Buttonwood Inn on Mt. Surprise

Gluten-free Breakfasts Made from Scratch at The Buttonwood Inn

2011-06-14T10:57:00.000-04:00

At The Buttonwood Inn, when a guest informs us that (s)he requires a gluten-free breakfast, we can provide it.  I refer to my gluten-free cookbook or research recipes on the internet.  Our gluten-free guests can rest assured that they will not become ill while on vacation and can also enjoy the same breakfast as everyone else.

I prepare a pancake and waffle mix using a gluten-free flour mix that I keep in my pantry. When I bake muffins, quick breads, cookies, brownies, or cakes containing wheat-derived flours, I substitute gluten-free flours.  I also store a gluten-free bread that I make from scratch in the freezer to use in our Baked Cheddar Cheese Omelet or Baked French Toast recipes.

With a little thought and mindfulness, we can provide delicious gluten-free foods at our inn. Many of our fine area restaurants can also accommodate a gluten-free diet.

Recently, a guest was delighted with his gluten-free pancakes, stating that since being diagnosed with Celiac Disease, this was the first time he had them for breakfast. A few weeks earlier, a father and his daughter (who requires gluten-free) returned to The Buttonwood Inn for their annual hike up Mt. Washington.  On one morning, I prepared a packed "hikers breakfast" containing freshly cut fruit, Morning Glory Muffins, and a Breakfast Panini of scrambled eggs, cheese, and bacon. I substituted gluten-free flour in the muffins and gluten-free bread in the panini.

Our guest's daughter was also thrilled that I baked her gluten-free brownies that were moist, velvety, and rich in chocolate. Here's the recipe for them, which I hope you enjoy!

Gluten-Free Velvety Brownies
Yield: 16 2” brownies
Note: low-fat and low cholesterol

2/3 cup gluten-free all purpose flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt
2 egg whites
1 egg
¾ cup sugar
6 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla
Optional: 1 tablespoon chopped pecans, walnuts, or macadamia nuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8” x 8” pan with vegetable oil.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa, cinnamon, and salt. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk the egg whites and egg slightly. Add the sugar, applesauce, oil, and vanilla and whisk until blended, but don’t overbeat. Add the flour mixture and stir until combined. Pour into baking pan and sprinkle with chopped nuts, if desired. Bake for about 25 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

MAGRR New England - Canine Adoptions

2011-06-03T20:05:00.000-04:00

Bill and I have two adopted dogs that reside with us in our owners' quarters at The Buttonwood Inn. We adopted Clyde, our Black Labrador Retriever/Doberman Mix, in New Jersey five years ago. His former owner kept him in the basement and one day he escaped. Unfortunately, he was hit by a car on a busy highway and suffered a severe injury to his back right leg. Fortunately, a person from the area shelter drove by and rescued him, then arranged emergency surgery at the Raritan Animal Hospital to save his leg. Clyde healed fairly quickly and now goes on hikes with us.

When we moved to The Buttonwood Inn the Summer of 2007, Clyde had a canine brother from NJ, Gus, a Golden Retriever. He was rescued by our son, Tom, when he jumped up and down in the dog pound expressing adopt me! Tom informed me immediately since we lost our beloved Golden to cancer and knew I wanted to get another dog. When Gus turned nine years old, he contracted mast cell tumor cancer. At Raritan Animal Hospital, the tumor was removed and he underwent chemotherapy, which put him in remission for a year.

After we moved to NH, Gus was enjoying life roaming the 6 acres around the inn until he developed another mast cell tumor. Six weeks later he passed on. Finding it difficult to live without our good-natured Golden Retriever, we decided to adopt another one as a new companion for Clyde who also missed his buddy, Gus.

In searching PetFinder.com, we found Britt, a Golden Retriever/Collie Mix, at MAGRR (Memphis Area Golden Retriever Rescue). This is a non-profit rescue organization located in Tennessee fostering and adopting out Golden Retrievers from Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas to folks in the Northeast. They strive to match up dogs with suitable owners by having you fill out a detailed form about yourself and your home environment. Bill and I recently made a home visit with Britt to a home in Maine to determine if the future Golden Retriever owners would be suitable. They are and will be matched up with a Golden Retriever that will come up to NH in the next few weeks. Volunteers from Tennessee drive about 40 dogs in enclosed pens outfitted with beds in a renovated horse carrier. They make stops in each state over a few days to unite them with their new owners.

Vegan Breakfasts at The Buttonwood Inn

2011-06-01T17:45:00.001-04:00

Recently, a return guest brought his daughter to stay at The Buttonwood Inn. He thought he was dropping the bomb on me by stating that she prefers a vegan diet and that she would be satisfied with cereal and fruit for breakfast. I know that when I go on vacation, I would appreciate being served a special breakfast at a B&B, whether or not I was a vegan.

Admittedly, I was challenged with the task of creating a vegan breakfast for his daughter. But the internet always turns out to be my friend and I was able to find recipes with ingredient substitutions. So I ran off to the supermarket and bought most of what I needed in the health food section. The more mysterious ingredients were available in The Local Grocer health food store.

Vegans elect to avoid animal protein and dairy products. So I was able to find an egg replacer (soy based) and substituted soy milk for cow's milk. Vegetable oil can replace butter. So with a little research and extra effort, I was able to serve our guests the same breakfast items which turned out to be delicious!

Here's a recipe for Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Luxuriate in Mt. Washington Valley Spa Treatments

2011-04-02T11:18:00.001-04:00

When you come to The Buttonwood Inn for our Romance Package, you can add a body massage spa treatment. Even if you don't book a Romance Package, you can still opt for a one-hour massage in-house with Moondance Massage, for an additional charge, their therapists set up in your guest room.

If you choose to go off-premises, the massage therapists at Debony Salon in Jackson provide wonderful body relaxation treatments at their salon. The massage therapists at both salons are experienced and considerate offering various types of massage therapies to suit your individual needs. Debony Salon is a full-service salon offering facials, hair, and nail care services and also provides services to bridal parties.

Either way, you'll luxuriate during a one-hour body massage releasing all your muscle tensions and stresses. I've experienced massages at both of these salons and always come away feeling totally relaxed and rejuvenated. I highly recommend that you treat yourself to this delightful, relaxing experience!

To reserve at The Buttonwood Inn for our Romance Package or just stay with us, you can book on-line or call us at 1-800-258-2625.

Buttonwood Maple Trees are Yielding Maple Syrup

2011-04-02T10:31:00.000-04:00

On our 5+ acres at The Buttonwood Inn, we have sugar maple trees that Bill tapped for the past two weeks. After noticing that many of our neighbors collected sap from their sugar maples during March and April, we also wanted to make it ourselves.

There are several ways to collect the sap. Some folks hook up the traditional metal buckets attached to the spiles inserted into the tree trunk draining the sap. Others connect plastic lines to the spiles running from tree to tree accumulating sap in a 50-gallon container. Bill followed a neighbor's technique of hooking up plastic gallon milk cartons to homemade spiles draining our maple sap.

Depending on how much sap is collected at one time, it can be boiled on the kitchen stove, or some neighbors boil large amounts outside on woodburning stoves. Since we tapped five of our sugar maples, we've been boiling it on our kitchen stove.

When the cartons are half full, Bill collects the sap and boils it down in a 3-gallon pot on our stove. It takes about one to two days to boil the sap down into maple syrup. We've boiled 15 gallons of maple sap, so far, to yield about 1.5 quarts of maple syrup. Bill and I will use our homemade maple syrup for our own personal consumption.

We will continue serving maple syrup to our guests from the 4th Place Winner in Yankee Magazine's contest of top maple producers in New England--Fullers Sugarhouse.

If you would like to learn more about maple sugaring techniques, you can explore these links: http://umaine.edu/publications/7036e/ and http://www.tapmytrees.com/coprsap.html

Buttonwood Inn Guest Room Amenities

2011-03-10T13:56:00.002-05:00

Bill and I are always thinking of ways to make our inn comfortable and inviting for our guests without them having to ask for anything. Last year, we added flat screen TVs/DVDs to the remaining guest rooms without them. Guests can either turn on the news and weather, view their favorite TV show, or play any one of the 300+ DVDs in our Mt. Surprise Room.

I also bought a few interesting coffee table books for our Living Room like:

"Bears: A Brief History" a short read about people's encounters with this mysterious and fascinating animal throughout the centuries all over the world. Most of our guests are excited about the prospect of sighting a bear when they arrive at The Buttonwood Inn.

"Space" shows never before seen NASA photos taken in outer space. One could exlore the universe for hours.

"Smithsonian Natural History" compendium depicts crisp photos and descriptions of all flora and fauna on our "good" Earth.

We also display the "National Geographic World Atlas" so our guests can explore other parts of the world with the aid of our magnifying glass.

Responding to guests requests for the best hiking trails, we also furnished the inn with AMC Hiking Guides and maps to trails of various levels of difficulty to help them plan their daily hikes.

Deneen Pottery now supplies us with hand-thrown inividually made stoneware mugs (previously mentioned on our Blog), which most of our guests have been purchasing as keepsakes!

In our guest rooms, we've upgraded our bathroom towels which are provided by The Turkish Towel Company. Many guests enjoy using them because they are larger than most towels and, of course, more absorbent and plush.

We also installed shower gel, shampoo, and conditioner dispensers in our showers that are filled with hand-made soap products and mixed by us with a refreshing scent called "Spring Rain."

Check out our Guest Rooms page from time to time to see what else we may be adding to our guest rooms and common rooms for the enjoyment of our guests! Better yet, book on-line or call us at 1-800-258-2625 to reserve a pleasurable time at The Buttonwood Inn!

Two Weekends in March to Sample Maple Treats

2011-03-02T12:42:00.000-05:00

On March 19 & 20, the NH Maple Producers are sponsoring an event at over 60 sugarhouses across the state where you can sample their maple syrup products. The sugarhouses will be open to the public who want to see how maple syrup is made during this time of year.

The following weekend, March 26 and 27, The Buttonwood Inn, along with other inns in the Bed & Breakfast Inns Mt. Washington Valley association, will host an inn-to-inn tour for guests who stay with us. Participants will sample sweet or savory treats at each of the inns, learn about “sugaring” at maple sugar houses, and visit participating “Maple Country Partners” shops and vendors along the way.

Those participating in the Maple Madness "March" will have the opportunity to gather points toward winning prizes as they travel a specific tour route guided by directions "riddled with clues." The ticket holder who scores the most points will win a $200 certificate good toward a two-night stay at a participating BBInnsMWV Inn.

Join us at The Buttonwood Inn for this enjoyable and fun event and book on-line or call us to reserve at 1-800-258-2625!

Baked French Toast Recipe Published in Pamela Lanier Cookbook

2011-03-01T14:42:00.000-05:00

Bill and I were asked to submit our Pecan and Wild Maine Blueberry French Toast recipe (our signature breakfast entree) to be published in Bed and Breakfast Guide for Food Lovers, Bed and Breadfast Collection by Pamela Lanier. Our recipe is one of 130 recipes submitted by various B&Bs in each of the 50 U.S. states, ranging from sweet and savory entrees to muffins and coffee cakes.

We sold three autographed copies so far and have more books available for purchase at The Buttonwood Inn. The book is also available at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.

22nd Annual Chocolate Festival Was a Success!

2011-03-01T12:57:00.010-05:00

Our 22nd Annual Chocolate Festival was very successful this year with over 700 folks going to the various inn and business stops in North Conway enjoying chocolate treats of all varieties! Our guests very much enjoyed the event because they cross-country skied the Mt. Washington Valley Ski Touring and Snowshoe Foundation trails, which allowed them to enjoy the guilty pleasures of chocolate while burning off the calories.

At The Buttonwood Inn, participants sampled a dark chocolatey Texas Sheet Cake iced with chocolate ganache and topped with toasted pecans.

If you enjoy chocolate, book on-line or call us at 1-800-258-2625 now to reserve a two or three-night package for the 23rd Annual Chocolate Festival on February 26, 2012!

RECIPE FOR TEXAS SHEET CAKE

Cake

2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 large egg yolks, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup sour cream
8 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus extra for the pan
3/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder

Chocolate Ganache Icing

8 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
3 cups confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup toasted pecans, chopped

For the Cake

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease with butter an 18 by 12-inch rimmed baking pan.

Combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Whisk the eggs, yolks, vanilla, and sour cream in another bowl until smooth. Heat the chocolate, butter, oil, water, and cocoa in a large saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally until smooth, about 3-5 minutes. Whisk the chocolate mixture into the flour mixture until combined. Then whisk the egg mixture into the batter and pour into the baking pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 18-20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack.

For the Icing

About 5 minutes before the cake is done, heat the butter, cream, cocoa, and corn syrup in a large saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally until smooth. Remove from the stove and whisk in the confectioners' sugar and vanilla. Spread the icing over the hot cake and sprinkle the pecans over it. Let the cake cool about 1 hour, then refrigerate for 1 hour until the icing is set. Cut into 3-inch squares.

New!--Hand-Thrown Stoneware Mugs Available at The Buttonwood Inn

2011-02-28T12:04:00.000-05:00

Bill and I just received our second order of our newly designed hand-thrown stoneware mugs because our guests purchased more than half of our original order of mugs. They were designed by us and hand-made by Deneen Pottery. Each mug is unique since they are made individually with two glazing applications.

We chose the 10-oz. Queen cup size in plum with burgundy white glazing. Our guests like to purchase them as keepsakes before they leave The Buttonwood Inn.

Come to The Buttonwood Inn and enjoy your morning coffee or afternoon tea in one of our Deneen Pottery mugs.

February Guests Celebrating Their Silver Anniversary!

2011-02-25T14:36:00.000-05:00

Four of our guests, the Galinats and Pierces, from northern New Jersey came up to The Buttonwood Inn for their annual Presidents' Week vacation. It's a five-day vacation where they cross-country ski, snow shoe, shop, and relax in between their excursions. This year, however, was special since they celebrated 25 years of staying at our inn. In fact, they've already prebooked for their 2012 vacation.

Bill and I decided to honor their "Silver Anniversary" by preparing dinner and "breaking bread" with Lorraine, Bill, Laura, and Jeff. We also surprised them by inviting our neighbors and former innkeepers (who they knew the longest), Claudia and Peter, to celebrate and reminisce about their past experiences at The Buttonwood Inn during the 1990s. Bill and I enjoyed hearing the stories about the history of the inn.

Laura and Lorraine brought us a beautiful vase of flowers and Bill bought Cabernet Sauvignon wine. Dinner was served in our Dining Room by candlelight.

We started with tossed salad dressed with a mustard viniagrette and homemade whole wheat bread with gruyere cheese and walnuts. The entree was French-Style Pot Roast, Mashed Potatoes, Agri Dolce Carrots, and Sauteed Broccoli with Garlic. For dessert, we served Baked Apple Dumplings with homemade Vanilla Ice Cream.

We had a leisurely meal with our guests who we consider to be friends and look forward to seeing them again next year. This is one of the most enjoyable parts of innkeeping and we plan to prepare dinner for the Pierces and Galinats again next year.

