Tag: shopping

Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream Flavor Graveyard – Waterbury Vermont

First I must say that of all the New England states Vermont is my favorite. Every time I visit I am stunned by how gorgeous it is and how many delightfully weird people live there. On this particular excursion I drove 5.5 hours from Rhode Island to see the irreverent comedy stylings of Lucy Darling. The show was well worth the drive. That night I slept under a tin roof while it rained and slept like a goddamn baby! Surrounded by mountains, forests, and farmland I didn’t want to leave but unfortunately we all have lives to get back to. That didn’t however mean we couldn’t make time for one little stop to poke around…. which ended up being the Ben and Jerry’s ice cream factory.

It was easy to find, using a highway “that closes in winter because there’s nowhere to put the snow.” The parking lot was… a weird winding Byzantine maze that made very little sense but right next to it was the infamous ice cream flavor graveyard.

I’ve seen photos before but for some reason I didn’t expect them to be real slate gravestones! They were all fenced in like a tiny family cemetery you’d find at the sight of an old farmhouse. But they were colorful and each had a pithy rhyme about their demise. It was so quintessentially Vermont for me, just leaning into the weird and whimsical. And there were people reading them all like we were. A fun moment for sure. Although many of these flavors sounded fantastic so I don’t know why they’ve been relegated to the flavor cemetery. Others…. well, let’s just say as much as I love sweet potato pie I’m not convinced that would have been a hit ice cream flavor.

We walked past a little playground towards the factory where there was a place to create tye dye T-shirts and to buy yourself an ice cream cone. Also a ticket booth for factory tours which on this day was only $6 a person! We would have done that if we weren’t on a time crunch. Instead we poked around the gift shop, grabbing a VW Bus shaped pin and leafing through the pages of two tell all exposes about fighting for the soul of the company. Ben and Jerry’s for a long time was a really good company to work for. They gave stocks to the people sewing their T-shirts and stood at the forefront of social justice… until they made the mistake of making a board of executives who threw these founding visionaries under a bus in favor of corporate greed. I’d be pissed too. Maybe even enough to write two books worth of greivancs.

Their T-shirts were really decent quality, the stretchy material T-shirts used to be made of and were quite cute but I was running low on funds and couldn’t afford the $30, instead opting for a pin to add to my overloved purse.

Someday I likely will come back to do a factory tour and probably buy a T-shirt and a book. All and all it was a cute little distraction for a bit.

0

Chocolate World, Hershey Pennsylvania

It’s been a while since we broke out of New England but we did so last week for a few VERY BUSY days! The following two weeks will likely all be blog entries from said trip so enjoy as I milk this adventure to death. Our destination was North Carolina but that’s a hell of a drive so we decided to stop halfway through to get a chocolate fix and maybe a few giggles.

For some reason I had no idea Hershey Park was a theme park. I thought it was some sort of boring educational park… with chocolate (which if I’m honest makes everything better.) I was a little shocked to see a closed theme park with enough parking lots to cover a small town. The gift shop was open, I was being told. OKAY…

The gift shop was indeed open and full of people with their small children. It was a little weird… who comes all this way for a gift shop? Even myself was more here looking for a bathroom. I’m a creature of simple needs, what can I say? After we found the rest rooms we wandered back into the shops, plural. One had mugs and bric-a-bracs, the other chocolate. So much chocolate. And we had come at the right time of year as there was Easter candy marked down as well as other goodies including Reeses peanut butter cups the size of a child’s head for $5. And if that wasn’t enough there was a long line for people making their own peanut butter cup with whatever fillings they wanted kind of like a sundae bar. Those were expensive though and the line was more than I wanted to deal with. Instead I grabbed a Nutrageous which my companion told me was the best and a package of caramel chocolates which I had no idea Hershey even made. I was also surprised to learn they also owned Twizzlers and Jolly Ranchers. It was fun finding weird flavors of all these things!

We did eventually find an educational display, wandered through it like it was the most fascinating thing on earth, and eventually ended up at a free ride! It was on moving ground… which… made for a very not graceful entrance on my part. Imagine a dog trying to stand in the car and that’s probably about as much balance I had as I plopped into the cart. We then got to ride through a fake factory and see the whole process of how chocolate was made, narrated by animatronic cows and various other critters. It was all very cutesy and I was a little embarrassed at points as it was making me dizzy. Christ, I can’t even handle toddler rides any more. This is getting ridiculous. Don’t age, it’s not fun! But by the end we were rewarded with a free bite size chocolate bar which I felt like I’d earned.

This was a fun little stop off with clean bathrooms! We got our fix of sweets and wandered out maybe half an hour later after peering through the gates to the closed theme park side of things. There’s few things as creepy as abandoned carnival rides without a soul in sight. I approve. Not sure how I’d feel about it if I were there during the season but eh. It was all good.

