Concord NH~Joni~Merrimack County

   Wine Tour On A Sunday Afternoon

Believe it or not New Hampshire is up and coming in Wine Making circles. There are now nine winerys in the State. Most use locally grown , hardy grapes of variety's suited to our climate.

There are several Winery Tours promoted by the Tourism Bureau.

We decided to take the "Seacoast Area" Tour. Along with some friends (former clients). We also enlisted a friend of my son to act as chauffeur!

     Nick-The Chauffeur    The Gang

 Our first stop was Flagg Hill Winery and Distillery on Route 155 in Lee, NH. Just about a half hour from Concord. It is just beautiful with fantastic grounds! They have become a favorite for Weddings and Special Functions and are booked through the Summer!

    US         Servers

Our server 's name was Emily. She was very knowledgeable on the wine variety's and explained each one. She also told us that they use primarily Steel Barrels (with a few exceptions) and their Grapes are Grown Locally. Flagg Hill also makes Vodka. They make it from apples. There is also a tasting of the Vodka and Liqueurs.  The Cranberry Liqueur was fabulous I must admit!

Leaving Flagg Hill we headed South to South Hampton, NH. Jewell Towne Vineyards-New Hampshires Oldest Winery Jewell Towne straddles the MA/NH border.  Extensive Vinyards.  

The Rows are marked by the wine they produce!

  The Tasting Room is charming. We were served by Peter Oldak. Peter is the owner and a winemaker. He is also the President of the NH Winemakers Association.

Jewell Towne uses primarily French Oak Barrels...there was a distinct difference in the taste of the wines!

Jewell Towne has won over 100 Medals in National and International cometitions.

Our last stop was    Zorvino Vineyards- Main St.,Sandown NH

Zorvino is the youngest of the three. They are in their second year of producing wine. It can take a vine 5-6 years to reach maturity for use.They use local grapes and grapes imported from other winemaking regions.  Zorvino's has an ambitious function schedule and offers many interesting tastings and dinners that are open to the public. Be sure to check it out!

  Our servers were Stephanie, Emily and Laura. They were eager to answer our questions.

This is a delightful way to spend a Sunday Summer Afternoon. We are hoping to go again this Fall and will try the Merrimack Valley Region Tour..the scenery should be outstanding!

A little happier and...         None The Worse For Wear!

Concord New Hampshire Realtor Area Information

  We New Englanders may have a limited growing season...but we sure know how to make the most of it!

 This time of year you could fill every day with activity featuring our own products. It could be an Agricultural Fair a Pick your Own Farm or a Farmers Market.

Farmers Markets have increased during the past few years. The Organic Movement has helped spur growth.

These Markets feature local produce, baked goods, canned goods, meats.....sometime livestock and of course crafts.

 There are many Farmers Markets in The Concord New Hampshire Area

•  Concord Farmers Market
• Capitol Street
• Saturday 8:30- noon  June -October

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• Contoocook Farmers Market
• Cedar Street
• Saturday 9- noon   June- October

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• Deerfield Farmers Market
• Deerfield Fairgrounds
• Friday  3- 7  Till October

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• Franklin Community Farm Market
• 206 Central Street
• Tuesday   3-6    till Sept.

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• Canterbury Farmers market
• Canterbury Center- Elkins Library parking Lot
• Wednesday   4-7   Jun-October

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• Henniker Farmers M
• Community Park, Main Street
• Wednesdays   3-6   July-October

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• Manchester Farmers Market
•  Victory  & Pine Street
• Wednesday   3-6:30   June - October

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• Pittsfield- Sunrise Farmers Market
• Dustin Park
• Thursday   3-5:30   June- October

Just in The Concord area alone you could have local and Fresh almost every day! So why not help the local economy, help your family and treat yourself...visit a local Farmers Market!

Concord NH Realtor Local Information

If you're like me , this time of the year the gardening bug is biting. I don't have a Green Thumb but that didn't stop me from attempting to have the "perfect"  garden.

I had all of the catalogs. I especially like the ones that send live plants. I had a great Flower Garden book and carefully designed my garden to have flowers of different heights, co-ordinating colors and 3 season blooming. It was actually quite lovely!

That was 20 years ago.....

This is my garden today! 

The point of my tale being..go Native! Don't be lured by the fancy photos and promises. The best choices for a sustainable care free garden are native plants. They are used to our local conditions and don't need constant pampering. They can even tolerate a New England Winter without special care!

Some of the common ones here in New Hampshire are~ Coneflowers

Cardinal Flower Bee Balm    NE Asters

If you especially enjoy having cut flowers in your home some hardy but lovely choices would be:

Delphinium Daisies  Tall Phlox

 and Statice 

If you would like to take the "leap".... but don't know where to start.... the UNH Cooperative Extension along with the Department of Fish and Gamehave published a book about Native Plants and Landscaping called: Integrated Landscaping: Following Natures Lead

To purchase contact

• UNH Cooperative Extension Publication Center 
• Nesmith Hall
•  131 Main Street
•  Durham, NH 03824                              
• ~
•  NH Fish and Game
•  Wares From The Wild
•  11 Hazen Drive
•  Concord, NH 03301

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Concord NH Realtor Area Information

As of January 1st 2009 House Bill 1143 will go into effect. It was signed into law by NH Governor John Lynch.

According to the Group Give Us Shelter, the largest percentage (70%) of Wintertime Animal Cruelty Complaints, are because of insufficient shelter.

This bill will enable Animal Cruelty Investigators to remove an animal if they feel it is endangered.