If interested, here's the recipe for the Baked Apple Dumplings.

Yield: 8 apple dumplings

Dough:

2-1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces and chilled
5 tablespoons vegetable shortening, cut into 1/2-inch pieces and chilled
3/4 cold buttermilk

Apples:

8 Golden Delicious apples
6 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
3 tablespoons golden raisins, chopped
2 egg whites, lightly beaten

For the Dough:

Process the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a food processor until combined. Scatter the butter and shortening over the flour mixture and pulse until the mixture becomes grainy in texture. Transfer the mixture to a bowl. Pour in the buttermilk stirring until a dough forms. Place the dough on a lightly floured counter and knead until well combined. Press the dough into a 4 by 8-inch rectangle and cut in half cross-wise. Wrap in plastic and let rest in the refrigerator for 1 hour.

For the Apples:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. In a second bowl, combine the butter, raisins, and 3 tablespoons of the cinnamon sugar mixture. Peel the apples and slice off 1/4-inch off of the top. Remove the core leaving about 1/2 to 1-inch on the bottom of the apple. Pack in the butter mixture.

On a lightly floured counter, roll each dough half into a 12-inch square and cut it into four 6-inch squares. Working one at a time, lightly brush the edges of each dough square with the egg white and place an apple, cut side up, in the center of each square. Cover the apple one corner at a time, crimping the dough to seal in the apple, leaving a 1/2-inch vent hole at the top. Cut out leaves out of dough scraps and press on the tops of the apples, if desired.

Arrange each apple on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush the tops with egg white and sprinkle with the remaining cinnamon sugar. Bake until golden brown and the juices are bubbling, about 20-25 minutes. Cool the dumplings on the baking sheet for 10 minutes. Serve with vanilla ice cream.

Snowshoeing the Buttonwood Inn Trails

2011-02-11T12:37:00.002-05:00

We strapped on our snowshoes yesterday and took the dogs on a hike heading out the back yard to the Buttonwood Trail. To access it, we walked past the pool house through the neighbor's field to the point where you can either proceed on the Buttonwood Trail or hike the Mt. Surprise Trail. We chose the Buttonwood Trail following the already trodden path by other snowshoers.

This trail goes halfway up Bartlett Mountain and we snowshoed from East to West on a path that is just below the rock outcroppings. We passed over several small streams through woods and partially open fields. I was reminded that humans were not the only visitors wandering around these woods, as I noticed coyote, deer, turkey, and fox tracks near the trail.

Just below the rock outcropping on Bartlett, the view opens up to reveal the Moat Mountains and Loon Mountain further west near Lincoln. Just past this scenic lookout point, we snowshoed a little further and decided to head back down on the loop, rather than proceeding up the steep part of the trail which goes up to the Barlett Ledges. The view from the Bartlett Ledges is phenomenal because you can see the Moats, North Conway Village, Cathedral Ledge, and off to the Northwest, the Presidentials in all their glory.

We proceeded down the trail and had glimpses of the Moats. We crossed over a few more small, frozen streams before we connected to the Mt. Surprise Trail, which led us back to the field where we started our snowshoeing hike. From the Mt. Surprise Trail, you can also hike up Nan's Loop (which is the summit of Mt. Surprise at 900 ft.) to view the Moats.

You too can enjoy these trails. Just bring your snowshoes or rent them from Ragged Mountain Equipment in Glen for a day. It's just you and the beautiful, peaceful forest and mountains. Reserve on-line or call us at 1-800-258-2625!

Featured Valentine's Dessert + Recipe

2011-02-09T15:09:00.001-05:00

I'm a chocoholic, and a traditionalist, so I plan to make moist Chocolate Cupcakes with a Ganache Filling topped with a Creamy Chocolate Frosting for one this Valentine's Weekend dessert.

The fireplaces in our common rooms will be generating a toasty atmosphere to warm your hearts and create comfort when you return from your winter excursions. We have discount tickets for the slopes and cross-country/snow shoeing trails.

We still have some rooms available at The Buttonwood Inn, so please reserve on-line or call us at 1-800-2625.

If you can't join us this weekend, reserve for another. Here is the recipe for the yummy chocolate cupcakes. Enjoy your Valentine's weekend!

Chocolate Cupcakes
Yield: 12 cupcakes

Ganache Filling

2 ounces bittersweet chocolate
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon confectioners sugar

Chocolate Cupcakes

3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped fine
1/3 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
3/4 cup hot coffee
3/4 cup bread flour
3/4 granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
6 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons white vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Ganache Filling:

Place the chocolate, cream, and confections sugar in a medium microwave-safe bowl and microwave until the mixture is warm to the touch, about 20-30 seconds. Whisk the mixture until smooth, then refrigerate until just chilled, no longer than 30 minutes.

For the Cupcakes:

Preheat the oven to 350 degress. Line a 12-muffin tin with cupcake liners. Place the chocolate and cocoa powder in a medium bowl. Pour the hot coffee over the mixture and whisk until smooth. Refrigerate until completely cool, about 20 minutes. Whisk the flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda together in a medium bowl and set aside.

Whisk the oil, eggs, vinegar, and vanilla into the cooled chocolate-cocoa mixture until smooth. Add the flour mixture and whisk until smooth.

Divide the batter evenly among the muffin pan cups. Place one slightly rounded teaspoon of the ganache filling on top of each cupcake. Bake until the cupcakes are set and just firm to the touch, 17-19 minutes. Cool the cupcakes in the muffin pan on a wire rack until cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes. Carefully lift each cupcake from the muffin pan and set on a wire rack. Cool to room temperature before frosting, about 1 hour.

Creamy Chocolate Frosting

1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 large egg whites
pinch salt
12 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened and cut into 12 pieces
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled (between 85-100 degrees)

Combine the sugar, egg whites, and salt in the bowl of a standing mixer, then place the bowl over a pan of simmering water. Heat the mixture, whisking gently but constantly, until slightly thickened and foamy and it registers 150 degrees on an instant-read thermometer, 2-3 minutes.

Using the whisk attachment, beat the mixture on medium speed in a standing mixer until it reaches the consistency of saving cream and is slightly cooled, 1-2 minutes. Add the butter, 1 piece at a time, until smooth and creamy. (The frosting may look curdled after half of the butter has been added; it will smooth with additional butter.) Once all the butter is added, add the cooled melted chocolate and the vanilla and mix until combined. Increase the speed to medium-high and beat until light, fluffy, and thoroughly combined, about 30 seconds, scraping the beater and sides of the bowl. (The frosting can be made up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerated covered tightly. When ready to frost, place the frosting a microwave-safe bowl and microwave briefly until just slightly softened, 5-10 seconds. Stir until creamy.)

Great Doggie Day Care and Vacation Spot in Conway, NH

2011-02-04T19:02:00.000-05:00

During our last two trips, we reserved a "room" for our two dogs, Clyde and Britt, at Karla's Pet Rendevous in Conway, NH. It's located 15 minutes south of The Buttonwood Inn on Route 16, a convenient drop-off and pick-up point.

Karla's Pet Rendevous is a one-story building set up with a reception area, dog bathing and grooming room, and individual glass-enclosed rooms for the pets to stay during their vacations. Beds and blankets are also provided, but you provide your pet's food. The place is clean with no hint of pet or cleaning agent odors. The staff is friendly and interested in interacting with your pet. Our dogs were immediately greeted by their caretaker and taken outside in the back yard to play with the other dogs (under supervision to ensure that everyone got along), while we checked them in.

When we returned to pick up Clyde and Britt from both trips a week later, they were calm and quiet, yet happy to see us. So that is my clue that they were well taken care of while we were away. I almost didn't recognize Britt, our Golden Retriever/Collie mix, since he was bathed and trimmed/combed of all of his unruly hair (looking 5 pounds thinner). Clyde was also bathed, groomed, and nails trimmed, providing him with a shiny, new coat.

So if you want peace of mind in leaving your pet under someone else's care while you're traveling, we would highly recommend Karla's Pet Rendevous.

From the Camden Aquarium to Dinner at Babbo in the Village

2011-02-03T08:48:00.003-05:00

When we visited our children last November, we spent time at the Camden Aquarium with our son, Tom, and his wife, Lori. It's well designed where there are individual exhibits of various fish and marine life from all over the world, including penguins, seals, and hippos.

The next day, the two boys, Bill and Tom, went with me back to Camden harbor to explore the most decorated battleship in U.S. history, the U.S.S. New Jersey. The tour guide, a retired Navy officer, elucidated us about the design and workings of the ship which was first used in World War II. Both of these venues are worth a full day of sightseeing.

OK--Now onto the NYC trip with our daughter, Alexandra. She purchased tickets for the 2010 Tony-award winning play, "Memphis." It was based on an interracial couples' relationship during the late '50s/early 60's with the evolution of blues/soul music as a subplot. It's definitely a must-see if you're in the City!

Alex made the mistake of asking me where I would like to go for dinner after the play. I replied, "Mario Battali's restaurant, BABBO, of course!" She said she would try, but not to get my hopes up. She lucked out and scored a reservation and we enjoyed an absolutely fabulous meal featuring dishes from the various regions of Italy. In Italy, every part of the animal is used in culinary preparation and at Babbo in very creative ways. I plan to add The Babbo Cookbook to my Cookbook Library.

Valentine's Special Dessert - Which one would you like me to serve?

2011-01-29T16:27:00.002-05:00

For Valentine's Weekend (February 11-14. 2011), everyone enjoys some type of dessert with chocolate in it! I have several in mind and would like your input as to which one I should make at The Buttonwood Inn and serve to our guests.

1) Turtle Brownies - dark chocolate brownies with caramel swirling through them and glazed on top with a whole pecan decorating each square.

2) Texas Sheet Cake - a thin, moist cake (the height of a brownie) containing two kinds of chocolate (making it almost black since it's so chocolatey) covered with a chocolate ganache icing and chopped pecans.

3) Chocolate Cupcakes - a chocolate cupcake (with three times the chocolate) that is baked with a chocolate ganache filling on top, then iced with a creamy chocolate frosting (not too much chocolate, in my opinion).

4) Chocolate Malt Sandwich Cookies - a double cookie sandwich with a malt flavored chocolate filling in the center.

You tell me...hard choices, I know. Email us at innkeeper@buttonwoodinn.com with your Number 1-4 choices in order of preference. The second place winner will be made for the Chocolate Festival during February 25-27, 2011. First and second place winning recipes to follow!

March Maple Madness - Buttonwood Delectable Ice Cream Treat & Recipe!

2011-01-29T15:56:00.001-05:00

Come join us and stay at The Buttonwood Inn March 25-27, 2011 for March Maple Madness touring various inns sampling maple-inspired treats. We will make homemade ice cream this year for participants who will also have a chance to win a stay at any one of these inns as just one of the prizes.

Please check out our March Maple Madness package and book on-line or call us at 1-800-258-2625 to reserve.

Here's our recipe for Maple Pecan Ginger Ice Cream--enjoy!

MAPLE PECAN GINGER ICE CREAM

Yield: About 4 cups

3/4 cup pure maple syrup

2 cups half and half

5 egg yolks

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 cup pecans, lightly toasted and chopped

½ cup crystallized ginger, finely chopped

In a saucepan, heat the maple syrup and half-and-half until scalding. Whip the egg yolks with the sugar until the mixture is starting to foam, about 2 minutes. Gradually add the scalded cream mixture while whipping rapidly. Place the combined mixture back into the saucepan and continue to cook over a low heat, stirring constantly, until thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon. Remove from the heat and immediately stir in heavy cream. Let the custard cool, stirring every 5 minutes, to prevent a skin from forming. After slightly cooled, cover with plastic wrap setting it directly on the custard and up the sides of the bowl to prevent the skin from forming. Allow the custard to chill in the refrigerator for several hours. Process in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s directions. Towards the end of freezing, stir in the pecans and crystallized ginger. Store covered in the freezer.

New Year's Eve Celebration - 2010

2011-01-15T13:02:00.001-05:00

For the past several years, we've had guests stay at The Buttonwood Inn on our New Year's Eve package, which includes New Hampshire made chocolates on arrival.

On New Year's Eve, champagne (or sparkling cider) and appetizers made by Paula are served in our Living Room by the fire followed by a 5-course dinner at the Thompson House Eatery. At breakfast the next morning, our guests raved about the 5-course dinner because they were able to order from a variety of appetizers, entrees, and desserts and the servers were friendly and attentive. The majority also exclaimed it was possibly the best meal they've ever enjoyed!

When our guests arrived back at the inn, if they were still in the celebrating mood, they could have watched the ball drop at midnight in NYC Times Square on our big screen TV in the Mt. Surprise Room by a toasty fire.

Here's a recipe for the crab strudel appetizer that was a big hit, among the other tasty appetizers:

CRAB STRUDEL

Ingredients

12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, divided

3 scallions, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 teaspoon curry powder

1 pound lump crabmeat, drained and picked to remove shells

2 teaspoons fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

1 lime, juiced

Kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

10 sheets phyllo dough (such as Pepperidge Farm)

1/4 cup plain dry breadcrumbs

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a medium saute pan, add the scallions and garlic and cook over medium-low heat until the scallions are soft, approximately 5 minutes. Add the curry powder and stir.

Shred the crabmeat into a bowl and mix with the parsley, lime juice, salt, to taste, and pepper. Add the crabmeat to the scallion mixture.

Melt 10 tablespoons of butter in a small pan and set aside.

Unfold 1 sheet of the phyllo dough. Brush the sheet with melted butter and sprinkle with bread crumbs. Repeat the process by laying a second sheet of phyllo dough over the first sheet, brush it with melted butter and sprinkle with bread crumbs until 5 sheets have been used. Spoon a 1-inch wide row of the crab mixture along 1 edge of the phyllo dough. Roll it up. Brush the top with butter and set aside. Repeat the entire process using the all the phyllo dough and crab filling.

Cover a sheet pan with parchment paper. Score the crab strudel diagonally into 1 1/2-inch pieces and bake for 12 minutes, or until the top is lightly brown. Slice and serve.

Polar Express Families - 2010

2011-01-15T11:50:00.001-05:00

As I take down the Christmas tree, I'm reminded of the weekends that we had families stay at The Buttonwood Inn for the Polar Express event. After returning from our vacation visiting our children in NYC and NJ, we quickly erected the Christmas tree and decorated the inn inside and out for the first arrival of children and their parents the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I decorated the tree with hand-painted ceramic Christmas ornaments of mice in holiday attire, Peanuts, and Sesame Street characters that I made for our own children's tree when they were babies.

On the first day of the family's arrival, I baked mini cupcakes decorated with light-green frosting sprinkled with shiny clear sprinkles, resembling freshly fallen snow. After searching through my huge tin container for the Christmas cookie cutters, I made hand-rolled sugar cookies decorated with Royal icing in seasonal colors, sprinkles, and piped designs. These cookies were served as a special treat for the children to enjoy dressed in their pajamas in the Mt. Surprise Room watching the Polar Express movie before they boarded train that evening.

