For years, you’ve known us as Wine and Whiskey, but at the heart of it, it’s always been Julie and Tom. As we head into a new year, we’re shifting the focus and putting ourselves more clearly at the forefront. We’ll continue sharing our thoughts, experiences, and discoveries, while also opening the door to more of who we are—our perspectives, stories, and the paths that brought us here. As the year unfolds, you’ll be hearing more from us, not just about what we enjoy, but abo

We’re living through a quiet crisis—not of war or famine, but of disconnection.  From nature, from each other, and from ourselves. Our phones buzz endlessly. Algorithms feed us outrage. We scroll while people speak, while the sun sets, while real life unfolds. But nature doesn’t scroll. Trees grow. Rivers flow. Sunlight heals. And yet, we’ve traded forest walks for doomscrolling, gratitude for griping, stillness for noise. Science confirms what the soul already knows: 120 min

Wrapping up another year brings the same realization. Life settles into a rhythm. There is a lot of rinse and repeat, but each year still manages to deliver a few new adventures and surprises along the way. January shifts from the festive holiday spirit to the reality of a long New England winter. Once the decorations are stored away, the focus turns to making the season worthwhile. Maple syrup season gives it meaning. Trees are tapped at the end of January, and as daytime te

In our little bubble, getting ready for the Christmas season isn’t about big productions or over-the-top decorating. It’s a series of small rituals that quietly mark the start of December. To kick things off, we “attend” the parade — which really means grabbing a table upstairs at our favorite local restaurant and watching from the second-floor windows. We have to see Santa to know it’s officially time to get into the holiday spirit. After the parade, the town Christmas tree

November always feels like the handoff between two versions of life: the outdoor one, where every spare moment is spent in the garden, the yard, or the Barn Lounge, and the indoor one, where the house suddenly demands our full attention again. By the time the clocks change, the shift is impossible to ignore. Around here, November is less about winding down and more about switching gears. The firewood gets stacked, and this year I filmed a video showing the simple method we us

Every gardening season has its challenges, but this one tested me more than most. It reminded me that even the things we enjoy can start to feel like work — and that there’s a big difference between tending to something and being tied down by it. This season started off on the wrong foot. The spring was cool and slow to warm, then came the endless rain, and just as I thought things might even out, summer turned brutal. Weeks of heat and drought baked everything in sight. The

Our road trip started with a small pre-departure challenge — fussing with the Blue Ox brake controller before leaving home. Once that was sorted, we hit the road toward Wright’s Farm in Gardiner, New York, a favorite Harvest Host. We parked in a quiet field alongside other travelers, cooked up a simple dinner, and settled in for the first “fall” evening of the trip — though the only thing that really felt like fall was how early it got dark. Cooler nights haven’t arrived yet,

Cherishing Every Moment As summer winds down, we’ve been savoring every last bit of it—on the water, on the road, and at home. One of the...

Months tend to fill up on their own—whether with travel, projects, or the simple pleasure of gathering around a table. Recently, we've...

One morning, the yard was soggy. The garlic was still hidden, and the boat was waiting for the lake to drop. The next day, everything...

This year, a big milestone crept up on my oldest friends and me: we are all turning 60, including Whiskey! To mark this occasion, a group of childhood friends from New Jersey traveled to Wolfeboro. We enjoyed four nights filled with reconnecting, reminiscing, and celebrating. It was a gathering that made us pause to reflect on the passage of time and the precious gift of lifelong friendships. These are the people who knew us back when we rode ten-speed bikes and recorded song

It’s been just over a month since our last post. After returning home after a delightful sunny stay in Hilton Head for most of April,...

Departure from Hilton Head Island Our departure from Hilton Head Island didn't go as planned—literally. We were packed and ready to hit...

Skull Creek Restaurant Snow blankets our driveway in this webcam image, captured on a chilly April morning. While New Hampshire wrestles...

After a long New Hampshire winter, there is joy in watching the snow finally melt—until it turns into mud season . You know the drill:...

As we bid farewell to the deep, snowy winter of New Hampshire, we're buzzing with excitement for the arrival of spring. Our trusty...

Sharing all of the flowers in bloom in the gardens. No commentary, just photos. Enjoy!

This April is a good month to practice being a snowbird. The snow, the cool weather, and ongoing mud season in NH makes being in HHI a...

I made sourdough baguettes successfully my first time! I can't tell you how exciting this is. As with sourdough boules and batards, I...

The first month of 2024 turned out to be a snowy one. There were moments of rain as well, but overall, the ground stayed covered in...