The 18th Annual Festival of Trees, November 20-22, 2009

Posted on November 20, 2009 by Adrienne

Our family officially kicks off the holiday season with a trip to the Festival of Trees in Portsmouth.  One of our favorite traditions is to wander through the Urban Forestry Center and marvel at the gorgeous holiday decorations.

The event features more than 100 trees, all beautifully adorned with lights and spectacular ornaments.  My kids are mesmerized by the displays and are delighted to see something fabulous every time they turn around.  Local businesses and organizations decorate the trees, and many have a “theme.” It’s always fun to see the diverse ideas and creativity – such as a local music store hanging CDs on the tree and baseball enthusiasts creating a Red Sox-themed tree with mini-baseballs, bats and “green monsters.”

A winding path leads through the Urban Forestry Center’s lawns and into their buildings, which is a nice break from the (usually) chilly weather.  And during the tour, kids get to “spy on” Mrs. Claus baking in the kitchen and sample her delicious cookies – something that my kids usually talk about for weeks afterwards.

Attendees can vote on their favorite trees, a responsibility that my girls and their friends take very seriously.  Every time we go, the kids enthusiastically debate about which tree should receive their coveted “popsicle stick ballot.” It’s tough to pick a favorite out of so many worthy contenders!

The event is best after dark, when visitors get the full effect of the twinkly lights, which make everything seem so magical.  My advice (from years of experience) – wear comfortable shoes and warm clothes.  And, if you’re like me, this event will probably inspire you to start thinking about your own holiday decorations as well!

The event runs from Friday, November 20 – Sunday, November 22 at the Urban Forestry Center, 45 Elwyn Road, Portsmouth.  Admission is $5/per person and children 12 and under are free.  Funds are earmarked for conservation education and supporting historic gardens around the Seacoast.  The Festival of Trees is hosted by the Portsmouth Garden Club.

For more information, visit www.portsmouthnhgardenclub.com/fot.htm.

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Children’s Art Expert Offers Pumpkin Decorating and Drawing Ideas That Kids Will Love

Posted on October 18, 2009 by The Mom Entrepreneur

decorated pumpkinIf spending hours scooping out seeds and stringy pumpkin isn’t on your list of fun things to do this Halloween, decorating a pumpkin without carving is a fun option.  Forget the knives and break out the permanent markers along with some other household craft items to decorate your pumpkins.

“Decorating pumpkins without carving is a great alternative for younger children who can’t use carving utensils,” says Ms. Shell Herman, president of KidzArt, an international children’s art education franchise.  “Without carving, your child’s decorated pumpkin will last a lot longer and it can be displayed in your home throughout the fall season.”

Herman offers some clever pumpkin art projects that will excite the kids, minus a big mess:

  1. Stenciled Pumpkin Designs - Go online and peruse the hundreds of pumpkin template designs available.  But instead of carving, kids can use a stencil to trace a pattern on the pumpkin.  Use colored permanent markers (Sharpies® work well) to color, draw patterns, etc. 
  2. Glitter Pumpkins - For kids who love shimmer and sparkle, cover your gourds and pumpkins with a coating of glitter.  Using craft glue that dries clear, “paint” the entire pumpkin with glue.  While the glue is wet, sprinkle your favorite colored glitter over the pumpkin.  Let it dry for an hour and shake off the excess sprinkles.
  3. Pumpkin People - Kids can create ‘pumpkin people’ by using a variety of household items.  Draw eyes, nose, mouth, cheeks on the dry, clean pumpkin. Or get creative and use fruits or vegetables for ears, eyes or a mouth, glue on raffia for hair, add a hat, a bandana, glasses, ribbons or felt to give each pumpkin its own personality.
  4. Black on White - For a dramatic effect, kids will get a kick out of drawing with black Sharpies on a stark white pumpkin. Try tracing and coloring in simple black silhouettes like bats, cats and spiders!

For more creative art projects or for information on fall and winter art classes, call KidzArt at 800-379-8302 or visit their website to find the nearest KidzArt location in NH.

