My trip to Exeter, NH with Robert (older son) a few weeks ago...we had a great time. He is really excited about attending Phillips Exeter next year. Before we left Exeter, we ended our trip with a great seafood meal:

Every seafood meal Robert has had when we travel out east consists of clam chowder and a lobster roll (pictured on the bottom with fries). 

Robert, wearing his new Phillips Exeter sweatshirt, enjoying a cup of clam chowdah!

I got back from New Hampshire on Friday, April 4 in the evening...Saturday the 5th I was home, catching up on laundry and restocking the refrigerator and the kitchen pantries for the boys, because...Sunday the 6th I was on a plane again heading out east. This time, my destination was Connecticut for a meeting at the Edible Arrangement Corporate office.

Since my husband and I run a couple of pretty good Edible Arrangement stores here in northern California, we were selected to take part in the "Fruit Summit" which is comprised of the top 20 franchise groups in Northern America. The group of 20 represented franchisees from California, Mississippi, North Carolina, Maryland, Texas, Hawaii, Ohio, Illinois, New York, Canada, Michigan and Florida. It was a 2 day meeting (Monday 4/7 and Tuesday 4/8). It was informative and interesting. As always, it is great to get together with other franchise owners to pick their brains on new advertising ideas as well as any operational ideas. 

Reception desk and lobby of the Edible Arrangements office in Wallingford, CT. Fun way to be greeted at the corporate office...looks like the lobby-front of an Edible Arrangements store. The case in the lobby was stocked with chocolate dipped strawberries, apples and pineapple just like the cases are suppose to be in store. 

Anyway...the meeting was over Tuesday evening and I flew back home on Wednesday...arriving back in California around 1:30pm in the afternoon. 

IT IS GOOD TO BE HOME. 

I have been traveling too much this month...and fyi I am leaving town again next Thursday (4/17) - this time with my younger son, Matthew, for a hockey tournament in Chicago. Definitely racking up the frequent flier miles in April!

Well, I wish that I had some stitching to show you...but unfortunately I just haven't put any X's into anything. It has been crazy this month. Hopefully I will take some time to make X's...if you can send some stitching mojo my way I would appreciate it!

Until next time, take care and remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and [try to] Stitch often!

Lisa

Hello from Exeter, New Hampshire

Hello all and a belated Happy April...hopefully April will starting bringing everyone some spring:

Yesterday, Robert (older son) and I flew across the country - from California on the west coast to New Hampshire on the east coast. It was about 6 hours of plane time. Not too bad...flights were pretty smooth and both legs (from Oakland, CA to Chicago, IL and Chicago, IL to Manchester, NH) were on-time departures followed by early arrivals. Pretty much unheard of these days.

From Manchester, NH we drove the 30 miles to Exeter, NH where we arrived at our hotel around 5:30pm. After a little drive around town, "to get a feel for the land", we headed to dinner at The Lobster Boat. I enjoyed a shrimp cocktail and a lobster salad - fresh green lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes with HUGE chunks of fresh lobster - YUM! Robert enjoyed the classic lobster roll and fries. Just look at those HUGE chunks of fresh lobster...is your mouth watering yet?

It was a nice low-key meal, nice to be spending time with Robert during these events, especially since he will be going away to school here next year.

Bed-time couldn't come soon enough. Those long travel days from one coast to the next are draining. Both of us got ready for bed. I set my alarm for 7am so that I could get up and going...as well as get use to the east coast time (3-hours later than I am use to).

Wednesday, April 2

This morning, after hitting the snooze button on my phone, I got my lazy butt out of bed around 7:45am and got ready to go out for a walk/jog...even though the temp outside was 30 degrees (20 degrees colder than at home in California). I enjoy getting out around these small New England towns, something I did last August when Robert and I were out here looking at colleges. 

Here are some of the sights I saw while doing the 10 mile walk/jog:

There is definitely a lot of history back east. Many of the houses that I past by had plaques on them - several circa 1710-1882, several had plaques that called out the name of the person who lived there and the date of the house, other's noted special events that occurred or famous persons who visited (Folsom Tavern, circa 1775, had the plaque noting George Washington was entertained there on November 4, 1789).

Other sites I spied during my walk/jog:

I just love looking at the colonial architecture of the residences. The Main Street is quaint with several shops and eating establishments.

Eventually I made it to the school - Phillips Exeter Academy - the reason for our visit...

 I just went around the edges of the campus during my walk/jog. Tonight we are going to the Athletic Dinner which takes place on campus - where Robert will get to meet some of the new and current hockey players who will walk with us to the dinner. Tomorrow is when we go to the Experience Exeter event - where I get to meet other new parents and tour the campus, while Robert is paired up with a current student and attends classes.

After I got back from my walk/jog, Robert and I got cleaned up and walked back down to Main Street where we had a little bite of lunch. We enjoyed a bowl of warm soup and some home made bread.

I enjoyed a couple of slices of Cranberry Orange bread and Chicken-n-Rice soup. Yum! Nice and warm and filling!

Well, it is time to go and take a nap! Until next time, take care and remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often!

Lisa