The structures will now have to be structurally sound,keep the dog clean and dry and protected from the sun. It also has to be big enough for the dog to stand up and sit down and turn around yet cozy enough to retain body heat.

The Bill was sponsored by Senator Sheila Roberge

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Concord NH Realtor Area Information

   New London Garden Club-42cnd Annual
    Antique Show and Sale
7/26    9-4 (rain or shine)
Donation $5.00- Early Bird Admission (8-9) $20.00
          "On The Green"

Accordians Now
8/02    9-6        1-800-328-5227
Tony Lovello is among the many guestes. Also featuring The Festival Orchestra, conducted by Donna Maria Regis
      Bring your accordian!! Open Jam Session
Radisson Hotel - Manchester

Shaker Spirit Day~Mother Ann Day
8/03    10-4    603-783-9511
Shaker Villiage, Canterbury NH
Come and enjoy a Shaker Village Musical and some  Rosewater Cake & Lemonade
Adults $15      Children $7  under 6 no charge

  Greekfest 2008
8/16 & 8/17     11-8   603-623-2045
Ethnic Festival featuring everything Greek!!
Assumption Greek Orthodox Church
111 Island Pond Road
Manchester, NH

~~~~~~~~~~ Concord NH Realtor Area Information

We held out as long as we could!

New Hampshire has just become the last but not least state in the Northeast to fold under the offer of  "Free OIL"  courtesy of   Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

 The non-profit group, which was started by MA Rep. Joseph Kennedy Citizens Energy, will be managing the giveaway. But the State Energy Office will be overseeing and helping to sign up fuel-oil dealers.
The President of the Oil Heat Council of NH  (Bob Garside) has predicted that many of the State's dealers will not participate. Many feel it is simply a case of political manipulation.

But....as we all know, a lot has changed. Oil has gone from $2.50/gal to $4.61 and they are predicting it will go higher by the heating season.
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Over 6 million NE households heat with oil...it really is "Live Free or Die"

    Did I get your attention? Well this is really about when I met Steve, Steve Shatsky.

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Steve is a Short Sale Specialist in Dallas, Texas. His quick wit and enthusiasm come across in his Posts and I subscribed some time ago.

 About a month ago Steve gave me a referral to help his cousin Abby and her husband Jason who live here in Concord NH and would be looking for a home!

I was very grateful for his confidence.

The cousins and I had been out a few times and Saturday we were going to see a few new ones and second showings on two others that "fit the bill". It just so happened they happened to have invited cousin Steve up for a visit and to check out NE and the Concord area. Sohe was coming too! Sounded like fun to me...and I was excited to meet Steve!

 Meet Steve!

We saw quite the variety of homes and showed Steve the "lay of the land" he was able (in the role of relative) to express personal opinions (which I tended to agree with) but something I usually don't do. I try to keep it about property and neighborhood knowledge and observations!

When we did our second showings it was evident to myself and Steve that they had found "their house". I did express to Abby that I was sensing the "better one around the next corner" syndrome from her. And she agreed. Steve was able, in his cousin role, to point out all of the personal pluses!

We went back to my office to write up an offer!  (I do have all the paperwork in my trunk...but figured that would be "overkill")

Going through and explaining the process seemed to ease all fears! And I think having a knowledgeable and trusted relative there definately smoothed the anxietys!

We made an offer...fully expecting a counter...but their first was accepted! They are super psyched, as am I!

So I had a great day...made a Sale and met a friend! I call that batting a hundred!

And if any of you out there are looking to refer to the Dallas area...talk to Steve ...I know for a fact he is always  Working On His Business!

Concord NH Realtor

       Are you looking to re-locate? Want to have access to  great services but still looking for a touch of the Great Outdoors? Well Concord NH is the place for you!

No matter where you live in Concord you are only minutes away from Shopping, Museums, Restaurants, Theater and........... WILDLIFE

 Enjoying an afternoon snack...while you have the full Nature Experience!  

                                                                                      Look At That face!

Ahh...Concord NH....now that's City Livin!  

(In your own back yard)

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Concord NH Realtor Local Information

A while back I did a post about the green movement and how some local businesses were embracing real energy improvement practices in their daily routines.  This featured The Red Blazer on Manchester Street in Concord NH.

Well this Independence Day The Blazer was in the news again!

The Red Blazer decided to spend Independence Day as Energy Independence Day! A story on NPR reported how for two hours the Blazer decided to"opt out" of the Power Grid and operated all of their energy eaters off of their recycled vegetable oil generator.

They started off on diesel ....brought the fuel up to temperature and then circulated it through the Vegetable oil generator to bring the temperature up on that. They ran for two hours and no one knew the difference! They eventually hope to operate for 6-8 hours during peak shifts to get Electric Grid Credits from their leftover fry grease that they used to pay to have disposed of.

One of the main reasons the Blazer is becoming so invested in this "Green" movement is to encourage other restaurant owners to try their own endeavors. This economy is especially hard on Food Service businesses' and the savings in energy could actually mean the difference in a non-existent and adequate profit!

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Concord NH Realtor Local Information

 The New Hampshire Department of Education is making some changes! It is imperative that Parents of Children With Disabilities be informed of the changes to the laws that affect their children's education.

The Parent Information Center, headquartered in Concord NH, is sponsoring workshops for Parents. These workshops will conveniently be held all around the State.

If you have any questions about the workshops or if you are wondering how these changes will affect your child call PIC at the telephone numbers below!

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To Register for a workshop and for location information please contact:

The Parent Information Center 224-7005 or 1-800-947-7005

If you require special accommodations, please specify when registering

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