Filed under: Arts & Crafts, Fall activities, Family fun activities, Halloween for kids, Rainy day activities | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Local Public Safety Events Celebrated Fire Prevention Week

Posted on October 15, 2009 by Ray Bisson

Every Fall towns all around put on events for Fire Prevention Week. Some are held at the PublicBarrington Public Safety 10-10-09a Safety Buildings or Fire Stations and some are held at other facilities. The weekend of Oct. 3rd, Rochester, New Hampshire held their event in the Home Depot parking lot.  

My older son and I decided to stop by. Inside, they had a table setup where Rochester Police officers were talking about safety and helping with the kids fingerprinting kits.  They also had handouts, stickers, fire fighter helmets, etc. at their table.

After we made our purchases, we stopped by to watch the firefighters use the “Jaws of Life” to dismantle a car. The last exhibit we tried was the smoke house.  The firefighter explained to the children what to do if they hear a fire alarm - like feel the door with the backside of your hand and test for temperature. Then they opened the door for everyone to crawl through.

The Fosters Daily Democrat was interviewing a few children after they went through and they talked with my son.

The newspaper article read:

Jacob Bisson, 9, was a fan of the smoke house but said he was also entertained when firefighters used hydraulic tools to cut the doors and roof off a demolished car.

“It was like they used tweezers to open it up,” he said, adding that he is glad to have firefighters around for emergencies because “people’s houses don’t have special hoses.”

Barrington Public Safety 10-10-09bThis weekend on our way to the town dump, we drove past the Barrington Pulic Safety building, which was holding their event.

Kids enjoyed climbing in and around the fire trucks and ambulance, playing in the bounce house, putting out a fire, watching the firefighters use the “Jaws of Life“, and visit with Smokey the Bear. They also received pencils, stickers, comic books, etc. from inside the station.

These are great events for children to meet their local firefighters and learn about fighting fires. We try to visit every year and reinforce fire safety prevention with our kids.

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Screamer’s Café: Cooking Up Some Fun

Posted on October 12, 2009 by Adrienne

My daughters love to help me cook at home, and we were thrilled to learn about Screamer’s Café in Stratham, a family-friendly, casual-style restaurant that offers kids’ cooking classes (as well as great birthday parties).

When my girls were as young as two, they loved to participate in the fun, interactive cooking classes, where kids have the opportunity to try new recipes and are encouraged to make a mess.  Each week features a new cooking adventure – including yogurt parfaits, chicken pot pie, meatloaf, cookies, cakes and my girls’ favorites:  tacos in a bag (which we’ve recreated many times at home and on camping trips.)

As part of each class, the kids sample whatever dishes they’re making, plus they get to take home their creations to enjoy later.  (It’s great to have an entertaining morning activity where the kids make their own lunch or dinner, giving me one less thing to worry about later!)

The hour-long classes are held on Thursday and Friday mornings and cost $10 per child.  There’s no commitment to sign up for a series of classes – just drop in when you can – which is great for families with crazy schedules. The staff requests that parents sign up in advance (even the day before) so they can be sure to have enough ingredients and set up enough workstations for all of the kids.

They happily accommodate food allergies, with nut-free and dairy-free options available in the cooking classes and on the restaurant’s menu.

In addition to the cooking classes – which are the main draw for my family – Screamer’s is a wonderful place to eat.  They offer kid-friendly foods, such as macaroni and cheese, hot dogs, PB&J and grilled cheese sandwiches, as well as delicious options for adults, including soups, sandwiches, quesadillas and more.  And prices are very reasonable.

The Café has a toy room with a play kitchen, tool bench, blocks, dolls and a huge chalkboard.  They also have stacks of coloring books, puzzles and games for children to use on-site.

We’ve been to some fantastic birthday parties at Screamer’s.  The staff is completely hands-on, leading games like limbo contests and musical chairs.  Children can choose their own theme in advance (we’ve recently been to a butterfly-themed party and a cooking class party.)  The staff will bake the birthday cake for you (or have the guests make the cake as part of the party’s activities.)  And they’ll even haul over the gifts and clean up the wrapping paper debris. 