Though all of the families expressed that they had a wonderful experience on the Polar Express and visiting Santa at the North Pole, there is one family that made it a complete surprise for their two young children. Thus, the parents and grandparents were able to observe the surprise and merriment of the children when they finally met Santa Claus.

Another family on the last weekend comprised two mothers with four older children who simply wanted to experience the "magic" of riding the Polar Express, drinking hot chocolate, and singing songs on the way to meet Santa. After the last family left The Buttonwood Inn, we read their comments in our room guest books writing that they not only felt the majic of visiting Santa at the North Pole, but also felt the majic of The Buttonwood Inn.

This is why Bill and I work very hard to make each families experience memorable and enjoyable allowing us to experience the true spirit of Christmas.

Ladies Shoppers Weekend - November 2010

2011-01-13T12:08:00.000-05:00

Bill and I enjoyed hosting the fourth year of the ladies shoppers group during the second weekend last November. From the moment they arrived usually by noontime, they began their shopping excursions and girlfriend lunches catching all of the major sales before the Holidays. We reserved a group dinner (22 ladies this past year) at Vito Marcello's Italian Restaurant on Friday night where they arrived via a taxi van.

The next morning, we put out coffee early for them so they were all able to gather in the Living Room in their PJs and talk and laugh before breakfast. Afterwards while Bill cleared the Dining Room, I chatted with them about the good buys they got on clothing (to which Bill retreated to the kitchen). Then the ladies were out the door by 10 am off shopping and lunching in smaller groups. Bill and I provided them with shopping handbags that had "survival" provisions (drinks and snacks) and the VIP coupon good at most stores.

At the end of the day on Saturday, they came back to the inn to wrap gifts and prepared for their party in the Mt. Surprise Room. They rearranged the furniture so they could all sit together to enjoy drinks, appetizers, stories, and games. Bill and I retreated to our owners quarters and saw them at breakfast the next morning.

So if you would like to reserve The Buttonwood for a shoppers weekend or any other type of group gathering any time of year, we can accommodate your needs in our spacious common rooms and idyllic location nestled in the mountains very near North Conway.

Huge Shoppers Weekend in North Conway

2010-11-10T18:05:00.000-05:00

November 11 - 13: Bring A Friend Shopping Weekend at Settlers' Green Outlet Village Plus -
There will be plenty of giveaways, prizes, and fun activities to make shopping fun this weekend. Extended hours of shopping from 8 am to 9 pm except Sunday 9 am to 6 pm. This is the sale you wait for! Sign up early this year for access to the VIP Tent. Free shopping bags loaded with discount coupons and gifts to the first 1000 shoppers. Gift with purchase on Sunday & Monday.

Each year several women's shoppers groups return to the Buttonwood Inn on the second weekend in November to take advantage of the great sales at Settlers Green Outlet Stores. This Friday and Saturday, we will have 22 women shoppers in the inn where they'll wrap their Holiday gifts in the Mt. Surprise Room and then have their annual Saturday night party!

Tomatoes, tomatoes, and more tomatoes!

2010-09-09T10:21:00.000-04:00

Finally after two summers of trying to grow a vegetable garden with fresh tomatoes, we're successful this summer. Due mainly to the dry and hot summer weather we've been experiencing, the tomatoes are thriving and continue to ripen. I made my first batch of tomato sauce two days ago and added my homemade Italian sausage to it. Yum!!!

We are growing plum tomatoes (in addition to heirlooms and beefsteaks) which are ideal for make tomato sauce. But when they come off the vine and as we become busier with guests staying at our inn, I'll just wash them and throw them in freezer bags and freeze them whole until I'm ready to make sauce. As an alternative to a laborious canning process, the defrosted tomatoes are soft but retain their flavor and juices and the skins just peel off. Put them in the food processor, then the pot to make Italian tomato sauce. How easy is that...

Here's a recipe for my homemade Italian sauce. Enjoy!

Italian Sauce

2 28-oz. cans of Cento San Marzano plum tomatoes or 20-24 fresh plum tomatoes

1 6-oz. can of Cento tomato paste

10 cloves of garlic, sliced or minced

8-10 basil leaves, sliced

2 tablespoons of olive oil

Saute garlic in olive in a large pot until tender, but not browned, for a couple of minutes; then add basil. Process plum tomatoes in a food processor until pureed and add to garlic and basil mixture and simmer for half an hour. Add cooked meatballs and simmer for another 30 minutes. Serve over your favorite cooked pasta.

New Adirondack Chairs and Benches at The Buttonwood

2010-09-09T10:11:00.000-04:00

Ever since we bought our first two sets of double Adirondack chairs with a built in table for the front of our property, we've longed to purchase more for the back of our property to take in the mountain views and animal sounds from the forest.

This summer we purchased another double Adirondack chair, a large single chair, and a bench which we placed in our back garden above the pool area. These chairs are solid and comfortable and made from cedar, so they'll last a long time. Robin and Rob make these chairs and seem to always be in production throughout the year, since they're so popular. Check out their website for more info. on their product line.

Scenic Chair Lift at Bretton Woods

2010-09-08T12:20:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, Bill and I seized the moment on a glorious late summer afternoon and drove up to Bretton Woods to ride up the mountain on the ski chair lift. Not a cloud in the blue sky, just a nice cool breeze as we took in the beautiful expanse of the Presidentials. You can have lunch at the top in their restaurant and linger as long as you would like just enjoying the view.

Buttonwood Cookie Recipe Featured in "Family Travel Guides Newsletter"

2010-09-08T12:09:00.001-04:00

If you like cookies as much as "Cookie Monster" on "Sesame Street," then try our Buttonwood recipe for Maple Pecan Shortbread Cookies recently published in the "Family Travel Guides Newsletter." Enjoy!

http://www.familytravelguides.com/newsletter/2010/aug.10.html

Homemade Italian Sausage--So Easy!

2010-07-15T10:33:00.000-04:00

I've been using my sausage machine with wanton abandon lately, making breakfast sausage and now Italian sausage. It's amazingly simple, but a little time-consuming because you do have to cut up the pork into small cubes to prepare it for the sausage machine.

The result is amazingly tender and flavorful sausage with just a few seasonings and fennel seeds. Here's the recipe:

Italian Sausage

2 pounds of boneless pork butt, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
1-1/2 teaspoons fennel seeds
1-1/4 teaspoons salt
3/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Toast fennel seeds in pan on stove for about 3 minutes until fragrant and slightly browned. Remove from pan and place on dish to cool. Then pulverize them in a mortar and pestle or grind them in a spice grinder. Combine the fennel seeds in a medium bowl with the salt, pepper, and chopped parsley; then add the diced pork and mix. Refrigerate covered for 1 hour; remove and put through the sausage grinder. Make patties or cook as small chunks in any recipe that incorporates Italian sausage.

Note: I'm not partial to sausage links since I don't like the casing, so I just use the bulk sausage in pasta recipes or sauce.

Cranmore Summer Concerts

2010-07-15T10:12:00.001-04:00

If you happen to be traveling to North Conway and plan to stay at The Buttonwood Inn, you may want to take in a concert on a Thursday or Friday evening at Cranmore Mountain Resort during their Summer Concert series in July and August. Cranmore is located about 1 mile down Kearsarge Road from the inn.

This Friday, July 23, you can see "Assembly of Dust" with special guest "The Brew"--doors open at 5:00 pm and music is from 6:00-10:00 pm.

Tickets are $19 in advance or $25 at the door--purchase by phone at 1-800-706-0432 ext. 230 or on-line at http://www.cranmore.com/#

Wednesdays at Wildcat

2010-07-13T10:54:00.000-04:00

From July 7 through August 25 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon, Wildcat is hosting free, except for the cost of a gondola ride on some outdoor excursions, with a naturalist from Tin Mountain Conservation Center. You will learn about the flora and fauna (including moose) of the alpine environment in the Presidential Range.

All you need to do is show up at the Wildcat Ski Lodge around 9:45 am to join in on this educational and fun activity.

"The inn thing was a pleasant surprise"--nashua telegraph.com

2010-06-20T17:36:00.000-04:00

Recently, Richard Learned and his wife, Jan, stayed with us at The Buttonwood Inn. Bill and I very much enjoyed their visit to the inn. It's alway fascinating learning about folks from the "greatest generation" and listening to their stories. Our parents were from this era too and it brings back fond memories of their experiences.

Richard is a writer of books and a weekly column for the Sunday Nashua Telegraph. Surprisingly, he was interested in interviewing us for an upcoming article about in-state (NH) vacations as an alternative to more expensive lengthier vacations taken by most people pre-Great Recession.

Bird watching at the Buttonwood

2010-06-17T10:14:00.001-04:00

Just four years ago, it was determined that in the U.S. there were 3,000,000 dedicated bird watchers. Bill and I have been fascinated for years watching birds.

As a result, we put out feeders with bird seed all year round and hummingbird feeders in the spring and summer. Bill makes the sugar syrup with a ratio of 3 cups of water brought to a simmer, then stir in 1 cup of sugar until dissolved; let solution cool completely before adding to the feeder.

On occasion the hummingbird feeders have attracted a bear, which soon learned that in trying to drink the syrup, it didn't get any "bear candy" because he drained it onto the ground when knocking off the bottom of the feeder. Last time that happened, our guests were very amused and privileged to see a young bear on our front porch and captured the event on film.

In our New Hampshire location, we are amused by hummingbirds throughout the day from May until early September when they fly off to South America for the winter. We've seen countless other types of birds from piliated woodpeckers to Cooper's hawks. When you come to The Buttonwood Inn, you can view a video in the Mt. Surprise Room of our wonderous nature, both fauna and flora.

Time to harvest the rhubarb and make cake!

2010-06-02T10:18:00.001-04:00

Time to harvest the rhubarb this weekend. I usually get about 70-80 stalks from the two plants growing in the yard behind the inn. It seems every other neighbor grows rhubarb up here in New Hampshire, since it's a cool season, perennial plant.

I clean it and slice it up in the food processor and freeze it in separate plastic bags to use in my Honey Rhubarb Walnut Bread. But I wanted to try a dessert recipe for Memorial Day as we had friends over for a barbecue. Here's a wonderful recipe for Rhubarb Upside-Down Cake that is packed with flavor due to the tart, yet sweet, flavor of the rhubarb accented with orange zest on top of a dense, buttery cake.

RHUBARB UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE Yield: 1 10-inch Round Cake, Serves 10

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 10-inch round cake pan and dot with 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter, cut up into small pieces.

Crumb Topping

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

½ cup all-purpose flour

¼ cup sugar

¼ teaspoon Kosher salt

Mix together until moist and crumbly, and put aside.

Rhubarb

1 pound rhubarb sliced sharply on the diagonal ½-inch thick

¾ cup sugar

Toss rhubarb with sugar and let stand a few minutes, then toss again.

Cake

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1-1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon Kosher salt

1 stick unsalted butter, softened

1 cup sugar

½ teaspoon finely grated orange zest

1 tablespoon of orange juice

2 large eggs

1 cup sour cream

Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl. Beat remaining stick butter and cup sugar with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy. Beat in zest and juice. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, until incorporated, scraping down sides of bowl. Beat in flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with sour cream, until smooth. Spread rhubarb evenly in the baking pan over the dotted butter. Then spread cake batter over the rhubarb and crumble topping evenly over batter. Bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hour until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

Buttonwood Memorial Weekend Events and Special Deal

2010-05-27T12:40:00.000-04:00

Check out our Memorial Weekend Events and Special Deal in honor of our U.S. active duty Armed Forces and veterans at the Buttonwood Inn located on our home page!

http://buttonwoodinnspecials.blogspot.com/

Alliums first to bloom...

2010-05-20T10:27:00.000-04:00

The alliums are the first to bloom among the native New Hampshire spectacular beauty, the lupine, in our backyard garden. An allium is a unique, single stalked flower that towers 3-4 feet above the other flowers with a globe-shaped spikey flower, which is still attractive after it's dried. Alliums are deer resistant and are planted from bulbs in the Fall.

Lupines grow among each other in home gardens and in fields across New Hampshire. We even have a June Lupine Festival in their honor when they bloom in various shades of purple, pink, and white.

A few years ago, when we first bought the Buttonwood Inn, we had about two to three plants--now we have more than a dozen along the pool fence in the back yard and quite a few more in the various gardens around the inn. I've transplanted a few after they bloom where they've spread their seeds in the garden. The suggested way to grow lupines is to harvest their seeds in the early Autumn, dry them, and plant them the next Spring. Aside from their beautiful conical-shaped summer blooms, lupines are hardy, deer resistant, and require little care.

Going organic—planting a garden…

2010-05-04T11:18:00.001-04:00

Now that the snow has melted and the weather is a balmy 80 degrees (Yikes!) here in North Conway, NH, it’s time to start the vegetable seedlings in the egg cartons and place them in the sunny windows in the inn. We’ll expand our NH garden to nearly twice the size this year and place some vegetable and herbs in between the flowers too.

The rhubarb is growing and I should be able to harvest it by the end of May. As usual, I will make Honey Rhubarb bread as a starter for breakfast, which is a favorite of our guests. Here’s an interesting recipe for an Upside Down Rhubarb Cake from the Martha Stewart website.

Do you know the source of the food that is on your plate?

2010-05-03T13:52:00.002-04:00

In a recent PBS, P.O.V. broadcast of the 2010 Oscar nominated documentary entitled, Food, Inc., the filmmaker, Robert Kenner, shows that the food we eat in America is not generated on small farms any longer. Over the past few decades, small farms have been eliminated and now a few major corporations provide our food. It’s a highly mechanized process dictating how the animals are raised in the most inhumane conditions. Cattle, pigs, and chickens no longer graze in green pastures eating grass or grain, but exist in large feed lots crammed next to each other steeped in their own excrement. To control disease, the animals are given antibiotics in their corn feed, but more strains of E. coli have developed affecting 73,000 Americans annually.

You can also read the article, "Getting Real About the High Price of Food," in Time magazine by Bryan Walsh.

We do have a choice, however, to eat organically raised animals, vegetables, and fruits though a little higher in cost. In fact, here in New England, there are many small, family-owned organic farms going back to the natural way of raising animals in pastures feeding on grass and grains. Bill and I just ordered a quarter of grass-fed beef that will rotate feeding on grass in the open pasture, which turns out to be economical and ensures a safe food source.

New Buttonwood Inn outdoor experience!

2010-04-21T12:30:00.001-04:00

Over the past month, Bill and I have been working in the inn “yard” raking leaves, cutting down trees for next winter’s firewood, and cleaning out flower gardens. Yesterday we found a treasure trove of rocks in the forest to create a fire pit ring for our Chiminea stove. This new addition to the backyard will serve two purposes: we can burn the tree branches and sticks that land on the property and, more importantly, enjoy relaxing with a beverage of choice sitting around the fire after a long day’s work.

