Not a back road but a tiny street
Hello and welcome to Back Road Journal…Little treasures discovered while exploring the back roads of life. My name is Karen and this is my personal journal of experiences shared by myself and my husband and our enjoyment of the good things in life.
After thirty years of living an active urban lifestyle in Florida, we moved to a back road in a small town in New Hampshire. We live in a 1730′s home with 300 apple trees. We spend our summers in a tiny cottage on a lake in Maine.
I am an amateur gardener in a zone 5 environment. My real passion is travel and food.
When my husband and I travel anywhere in the world, the trip is usually planned around where we are going to stay and what we are going to eat rather than sightseeing stops. We tend to travel the back roads, visiting small towns on our way to metropolitan cities. We enjoy a small, out of the way eatery just as much as a famous three star restaurant.
I hope to share our experiences…past, present and future with you and look forward to your comments.
All of the content on this blog, including photographs and writing, is original content unless otherwise noted. If you are interested in using any of it, please contact me via email at backroad-journal@comcast.net.
Hi Karen,
You make me nostalgic for New England. I grew up in Massachusetts along the New Hampshire border. I left for the West Coast thinking I would only be gone two years. It’s been seven and I am will likely be a few more before I can move back. I will stop by your site whenever I need a good dose of home.
-Kristen
PS. I love your travel style. Small towns. And good food.
You and your husband kind of sound like us, only retired. We like the backroads when traveling and we focus on where we’ll stay and what we’ll eat. I’m living in our 1863 townhouse in a small town in France while my husband does another year before retirement. I’m going to follow yours; I think I’ll discover some new backroads to share with my husband.
It is like kitchen talk without the clean up after people leave. I love recipes and new food ideas. I have travelled and worked in India, love the food, France is another fav and later this year I will be going to Thailand. I too have an old house from the 1860′s and would not change where I have it except for the cold.
Wow, I’m so jealous of your lifestyle: backroads of NH and a cottage in Maine…sign me up!
What an adventure! We’re just returning home from a driving tour through VT, NH and a week spent at a house in Down East ME. We definitely planned the week around eating – food and wine! I could easily spend an entire summer in ME and New England!!
What a lovely find your blogs is. And to find a fellow back road, small town traveller with an eye on the menu is a treat!
I’ve enjoyed reading through your blog and loving the tomatoes, we’ve had an awful tomato season here, summer has been dreadful, so it’s heartwarming to see such delicious toms
cheers
marcus
My husband and I would love to visit Maine so we will be following your site closely! Wow, a 1730′s home sounds wonderful. I’ll add your site to my blogroll so others can follow you also.
I nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award!
http://outtakesontheoutskirts.wordpress.com/2011/10/01/the-versatile-blogger-award/
Hi Julie, Thank you so much for nominating me for the Versatile Blogger Award. I truly am honored that you thought of my blog.
http://bloomingreverend.wordpress.com/2011/10/01/the-versatile-blogger-award/
I just nominated you for a Versatile Blogger Award.
Thank you for thinking about me for the Versatile Blogger Award. Julie from Outtakes on the Outskirts has also nominated me. It is a real honor that you both thought of me and my blog for the award.
Such a cute blog! I grew up in New England too! I’m drooling over your Italy pictures too. I love Europe so much. =)
Hi Karen! First of all I’m loving your blog! Second, it sounds like the two of us have switched places. I great up in New Hampshire and then my family moved to Hershey, Pa. Now i’m living in New York City. Even though I love the city so much I might never live anywhere else, I truly appreciate the country side and everything it has to offer! looking forward to reading more of your posts in the future and enjoying all the gorgeous photographs you take!
Hi Dear Karen, I am so glad to meet with you. You are welcome to my humble world. How nice to meet with your blog, I loved it and I added to my favurite blog list. It seems you are living in a dream land. Blessing and Happiness, with my love, nia
I love it! My family usually plans the trip around where we are going to eat first, then where we are going to stay and finally we think about what we might actually do. Can’t wait to explore your site… and love sauerkraut.
Hello karen…awesome compilation of this site…loved how you have combined food recipes with other interests…a very unique way of presentation indeed
Karen, you have a fantastic blog! I am looking forward to joining in on the journey with you moving forward. Have a happy day.
Mandy
Hi! I enjoy your blog and photos very much and I thought I’d nominate you for the Versatile Blogger Award. Meg http://megtraveling.com/2011/12/01/versatile-blogger/
Hi Meg, Thank you so much for thinking of me for the Versitile Blogger award. It is a real honor when fellow bloggers think of my blog for such a nice award. I already have the award but thank you so much.