For more information, including a schedule of upcoming cooking classes, visit www.screamerscafe.com.

Filed under: Birthday party ideas, Family fun activities, Quality time with kids, Rainy day activities, cooking with kids, eating out with kids | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

Popular Book and Doll Series Come to Life

Posted on October 7, 2009 by The Mom Entrepreneur

New Hampshire’s only sanctioned  American Girl Fashion Show is taking place the weekend of November 7 and 8 at two shows daily beginning at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. at the Capital Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main Street, Concord, NH.  Tickets are $27 and $37 and available at the box office or online at www.ccanh.com.  Benefits the Junior Service League of Concord.

Don’t miss this enjoyable experience for children, their families, friends, and favorite American Girl dolls!  The show features historical and modern day fashions for both girls and their dolls, as the show comes alive with over 80 models.  The fun-packed program also features auctions, raffle prizes, opportunities for photographs, favorite refreshments from various eras, and more.

Since 1931, the Junior Service League of Concord has been raising funds to support women and children in crisis in the greater Concord, New Hampshire area.

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Cathedral Ledge – North Conway, NH

Posted on October 1, 2009 by Ray Bisson
cathedral ledge 9-17-09s

Cathedral Ledge

I recently attended a quarterly meeting for the New Hampshire Land Surveyors Association, which was held at the Attitash Grand Summit Hotel.

I was not looking forward to the long ride from the Seacoast to Attitash along Route 16.  Luckily the meeting was short and I was able to start the drive home before it got dark. 

It was a gorgeous “fall” day and I was by-passing downtown North Conway and Conway by taking the scenic West Side Road. When I saw the sign for Cathedral Ledge I decided to take a detour and drive to the top. 

Cathedral Ledge is a very short distance, less than 2 miles, from Route 16 in North Conway, and has a summit road that meanders up to the top.  As you start your drive, you may be lucky to see rock climbers gathering their gear. This is a very popular cliff to climb, but no thanks…I will drive around.

Once at the top there is a short (5 minutes at most) hike to the cliff. There is a chain link fence that keeps people and kids from getting too close, but you can still get a good view at the steep cliff.

I remember every visit that I have taken to the top - from when I was a child on a family trip, to weekend getaways with my wife (then fiancée), to taking our oldest son on his first visit. Every time it is absolutely beautiful, and this time was no exception. I just wished my family was with me. 

This is a great side trip and does not take a lot of time. Once you come down from the ledge, drive into North Conway Village and get an ice cream or coffee and stroll through the town.

Filed under: Fall activities, Family fun activities, NH hikes, NH mountains, Summer activities, Summer attractions, Traveling with kids | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Take a trip to Apple Annie’s for apple picking and fall fun!

Posted on September 28, 2009 by Adrienne

(This post is the first in a series from a new guest blogger, Adrienne, who also resides in New Hampshire with her family.)

girl at apple orchardFall in New Hampshire is delightful, and there’s nothing better than spending a beautiful, crisp, sunny day picking apples as a family.  I recently took my two young daughters to Apple Annie’s in Brentwood, NH and truly appreciated a perfect day together.

Apple Annie’s caters to families, with a lovely, well-kept orchard full of low-spray apples, perfect for picking.  Branches are low enough that even my three-year-old could easily reach the ripe, juicy apples, and both of my girls delighted in filling up their (reasonably priced) bags. 

The kids were invited to sample the orchard’s homemade cider, which was a big hit.  They had a great time visiting with the resident animals, including chickens and Spirit the dog.  And they enjoyed running around the ample fields, playing tag and looking out for dragonflies.  They even found a little toad in the orchards, which they thought was very exciting.

We brought a picnic lunch and enjoyed sitting out in the fresh air, looking at the gorgeous scenery.  As a special treat, I bought the girls some homemade cookies, made onsite.  Two large cookies were inexpensive – only $1 for both.