In the summer, our guests can also enjoy this experience conversing with other guests or looking up at the constellations in our glorious New Hampshire night sky. Big kids and little kids of all ages can toast marshmallows over the fire too. You’ll enjoy the best of both worlds, staying in the comfort of our inn while experiencing the outdoor fun of a camping evening.

Only microsculptor in the world

2010-03-24T10:45:00.001-04:00

If you saw this past CBS Sunday Morning show, you would have been impressed, as I was, by the microsculptor, Willard Wigan, from Birmingham, England. He is currently showing his minute sculptures of people through microscopes. For example, he sculpted Charlie Chaplin on the end of a human eyelash using a microscope to create it. Wigan, currently, is the only artist in the world who does microscopic sculpting and strives to make even tinier sculptures. He is now introducing his works in the US market which go for over a $100,000 for each sculpture and is exhibiting in the Atlanta Art Gallery.

New Hampshire also has many artists, including talented photographers, across the state who mainly capture the surrounding natural beauty of the White Mountains, rivers, lakes, and countryside. It's not an uncommon sight to see them sketching or photographing The Presidentials on the White Mountain Highway in North Conway. Some of these artistic works can be viewed in the White Mountain Artisans Gallery, The Underground Gallery, or the Mt. Washington Valley Visual Arts Center, to name a few.

In fact, we are displaying and selling several photographs of the Mt. Washington Valley area taken by a guest from California, Jeffrey Aiello, who stayed during Fall Foliage. If you visit The Buttonwood Inn, you can view or purchase his work from us or go directly to his website, Jeffrey Aiello Photography, and look in the Portfolio for New England.

Interesting neighbors on Mt. Surprise

2010-03-13T11:08:00.000-05:00

Bill and I plan to "escape" from the inn this evening to attend a slideshow and talk, "Lost on Everest: An Evening with Thom Pollard." We've had our neighbors and friends, Thom, Kristen, and their boys, Will and Sam, over for dinner and always enjoy hearing about his recent filming adventures all over the world. Now we'll see Thom "in action" professionally this evening.

The talk at Kennett High School is about Thom's 1999 PBS Nova and BBC expedtion with a filming crew that climbed Mt. Everest in search of two climbers, George Mallory and Sandy Irving, who were trying to reach the summit in June 1929. Thom and his crew found Mallory's body on May 1, 1999. In an effort to solve the mystery of whether Mallory and Irving made it to the top of Everest, Thom and his crew plan to go back next year to find Irving's body and Mallory's camera which would produce evidence if either reached the summit. You can read more about this interesting adventure in today's article on page 14 of the Conway Daily Sun.

Chocolate Lovers Festival Weekend

2010-03-12T10:40:00.000-05:00

If you enjoy chocolate as much as I do and most of our guests who stayed with us for the 21st Annual Chocolate Festival on February 28, 2010, you may want to plan ahead and come for the last Sunday in February 2011. Aside from the delectable chocolate goodies provided by various inns and retail stores, the Mt. Washington Valley Ski Touring & Snowshoe Foundation added an additional incentive for participants--a chance to win a $200 gift certificate good towars a stay at any one of the participating inns or towards a purchase at any of the participating stores. When you book this Chocolate Festival package at The Buttonwood, it also includes your event passes.

My chocolate treat was a Triple Chocolate Cookie--recipe follows:

Recipe: TRIPLE CHOCOLATE COOKIES Yield: 2 dozen

Ingredients:

¼ cup butter, softened

½ cup dark brown sugar

¼ cup granulated sugar

¼ cup canola oil

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

½ cup all-purpose flour

½ cup whole wheat flour

¼ cup cocoa powder

¼ teaspoon salt

1/3 cup coarsely chopped dark chocolate

1/3 cup coarsely chopped milk chocolate

2/3 cup chopped pecans

Baking Process:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugars. Add the oil and egg and beat until creamy; then mix in the vanilla. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flours, cocoa, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix well. Stir in the dark and milk chocolates and pecans, mixing well. Scoop a tablespoon of the batter onto an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 12 minutes.

HAPPY BAKING!-- Paula

The Saints are no longer the "Aints"

2010-02-11T11:57:00.000-05:00

I realize I’m a few days late in writing about this year’s most exciting Super Bowl, but it’s probably still in the minds of many New Orleans inhabitants. The Saints can no longer be nicknamed the “Aints” because they finally got into the Super Bowl and won it for the first time since it began in 1967.

Do you know which East Coast team won the most Super Bowl titles since then? No, it’s not the Patriots, but they do reign from the state that begins with a “P” (see answer below).

The real reason I’m writing my Blog today is not about the sport of football, of which I know little about, but to inform you of the favorite menu item I served at our Super Bowl Party. Bill likes to have friends over to watch the game; I’m more interested in preparing the food creating different menus each year.

Aside from a creamy baked macaroni and cheese with a crunchy bacon topping, I made barbecue pulled pork sandwiches—the “hands down” favorite. The recipe takes a long time to braise in the crock pot, but is easy. I made a simple rub of 3 ingredients to cover the entire pork shoulder roast and put it in the crock pot with onions and water to braise before I went to bed. On Sunday morning during breakfast, our guests asked what was cooking aside from the usual breakfast smells. Bill told them I cooked barbecue pulled pork during the night for our Super Bowl Party.

Recipe: BARBECUE PULLED PORK SANDWICHES
Yield: About 15 sandwiches

Ingredients:

4 pound pork shoulder roast

3 onions, sliced thick

For pork dry rub:

1/3 cup paprika

3 tablespoons brown sugar

1 tablespoon onion powder

Mix pork dry rub ingredients together and rub it all over the pork roast, cover with plastic wrap and let sit in the refrigerator for 8 hours. Meanwhile prepare the barbecue sauce.

For barbecue sauce:

2 cups catsup

1 cup water

½ cup apple cider vinegar

5 tablespoons brown sugar

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

½ tablespoon ground black pepper

½ tablespoon ground mustard

½ tablespoon onion powder

In a medium sauce, combine all ingredients and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer 1 hour, stirring frequently, until reduced and thickened becoming more flavorful. Cool sauce in a bowl, cover, and refrigerate while pork roast is marinating in the dry rub.

Braising Process:
After 8 hours, remove the pork shoulder roast from refrigerator and put in a crock pot. Cover it with sliced onions and water, put the lid on and set the crock pot time for 8 hours on low and let it cook overnight. In the morning, remove the roast; throw away the onions, grease, and water. After the roast has cooled, remove the outside fat layer and discard. Pull the pork apart with a fork or your fingers. Clean out the crock pot; put the pulled pork and barbecue sauce in it and cook on low for another 1-2 hours before serving. Serve on your favorite bun.

Answer: Pittsburg Steelers

Sinfully Sexy Desserts for Valentine's/Presidents Weekend Feb.12-14

2010-02-01T14:33:00.000-05:00

I plan to flex my culinary muscle for the upcoming Valentine's/Presidents Weekend on February 12-14. In addition to my regular breakfast fare, I will introduce homemade breakfast sausage and cinnamon buns. I received as a gift a sausage maker attachment for my KitchenAid mixer and will be testing several recipes. My better half, Bill, has the task of taste tester and hopefully he considers this a perk!

For afternoon tea in honor of Valentine's Day, I will make some sinfully sexy desserts, like cinnamon chocolate fudge and mini raspberry marble cheesecakes (recipe below). We still have a room for one more couple. So if you're interested in a romantic weekend in an idyllic location, please call us at 1-800-258-2625.

Recipe: RASPBERRY MARBLE CHEESECAKES Yield: 32

Ingredients:

For cheesecakes:

1-1/2 cups ground graham crackers (about 12 sheets)

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1-1/2 cups plus 5 tablespoons sugar

1 6-oz. container fresh raspberries

2 pounds cream cheese, room temperature

pinch of salt

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

4 large eggs, room temperature

Baking Process:

For cupcakes: Preheat oven to 325 F and line cupcake pans with paper liners. Stir together ground graham crackers, melted butter, and 3 tablespoons of sugar. Press 1 tablespoon crust mixture firmly into the bottom of each lined cup. Bake until set for about 5 minutes and transfer tins to a wire rack to cool.

Process raspberries until smooth and pass puree through a fine sieve into a bowl discarding solids. Whisk in 2 tablespoons sugar.

Beat cream cheese on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, then scrape sides of bowl, With mixer on low speed, add remaining 1-1/2 cups of sugar in a steady stream; add salt and vanilla and mix until well combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until just combined after each. Fill with 3 tablespoons of cheese mixture over each crust. Dollop ½ teaspoon raspberry sauce in a few dots over each and, with a wooden skewer or toothpick, swirl sauce into filling. Place each tin in a roasting pan and pour enough hot water into pan to come three-quarters of the way up sides of cups. Bake, rotating pans halfway through, 22 minutes. Carefully remove tin from water bath and cool on a wire rack. Refrigerate in tins at least 4 hours and remove from tins just before serving.

Who doesn't LOVE Cupcakes!!!

2010-01-25T14:36:00.002-05:00

Martha Stewart published a whole cookbook with 175 recipes on cupcakes of all types, with or without icing, and for special holidays too!  There are theme cupcakes instead of the usual cake...my sister-in-law made cupcakes decorated with pacifiers for her daughter's baby shower this past weekend. When I was in NYC, I was compelled to enter into Sur Le Table, the cook's gadget store, and found an 18-cupcake pedestal display holder (which I break out every once in awhile in the inn).

Growing up in the 1960's, box cake mixes and frosting from cans were popular, which my mother made practically every week.  When I became a mother of two children two decades later, cupcakes became popular.  I also made them from box cakes since I was guaranteed a tender cake crumb texture (which the children preferred), but I would always make my own frosting. While my children were in middle school, I went to culinary school and learned in my baking course how to prepare cakes from scratch and piping techniques to frost and decorate them.

A new bakery, White Mountain Cupcakery, opened up recently in North Conway located on Main Street across from Eastern Slope Inn. They feature several different kinds of cupcakes to satisfy anyone's sweet tooth and also make wedding cakes and cakes for special occasions. Bill and I are definitely planning on sampling these delectable treats at their ribbon-cutting ceremony this week.

I'm happy to see that cupcakes have become popular again, since you can make any large type of cake into a little (cup)cake. Here's my maple-inspired recipe for Maple Cupcakes with Maple Buttercream Frosting that I will make for our upcoming inn-to-inn tour -- March Maple Madness on March 27 & 28, 2010

Recipe: MAPLE CUPCAKES WITH MAPLE BUTTERCREAM ICING

Yield: 2 dozen

Ingredients:

For cupcakes:

2-3/4 cups all-purpose flour, sifted

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temp.

2 cups pure maple syrup, preferably Grade B

3 large eggs, room temperature

1 cup milk

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For maple buttercream:

6 large egg yolks

2 cups pure maple syrup, preferably Grade B

1 pound (4 sticks) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into tablespoons

Baking Process:

For cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350 F and line cupcake pans with paper liners. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt. Cream butter on medium-high speed until smooth; add the maple syrup and beat until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until incorporated, then scrape down the sides of bowl. Then add flour mixture and beat well to combine. Beat in milk and vanilla until combined. Fill each cupcake paper ¾’s full and bake 20 minutes for standard size and 10-13 minutes for mini cupcakes.

For maple buttercream: In a standing mixer bowl with a whisk attachment, beat egg yolks on high speed until pale and thick for about 5 minutes. At the same time, bring maple syrup to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat clipping a candy thermometer to the pan until it reaches 240 F for about 15 minutes. Remove from heat. With mixer on medium speed, slowly pour the maple syrup in a steady stream down the side of the bowl until completely combined, about 1-1/2 minutes. Continue mixing until the bottom of the bowl is slightly warm to the touch, about 5-6 minutes. Add the butter a few tablespoons at a time, until completed incorporated after each addition. After all the butter has been added, scrape the sides of the bowl and continue beating the buttercream until it is fluffy, about 4 minutes. Then frost the cupcakes. Makes 24 standard or about 50 mini cupcakes.

March Maple Madness - A wild & wooly Inn-to-Inn Event

2010-01-24T13:15:00.000-05:00

If you like Maple Syrup then we have just the thing for you. Come visit the BB Inns this March and treat yourself to a variety of specially prepared maple based foods prepared by the wonderful chefs and cooks who we are proud to say work at the Inns within our Association. Ticket holders can also choose to take the challenge of “A Hare Raising Quiz” and “The Maddening Scavenger Hunt”, competing for hundreds of dollars in prizes. Along the way there will be opportunities to visit several “Sugaring” locations to experience the maple syrup process first hand, as well as Maple Country Partners happy to share clues and information. Inns participating include: Buttonwood Inn, Cabernet Inn, Covered Bridge House, The Farm by the River, Mt. Washington B&B, The Notchland Inn, Cranmore Mountain Lodge, Riverside Inn B&B and Spruce Moose Lodge. Visitors staying at any of these locations the weekend of March 27th and 28th, 2010 will receive March Maple Madness tickets as part of their stay package, along with breakfast each morning and additional enticements ranging from maple candy to a maple-themed five-course dinner.

Snowshoeing and Exploring from The Buttonwood Inn

2010-01-23T09:51:00.000-05:00

Today's guests discovered another marked trail connected to the Mt. Surprise Trail. It heads in an Easterly direction at the base of Bartlett Mountain (the mountain which is behind the Inn) and eventually joins with the Buttonwood Trail. At that point there are two choices: 1) follow the Buttonwood Trail back to the Inn or; 2) follow the Buttonwood trail until it reaches Hurricane Mountain Road. You can cross Hurricane Mountain Road and reconnect with the Buttonwood Trail which crosses Abbott Brook stream. You can continue and exit at the back of the Cranmore Mountain Lodge, or continue down to the Easternmost connection with Whittaker Woods where the Mt. Washington Valley Ski Touring Association trails are located. From there you are now on a totally groomed trail system for both cross-country and snowshoeing.

Valentine's Packages Make the Rounds

2010-01-22T18:52:00.000-05:00

Five Valentine's Day deals in New England

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) on Jan 20th 2010 at 8:00AM

Nothing says "romance" like a roaring fire on a chilly evening on Valentine's Day. Through the windows, you can see snow-laden trees and pure white landscapes. From the warmth of your room, you can enjoy the winter wonderland outside, as you settle down for the perfect evening with the perfect person in your life. If this is how you envision your Valentine's Day this year, turn your thoughts to New England this year. There are plenty of deals at your disposal through the New England Inns and Resorts Association, and a tough travel market is leading many properties to put together some amazing deals. Here are some to get you started.

NECN's Tim Kelly comments on his stay at the Buttonwood Inn

2010-01-21T12:47:00.000-05:00

I mentioned the other day that Tim Kelly (weatherman on NECN) and his wife Janet stayed with us this passed weekend and skiied Wildcat Mountain just up the road from us. Tim posted the following on his weather blog along with a video of the skiing..In his words, "This is the finest combination of comfortable temperatures, abundant Sunshine, and Snowfall, that we ever see in January. Bill and Paula Petrone cook up a Savory and/or Sweet Breakfast every day at their Buttonwood Inn on the Side of Mount Surprise in The Mount Washington Valley New Hampshire.

