Gould Hill  Farm has approximately 80 acres of orchards and tree farm
The family came to Hopkinton in 1735. One of the family members, Joseph Gould, was a town incorporator.

The main focus of Gould Hill Farm is apples, peaches, blueberries, pumpkins and more. They hold many seasonal family activities including the ever popular "Pick Your Own"

  The view  from Gould Hill.....couldn't be better!



                                                                                                          The Farm Today
                                                                                                                                                       

The Farm also houses the Little Nature Museum. A delightful Science center with a hands on approach. It's a perfect place to take the curious of all ages!

     We showed remarkable Restraint!

We only bought Peaches!    

There were apples galore!
Free For Kids!

Gould Hill also has ice cream,  jams and jellies,  Maples syrup and a selection of Crafty gifts! So bring you wallet!!

Gould Hill Farm
656 Gould Hill Road
Contoocook/Hopkinton, NH 03229

                                                 Lower Calorie and Fat Maccaroni and Cheese

 When I got my first Microwave Oven back in 1982 it was huge! I never did use the convection part but a friend gave me recipe for Macc and Cheese that I still use to this day. (In fact I just sent it to my Brother in CA)

I'm actually making it tonight! It's a life saver when you need to put something on the table fast!

I have substituted the Milk with Low Sodiun and Low Fat Chicken Broth. Believe me....you won't miss it! . At times I will substitute 1/2 cup of the liquid with 1/2 can diced tomatoes! If you like a crunchy top....just put your buttered breadcrumbs or crushed potato chips on the finished product and put it under the broiler till browned. 

   Microwave Macaroni and Cheese (6 servings)