Apple Annie’s also offers already-picked apples at very competitive prices.  (I’ve paid more than double for apples at other local farms.)  While other orchards might have more apple varieties, Apple Annie’s features some of our favorites, including McIntosh, Cortland, Liberty, Macoun, Empire, Red Delicious and Wagener.

Their farm stand also offers fall vegetables, jams and jellies (from their own produce) and a variety of baked goods.  Nearly everything they sell in the store is made onsite, as much as possible from their own produce.

The staff doesn’t use toxic chemicals or pesticides, so I felt good about serving their produce to my family.

My five-year-old said it best:  the best part of the day was biting into the “perfect red apple” that she picked herself.

Apple Annie’s is open daily from 9 am – 6 pm.  For more information, call 603/778-8881.

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Visit the NH state fairs this fall

Posted on September 2, 2009 by Ray Bisson

When my family moved from Connecticut to New Hampshire in 1980, I was 10 years old. We tried to become active in the community and meet new people.

One group I joined was 4-H. I was in 4-H until I graduated from high school, but that’s a story for another day.

While in 4-H, we used to travel to the State fairs and compete in the forestry events. The events only lasted a short time, but we would spend the entire day at the fairs. We would watch the animal shows, stage presentations, Oxen pulling, tractor pulls, go on rides, visit the exhibit buildings and oh yeah ….. eat lots of yummy food.

Now, I am not in 4-H any more and my kids do not participate in 4-H at this time, but we all love to go to the State fairs. Follow the attached link to see what fairs are going on and have some fun! NH State Fairs Link

Oh, by the way, my favorite is the Sheep Dog Demonstration at the Deerfield Fair and this year they have a Dog Agility Competition, which will probably be pretty good too.

Filed under: Fall activities, NH farms, State Fairs, Summer attractions | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

A summer spent at baseball games and with friends

Posted on August 31, 2009 by Ray Bisson

This summer, besides being wet and cold, has been really busy. Our oldest son decided to try out for the 9U All-Star baseball team and was accepted. At that point, we realized that our commitment to explore New Hampshire was going to be limited.

With our weekends being spent at baseball tournaments and practices, we did not travel far from home. 

So what did we do?

We got a puppy and called friends.  We purchased a bigger pool so we could invite people over and the kids could play in the pool or yard. We also brought friends out onto our boat and went to local lakes; Swain’s Lake and Bow Lake.

So the summer has not been a total loss of enjoyment. Maybe this fall will be better. Even though our son is now playing Fall Baseball, I still am hoping that we can make it to Wentworth Lake or Lake Sunapee before the summer is over.

Stay tuned for upcoming Fall and Winter staycations.  Would love to hear how you spent your summer!

Filed under: Boating with kids, Summer activities, Summer attractions | Tagged: , , | Leave a Comment »

Wagon Hill Farm, Durham, NH

Posted on July 2, 2009 by Ray Bisson

kids-on-wagonIf you drive along Route 4 between Durham and Dover Point, you will see a picturesque old wagon sitting on top of a hill at an old farm.

If you drive this route in the winter, you can see hundreds of people sliding down the hill. Wagon Hill Farm is a 140 acre farm, which was purchased by the town of Durham to preserve this beautiful resource.  This easy hike takes you through many habitats, including a grassy field, wooded jacob-and-dakotaforest and salt water shoreline. 

You start your hike near the old farm house and walk through the field. Then you make your way along  into the mature woods, which brings you to a grassy opening with picnic tables near Great Bay. Our kids found a Horseshoe crab along the shore.

The farm also has antique equipment, an old foundation and a cemetery along the walk.

horseshoe-crabThe walk is about 1.2 miles in length, but there are many interconnecting trails, which can make for longer, shorter or varying hikes. There is a trail on the opposite side of Route 4, but we have not been on that trail. We enjoyed our hike with our new puppy. Dogs are allowed if leashed.

The town of Durham has many recreational facilities, which can be viewed on their website. The site includes descriptions and trail maps.

Filed under: Fall activities, Family Fitness, Family fun activities, NH hikes, Outdoor fun, Quality time with kids, Spring activities, Summer activities, Summer attractions, Traveling with kids, Winter activities | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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