The Nordic Ski Trails passright out back, and you are minutes from Wildcat, Attitash, Black, and Cranmore. This video shows the weekend sunshine and weekday Powder. Thomas Prindle of Wilcdcat Mountain rips it up. More sunshine is in the forecast for this weekend, January 22-24, 2010."

Valentine's / President's Day Weekend Package Special

2010-01-19T09:48:00.001-05:00

VALENTINE'S WEEKEND LOVERS PACKAGE

February 12 - 15, 2010

If you're looking for romance on Valentine's Weekend in an idyllic woodland setting, yet close to North Conway specialty shops and restaurants, come join us at The Buttonwood Inn and we'll make your weekend special.

Valentine's Day falls on President's Day Weekend this year.

Our Three Night Package Includes:

Full gourmet breakfast daily

Enjoy Paula's late afternoon tea/hot chocolate service with baked treats

Use of our hot tub "under the stars"

Rates starting at $125 per night plus tax

Add the following to enhance the experience:

Dinner for two one evening at a romantic restaurant

Bottle of bubbly or sparkling cider

Box of handmade New Hampshire chocolates

Book a massage either in-room or at the salon -

call 1-800-258-2625 for details and arrangements.

Prices starting

at $125.00 per night

for two

Based on double occupancy; subject to availability;

includes NH rooms and meal taxes;

not to be combined with other packages or discounts.

Click here to view rooms

Click here to check availability - or BOOK ONLINE

SPECIAL SKI AND STAY PACKAGE - LAST MINUTE DEAL

2010-01-12T11:25:00.000-05:00

SPECIAL SKI AND STAY PACKAGE - LAST MINUTE DEAL

Not only can you get discounted downhill and cross-country ski tickets
But we'll also discount your room as follows:

2 DAY STAY - take 5% OFF! ! + another 5% if all the days are weekdays
3 DAY STAY - take 10% OFF!! + another 5% if all the days are weekdays
4 Day STAY - take 15% OFF!!! + another 5% if all the days are weekdays

Currently rated as one of the TOP bed and breakfasts in New Hampshire and the #1 Bed & Breakfast in North Conway on TripAdvisor.com Also selected as one of the winners for Best Food based upon the excellent reviews posted by our guests on Bed and Breakfast.Com during the past year.

New... Read the article about Buttonwood Inn on NH Living.com, New Hampshire's Internet Magazine

All Packages Include:

Full gourmet breakfast daily

Paula's late afternoon tea with baked treats

Use of our hot tub "under the stars"

Complimentary discount restaurant dining vouchers

Call Toll Free to reserve now! 1-800-258-2625

Based on dbl occupancy/rates vary by room type/taxes & gratuities not included. Subject to availability. Good for advance reservations only and must mention this advertisement. Cannot be combined with any other packages or discounts. Reservation must be made within 48 Hours of arrival date to qualify and does not apply on most Holidays.

March Maple Madness

2010-01-08T16:51:00.000-05:00

MARCH MAPLE MADNESS LODGING PACKAGE call 1-800-258-2625 for details

March 27 & 28, 2010

The Bed & Breakfast Inns Mt. Washington Valley (BBInnsMWV) of New Hampshire will host their annual March Maple Madness event on Saturday and Sunday, March 27 and 28, 2010 between 11 am and 4 pm. A self-guided tour of the participating inns will include the sampling of maple treats, both savory and sweet. Visiting guests can learn about “sugaring” at maple sugar houses and stop in at participating “Maple Country Partners” shops and vendors along the way.

Those participating in the Maple Madness "March" will have the opportunity to gather points toward winning prizes as they travel a specific tour route guided by directions "riddled with clues." Along the way, guests must seek answers to questions, gather objects, and artifacts, as well as visit each participating Inn and Maple Country Partner. The ticket holder who scores the most points will win a $200 certificate good toward a two-night stay at a participating BBInnsMWV Inn, as well as other goodies provided by the Inns and Maple Country Partners.

Package Includes:

Two nights accommodations

Full gourmet breakfast each morning

Afternoon tea and hot chocolate with Paula's baked treats

Dinner for two one evening at The Notchland Inn
featuring cuisine with a maple twist
Two tickets for the Maple Madness "March"
Maple Madness souvenir recipe collection and Inn-to-Inn tour map
Maple Madness "March" clues and directions
(if you choose to participate in the contest for prizes)

http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/AwardsWinners.aspx

Calling All Chocoholics for the Chocolate Festival 2-28-10!

2009-12-27T10:25:00.001-05:00

If you like chocolate as much as I do, you'll love cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or driving to various inns and businesses to be rewarded with a myriad of chocolate goodies!

The Buttonwood Inn already booked guests for this popular annual event on Sunday, February 28, 2010. You can click on the following link or visit our website under Winter Packages - 20th Annual Chocolate Festival: http://www.buttonwoodinn.com/chocolate-festival-lodging-package.html

Christmas

2009-12-26T10:05:00.000-05:00

Christmas Day may be behind us but the Inn is as 'Chistmassy' as ever with the smell of Paula's freshly baked scones and her baked cheddar cheese omelette. Our skiers today are headed to Wildcat and Bretton Woods for some downhill and cross-country skiing, respectively. The newest picture album addition on Facebook is chock full of Chritmas shots of the Inn taken yesterday. Hope you like them!!

Paula and I were able to connect with our family's annual Christmas get-together in New Jersey via Webcam and it was so wonderful to be able to participate in the blessing before dinner even if we were not there physically.

Have a Cranapalooza New Year's Holiday

2009-12-25T11:47:00.000-05:00

Cranapalooza - It's a Festival!

When the sun goes down in North Conway and the lights illuminate the trails of Cranmore, the festivities begin. Saturday nights from Dec. 26, 2009 to March 13, 2010, guests will enjoy a variety of events throughout the resort in addition to top-to-bottom night skiing and tubing. Returning for its sixth season, Cranapalooza is a festival of music, entertainment and games with North Conway's favorite penguin, C-More. Additional Cranapalooza dates include a special New Year's Eve edition on Thurs., Dec. 31, 2009 and Wed., February 17, 2010. the Buttonwood is right down the street from the Cranmore Ski Resort. Still time to reserve for our extra Special New Year's Eve Package so don't delay.

Cranapalooza kicks off the season on December 26, 2009. As guests finish up a day of skiing and riding or arrive for the nighttime festivities, they can enjoy activities beginning at 2 p.m. Activities change weekly and include fireworks on select dates, games with C-More, magicians and puppets, fireworks, face painting, hypnotists, live entertainment, hot chocolate and s'mores around the fire pit and AprÃ¨s Ski with live music in Zip's Pub.

Another popular activity coming back for this winter is the spectacular fireworks display set off over the slopes. Fireworks will light the skies at 7:30pm on the following dates: Dec. 31, Jan. 16, Jan. 30, Feb. 13, Feb. 20, and Mar. 6th. Our guests can even view them from our front porch or out our dining room window along with the lights on the Cranmore Ski slopes.

Cranapalooza lift tickets are just $29 and are valid for night skiing for all ages from 2 - 8p.m. Night skiing is offered on 11 trails and 3 lifts for all ability levels, including the Darkside and Other Side Terrain Parks, Beginner Basin, South Slope, North Slope, Hurricane and more. Cranmore's top rated Arctic Blast Tubing Park is also open Saturday and holiday evenings until 9pm. The Buttonwood has discounted tubing tickets for our guests too!

Want the best value for night time activities? Buy the new Super Slider ticket. This all-inclusive ticket covers night skiing (2-8pm), two hours of snow tubing (anytime between 2-9pm), and two hours of Fun Zone admission (between 3-8pm). Tickets are valid for all ages and must be used by one individual on one date. The Super Slider ticket is only for sale on Cranapalooza dates.

Want to know what's going on at the next Cranapalooza? It's all listed here on their events calendar.

Santa's Village north of the Buttonwood

2009-12-24T13:41:00.000-05:00

There's is a lot going on in the Valley and here abouts over the Christmas and New Year's Holidays. Besides the obvious skiing you can visit Santa's reindeer at Santa's Village north of the Buttonwood and have a holly Jolly old time with the big bearded guy in the red suit!

Just an hour from North Conway you can experience a day filled with wonderfully themed rides, great shows, Santa and his reindeer. Oh What Fun!
One low admission includes unlimited use of all the rides and shows for the entire day and if you come in within 3 hours of closing and you can return another day free of charge.
With all there is to see and do at Santa's Village, who wouldn't go!
Santa's Village is open from Memorial Day weekend through the summer and over the fall and holidays too!

Starry Starry Night at the Buttonwood

2009-12-23T21:39:00.000-05:00

Beautiful night with a crescent moon and the constellation Orion is lookiing crisp in the southeastern sky. The telescope is set up on the back porch pointing towards the big dipper. Cold as it is outside there is something about trying to find a heavenly object that we haven't seen before that just seems to negate the cold. Of course this picture of us with the telescope was taken in the spring but it's the same scope that we use to peruse the heavens.

Christmas and New Years Specials at The Buttonwood Inn

2009-12-22T16:43:00.001-05:00

Prepping for the Christmas and New Year's Eve visitors now that Polar Express is over. Our guests are going to have a great time with special treats and offerings here and in the Mount Washington Valley. There are still fireplace rooms and a double jacuzzi room available for the Christmas weekend and http://www.buttonwoodinn.com/New-Years-Eve-Lodging-Package.html. We are ...even running a special discount on the Chamber of Commerce's website so there are many reasonable options for those who haven't firmed up their plans yet. Take a look at our New Year's Eve package. It's sure to please!

Chocolate Chip Pancake Time!

2009-12-21T10:16:00.000-05:00

Paula's special chocolate chip pancakes had the kids beaming this morning and the parents loved their corn meal pancakes all with sausages and hot maple syrup and a freshly cut fruit salad starter. During December we also add our Polar Express juice special, a mix of pomegranate and cranberry to the menu along with our... Mt. Surprise Sunrises (OJ & Pom) and Sunsets (OJ & Cran). The kids and parents are headed to the Cranmore snowtubing park today and to the free Mt. Washington Observatory museum and shoppes in North Conway.

Visitor's to the Buttonwood Inn

2009-12-11T15:47:00.001-05:00

Little Lia (4) just arrived with her parents. They will be taking the Polar Express train this evening from the North Conway railway station and is she excited! During the tour of the Inn I showed them the Mt. Surprise room. We have the movie "Polar Express" playing on the 50 inch plasma and Lia's little eyes were wide... as they could be when she saw it. Lia and her mom also liked the New England Village ceramic houses in the Mt. Surprise room, all lit up with a snowy background. Guess what---our family of 6 just arrived. Alexander, Olivia, Jarred, and Aidan have been here before with their parents. They are like part of the family having first visited us back in 2007. They will be taking the Polar Express train ride tomorrow. By the way the Polar Express movie is based on the 1985 book written by Chris Van Allsburg.

The Buttonwood Inn - Special Holiday Gift Offer

2009-12-09T18:29:00.000-05:00

Happy Holidays from The Buttonwood Inn!

Paula and I would like to extend to you this special offer.

Show Someone How Much You Care!

Special Holiday Gift Offer!

A memorable gift for that someone special. Give them the pleasure of a stay in a "magical place"! Enjoy blissfully old fashioned hospitality, cozy fireplaces, and gourmet breakfasts.

The Buttonwood Inn

For every $100 spent in gift certificates, we will give you $20 toward your next stay in 2010!

Our gift certificates can be used at any time for Holiday and winter weekends or for special packages such as: (Click on any of the following links for some examples)

New Year's Eve 2009 Package
Harvest to Holiday Shop 'til You Drop Package
"Ski It Your Way" Ski Tickets, Dinner and More
Ski & Stay Mid-Week Special

Or for one of our special theme weekends like:

Romance Package
March Maple Madness
Ghosts and Goblin Trail Package

Contact us toll free at 1-800-258-2625 by December 18, 2009
to ensure the mailing reaches you or the person receiving the gift certificate before the 25th.

The Mt Washington Valley Arts Association (MWVAA)

2009-12-08T11:19:00.000-05:00

NORTH CONWAY 12/7/09: The Mt Washington Valley Arts Association (MWVAA) is featuring a special Bob DeIulio Exhibit and Molly Doe Wensberg Raffle during its "Affordable Art Show and Sale" through December 20, at the MWV Visual Arts Center, 16 Norcross Place.

As part of the MWVAA "Affordable Art Show and Sale," there is a tribute exhibit of deceased member Bob DeIulio's work. DeIulio's work features the vitreous flux medium. Vitreous flux is a watercolor medium where water is first loaded onto an impervious surface with pigment then being added. The pigment is then manipulated using a variety of tools to create expressionistic images. DeIulio was a student of David Baker, the originator of this unique watercolor method. The exhibit includes original framed worked and matted prints.

Member Molly Doe Wensberg, an award-winning oil painter donated an oil painting, "A View Toward Jackson" with a retail value of $2500 to the MWVAA to raffle off as a fundraiser. Raffle tickets are available at the MWV Visual Arts Center in Norcross Place during the "Affordable Art Show and Sale." Tickets are $5 each or three for $10. The winning raffle ticket will be drawn on Sunday, November 20at 4PM.

The "Affordable Art Show and Sale" runs Friday through Sunday through December 20, from 10AM to 5PM (4PM on December 20) at the MWV Visual Arts Center, 16 Norcross Place. The show and sale features the work of many local two and three dimensional fine artists, artisans and craftspeople with all work priced from $10 to $250.

For complete information on all events at the MWV Visual Arts Center visit the center online at mwvarts.org or call 603-356-ARTS (2787). The MWV Visual Arts Center is the place to see, learn and connect with the visual arts.

Two Great New Cookbooks

2009-12-07T23:23:00.000-05:00

While on vacation recently, I read two new cookbooks in my daughter's New York apartment. This past Fall, I watched the series on PBS with Mario Batali, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Mark Bittman traveling through Spain enlightening us about its culture, history, and cuisine. Since I missed an episode or two, the book closely follows the series and also includes the recipes, many that are easy to prepare based on Mario's detailed explanations. As in Batali's previous cookbook, "Molto Mario," the recipes are easy and fool-proof in producing authentic Italian dishes.

If you're planning a cocktail party or just want to create a special drink or appetizer, Kelly Casey, matches up the apps to the sips (cocktails). There are trendy drink recipes and different variations on the classic drink recipes. She also makes recommendations on glassware and barware.

I typically purchase used, like new or new, books online either from Amazon or Barnes & Noble often at half to two-thirds of the cost of a new cookbook.

Happy Cooking!

Ghost & Goblins Inn-to-Inn Halloween Tour - October 2009

2009-12-07T22:45:00.001-05:00

This year, our 2009 Ghost & Goblins Traill Inn-to-Inn Tour brought the most costumed guests to many of our inns in the Mt. Washington Valley on Halloween. Participants were serious about winning the game for first prize of a two-night stay at any one of our Bed & Breakfast Inns Mt. Washington Valley, including several other gifts donated by the inns. They also had the opportunity to sample various sweet and savory treats and view the interiors of each inn. To view more information about this event, please click on the above links and contact us to book your 2010 Ghost & Goblins Trail package now.

