From Fall Chores to Familiar Places
The second half of October brought more beautiful fall weather to New Hampshire, and surprisingly, we were still picking pole beans from the garden! With the colorful foliage and fallen leaves all around, it was a welcome final harvest before putting the gardens to bed for winter. There was still plenty of outdoor work ahead of us, and the weather couldn't have been better for getting it done.
Finishing Up Around the Homestead
Garden beds were cut back, and leaves were raked and blown from the lawns and driveways at both the house and Cottage on High. We leave some plants standing through winter for the birds and beneficial insects, but most of the gardens have been put to bed for the season.
Then there was the firewood. Four cords of split wood to stack, a job I take on solo every year. It's not particularly complicated work, but it gets me outside, keeps me moving, and provides the satisfaction of seeing those racks fill up. Each rack represents roughly two weeks of heating, and when the last one is empty, it's usually time to head south for our spring stay on Hilton Head Island.
The wood also fuels our small-batch maple syrup production, so there's more than one reason to keep the supply well stocked.
The weather couldn't have been better for getting everything done. My shoulder, however, had a few complaints afterward. Apparently, stacking wood and raking leaves do eventually catch up with you.
A Vermont Work Trip and a Visit with the Chef
Before wrapping up our fall travels, we made another work-related trip to Vermont, staying at Sam Mazza's Farm in Colchester through Harvest Hosts.
It's a great stop for picking up locally grown produce, and we stocked up on apples and winter squash. Some of that squash eventually found its way into a loaf of homemade squash bread, loaded with walnuts and raisins.
We also caught up with our longtime friend, the Chef, who joined us at the motorhome for dinner. Pork chops and a few other goodies were on the menu, followed by an evening of conversation.
A Little Time in the Kitchen
Back home, there was time for some baking between outdoor chores and travel.
Homemade everything bagels made an appearance, along with the squash bread. The latter was baked in a Pullman loaf pan, which produces a nice, narrow loaf that's easy to slice. It's a recipe we've enjoyed for years, and the combination of winter squash, walnuts, and raisins makes it particularly good this time of year.
Our simplified sourdough bread recipe continues to be the most-watched video on our YouTube channel. We'll be back to experimenting with sourdough soon, including English muffins and some small specialty loaves for holiday sharing.
New Jersey: Family, Food, and Traffic
With the outdoor chores mostly behind us, we packed up the motorhome, hooked up the Jeep, and headed to New Jersey to visit family.
Getting there is never the highlight of the trip. Navigating the highways in a motorhome while towing a vehicle requires patience, particularly as we get closer to the more densely populated parts of the state. Traffic seems to be a permanent condition here.
Fortunately, driveway camping makes these family visits convenient, and we can settle into our own little home on wheels.
One of the main reasons we make the trip to New Jersey is to spend time with our parents and help out where we can. My dad is now 91 and living in a care home, while my stepmother remains at home. We had a nice visit with Dad, although I admit it's an adjustment seeing him at this stage of life. He enjoyed the chocolates we brought, and it's reassuring to know he's in a safe place being well cared for.
We also enjoyed some quality time with my stepmom. She prepared a lovely dinner at home, and another evening we went out with her and her brother to the beloved Cranford Hotel. It was a wonderful setting for a relaxed evening together. No photos from either occasion—we were simply enjoying the company and living in the moment.
Tom's mom, at 85, is still living independently and very much on her own terms. While we were there, Tom tackled her seasonal list of chores around the house. We also enjoyed happy hour together each evening, putting together spreads of Italian breads, salami, cheeses, olives, and other goodies from the local Italian market. Good food, a little wine and whiskey, and plenty of time to catch up. It's a comfortable routine we've come to enjoy during our visits.
New Jersey does have some advantages, especially when it comes to food.
We made our usual rounds for Italian specialties, including eggplant Parmesan and whatever else looked good at the market.
And then there are the bakery butter cookies. Those colorful, chocolate-dipped cookies are something we associate with New Jersey bakeries, and they're always worth a stop.
We also indulged in pizza delivery. Yes, actual pizza delivered right to the door! Living in Wolfeboro, where that's not an option, makes it feel like a luxury. Two excellent pizzas, no cooking, and no dishes.
We wrapped up our New Jersey visit with a prime rib dinner at Tom's mom's house (our Thanksgiving celebration). We brought the roast from our local Top of the Hill Farm in Wolfeboro. After unwrapping it, I let it air-dry uncovered in the refrigerator for 36 hours, which helps develop a beautiful crust during roasting. We cooked it in the vintage rotisserie oven, and it turned out perfectly—beautifully browned on the outside and pink and tender throughout. A delicious finish to our family visit.
Back to the Homestead
Years ago, we gave up traveling to New Jersey for Thanksgiving. The holiday traffic is horrendous, and navigating it in a motorhome while towing the Jeep is not our idea of a good time. Visiting earlier in November works much better for us.
We're now safely back in Wolfeboro, where we'll settle in for the holidays and winter. The firewood is stacked, the gardens are mostly put to bed, and the bulk of the outdoor chores are behind us.
There will still be work-related trips here and there, along with some indoor projects, cooking, baking, and whatever else catches our interest.
For now, we're happy to be home, with a full woodshed and no immediate plans to sit in New Jersey traffic!
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