0

Picture This Framing Center and Gallery – South Kingston Rhode Island

After having a delightful breakfast at the Bluebird Cafe we wandered the plaza and decided to check out the Picture This Framing Center and Gallery which had some absolutely wonderful art in their front window that looked like it was from local artists. All sorts of seascapes, some with krakens which really filled me with such joy. I mean the beach is fun buuut a beach with a kraken is way more exciting! And such a delightful conversation starter to hang on your wall!

Now I don’t have money… or walls I can hang art on… but I needed to go in. This place was small but so goddamn cute. The staff asked us if we needed help right away but we were keen to just be nosey on our own. There was indeed a framing station behind all the art and a nook full of weird and wonderful greeting cards. And at the cashier’s desk I was thrilled to find a bunch of locally written books about the area. I picked one up called The Monkey’s Fist which I assure you is far more PG than it sounds. It was about one man’s life working the ferry that goes to Block Island.

“Have you been to Block Island?”

“No…. it’s on my list though!”

“Oh! You’ll never want to come back!”

High praise indeed. I managed to read the first couple chapters so far and a monkey’s fist is apparently a very seriously heavy knot. You learn something every day! This place was adorable. Should I ever get my dream of a home of my own I will definitely return and request a kraken print or painting. No bathroom is complete without one.

0

The Find on 6 – Johnston Road Island

So it’s been a tick since I have stopped by this blog. Back in the autumn a deer decided to pick a fight with my car and it’s been in the shop for months and I… have been taking a bit of a involuntary hiatus. But this week I did get out for a much needed little jaunt.

The Find on 6 is a consignment and antique store that features a main shop and one big room off of it which was clearly a greenhouse at some point. It was easy to find and charming. Everything was displayed very well and the prices COULD NOT BE BEAT. Seriously, they were beyond affordable. I found two baby blue couches with two matching chairs, all tufted and in great condition. The couch was FORTY EIGHT DOLLARS (after the 26th, but starting at SIXTY-FIVE which is still insanely affordable!!) The chairs were cheaper! I have never wanted to rescue something so bad in my life. But alas! I do not own a Victorian home with a parlour, or a car big enough to fit a couch. Life is just not fair sometimes. So instead of rescuing this adorable living room set I instead let it live in my fantasies when I’m daydreaming about running my own tropical fish store. The couches will be in front of the big display tanks because I believe firmly in building community and encouraging “the slow life.”

The rest of the shop had a fun mix of weird things – a pile of books from a local author, some delightfully bizarre and unique bric-a-bracs and dish wear, a series of items that defied identification, a mimeograph, lots of roosters, and a series of very nice kitchen knives for cheap. I would have likely bought one of those if I didn’t JUST get a good knife for Christmas. I did buy the book about Rhode Island by a local author. One never knows if such things can’t be further inspiration for travels.

I am making a note to come back here if I ever have a house to see what they have for quirky furniture. This place was awesome.

0

Monadnock Berries Troy New Hampshire

I decided to go berry picking this summer because its been many many years since I have done so. And I heard rumors there was a berry farm nearby that had more than just blueberries. Monadnock Berries boasted of blueberries, raspberries, goose berries, red currants, black currants, and white currants. I have never eaten gooseberries or currants so I was keen to check this out. I brought my mother with me even though she’d heard it’d be expensive.

There were signs from the center of town you could follow but it was pretty far out in the woods on a dirt road. You just had to trust there’d be more signs or that your GPS was worth trusting.

Finally we got to the farm which had a nice dirt parking lot on a hill. We followed more signs into a cute little shop which had pre-picked berries, maple syrup, and a few other commodities. There were also cartons and buckets of various sizes to go picking ourselves. We were told we could mix all the berries if we chose to except for the raspberries. They were more expensive and apparently turn into sludge if you pile other berries on top of them – hence the need for separation. As such I declined the raspberries and bought a “small bucket” for $22. It didn’t look big but boy, by the time we were done we had over four pounds of berries! That’s an overflowing large Pyrex mixing bowl! If you’re familiar with how much a tiny carton of berries cost you’ll know this was a steal, the very opposite of expensive.

There were maps via QR code but also signs everywhere. The blueberries were endless, just bunches of bushes. We found the raspberries next, and in front of them was the first row of currants, all black. I tried them and found them to be quite displeasing to my pallet but this was a matter of personal taste. The red currants were nearby and had a remarkably different flavor profile. They were very tangy! I started throwing fistfuls of them into the bucket. The bushes at first didn’t look like they had much on them but with a little closer inspection the lower branches were heavy with berries.

My mother at this point got very into picking red currants and took some convincing to move on. The gooseberries were a good walk away, snuggled next to the white currants which had a delightfully mild taste. The gooseberries were robust in their unique flavor. These two ended up being my favorite berries of the day.