Mountain Garden Club's Annual Holiday Boutique "Winter Wonderland"

2009-12-07T09:56:00.000-05:00

The Mountain Garden Club's Annual Holiday Boutique "Winter Wonderland" is on Saturday, December 12th at the North Conway Community Center next to Schouler Park in North Conway Village. The doors open at 9:30 AM and the boutique lasts until everything is gone. It usually sells out by 11:30 AM, so come early! As always..., there will be a wonderful selection of seasonal decorations, ornaments and holiday gifts, all made by the Mountain Garden Club members, as well as the ever-popular Shabby Chic table with slightly used "treasures." The Children’s Table will feature holiday presents, such as jewelry, scarves, candles, knick knacks, non-breakable ornaments, etc., for Mom, Dad, siblings, relatives, teachers, etc. All these items can be purchased for just 25 or 50 cents. There will also be outdoor seasonal hanging baskets that can be reused in the spring, indoor holiday greens baskets and centerpieces, boxwood trees, candles with decorated boxwood bobeches, hydrangea wreaths, fragrant paperwhite narcissus and dramatic amaryllis. The proceeds from the Holiday Boutique benefit the Mountain Garden Club's Valley-wide beautification projects, the MGC Alice T. Madden Scholarship Fund and Jen’s Friends.cost:free

The Buttonwood Inn Eco-Friendly Measures

2009-11-29T18:03:00.001-05:00

In 2008, The Buttonwood Inn became certified by the New Hampshire Sustainable Lodging & Restaurant Program. Our goal is to provide you, our customer, with the best service, hospitality, and attention to detail possible, while preserving the natural beauty and healthy environment of the White Mountains of New Hampshire by continuing our efforts to be "green". We hope that you will also join us for your benefit and that of future generations. Note that as we continue to add more eco-friendly measures reducing our carbon footprint on the Earth, these are some of the initiatives we’ve implemented so far:

Learn more at Buttonwood Inn Initiatives

25th Worldwide SketchCrawl at the Mount Washington Valley Visual Arts Center

2009-11-17T16:34:00.000-05:00

Do you love to sketch? Be a part of the 25th Worldwide SketchCrawl from 10AM – 2PM. Bring your own materials - basic paper and something to draw with.

Come to the MWV Visual Arts Center and “register.” Stay and draw the still life setup or go off and sketch whatever you want, with whomever you want. Come back to the Visual Arts Center at 1:30 and share with others what you have sketched. We’ll take a group photo of the participants. Images from the day will be uploaded to www.sketchcrawl.com. This is a great activity for everyone, no matter the age or ability. Everyone is welcome!

The SketchCrawl, an international drawing marathon, is the brainchild of San Francisco artist Enrico Casarosa. It started several years ago when Casarosa wanted to spend a day of intense drawing around his city. Casarosa realized how much more fun this day would have been if he had had some company. As a result, the SketchCrawl has evolved into a worldwide event with people of every age and ability participating. There are no rules. Anyone can participate, be it to draw for 20 minutes or the full day and any level of ability is welcome from veteran artists to first time sketchers of any age. To read more about it, visit http://www.sketchcrawl.com/

Time: November 21, 2009 from 10am to 2pm
Location: MWV Visual Arts Center
Street: 16 Norcross Place
City/Town: North Conway, NH
Phone: 603-356-2787
Event Type: activity
Organized By: Claudia Needham

Harvest to Holiday Shop 'Til You Drop Package

2009-11-13T10:26:00.000-05:00

SHOPPING - Harvest to Holiday Shop 'Til You Drop Package Web Link

November 1 to December 31, 2009 Call toll free - 1-800-258-2625 or email: Email The Buttonwood

Ladies, while your men focus on their football pools and how the Patriots will do, you'll have the time of your life shopping in tax-free Mt. Washington Valley, NH.

Not only do more than 200 national brand name outlets, boutiques, galleries and craft shops await, but now through Christmas, lodging properties throughout Mt. Washington Valley will celebrate the Harvest to Holidays promotion, offering added savings for shopping sprees.

Fashionable brightly colored purses dubbed Shopping Survival Kits come complete with dining and shopping coupons, small gifts, energy bars, samples and more, which await those who book a Harvest to Holiday getaway at participating lodging properties in Mt. Washington Valley.

Why not make a weekend of it? Grab a girlfriend and come to the Valley for a weekend shopping spree! This year plan your getaway to coincide with some of the special shopping events taking place in Mt. Washington Valley during November and December.

December 5: Settlers' Green Outlet Village Holiday Tree Festival -
beautiful holiday music, festive trees, hot chocolate, and much more.

Package Includes:
One or more nights lodging weekdays and two on weekends
Full gourmet breakfast each morning
Afternoon tea and hot chocolate with Paula's baked treats
A Shopping Survival Kit filled with savings, samples, energy bars & more.

Package Rates: Rates are based on double occupancy & vary by room type
Weekdays (Sun. - Thurs.) One night for two from $129 Two nights from $239
Weekend (Fri. - Sun.) Two nights for two from $289

Celebrate the Holidays at The Buttonwood

2009-11-13T10:02:00.000-05:00

We still have a few tickets left for the Polar Express Event the weekends of December 12th and 19th. Come on up and treat your family to this special Christmas Holiday spectacular! Bring the Grandparents too and let them know you remember when they treated you!!

POLAR EXPRESS PACKAGES for 2009 Buttonwood Inn Polar Express Package Link

Packages Available December 12 - 20

The annual Polar Express Event is a unique experience based on the Award-winning book by Chris Van Allsburg.

This is the most popular area holiday event that originated here in North Conway. The train leaves from the Victorian train station near the Green downtown taking children and their families to the North Pole.

THE BUTTONWOOD INN ON MT. SURPRISE RECOGNIZED FOR BEST FOOD IN THE BEST OF BEDANDBREAKFAST.COM AWARDS

2009-10-10T20:04:00.000-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 6, 2009

Contact: Bill and Paula Petrone, 1-800-258-2625

THE BUTTONWOOD INN ON MT. SURPRISE RECOGNIZED FOR BEST FOOD IN THE BEST OF BEDANDBREAKFAST.COM AWARDS

North Conway, New Hampshire -- The Buttonwood Inn on Mt. Surprise of North Conway, New Hampshire, was recognized for its distinctive food in the annual Best of BedandBreakfast.com Awards, 2009-2010. The Best of BedandBreakfast.com Awards are based upon a qualitative and quantitative review of the nearly 100,000 independent reviews submitted to BedandBreakfast.com, the leading online B&B directory and reservation network worldwide.

"BedandBreakfast.com surveys show that independent reviews are the most important factor when choosing a B&B. In fact, according to BedandBreakfast.com's most recent survey, 96% of consumers consider reviews to be somewhere between important and essential when selecting a place to stay, and 12% will not make a reservation at a property without them. We're delighted that inngoers concur that The Buttonwood Inn is deserving of its accolades from travelers," explained BedandBreakfast.com's Sandy Soule, one of the most highly recognized authors and a spokeswoman for the B&B industry. "Clearly, the Buttonwood Inn earned its stellar reviews from inngoers for their quality accommodations, breakfasts, amenities, and wonderful hospitality and service," commented Soule.

"It's a true honor to be chosen for a Best of BedandBreakfast.com award, and we thank our guests for the positive reviews that resulted in this award, stated Bill and Paula Petrone, The Buttonwood innkeepers. "It is gratifying that our guests took the time to share their comments about our culinary flair and delicious breakfasts in addition to the hospitality, accommodations, breakfasts and attention to the details which set The Buttonwood Inn apart," commented Bill and Paula. Here's an excerpt from one of our reviews: “Over the past few years I have visited the Buttonwood Inn…at least 4 or 5 times. Each time I have been delighted with the tranquility of the Inn, the friendliness of Bill and Paula, the proprietors, and the care they take in making the Buttonwood Inn such a perfect place for rest and relaxation…

And did I mention the breakfasts?! Paula is an excellent cook. Her breakfasts will keep you going until her rich and varied cookies or brownies turn up in the late afternoon. Bill serves the breakfast in a cheerful manner and is always available to offer advice about sightseeing in the region and interesting animal sightings…”

About The Buttonwood Inn on Mt. Surprise: The Buttonwood Inn on Mt. Surprise, a North Conway, New Hampshire country inn bed and breakfast, is nationally recognized for our quality of innkeeping providing the best in service, hospitality, and attention to detail. Situated on more than five secluded acres of field and forests, two miles from the village of North Conway, NH, The Buttonwood Inn offers a peaceful, rural setting with back door access to mountain hiking trails, including an outdoor hot tub and heated pool. An 1820s farmhouse with ten individually decorated guestrooms, the inn retains its comfortable country atmosphere with wide pine floors, antiques, quilts, and stenciling. Each morning you can enjoy our gourmet breakfast served in our large Dining Room or enjoy our afternoon tea service with fresh baked treats in one of our common rooms in front of our wood-burning fireplaces. Phone: 1-800-258-2625 or visit our website at www.buttonwoodinn.com

For a complete list of all winners, including regional and international Best of BedandBreakfast.com Award winners, please visit www.BedandBreakfast.com and click Winners 2009-2010.

Founded in 1995, BedandBreakfast.com is highly recommended by The New York Times, Real Simple, Forbes, Travel & Leisure, USA TODAY and many others. To learn about more nearly 9,000 other perfect choices for your next B&B getaway, visit BedandBreakfast.com, the leading online bed and breakfast directory and reservation network worldwide. A variety of search functions and extensive maps enable inngoers to find the perfect B&B. Travelers can make reservations online, purchase The Getaway Gift Card from BedandBreakfast.com, welcomed at over 4,000 B&Bs in the U.S. and Canada, read up-to-date trip reports on The BedandBreakfast.com Blog, read and write independent reviews, and post questions on expert-hosted message boards.

White Mountain Fall Foliage Weekend

2009-10-08T14:25:00.000-04:00

This is going to be one unbelievable weekend! The Mount Washington Valley is visited by more people on the Columbus Day weekend than all others. We can say with certainty that the foliage is living up to the promise of a spectacular show. The sunny, ...cool, crisp skies and the hint of moisture on the leaves seems to make the trees glow even brighter in reds, ochres, and shades of yellow and orange. There is still time to visit as the prediction is for fall colors through the end of the month in many of the forest areas nearby.

SPECIAL DEALS AT THE BUTTONWOOD!!

2009-09-22T11:10:00.002-04:00

2 DAY STAY - 25% Off 2nd DAY !
3 DAY STAY - 50% Off 3rd DAY!!
4 Day STAY - 4TH DAY IS FREEEEE!!!!!!
NOW THRU October 1st, 2009
Currently rated as one of the TOP bed and breakfasts in New Hampshire and the #1 Bed & Breakfast in North Conway on TripAdvisor.com

All Packages Include:

Full gourmet breakfast daily

Paula's late afternoon tea with baked treats
Use of our hot tub "under the stars"
Use of our heated outdoor pool (seasonal)

Call Toll Free to reserve now! 1-800-258-2625

Based on dbl occupancy/rates vary by room type/taxes & gratuities not included. Subject to availability. Good for advance reservations ending no later than 10/01. Two or more nights required.

2009-09-15T14:48:00.000-04:00

North Conway Vacations at The Buttonwood Inn

A NH Select Registry B&B Inn once called The Hide-Away Lodge

The ski trains once deposited visitors in downtown North Conway and the innkeepers would arrange for transportation, often horse-drawn wagons, to bring guests to their country accommodations. Well, the ski trains may be gone but thankfully many of the original ski lodges and country inns live on. Such is the case at the Buttonwood Inn. In decades past, the Buttonwood Inn was known as The Hide-Away Lodge - a large New England home that welcomed White Mountain visitors, many of which came to ski nearby Mt. Cranmore.

Today, the lodge is known as the Buttonwood Inn and is now owned and operated by Bill and Paula Petrone. The innkeepers have a genuine love for this region of New Hampshire and an appreciation for this historic property. Recent additions and renovations include; free wireless internet for guests, updated common areas, a new outdoor heated hot tub and a large, in-ground, heated swimming pool.

The Buttonwood Inn is popular year 'round. In winter, downhill and cross-country skiing is the primary draw, though some vacationers prefer to relax and enjoy the romantic surroundings. Summer in the White Mountains brings sightseers, shoppers, and hikers. The inn is situated at the base of Mount Surprise in North Conway. A hiking trail extends from the backyard of the inn all the way to the peak of the mountain.

Destination Meetings

One of the services now available at the inn is to have your group, company, or organization meeting here. Innkeeper, Bill Petrone will handle all the details for you and be sure you have everything you need for a most unique and productive meeting or conference.

A NH Select Registry Inn

After checking in at the Buttonwood Inn, you are informed about the inn's affiliation with Select Registry. Select Registry (AKA Distiguished Inns of North America) is a non-profit association of more than 400 lodging properties (mostly inns, B&Bs, and small hotels) . Select Registry was founded in 1972 and members are required to pay annual dues, as well as pass quality assurance inspections.

Mt. Washington Valley Vacations

The Buttonwood Inn is just minutes from the center of North Conway and central to most of the area's popular attractions. One of the most popular NH vacation destinations is the magnificent Mt. Washington Valley. The region features unique attractions found no where else in the world. Natural geological formations like Diana's Bath, and summer attractions like the Mt. Washington Cog Railway, Storyland, and The Mt. Washington Auto Road are just a few of the regions gems.

Guests at The Buttonwood and where they Hail from...

2009-09-07T17:34:00.000-04:00

The Buttonwood Has been fortunate to have many wonderful guests visit us from around the world and from nearby towns. One thing they all seem to have in common is a love of adventure, seeing new places, and meeting new people.

This past weekend for example two of our guests where from Grange-over-Sands which is a town by the sea or depending on the state of the extensive tide, sands, in Cumbria, England. They live south of Lake Windermere which is the largest natural lake in England. It has been one of the country’s most popular places for holidays and summer homes since 1847, when the Kendal and Windermere Railway built a branch line to it. The word "Windermere" translates as "Vinandr's lake", from the Old Norse name Vinandr and Old English mere, meaning lake.

Another couple was from Victoriaville Quebec Canada a town not far from Montreal. This adventurous pair trravelled via motorcycle to the Buttonwood and also to the top of Mount Washington.

We rarely get motorcyclists here but this happened to be a weekend when another coupl on Motorcycle arrived. They were from Pineville, a city in Rapides Parish, Louisiana. It is adjacent to the city of Alexandria. They also made the trek up Mt. Washington. The town of Pineville contains the Louisiana Maneuvers Museum which provides insight into the huge maneuvers that prepared the United States for World War II and promoted the career of General Dwight D. Eisenhower because of his organizational skills.

