection.
.
.
Breathe deep of that fresh, crisp mountain air….
.
.
And you’ll know why I keep returning to visit these glorious unspoiled areas.
❤️
.
.
You don’t have to, but you should.
.
.
Aside from every phone number of every place I have ever lived?
This:
BY LEIGH HUNT
Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!)
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
And saw, within the moonlight in his room,
Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,
An angel writing in a book of gold:—
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold,
And to the presence in the room he said,
“What writest thou?”—The vision raised its head,
And with a look made of all sweet accord,
Answered, “The names of those who love the Lord.”
“And is mine one?” said Abou. “Nay, not so,”
Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low,
But cheerly still; and said, “I pray thee, then,
Write me as one that loves his fellow men.”
The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night
It came again with a great wakening light,
And showed the names whom love of God had blest,
And lo! Ben Adhem’s name led all the rest.
***********************************************
If you know me, you know I’m one of the least religious people you’re ever apt to meet, but my late mother was forced to memorize that poem as a child and recited it ad nauseam during my formative years. Why it has remained firmly implanted in my brain I have no idea… but there it is. Uselessly taking up space.
So how about you? What useless thing are you storing in your grey matter…
.
I hope my photos do justice to how lovely this part of the White Mountains is….
.
.
And though not as wild as the upper Sabbaday falls, the lower falls were equally lovely.
.
.
We clambered around at leisure, simply enjoying the day.
.
.
Rocks, ya gotta love them… and marvel at their weird stripes.
.
.
This is a very soothing place. Quiet, peaceful…
.
.
What is it about water? Spend enough time near it… and your breathing slows.
.
.
The rest of the world seems to slip away.
.
.
And while my husband was busy climbing and exploring?
.
.
I just… was.
.
.
I highly recommend it.
.
.
River's world..... 