By now it was getting hot, I was overheating, and it was threatening to rain. Our bucket was nearly full anyway so I said we should get some blueberries to top it all off as we walked back towards the store. I was surprised to find the blueberries from different rows also tasted different, perhaps they were of different varieties. I settled on a bush with very large blueberries which I felt were the sweetest. When the bucket was filled we walked back to the counter which felt like it was miles away in the heat. When we turned in the bucket the teenage cashier pulled out the plastic bag lining the bucket and exclaimed how happy it made her to see currants under the top layer of blueberries. Both the teenage girls working today were so friendly and funny I couldnt help but adore their youthful enthusiasm. I paid my $22 and got a cold drink to go.

All and all this was a really fun day. We made out like bandits and there were some adorable goats in a pasture next to the parking lot. This place was awesome. Well worth a visit and family friendly to boot! I could have spent all day taking photos of the luscious berries and the sprawling mountain landscape beyond. This place was gorgeous. I guess that’s why they also host weddings here on Saturdays. I was impressed.

0

Bradstreet Farmstand – Newport Maine

On our way back from the Moore Manor Lavendar Farm we happened upon an old fixture, the Bradstreet farm stand. My mother grew up in these parts and remembers fondly going to school as a child with some of the members of the family that owns this farm.

We had stopped by on this day to see good things we could get to eat and we were not disappointed! Although it was still early in the season they still had quite a bit to offer. I grabbed a bag of fresh peas, some pickling cucumbers, two plump tomatoes, some beets still connected to their greens, and a couple zucchini. Later against the wishes of my body I’d eat the most delicious cucumber and tomato sandwhich with boiled beet greens for dinner later on. No complaints here! Well, aside from my gall bladderless digestive system which now believes cucumbers to be poison. Still worth it. The peas also served for a fun snack for me as I like them raw.

These veggies were pricier than the super market but much fresher and I can’t help but want to support these local ventures as much as I can, especially seeing how old most of our farmers are these days. On this day it was no different as a grandmotherly lady took our money at the counter and quietly laughed at our conversation.

0

Moore Manor Lavender Farm – Newport Maine

I ended up at Moore Lavendar farm twice in one week due to an accidental theft. But before I get to that I’ll tell you a little bit about the place.

Moore Manor Lavendar is pretty easy to get to and has a weird little field parking lot as farms usually do. My travel companion on this day was just relieved they also had two portapotties, one attached to the parking lot and one outside the gift shop.

I have heard of pick your own berries or apples but this was my first time at a pick your own lavendar farm. And it was set up really lovely with all sorts of places to sit and enjoy the scenery and aroma. There was even a food truck and on this day two separate groups of picknickers.

They had the drying shed opened up for view to the public as well as a gift shop with everything lavendar you could possibly want. Lavendar bundles, lavendar soap, lavendar clothing, paintings of lavendar, and even lavendar tea and jam. I had no idea you could (or would want to) eat lavendar. But why would I? The smell of lavendar has always given me migraines so I usually stay the hell away from it. Why was I not on this day? Because I’m not very smart, that’s why. And oooo, was it pungent that day! My head was swirling, I was overheating in the sun, and my blood sugar was crashing from a lack of breakfast. Admittedly because of these factors the first trip out was…. unpleasant for me. Still I stuck around as my group picked bundles of lavendar. They were given a twist tie to put said bundle in, some scissors to snip them off the bush, and directions on how to do so and from which bushes, all recieved at the gift shop. Just outside the gift shop pots of live lavendar were set out for sale to anyone who may want to bring this little agricultural adventure home.

Admittedly, I did little on this first day besides find a nice spot away from the activity to just sit and watch. But then after paying for her bundle my mother in her usual fit of ADHD forgot to turn in the three pair of scissors and walked off with them.

This is how we ended up back there two days later and this time around it was cooler, my stomach was full, and I’d mastered breathing through my mouth. In doing so I noticed this place was kind of gorgeous. There was several gardens scattered about with all kinds of different flowers and I spent some time just taking photos of their beauty. We were also greeted warmly and thanked for returning the ill-begotten scissors.

This place was fun, family friendly, and was pretty cheap. On the day we went they were running a two for one deal so we ended up bringing two lavendar bundles home for only six or seven dollars, I can’t quite remember.

0

Mason Hollow Nursery – Mason New Hampshire

About a month ago my mother decided she wanted a garden and ever since I’ve been outside battling a backyard that looks like the jungles of Vietnam.

Initially I had planted some seeds indoors but most did not make it. Then a couple weeks ago I started visiting a series of nurseries with no vegetables left. What gives?? Today I was determined to find something, anything, to put in this damn garden. And that’s how I ended up sooo far off the beaten path today.

I’d never been to the Mason Hollow Nursery but I thought it’d be a good place to check out. People seemed happy with it from the reviews. And so off I went!