Two of our guests from Alexandria Virginia left this morning for Bar Harbor Maine. The town of Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 128,283. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately 6 miles (9.6 kilometers) south of downtown Washington, D.C. Like the rest of Northern Virginia, as well as central Maryland, modern Alexandria has been shaped by its proximity to the nation's capital.

Why not come up to visit and add to the geographical diversity that makes life at the Buttonwood so interesting?

Santa Claus is Coming to Town!

2009-08-31T14:51:00.001-04:00

Book by September 15th and Save 10%

The annual Polar Express Event is a unique experience based on the Award-winning book by Chris Van Allsburg. This is the most popular area holiday event that originated here in North Conway. The train leaves from the Victorian train station near the Green downtown taking children and their families to the North Pole.
Polar Express Tickets are limited and sell out quickly so reserve early!

Our Package Includes:

One or two nights lodging
Full breakfast each morning—some menu items are chocolate chip buttermilk pancakes, yeasted Belgian waffles, fresh fruit salad topped with raspberry sauce, or Buttonwood special doughnut muffins
Afternoon tea service, hot chocolate with marshmallows, and Paula’s hand-decorated sugar cookies or other traditional family Holiday cookies
Polar Express tickets for select departures from the original North Conway train station
Watch the Polar Express movie on our new 50-inch Plasma TV and listen to the Liam Neeson recording in our toasty Mt. Surprise Room warmed by our new wood-burning fireplace insert
Discounted snow tubing tickets at Cranmore Mountain Resort (minutes away)

Call toll free to reserve now 1-800-258-2625

Stay and Stargaze Special - VEGA SPECIAL

2009-08-26T09:38:00.002-04:00

To all you stargazers out there the Buttonwood is offering a special this month. Lodge with us for two nights or more and use our 10 Inch Meade Schmidt-Newtonian to view the wonders of the New Hampshire night sky!

We are in a low light pollution area and now is a perfect time to view the Constellation Lyra which includes the Northern night skys' second brightest star, VEGA. Nearly directly overhead we can count on the lowest possible amount of atmospheric disturbance and the current weather conditions have been nearly perfect for viewing.

Bring your own scope if you like as our viewing area is quite large and can easily support multiple setups.

We'll have the Mount Surprise media room setup with our 50 inch plasma to do some pre-night viewing of the constellation and it's multiple targets like: The Ring Nebula M57 which is a classic planetary nebula. Vega, Altair, and Deneb form The Summer Triangle.

The Ring Nebula M57

The Ring belongs to a class of objects known as "planetary nebulae" which have nothing whatever to do with planets. They were called that back in the days of crude telescopes because their small disk shapes resembled planets and the name has stuck. A planetary nebula is actually a large cloud of gas which was previously expelled from the central star. Having lost much mass to the cloud, the central star compresses to a very dense and hot star that illuminates the gas cloud via ultraviolet radiation in much the same way as electric current lights up neon in a sign.

GOLF PACKAGE - Play ANY DAY throughout the season

2009-08-24T17:15:00.000-04:00

This is a golfer's dream.

Play eighteen holes of golf at your choice of eight participating area courses offering spectacular views. Three courses are in our immediate area with others located throughout the White Mountains from Jefferson to Effingham. Choose to play New Hampshire's oldest course, a challenging course with elevated tees, or one winding through the traditional New England village of Jackson along the Ellis and Wildcat rivers.

North Conway Country Club, North Conway - 18 holes
Wentworth Golf Course, Jackson - 18 holes
Hales Location Golf Course, North Conway - 9 holes
Waumbek Country Club, Jefferson - 18 holes
Androscoggin Valley Country Club, Gorham - 18 holes
Mountain View Country Club, Whitefield - 9 holes
Indian Mound Country Club, Ossipee - 18 holes
Province Lake Golf Club, Effingham - 18 holes

With 126 holes to play, one night is just not long enough!

Package includes:

Lodging at our Select Registry Inn
Full gourmet breakfast each morning
Afternoon tea service (including fresh squeezed lemonade or iced tea) with Paula's baked treats
Play 18-Holes of Golf at your choice of one of the participating eight courses including golf cart

Call for details at 1-800-258-2625 and mention Golf Any Day Package!

Dining near the Buttonwood Inn

2009-08-22T15:53:00.001-04:00

Choose from a wide variety of dining choices in the White Mountains, from traditional New England fare to continental cuisine, from pizza with pizzazz to spicy ethnic dishes. No matter where you choose, you'll be sampling a true taste of the White Mountains. Here are just a few of our favorites:

White Mountain Cider Company

The Restaurant at the White Mountain Cider Co. is Chef owned by Culinary Institute of America graduates Teresa and Scott Stearns.
The restaurant has become a local and visitors favorite alike. The original farmhouse built in the 1890's has been restored and maintains many of it's original details. The interior of the house has been renovated to accommodate spacious dining areas that also include a separate room and intimate loft for parties, rehearsal dinners and special events.

Thompson House Eatery
The Thompson House is a restaurant in the beautiful mountain village of Jackson NH.

The heart and soul of the original Thompson House home was a massive center chimney with 3 working fireplaces and a bake oven. The main fireplace, a Rumford style, with an arched fireback was used as the kitchen “stove.” The large crane and gutchens held the cook pots and laundry pots. The bake oven had its’ own flue and ash pit. The ashes were saved for such things as the making of soap and keeping slippery walkways passable. The other 2 fireplaces provided heat and auxiliary cooking space. Fires were kept burning 24hours a day. This massive structure is held up by huge granite block cribbing. The fireplaces and bake oven have been completely restored to their original condition.

Bernerhof Inn

Owners of the Bernerhof Inn, George and June Phillips, along with guest chefs will cater to your dining pleasures.

“We will, of course, continue to offer our famous Bernerhof Weiner Schnitzel, fondue and other Swiss delights,” stated Mrs. Phillips. “Often Inn guests will say for 3-4 nights and they will order the Schnitzel every night!” The Black Bear Pub will have an enhanced pub menu with unique sandwich items, soups and stews.
The newest edition to the Inn is the Cy Bear Lounge. With free WIFI available, inn guests will be able to catch up on email while enjoying late morning coffee or afternoon tea and snacks. The lounge will open to the public for refreshments from the pub in the late afternoon. Perfect for après ski as well!

May Kelly's Cottage

"An Old World Atmosphere Irish Bar and Restaurant" There is no way to describe the wonderful atmosphere inside May Kelly's. It is a place like no other. The food is outstanding, the price just right, and the friendliness overpouring not to mention the best poured Guiness in the Valley as far as this writer is concerned.

Red Parka Pub

"Good food & good times" has been the motto at the Red Parka for more than 30 years. Family owned and operated, we want you to feel comfortable in the knowledge that every time you return, the quality of food and service will be consistent. Whether you are coming here for a great steak dinner, a refreshing beverage, or dancing in the Pub, our crew wants you to leave with a smile on your face.
Our Vision Statement"The owners, management and Staff of the Red Parka Steakhouse & Pub are committed to providing our guests with hospitable service and great food prepared with genuine caring for your satisfaction. We are a responsible, involved member of the community and have attained leadership in our industry by being true to our individual and innovative style."

We are proud of the casual, friendly ambience of our main dining room. Families are very important to us, and we strive to make your dining time together as much fun as possible. We have more high chairs than any restaurant around, and plenty of crayons. Ski and kayak videos are shown constantly in the area of the dining room where we seat our larger parties.

Hiking the Presidentials from The Buttonwood Inn

2009-08-22T12:13:00.000-04:00

Just minutes from the Buttonwood Inn on Mopunt Surprise is The Presidential Range a mountain range located in the White Mountains of the state of New Hampshire, almost entirely in Coos County. The most notable summits of the range are named for prominent Americans, either public figures of the 18th and 19th centuries or Presidents.

The summits marked with an asterisk (*) are included on the peak-bagging list of 4,000-foot and higher mountains in New Hampshire; the others are excluded, in some cases because of lesser height and in others because of more technical criteria.

Aside from the notable summits, the geological Presidential Range contains a number of additional named peaks. Several of these peaks, drained on their west faces by the Dry River, are less accessible than the main and most visited ridge of the range and are therefore likely to be neglected, or mentioned as an afterthought, in discussing the range as whole.
Subsidiary peaks of Mount Washington: Ball Crag (6,106 ft); Nelson Crag (5,620 ft); Boott Spur (5,500 ft)

The Presidentials separate drainage via the Saco and Androscoggin Rivers into the Atlantic Ocean on the coast of Maine, from drainage into the Israel and Ammonoosuc Rivers, then into the Connecticut River, and then into Long Island Sound.

Kancamagus Highway Celebrates 50 Years

2009-08-11T11:03:00.000-04:00

One of the most beautiful stretches of highway in the entire Northeast marks a milestone this summer and a two-day celebration is planned for the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Kancamagus Highway.

"The story of The Kancamagus Highway is one that has not really been told over the years and, as we have discovered in our research, there was never a celebration of its opening in the summer of 1959," said Jayne O'Connor, president of White Mountains Attractions in North Woodstock, which, along with the U.S. Forest Service, is coordinating a celebration of the anniversary. "It is very appropriate that, for the half century mark of this remarkable road, we do take time and celebrate it."

In 1959, when The Kanc, as it is affectionately called, was officially opened. The beauty of the road earned The Kanc a designation in 1996 as a National Scenic Byway from the U.S. Department of Transportation. At the time, it was the only such designation of a road in the entire Northeast. For information on the Kancamagus Highway celebration, visit http://www.thekanc.com/.

NATURAL & HISTORIC POINTS OF INTEREST:
Watchable wildlife, Swift River, Dugway Picnic Area, Albany Covered Bridge, Passaconaway Historic Site, Hancock, Pemi, C.L. Graham Wangan Ground, and Sugar Hill Over-looks, Sabbaday Falls, Rocky Gorge Scenic Area, Lower Falls and Picnic Area, Greeley Ponds Scenic Area, Discovery Trail.

INTERPRETIVE SITES:
Saco Ranger Station and Russell-Colbath House, near Conway on the Kancamagus Highway, Lincoln Woods Ranger Station, White Mountains Visitor Center, North Woodstock.

The Kancamagus Highway stretches 34 1/2 miles from Conway in the east to Lincoln in the west. “The Kanc,” as it is known, traverses the White Mountain National Forest, crossing the flank of Mt. Kancamagus and climbing to nearly 3,000 feet in the process. Along its length are numerous hiking trails, federally designated Scenic Areas, and overlooks that provide travelers with truly breathtaking views.

The highway was named for Kancamagus, an early Indian Chief of the Penacook Confederacy, who tried to keep the peace between his people and the white settlers. Repeated harassment by the English eventually ended his efforts, and ultimately brought war and bloodshed to the region. In the early 1690’s, the tribes of the Confederacy scattered, and Kancamagus and his followers moved on, either to northern New Hampshire or—in some instances—to Canada.

It was Passaconaway, Kancamagus’ grandfather, who, in 1627, originally united more than 17 central New England Indian tribes into the Penacook Confederacy. Born as early as 1555 (or as late as 1580), it was Passaconaway who consolidated at least a dozen local tribes under the Pennacook leadership. Their names, spoken aloud even today, offer a haunting view of this region in an era before maps, boundaries, walls, fences and land ownership -- Wachusetts, Agawams, Wamesits, Pequawkets, Pawtuckets, Nashuas, Namaoskeags, Coosaukes, Winnepesaukes, Piscataquas, Winnecowetts, Amariscoggins, Newichewannocks, Sacos, Squamscotts, and Saugusaukes. Both action-hero and politician, Passaconnaway wove these depleted tribes together through marriages with his many children, through war, and through the sheer force of his argument, character and legendary skills. The story of one tribal marriage was popularized, with great exaggeration, by poet John Greenleaf Whittier in "The Bridal of Pennacook". A more accurate account by Thomas Morton, published in 1638, details the marriage of one of Passaconaway’s sons into a powerful tribe near Boston.

The rich flat land 12 miles north oof Conway is named for him. This community was first settled about 1790. The Russell-Colbath House is the only remaining 19th century homestead in the area, and serves as a US Forest Service Information Center. Visitors can learn about the history of the Passaconaway Valley, the families who lived in the house, domestic life in the 19th century, and view artifacts uncovered in recent archaeological excavations. The house, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is open to the public seasonally. Contact the Saco Ranger District for hours and more information.

NH Living Internet Magazine - "Happenings in the State"

2009-08-10T13:38:00.000-04:00

If you are planning a vacation to New England, you can view information about New Hampshire on the NH Living Internet Magazine website. The Buttonwood Inn is featured in an article this month and we are located in the heart of all the Mt. Washington Valley's scenic areas and activities just minutes from North Conway. Go to: http://www.nhliving.com/buttonwoodinn/index.shtml

2009-08-07T11:17:00.000-04:00

True to form Jupiter has not disappointed this month and the weather has been pretty cooperative so far in the Mount Washington Valley. Using our 10 inch Meade Schmidt-Newtonian we've been able to get some awesome views of the planet and it's four moons, Io, Europa, and Ganymede, and Callisto. These four moons, discovered by Galileo Galilei and by Simon Marius in parallel, orbit between 400,000 and 2,000,000 km, and include some of the largest moons in the Solar System.

Odd thing is on Wednesday night August 5th I observed what I thought was a fifth moon just barely separated from Jupiter. It's alignment was consistent with the other four moon's but this was the first time I had seen it over the years of observing. I'm now beginning to wonder if it just wasn't a star aligned with the planet although I must say it did not appear to move out of view or change it's separation over the course of about an hour.

If anyone knows which moon this is I'd love to know. I did take a snap shot a while back that Alan Chaniewski was nice enough to "clean up" for me. I'm still working on the group I to0k on the 4th of this month and hope at least one of them displays that fifth "moon". Right now it doesn't look too hopeful since the camera I'm using doesn't really have the imaging capabilities to resolve the image.

Tonight is the 8th and it proves to be another good viewing night if the current weather is any indication. Looking forward to the Perseids. I've also been fooling around with a laptop and a simple Logitech webcam to see what if anything I can do with that. Here's hoping that on August 11th the skies are clear because the literature says that will be the best night for viewing Jupiter this year and there is a second bonus in that the Perseids will be active! ...The weeks best...

Happy Stargazing!!

Hike up Mt. Willard

2009-08-06T09:04:00.000-04:00

Yesterday morning, Bill and I quickly finished our innkeeping duties and escaped up North on Route 302 to the trail head of Mt. Willard located behind the train station in Pinkham Notch. Though the rain clouds loomed overhead, we figured that equipped with our rain jackets and hats, we were covered for a cool summer rain. However, it only lasted a few minutes and we proceeded up Mt. Willard which is 2,804 feet to the cliffs overlooking the valley, Route 302, the scenic railroad tracks, Mt. Willey, and other mountains in the Presidentials.
http://www.outdoors.org/recreation/tripplanner/ideas/mt-willard.cfm

It's a well worn trail of moderate degree and maintained by the Park Service. In fact, on the way down, we passed the rangers fixing the trail. The trail starts out flat passing over a stream and then begins the incline up the mountain. About two-thirds of the way up, we passed by a waterfall that pours into Centennial Pool. We proceeded at a moderate pace and reached the cliffs after 1 hour and 15 minutes (about 1.5 miles). As mentioned, the view was spectacular and hauntingly beautiful with the clouds looming over the tops of the mountains, but it wasn't raining. In fact, it's a popular trail and there were around 20 people up there admiring the view and listening to the wildlife in the forest below. Hiking the mountain trails in the Whites renews our spirits and reminds of the astounding beauty and wildlife around us.

