Woke up early this morning and went out on a short road trip with my mémère to The Old Country Store and Museum in Moultonborough, NH. She loved the place and I had never been there so we drove up. The view of the lake was a beautiful sight as we drove along the winding road, the smell of winter, the smells of fires wafting up to my nose, being lulled into a sense of peace while listening to country music on the car radio. The store itself was also a sight, bringing both of us back in time to a childhood now past. I walked around in awe loving the place instantly and in shock that my pépère hated going there and felt it a waste of precious time.
the docks up as the boats are no longer in use
the storefront
it would have been amusing had it been snowing
old time puzzlesold player piano sadly it is out of order
I was tempted to buy the one that played Yesterday
behind the candy counter at the front of the store
old cash register and candy
peppermint puffs yum
old gum machine love the little figure inside
another old cash register
this kept the store nice and toasty
my purchase couldn’t the keys they will be added to my ever growing collection the taffy was devoured as soon as I got home
As we drove back home we continued to reminisce on our childhood and talk about whatever came to mind. A friend told her his son said we were going to get four feet of snow. The two of us highly doubt we will get anything let alone four feet but non the less this got us talking about the big snowstorm we had when I was around eight years of age. At the time my younger brother, my parents, and me lived with my mémère and pépère in Hudson. That year there was a bad snowstorm and we were without power for four days. (In my mind it seemed like weeks.) I recalled building up snow piles in which to store our food from the fridge. We kept our milk, eggs, meat and other perishables in the snow by the sliding door at the back of the house. We made sure to dig them in deep to keep animals out. We had a wood stove so we kept warm by it and used its flat top to cook food. I remember taking bread and placing it on top to toast it. She had oddly enough been talking to a friend last week about the event, though she forgot that it was us who had been there. She also found it amusing that I could remember the event. I am often amazed what I can remember from my childhood despite the fact I often forget what I had for breakfast.
It is fascinating to think of the events that will unless brain injury occurs, be forever ingrained in our minds. For her the fire at the farm when she was four and the time she dressed in Sunday best slipped beneath the ice and nearly drowned. For me these memories include the snowstorm, and my near drowning in the pond outside my house. (Apparently near drowning is a common occurrence.) Many of these are so ingrained in our minds because they are traumatic but even happy times are ingrained in our minds. I have fond memories of going crawfishing with my father and of jumping into bails of hay at the family farm. These memories we had fun looking back on in that car.
lake view on the drive back
another view
empty
motel sign
railroad crossing
thefoxskey 