Born and raised in California, Alyson Horrocks moved to New England with her husband and four children in 2005. She connected instantly with the history, beauty, and rich atmosphere of the region and has never looked back. When Alyson began writing her blog, New England Living, in 2007, her intent was to use it as […]
Learn more about Hartford Denim Company, where everything from denim clutches to jeans, are produced on restored industrial sewing machines.
Sinsibuckwat was the name local Micmac Indians gave to the end of February. The term translated to “the melting of the snow” and “to draw from wood” since it was the time of year when it warmed up just enough for the sap to begin flowing (especially in Connecticut where tapping begins earlier than in […]
Lacking a thermometer, I gauge how cold it is by icy calligraphy on the living room windows: a little rime means we’re nosing zero, but once designs like down feathers and fractals show up—oh boy, we’re trolling in the negatives. This morning: a whole pane of paisleys, which the town website confirms is -17. To […]
Until February 23 when the 22nd Winter Olympics end in Sochi, Russia, the Olympics competitions will hold many of us watching from the warmth and comfort of our living rooms. The training, courage, and endurance of these athletes cannot be captured or measured by fleeting moments on a television screen; nor measured even by the […]
In the 1860s a cross between a White English Terrier (now extinct) and an English Bulldog resulted in a dog named Hooper’s Judge—considered the granddaddy from which all of today’s Boston Terriers are descended. Then, the breed was larger and often used in fighting matches. As the dog was bred down in size, it became […]
Boston has several hot chocolate cafes (shops dedicated exclusively to hot chocolate), many with extra sweet treats. Here are 3 favorites.
Bill Johnson’s lifelong collecting obsession created an unforgettable unknown museum at the Johnson Hall Museum in Wells, Maine.
Tolstoy once said that all happy families are alike, but each unhappy family is unhappy in its own unique way. This month, I’ve found a novel featuring a happy family that is happy in a way entirely its own, which includes house calls for farm animals, a near-fatal shooting, and a flying saucer. The Call, […]
Cannon Mountain is Olympian Bode Miller’s home mountain. It’s also home to the New England Ski Museum and some of my favorite ski trails. On February 7, the world will watch as the Opening Ceremony marks the start of the XXII Olympic Games. According to ESPNBoston.com, there are more than 50 athletes with ties to […]
When the family of artist Oliver Balf combed through a lifetime of paintings, they discovered truths about the artist’s passion, and themselves. October 2010: I remember his being tired but relieved after a long day of international travel. The spare kibbutz “guest house” that we arrived at in advance of a family wedding amused us […]
It’s startling—you see it and think: What the heck is that? On a back road in Brownington, Vermont, a five story granite building looms all by itself on a plateau. It’s not a barn, it’s not a mansion—though it is an ample enclosure of space. And there’s nothing else like it around for miles. The […]