Starry Starry Night at The Buttonwood Inn

2009-07-23T16:33:00.000-04:00

Recently we had a visit from Alan Chaniewski, a photojournalist for the past 32 years, Alan is currently Chief Videographer at The Hartford Courant newspaper in Hartford, Connecticut. Most of his videos can be seen on their website at http://www.courant.com/. His recent blogs, including a very flattering one about the Buttonwood Inn's relationship to Astronomy, is posted on http://www.ctcameraeye.com/ .

Alan and his wife Debbie visited many of the sights in the Mount Washington Valley and the photographs they have taken are, to say the least , outstanding. This photo of me and Paula next to the Inn's 10" Meade telescope set up in the backyard of the Buttonwood is an example of Alan's skill because anyone who can make me look good in a photo is certainly skilled.

Alan also shot some great pictures of our resident red squirrel and an awesome picture of a hummingbird in mid-flight which can be seen on his blog. http://www.ctcameraeye.com/

Here's an example of an image of Jupiter I took that Alan was able to enhance. I used the 10" Meade you see in the photograph . I had a very simple Canon A80 digital camera which I simply held up to the eyepiece of the telescope and voila!

The following image of the moon was taken the same night and is a good example of the the imaging capability of the Meade instrument. As a kid I always wanted a telescope and I was always looking up and marveling at the night sky. I was fortunate to find this great telescope as we were planning to move from Central New Jersey to our new home at the Buttonwood Inn atop Mount Surprise on the border of North Conway and Bartlett. I just knew that the skies were going to be awesome with hardly any of the light pollution experienced down south and I wasn't disappointed. Looking up at the Milky Way here can be breathtaking and when our guests look up from the outdoor hot tub on a clear, moonless night they are often speechless as they take in the grandeur of it all.

Paula and I welcome anyone who is interested in astronomy to come visit. Whether you bring your own telesope, camera with telephoto lens, or binoculars, or take in the sights through our equipment you are sure to have a wonderful experience in the White Mountains of New Hampshire at The Buttonwood Inn on Mount Surprise.

Happy Stargazing!

A Good Read for a "Foodie"

2009-07-22T08:59:00.000-04:00

My daughter gave me the book, "My Life in France" by Julia Child, which was written in her last days. It begins with her marriage to Paul Child and they resided in France in 1948 for several years in which she depicts in great detail (often with humor) the various areas of France, including the lives of the people they knew both in France and the United States. Julia Child graduated from Smith College but not with a culinary degree. After eating fine food in the local French restaurants, she became fascinated with the art and skill of cooking. She enrolled in the Cordon Bleu School of culinary arts and meticulously honed her craft with glorious days of cooking for her husband and friends.

What was also fascinating to me about the book was the way she describes the preparation of the dishes and the way they should taste. I was also intrigued by the years of recipe development for each dish, whereby it would be tested many times over to get it just right in terms of flavor and texture. This recipe testing was the basis for the tome, "Mastering the Art of French Cooking," written by Julia and her two French culinary expert friends, which was considered by many well-known chefs of the time to be the best and most comprehensive cooking guide for beginners and experts alike.

Check out Amazon.com to purchase either of these books: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b_0_17?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=my+life+in+france+julia+child&sprefix=My+Life+in+France

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b_1_7?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=mastering+the+art+of+french+cooking+volume+1+and+2&sprefix=Masteri

2009-07-08T12:36:00.000-04:00

There's never a shortage of Hummingbirds and other winged visitors to the Buttonwood between May and October. Our guests are treated to their acrobatics and constant highjinks at the crack of dawn while we are serving Paula's scrumptious breakfasts in our dining room. Two hummingbird feeders and the Buttonwood's lush gardens are just outside the dining room windows. The views of the feeders, gardens, forest trees, and bright blue skies serve as a panoramic background for the Hummingbirds aerial acrobatics. To watch the ruby-throated males (Archilochus colubris) perch protectively in the shrubs standing guard over "their" feeder then dart assertively after other hummingbird "clan" members is quite entertaining not to mention amazing. The females, with their green backs and white underside and tail corners tipped black and white, seem to laugh at the antics of the males especially when they perform a U-shaped flying pattern over and over again trying to impress the females or warn other males that this is their territory.

Bill keeps a supply of the nectar on hand at all times as the antics of these little "jet" powered avians burns up a lot of "fuel". They feast on the simple mixture consisting of one part sugar to two parts water and will remind Bill if he forgets to refill one by persistently sounding off with a string of chips and squeaks near the front porch rocking chairs. Guests often comment about the "whirring" sound of their tiny wings as they flit back and forth from feeder to nesting area or pursue each other in a constant attempt to "shoo" away hummingbirds from the competing nesting sites. They are the only birds that can fly backward and their wings, which beat dozens of times per second, make a humming sound which can't be mistaken.

The pictures above were taken by Bill at the hummingbird feeder closest to our dining room picture window near the front porch rocking chair area.

The following images were taken by one of our guests from England:

Canoeing the Saco

2009-06-18T08:56:00.000-04:00

Bill and I enjoyed a very pleasant day of paddling on the Saco River yesterday. The weather was glorious with a crystal clear blue sky and nice breeze on the crystal clear river. We didn't paddle too much since we allowed the current to take us along slowly, so we could take in the scenery and let all of worries leave us.

This canoe trip leaves the eastern border of NH and loops windily towards western Maine to Fryeburg. The land along the river is mostly wooded with some open fields in between, so we saw only a few farmhouses along the way. There were several beaches that you could stop off at along the river to stretch or eat lunch. We also explored one branch of the river that veered off to the right hoping to spot some wildlife or birds.

Towards the end of our canoe trip we were in awe of the sight of the Moat Mountains, including Mt. Kearsage (eastern side) which are located in North Conway, as a backdrop against the river. We would be happy to arrange the same kind of enjoyable and peaceful canoe trip for you too during your visit to The Buttonwood Inn with Saco Bound Canoe & Kayak at a discounted rate--just see our package: http://www.buttonwoodinn.com/river-adventure-package.html

Photographing Local Waterfalls

2009-06-15T09:03:00.000-04:00

If you're an avid photographer or just a beginner, The Buttonwood Inn is collaborating with a local photographer, Joe Klementovich, on a photography workshop "snapping" local waterfalls. Check out our weekend package which includes a 2-night stay with all of our typical amenities, including the photography workshop at a waterfalls area and lunch back at the inn to review photos and techniques: http://www.buttonwoodinn.com/Photography-Workshop-Lodging-Package.html

The White Mountains are abound with waterfalls, some easily accessible on a short walk, some located in remote areas where you have to hike awhile to reach them. The most popular and one of the most spectacular is Arethusa Falls in Harts Location, which is about a 30 minute drive north on Route 302. After a 45 minute walk through the forest along the mountainside and passing over several footbridges, you get to see a 200-foot high waterfall which is a marvel to behold.

"Do You Want to Help Preserve Our Planet?"

2009-06-08T20:45:00.000-04:00

As innkeepers of a large house with 10 guest rooms, we inherently want to run an efficient household. Bill's natural inclination to find cheaper ways to operate our B&B business is also based on his previous experience as an industrial engineer. It has paid off in us saving money and energy in various ways like turning down thermostats, turning off lights when not in use, using air conditioning when in the room, etc.

We belong to a group of 13 innkeepers, the Bed & Breakfast Inns Mt. Washington Valley, which was the first B&B association in NH to become certified as (individual inns - 100%) eco friendly establishments. While we are striving to save energy to reduce our carbon footprint on the planet and preserve the natural beauty of NH, our guests are still receiving the same high level of attention and accommodation at our inns.

Next weekend, June 13 & 14, we are hosting our first annual Green Inntervention Event where you can tour nine inns and participate in various activities, including our "Twisted Yankee Swap." Come up to the Buttonwood Inn and stay with us for this event, where summer is finally here with flowers blooming, sun shining, and birds singing. For more information, go to our Packages webpage: http://www.buttonwoodinn.com/Green-Event-Inn-Tour-Lodging-Package.html

Spring Gardening

2009-06-01T19:57:00.000-04:00

Bill and I planted a vegetable garden next to the pool at Inn this past weekend (best time to plant in New Hampshire is around June 1 after threat of frost). Clyde (Black Lab Mix) and Britt (Golden Retriever Mix) are our "garden patrol." I wanted to grow vegetables and herbs like I've done for the past few years in our previous home in New Jersey. This year, we hope to harvest tomatoes, beans, jalapeno peppers, radishes, and lettuce. We still have to erect fencing and cover the garden with netting to keep out the animals and birds. Some of these vegetables will show up on our guests' breakfast plates in savory dishes.

I also harvested rhubarb this past weekend from one large plant and two smaller ones. It was washed, sliced, apportioned in plastic freezer bags, and frozen yielding enough to bake 28 Honey Rhubarb Walnut Breads as a starter for breakfast.

The perennial flower gardens are lush this Spring with new plants coming up (that I didn't notice last year) and new plants that were put in last year quadrupling in size. The lupines (native flower) are blooming this week in colors of purple, coral, lavender, and white. The soil in NH is excellent for plant growth--rich, nearly black and fine-grained with a few stones large enough to be tossed aside easily. I've transplanted the abundance of some plants to other beds that needed to be filled in establishing more perennial gardens on our six acres. We are also allowing the indigenous flora blanket the ground under the pines and in the forest of sugar maples and oak trees. If you're curious about native NH plants, check out the UNH website: http://extension.unh.edu/resources/category/Home_and_Garden

Mt. Surprise Room Update

2009-05-27T17:58:00.000-04:00

This is the new look of our Mount Surprise Room. While retaining the charm of our country farmhouse, we decided to update the room with some modern amenities.

Notice the stenciling work above the wall-mounted TV. Paula handpainted the stenciling after painting the walls with a texturing treatment which simulates a suede finish on the "TV" wall and a wood-grain finish on the other walls.

Add to this the addition of a very efficient wood-burning fireplace insert which warms the room in minutes throwing off 70,000 BTUs of heat. The movie collection continues to expand and when viewed on the new 50 inch plasma you feel like you are in your own movie theatre. Our guests enjoy bringing their evening treats which Paula prepares daily along with the hot and/or cold beverages of the day to complete the experience.

Buttonwood Inn on Mt. Surprise

Gluten-free Breakfasts Made from Scratch at The Buttonwood Inn

MAGRR New England - Canine Adoptions

Vegan Breakfasts at The Buttonwood Inn

Luxuriate in Mt. Washington Valley Spa Treatments

Buttonwood Maple Trees are Yielding Maple Syrup

Buttonwood Inn Guest Room Amenities

Two Weekends in March to Sample Maple Treats

Baked French Toast Recipe Published in Pamela Lanier Cookbook

22nd Annual Chocolate Festival Was a Success!

New!--Hand-Thrown Stoneware Mugs Available at The Buttonwood Inn

February Guests Celebrating Their Silver Anniversary!

Snowshoeing the Buttonwood Inn Trails

Featured Valentine's Dessert + Recipe

Great Doggie Day Care and Vacation Spot in Conway, NH

From the Camden Aquarium to Dinner at Babbo in the Village

Valentine's Special Dessert - Which one would you like me to serve?

March Maple Madness - Buttonwood Delectable Ice Cream Treat & Recipe!

New Year's Eve Celebration - 2010

Polar Express Families - 2010

Ladies Shoppers Weekend - November 2010

Huge Shoppers Weekend in North Conway

Tomatoes, tomatoes, and more tomatoes!

New Adirondack Chairs and Benches at The Buttonwood

Scenic Chair Lift at Bretton Woods

Buttonwood Cookie Recipe Featured in "Family Travel Guides Newsletter"

Homemade Italian Sausage--So Easy!

Cranmore Summer Concerts

Wednesdays at Wildcat

"The inn thing was a pleasant surprise"--nashua telegraph.com

Bird watching at the Buttonwood

Time to harvest the rhubarb and make cake!

Buttonwood Memorial Weekend Events and Special Deal

Alliums first to bloom...

Going organic—planting a garden…

Do you know the source of the food that is on your plate?

New Buttonwood Inn outdoor experience!

Only microsculptor in the world

Interesting neighbors on Mt. Surprise

Chocolate Lovers Festival Weekend

The Saints are no longer the "Aints"

Sinfully Sexy Desserts for Valentine's/Presidents Weekend Feb.12-14

Who doesn't LOVE Cupcakes!!!

March Maple Madness - A wild & wooly Inn-to-Inn Event

Snowshoeing and Exploring from The Buttonwood Inn

Valentine's Packages Make the Rounds

NECN's Tim Kelly comments on his stay at the Buttonwood Inn

Valentine's / President's Day Weekend Package Special

SPECIAL SKI AND STAY PACKAGE - LAST MINUTE DEAL

March Maple Madness

Calling All Chocoholics for the Chocolate Festival 2-28-10!

Christmas

Have a Cranapalooza New Year's Holiday

Santa's Village north of the Buttonwood

Starry Starry Night at the Buttonwood

Christmas and New Years Specials at The Buttonwood Inn

Chocolate Chip Pancake Time!

Visitor's to the Buttonwood Inn

The Buttonwood Inn - Special Holiday Gift Offer

The Mt Washington Valley Arts Association (MWVAA)

Two Great New Cookbooks

Ghost & Goblins Inn-to-Inn Halloween Tour - October 2009

Mountain Garden Club's Annual Holiday Boutique "Winter Wonderland"

The Buttonwood Inn Eco-Friendly Measures

25th Worldwide SketchCrawl at the Mount Washington Valley Visual Arts Center

Harvest to Holiday Shop 'Til You Drop Package

Celebrate the Holidays at The Buttonwood

THE BUTTONWOOD INN ON MT. SURPRISE RECOGNIZED FOR BEST FOOD IN THE BEST OF BEDANDBREAKFAST.COM AWARDS

White Mountain Fall Foliage Weekend

***SPECIAL DEALS AT THE BUTTONWOOD!!***

Guests at The Buttonwood and where they Hail from...

Santa Claus is Coming to Town!

Stay and Stargaze Special - VEGA SPECIAL

GOLF PACKAGE - Play ANY DAY throughout the season

Dining near the Buttonwood Inn

Hiking the Presidentials from The Buttonwood Inn

Kancamagus Highway Celebrates 50 Years

NH Living Internet Magazine - "Happenings in the State"

Hike up Mt. Willard

Starry Starry Night at The Buttonwood Inn

SPECIAL DEALS AT THE BUTTONWOOD!!