Step it up Mr. Obama!

This is Obama's state election headquarters in Concord. Who approved this signage? Did one of his kids do this? I like him as much as the next guy, but he needs to get on these people.

Concord: The Boutons Meet Governor John Lynch

A couple of weeks ago while I was attending one of the worst CPR courses in Concord I've ever taken, Erin took the opportunity to check out our state's capital (or capitol if you like) and joined the NH Historical Association. She had such a good time that we made a plan to return to tour our very small seat of state government and to learn something about our new home. Concord is smaller than Tallahassee and is much more laid-back if that's possible to believe. The State House, pictured above, was completed in 1818 was built with prison labor to cut down on expenses. I love this toast that was raised at its dedication ceremony and keep in mind this was a few short years after the War of 1812:

"The American Eagle. May the shadow of his wings protect every acre of our united continent and the lightning of his eye flash terror and defeat through the ranks of our enemies."

A statue of Daniel Webster outside the State House. One of Webster's many New Hampshire connections was his successful defense of Darthmouth College to keep it a private university. I love this following quote of Webster's on a military draft:

"The Administration asserts the right to fill the ranks of the regular army by compulsion...Is this, sir, consistent with the character of a free government? Is this civil liberty? Is this the real character of our Constitution? No sire, indeed it is not....Where is it written in the Constitution, in what article or section is it contained, that you may take children from their parents, and compel them to fight the battles of any war in which the folly or the wickedness of government may engage it? Under what concealment has this power lain hidden which now for the first time comes forth, with a tremendous and bailful aspect, to trample down and destroy the dearest rights of personal liberty?
Daniel Webster (December 9, 1814 House of Representatives Address)

Bless you, sir!

The NH House chamber (pictured right below) is the oldest one in continuous use in the United States. Amazingly enough, each representative receives only $200 per biennium (plus travel expenses) which is a good thing because New Hampshire citizens are some of the best represented citizens in the nation with 3,000 citizens to each representative (400 total)!

New Hampshire's State Senate (above) is notable for passing the first constitution ever written in the United States!This is Gen. John Stark who gave us our state motto "Live free or die!" And it's a pretty impressive state motto until you hear the history behind it. I always imagined it was uttered as he died on some foreign, or even domestic field, fighting against tyranny or oppression. The truth is that he couldn't make a Revolutionary War anniversary event, so he sent a toast in a letter that read, "Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils." Still, he wrote this toast in 1809 and the War of 1812 was a few short years away. Maybe he was psychic? (I still love the quote and our state motto beats any other!)

This is Gov. John Lynch, our state governor, after signing a bill dealing with either children having to stay in school until they are 18 or banning smoking in all state bars and restaurants. Either way, it sounds good to us. Erin and I find it hilarious that his name is the same as our former Buccaneer; however, I think the football player could easily tackle this guy. (He's kinda short.) So how did we get this close? We walked in the front door and turned a corner. No security or screenings in this post-9/11 world. His secretary just ushered us in and even told me to get closer when I wanted to snap some pics. Lynch's open-door policy might help to explain his incredible popularity. In a recent poll, Lynch had a 79% approval rating which made him the second most popular governor in the nation. I expect he'll be pushed to run for president in the next 4 to 8 years.

1st Trip to the White Mountains: Talking Moose

I might have put some of you to sleep with the Bretton Woods Monetary Conference post, so here is a cute picture of a talking moose we encountered in Conway, an adorable ski town on the outskirts of the White Mountains. He was quite talkative for a moose, but he mostly focused our conversation on selling us Zeb's General Store items.

1st Trip to the White Mountains: Bretton Woods United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference Site (Whee!)

I'm posting this for all the IMF and World Bank fans that read the blog. The Mount Washington Hotel is where delegates from all over the world met during WWII to decide world financial policy. Right inside those walls are where they created the World Bank, adjustable peg rates, required that currencies be convertible for trade and related account transactions, and made member countries accountable to subscribe to IMF's capital. (Thanks Wikipedia!) Seriously, though, it was a very important conference that brought economic stability to the post-WWII world and it took place in a very beautiful hotel in the White Mountains. (Go New Hampshire!)

"The economic health of every country is a proper matter of concern to all
its neighbors, near and far."

Franklin Roosevelt speaking at the Bretton Woods Conference

1st Trip to the White Mountains: Our Meeting with The Old Man

On May 3, 2003, New Hampshire's "Old Man" collapsed and the state mourned the loss of this celebrated sight in the White Mountains. For 198 years, visitors to the state came to Profile Lake (pictured above) to get the best angle for the "Old Man" viewing. We came to the state about 4 years too late to take in this sight; however, tourists still gather at this spot to see what is left of the granite outcropping. I don't think Erin or I really understood the magnitude of the respect state residents held for this natural formation, but a film at The Notch made it quite clear that the state is still in shock over its loss. Erin and I both love seeing his profile on our liscense plate, road signs, and other places in the state and now we appreciate the symbolism even more.

(By the way, the White Mountains have other "profiles" and one of the really good one is the Indian Head that actually looks look a human profile if you are looking for it.)

Note: PLEASE click on each picture to see them enlarged.

1st Trip to the White Mountains:The Notch

The above pictures are from the Notch, an amazingly beautiful gorge created by a receding glacier, in the White Mountains about three hours north of us. The pictures are self-explanatory and were all taken on the same two-hour hike where we walked up the "flume". What you don't see in the pictures are when I freaked out because I thought the granite walls were closing in on me and ran up the stairs. That was a really unpleasant couple of minutes, but I quickly recovered in time to do a brilliant bear impersonation. (Note: PLEASE click on each picture to see them enlarged.) We hope you enjoy them.

5-Year Anniversary and Herbal Fun at Pickity Place

Erin and I celebrated our 5-year anniversary (when we first met) on Friday the 15th by heading out to Mason, NH to have lunch at a very special restaurant, Pickity Place. Operating out of a 200-year old cottage in the middle of nowhere, Pickity Place is an incredible dining experience that revolves around their incredible herbal gardens that inspire the monthly menus. From the mint in your tea to the flower in your sundried tomato spread to the fresh oregano on your sliced beef, it's all edible and is all fresh from Pickity's gardens that surround the property and make it so special. (I must be getting older because now I'm finding herbs and herbal gift shops to be inspirational but this place is awesome!) Trust me, if you come to visit us any time during the year this place is open, we will be bringing you there to eat. The following are some pics from our wonderful lunch.

Everying on this plate is edible---even the flower! And it's all from their gardens.