Maple Syrup makes ticks almost tolerable

No I don't mean to eat.. though if I had to choose a topping....

We have been enjoying a few days of nice weather for the end of our stay in NH. Michelle got to get out into the woods for a short hike with her sister Eran and Eran's boyfriend who came up to NH to visit for a couple of days. Was fantastic seeing them and refreshing to get someone to come see us instead of us driving 2500 miles to then have to drive 200 more just to see people. Earlier in the week Michelle's brothers also came up to visit for a couple of days and that was a nice visit too, so this wasn't a unique visit but rare. You might think I am being a bit bitter here given that everyone is busy and this is MY vacation but we invest a lot to get into the area and it is sometimes disappointing when people can't (and understandably so) arrange to travel a little bit to spend some time with us. Times are hard and we understand that but taking a look just at miles traveled... The math supports my position of disappointment and bitterness to a point. A point I am not overly invested in and like I said it was nice to get to see people and get a bit of a visit on my own turf even if it is very boring (pretty though) turf. (Guess i should get off the soapbox now... it is so handy though).

While Eran was here, we were out one night strolling around the family property while various members of the party were inhaling toxins from major tobacco manufacturers (not allowed in my personal habitats, sorry is just how it is) I ended up with 13 ticks on me. I HATE TICKS! (The Tick is a totally different thing and anyone angry at me for hating on something that is so funny has never had one of these little freaks of nature on them) I mean I REALLY hate these damn things. The ticks removed and still feeling totally covered in them we showered and headed to The Muddy Moose in North Conway for dinner. It was great, they cooked my steak exactly how I ordered it and the ribs Michelle got were very good too. The next morning we headed up to Monroe's Family Restaurant in Carrol NH for a great breakfast and to say goodbye to our visitors (we were very close to the ONE major highway in NH this far north and it was convenient for them to head back towards Boston from there). Was a nice visit.

Today, we went up to see my cousin Jeff Parker and his wife Maria Neal at their 'off the grid' house in progress. Both Michelle and I were blown away by how scaled back Jeff and his wife have gotten themselves living and I think if we could afford it we'd start in on building a very similar (though perhaps different building style, we have long wnated a log cabin) house in a close by location. We were and still are very jealous of their amazing house and property sitting in the middle of one of the most wonderful forests that NH has to offer. Getting to see Jeff and Maria was great but we had a secondary motive for visiting them. Jeff makes the absolute best Maple Syrup I have ever had and I have sampled many. Our supply of the good stuff was dangerously low when we left TX but upon return we will be bringing back plenty for the next year or so. If nothing else, obtaining a gallon of NH's finest Maple Syrup made the tick encounter (even though unrelated) completely tolerable.. I think. *twitch*