    3 C cooked macaroni

   3 Tbl. Butter

   3 Tbl. Flour

   ½ tsp Salt

   dash pepper

   2 C Milk (I use chicken stock)

   2 C (8oz) shredded Cheddar

~~~~~~~~~~~ 

  
   1-Melt butter in a 2quart glass casserole in Microwave (about 1 min. on High)

  
   2-Add flour, salt and pepper: mix well. Add milk (broth) gradually, stirring constantly. Cook uncovered (6 minutes at High)-stir every 2 minutes

  
   3-Add cheese to sauce; stir. Cook uncovered in Microwave (1 min @ High)

   4-Add cooked macaroni to sauce; mix. Cook uncovered in Microwave (8 min. @ Medium-High(1/2 power)) stir halfway through cooking.

    Let stand a minute or two before serving

             Moving, for Seniors, can be especially stressfull.
                                
In many  cases more stressful than for younger folks.

Most have not Sold  a home in many years, or have never sold. They don't understand the process and may find it especially confusing.

All of us underestimate  just how much "stuff" we have and when it comes time to pack and pitch....the pitch part is the most difficult for Seniors. They probably have many things that they don't even remember they had or a particular piece may jar a memory and all of a sudden it is irreplaceable.
And since most Seniors are down sizing and moving to smaller quarters....that will never do!

Here are some suggestions that may help you when assisting a Senior with a move....whether you are a relative or their Agent.

• Make a list of what needs to be done. (I would have them commit to at least 4 boxes per day)
• Remind them about utilities, post office, cable and oil/gas
• Have them chart their progress. 
• Ask if they want your help....but if they want to do it themselves....let them!
• Check often on their progress.
• Make arrangements with a trusted "junk man" to remove everything that is not being given away or going to the new place!
• Arrange for someone to come in after they are out....to clean. (They may think the place is spotless, but old eyes don't see dirt!)
• Handle the information and details on the Settlement papers...it's one more thing to explain and the papers will get lost in the chaos!
• Do NOT let them know of any "potential" problems, only of real ones.
• Ask them to give you any papers they may need at closing....death certs., a deed or record of sale, or anything else necessary for clean title. If you take it for safekeeping ...it won't get lost!

                                       
Most of all....be patient, offer support in any way needed,keep your sense of humor and take care of all the little details without them even knowing you have done it! 
                                                                                       

Well today we actually made it out to the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum!

But I'll save that for another day!

After the Museum we decided to stop for an ice-cream and a bit of sight seeing at a local spot...

~   Beach Hill Farm in Hopkinton NH   ~          

 What a great place to bring the kids on a sunny weekend.

 Beech Hill has a small petting zoo with baby goats,  cows, sheep and fowl.
 I especially go for goats!

For the Gardener there are lots of colorful plant, garden ornaments and even "twig" furniture!

   GARDEN SHED                       

• Beech Hill has been a go to spot for local families for many years.
  One of their biggest attractions (besides the Nature Trails) are the Corn Mazes.
  Each maze has a set of mystery questions and the answers are found within the maze. Each maze is about 4 acres. The maze's have themes....
  this years are:
  Hawaii, Unsolved Mystery's and The Alsakan Iditarod Challenge.

They are open daily from 11:00 till dusk through October.
 For each maze $5.00/person, children under 3 free. (Today they were 3/$5.00)

Last but not least...
                       Great ice cream and NH crafts, jams and baked goods inside!

Beech Hill Farm
107 Beech Hill Road
Hopkinton, NH 03229

Today was a glorious day! Crystal blue skys, low humidity, bright sun and temperatures in the high 70's.

Since my husband is on vacation this week and next, and since all the Honey Do list had been done....we decide to enjoy the day and take a trip to the Kearsage Indian Museum.

I had a closing scheduled for Monday, so before we left I called my Client's daughter (who is also a Client) to let her know all had been arranged for trash removal and house cleaning...
(She is from out of state(Maine) and is purchasing a condo for her 84 year old Dad. We are also closing on his place, in NH, this week.)

She had been just about to call me. We had the inevitable wrinkle!  

It would seem her Mortgage Broker (whose company transacts in ME, MA and NH) mostly works in Maine and had not been licensed for NH. It would also seem that they cannot simply transfer the handling of the transaction over to another with the proper licensing...the process has to start over, including the Borrowers 3 days right of rescission!  

So much for the Museum!!

Well.....after MANY phone calls and tenuous assurances, from the Lender and Title Company, the Sellers have agreed to rent to my 84 year old Client, they will have a paper closing end of the week so that they can go on with their plans and we will actually do the Funding in a little over a week from Monday.

Are we having fun yet??

 Ahhh....those were the days!

They were better than horse and buggy...and no parking meters!

Well times have sure changed!

After years of constant complaints about the availability and cost of downtown parking. And after a long standing love/hate relationship between those who park-and the promoters of the underused, new, state of the art Parking Garage.....Concord is going the way of Manchester....Concord has resorted to Kiosks!

They will be up and operational by September 1st

Efficiant and accurate collection of fees....I'm sure they'll fill the bill. Aesthetically....not so much!
And where to chain the bike or tie the dog when running in for just a minute?

I suppose change is inevitable...that's usually how it goes. But do we have to welcome it with open arms?

Be prepared! The kiosks are coming, the kiosks are coming!  

Aren't they cute!

This is not the usual and customary RE Blog post. But perhaps there may be a Employer out there reading this....who may be prompted to sensitize his employees.

We all know that this economy has been challenging for everyone. Those who are working and those who aren't have all been touched by the state of things in one way or another                      

But there seems to be something insidious creeping into the thinking of those who are fortunate to have employment....no matter how minimal. Many seem to have gone from the "survivor mentality" ( often experienced by those who have kept their jobs as those around them lost theirs) to an overt expression of scorn. One of the newest accepted ways of thinking is that those who don't have a job or those who are under-employed...just aren't trying hard enough!

Well let me tell you a story.......

My son has only had part-time employment for the past two years. His employer has been systematically cutting his hours to the point that some weeks he only has 10 hours. What little he makes has an automatic withdrawal for payment on a student loan. He has no car. He is living at home with his parents.

Today he went out again to look for employment....any employment. He dcided to hit every restaurant in downtown Concord to see if they needed a dishwasher....one of the few jobs that still experiences turnover!

He called me to touch base on his progress....

Getting someone to speak to him was the first obstacle,
the second being told to apply on line,
but the worst was the scorn......one even scoffed and snorted saying "I can't believe in this economy you would think there would be a job here"

My son said to me....and I'm quoting here" I can take the being turned down and even the rudeness but being mocked and belittled is unnecessary and humiliating".

Note to Employers :....it's time to re-sensitize your employees. It's time to remind them how fortunate they are. It's time to explain to them just how very difficult and courageous it is for someone who has been long-term unemployed to get up each morning and try again!
Ask them to be polite or even sympathetic. A word of encouragement would help.
A smile would go a long way. 

     Most of all, remind them.... "there but for the grace of God go I"

One of the most difficult challenges facing those who are suffering through this economy is the feeling of total helplessness!
And to be honest, one of the predictors of success or failure in navigating the system....is the luck of the draw.

That being said...given the right circumstances a pro-active consumer CAN alter the outcome of his financial future.

The key word being PRO-ACTIVE!        

Several programs that help consumers have been instituted:

1. One program is called The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act and Debt Cancellation. This program went into effect in 2007 and remains so until 2012. In a nutshell, it's purpose is to assist consumers from having the debt forgiveness, involved in Short -Sales, Foreclosures and re-Financings, become "taxable income".
2. One of my favorite new programs is called Making Home Affordable. It was initiated in February but has had very little press.
   This program offers clear and understandable information, free counseling, information on Loan Modification to make your mortgage more affordable and an assessment tool to see if you are eligible.
   One of the newest offerings is information on the new Mortgage supports for those who are unemployed or underemployed. (The States that are eligible are those that have experienced unemployment at or above the National average over the past 12 months)
3. Here is a list of free centers in New Hampshire that offer National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling.   This is a HUD housing agency and centers information is available for each state.
4. Last....but not least..OCC-Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. If you are being stonewalled, put on hold or just plain ignored by your Lender. This is the place to go for help!

                                                          ~~~~~~~~~

All of these programs (and I'm sure there are many more out there) are in place to help
YOU HELP YOURSELF.     To help you to be PRO-ACTIVE!


Be honest....when trouble is looming on the horizon most of us know it is coming. Even when facing the unexpected...there is a lag time before that "axe falls"

Use that time!

Use it to try and forestall what will happen if things are allowed to take their course.
Be Pro-Active! Please....

I would gladly take your listing but I really don't want it at your expense