Driving in Mason is like going back in time. It’s a town with a modest population but a surprising amount of land which results in a lot of long winding dirt roads to nowhere, the sort of roads you’re never quite sure are roads or just really long driveways. The road to the Mason Hollow Nursery was no different. It was a dirt road jutting off another dirt road. I don’t remember seeing a street sign buuut there was a huge sign with the business name and hours on it do I followed it… in a Prius… down a one lane dirt road with banking on either side making turning around impossible. Even so there were signs everywhere this wasnt quarry parking. How?! Where?! And what is this quarry you speak of?? It seemed to go on forever and get increasingly sketchy with one part that was clearly patched after a wash-out. It made me more than nervous. Then from the forest emerged a few houses which was fortunate because had it not been for their driveways there would have been no way to get around the SUV coming from the opposite direction. Still, these signs of civilization only proved to make me question even more where I was and if this adventure was going to end well. Finally I came to the end at a small dirt parking lot in front of a barn and attached greenhouse. Guess this was it? But it was still a bit confusing. Did I have to go into the barn?

Luckily a small group of people were here as well as a big fluffy Burmese Mountain Dog, all inside the barn. So I walked in and found a small cashier corner and beyond the barn? A huge nursery! An elderly gentleman asked if this was my first time here and gave me a quick run down of what’s what. His wife had started this place and specialized in hostas but there wasalso some succulents, some bushes and trees, some ferns, and around the corner what was left of the veggies.

I took a look at all the flowers but they weren’t blooming yet. The trees and ferns made me giggle a bit. They seemed like varieties I could dig out of the woods here. But then the plants got more interesting. There were several varieties of carnivorous plants next to the vegetables and they were large, very healthy, and absolutely gorgeous. I struggled to find a price tag but I’m sure they were pricey, they always are when you can find them. This was the first time I’d seen them in a local nursery! No matter

I found the veggie section. They were all tomato plants that looked like they’d been in the pot too long and we’re starting to turn yellow. Still, I knew I was late in getting plants this year and they were healthier than the last two nurseries I left empty handed from. Plus, I’d like to support this small local business. They were $5 each. I picked through them and chose the two best looking. I tried wandering up to the check out but got very distracted by a succulent section with some brilliantly colored succulents. The elderly woman responsible for the tomatoes this year asked if I needed a cart. I said no, I was good carrying these two. She told me the Kracken variety was giving her tomatoes into November last year. SWEET.

At the check-out I was told the tomatoes were actually not $5 a piece. It was the end of their season and they’d been marked down to $1.25 each. Seriously?? I excused myself and went back for several more varieties, spending $10 on eight plants. Six different tomato varieties.

Checking out I had a fun chat about the dog who apparently swims like a seal and once got lost using a bed of kelp as a raft. Good times!

I will definitely tell others of this place that seemed like it was out of time. Beautiful plants, wonderfully friendly staff, and an independent business. Whats not to love?

I planted the tomatoes and with any luck should have them growing like crazy soon.

0

Evens and Oddities, Plaistow New Hampshire

This place came out of the blue for me. My travel companion gave me an address to drive to but didn’t say what it was so I was a little surprised it was not another antique store but rather a tiny shop full of dead things. Signs outside said goths were welcome. Okaaaaay…

Inside was a tiny shop set up in a retro circus freak show sort of way. In a series of curios cabinets there were bizarre taxidermy, sarcastic pins and patches, mildly radioactive earrings, and a large silver serving platter full of human teeth! Only incisors.

We bought two grab bags labeled “shit” to be supportive of such an odd shop since we didn’t have the cash to buy the toaster in a bathtub taxidermy duckling. They were full of delightfully weird stickers. Who knew Plaistow was such a fun town! This seemed like the perfect stop after Zoo Creatures… like going from an exotic pet store to the afterlife of an exotic pet store. Fun for all! If you’re unapologetically weird.

2

Time Capsule Antiques, Plaistow New Hampshire

After having an absolute blast playing with the reptiles at Zoo Creatures we decided we should continue on our adventures and see what other trouble we could get into. That’s when we ended up at an antique store on the same road as the aforementioned pet shop.

It was a little place, well kept with very organized displays. The vibe of this shop seemed to be one of nostalgia for millenials. Though there was the usual antiques – vassiline glass, the odd creepy doll, salt shakers and what not, there seemed to be more nostalgic toys – rainbow colored storm troopers, plushie girl gremlins, fidgets, trolls, and the like. It was different and kind of fun. I even got a little giggle out of a blinking doll who had an unfortunate blotch of eye shadow that made her look like she was sporting two black eyes, an illusion made all the more convincing with only one eye open.

My other favorite was a little metal fire truck with a key jutting out of it. When I wound it up I thought it’d drive around but no… it was a music box??

0

Proudly powered by WordPress | Theme: Baskerville 2 by Anders Noren.

Up ↑