Hi Karen, I’ll just say thank you for having such a great blog! Meg
Your life sounds very beautiful. So glad I came across your blog. -kate
http://photographyofnia.com/2011/12/15/bottles-in-the-kitchen/
I wished to give a real gift to you….
Hi Nia, Thank you for your thoughtfulness.
I want to let you know that I’ve selected you for the Versatile Blogger Award. You can find out about why I selected you and what you need to do in my link below.
http://delgrossofoodblog.com
Congratulations!
Thank you C J, for nominating me for the Versatile Blogger Award. It is so nice to receive an award from a fellow blogger. I have already received this award. The seven things that you might not know about me can be found in my post Surprises While Traveling.
Dear Karen,
I’ve seen your comments on several of my favorite blogs, so I knew I ought to visit yours. I just had to finally look you up, and now that I’m here I can see I’ll enjoy hanging around and visiting! The kind of travel and life interests you describe are ones I share avidly, so I’ll be glad to learn from you. Glad we’ve now met!
Karen, thank you so much for liking my blog……….your click lead me to you and your wonderful stories and magnificant photos. I look forward to living life through your eyes and ears. Much love, The Tin Man
Karen, thanks for … stopping by at my world – and for your “liking”. Really like what I see here .. and will follow you !!! *smile
Hi Karen,
You’ve got a really nice Blog here! Well done on that!
And I like your style of travel and presenting food here. So original! Warm regards, Subhan Zein
Karen, I can see I’m going to have SO much fun on your blog! In just a few minutes I’ve seen three recipes I can’t wait to try!
I’m so envious… New England, and a lovely home straight out of a “Norman Rockwell” scene… I’ve always pictured something a bit smaller, and across from you on our East Coast. I think maybe when I grow up!
New to the blog world, what I’m finding is that it’s so refreshing to hear about what other people are doing and interested in – lot’s of good stuff happening out there. Good blogs are beacons of hope in a world otherwise filled with so many sad events and negativity. I’ll be looking through more of your posts this w/e, Karen. I enjoy your work!
I went to New England Literature Camp as a sophomore at the University of Michigan. We lived in cabins on the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee a couple of miles outside of Wolfeboro for six months, and I loved it. I am looking forward to following your blog.
It’s nice to meet someone else who plans her travel around food! That’s the way my husband and I do it as well. Thanks for sharing your experiences!
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your blog and would like to pass along the 7 X 7 Link award to you. More information can be found at http://remcooks.com/2012/04/03/7-x-7-link-award/. Thanks for all the pleasure I get from reading your blog.
Thank you so much Richard, for thinking about my blog for this award. I really do appreciate when a fellow blogger enjoys my posts enough to think about passing on an award to my blog. I look forward to accepting the challenge and letting my readers know more about which of my posts, in my opinion meet the criteria of the award. I really appreciate your compliment and look forward to your continued support.
I’ve nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award
Congrats!!!
Hi Danny, Thank you so very much for thinking of my blog for this award. I am pleased to add your nomination to my award page.
I’ve nominated/awarded you with the Versatile Blogger Award! http://cloverandthyme.wordpress.com/2012/04/06/feeling-very-versatile-today/
I know you have been awarded this before, so no need to make a new post about it, but thank you for having such a great blog!
Thank you so much Becky, for enjoying by blog enough to pass on the award. I really do appreciate the honor that comes from another blogger.
Thank you for visiting my site–and what a lovely blog you have! My grandparents lived in New Hampshire, and I have very fond and loving memories of that part of our country.
You have such a beautiful blog that I have nominated you for the Liebster award. I know that you are familiar with this award, but I wanted to give you an extra shout out
Check it out here: http://whataboutthepie.wordpress.com/2012/04/06/crepes-and-ano…huge-thank-you/
Hi Jackie, Thank you so much for thinking of my blog for this award. I really appreciate that you enjoy my posts…it is very much appreciated.
I too am from an urban area, and moved to a rural (farm) town. However, Hubster is from a mountain town, so the rural thing isn’t too strange. We’re exploring the backroads together. We don’t have enough land at our house for 300 apple trees, but we do have an orchard on the acerage at our cabin a little further upstate.
Karen, I have nominated you to the Liebster Blog award … because your potting shed *smile
http://mygulitypleasures.wordpress.com/2012/04/13/i-want-to-thank/
Thank you very much Viveka for nominating me for the Liebster Blog award. I appreciate that you enjoy my blog enough to think of me. I am especially grateful that as a trained chef you enjoy my recipes.
Trained chef .. or not – you’re very good on what you’re doing and you are passionate about what you do in life.
Pleasure is mine.
Karen, I have really enjoyed your posts . . . and photos . . . and comments, so I’ve nominated you for the 7 x 7 Link Award!
http://karencooking.wordpress.com/2012/04/17/7-x-7-link-award/
Thank you Karen, for thinking of my blog for this award. It is aways nice to be thought of by fellow bloggers.
I just discovered your real passion is traveling and food. I too, love traveling and simple, healthy food. I wouldn’t say my travels are primarily based on where I will stay and what I will eat but it is near the top of the list. Also, what I will drink!
I am nominating you for the Versatile Blogger Award. Check my block to see what it is all about. I look forward to reading more about your experiences!
Hi Andrea, It sounds like we have a lot in common. I want to thank you so much for nominating my blog for the Versatile Blogger Award. It is very considerate when another blogger enjoys your blog enough to consider it for an award. I have been honored with this award in the past. You can learn a little more about me about me on the post Surprises While Traveling. I will add you to the others that have been so nice to think of my blog. Thank you so much.
Karen, so glad I found your blog as I loved New England when I visited a few years ago. I am a sucker for the rural communities found there, picture postcard houses and white steepled churches. Your lifestyle sounds ideal, NH and Maine, plus Italy too. Look forward to your posts.
Pingback: Another Pork Dish In The Belly And Another Award Called The ABC « Food Safari
Hi, Karen! I am really enjoying your blog and just want to let you know I have nominated you for The ABC Award. I still can’t get over your Romesco sauce…I’m making it again tomorrow night for cousins I have invited over for dinner
http://rgrull.wordpress.com/2012/04/28/another-pork-dish-in-the-belly-and-another-award-called-the-abc/
Thank you Razel, for not only your nice comment about my blog and recipes but for also thinking of me for the ABC Award. I really do appreciate it.
Welcome! And I hope you don’t mind but I passed on the Romesco sauce recipe to a couple of friends at work coz I know they will love it. Told them about your blog too
I’m pleased that you enjoy my blog and happy that you have given my recipe to others.
Oh my… Your blog is stunningly beautiful and puts my humble little start of one to shame! I am drooling over your beautiful pictures, your orchard and home, and your travels. Such a wonderful life and I’m looking forward to living vicariously through you! And I cannot believe you’re an amateur gardener because everything looks so perfect- great work!
I’m fairly selective about what I follow, but I love New England (lived there for 5 years) and your food photos. So, I’m signing up.
I also like your “little bit about me” section. I hope you take it as flattery, that I plan to add something similar to my blog.
Thank you for your nice comment. I am very happy that you will be following my blog. Flattery is just the way it take it…I’m glad you like my “a little bit about me”.
P.S. Is that rapeseed in your header photo? I love those fields. Reminds me of England.
Yes, the fields of rapeseed were in France.
What can be more beautiful than living in a 1730′s home with 300 apple trees!!! Seemed like reading in fairy tales. Look forward to more coming out of the Back Road:)
Your life sounds idyllic! it is also my dream to live in a big old house with a lot of history and a huge gardening space one day! Lovely blog, thanks for entertaining me this morning!
Hello Karen!
wow! I’m loving the look of your blog! Definitely I will spend more time here!
Beautiful blog
It certainly looks like we have a lot in common. I’m glad to have discovered another foodie, slow-living enthusiast, and lover of the great state of New Hampshire. (I spent a wonderful exchange semester at UNH way, way back when). Look forward to reading more of your adventures. Best, Michele
We see that you’ve already been recognized as a Versatile Blogger, but would like to let you know that we wanted to give you one too. Thanks for your lovely posts. http://mysisterspantry.wordpress.com/2012/06/01/versatile-bloggers-us-awww-shucks/
Hi Little Sis, I thank you both for thinking about my blog. Even though I have received this award before, I am thrilled that you thought of me.
Hello, I nominate you for the Sunshine Blogger Award. Have a look at my page for more information
Hi Sonia, There must be a problem with your sight…your home page is just the “hello” world and nothing else appears. I appreciate that you enjoy my blog and thought of it for this award.
Hi Karen, Thank you for letting me know. I am trying to fix the problem with the link on my username.
In the meantime, have a look at my actual blog page: http://thebossofbliss.wordpress.com/
Thanks!
I was able to click over to thank you. I really appreciate that you thought of my blog for this award.
I’ve nominated you for the Liebster Blog Award!! Check out the details on my page http://hollieshobbies.wordpress.com/2012/06/14/im-back-and-i-got-an-award/
Thank you Hollie for thinking of my blog for the Liebster Blog Award. I received this award before I had 200 followers last year. I will be happy to add your name under that award. Thank you for the honor.
Please consider yourself nominated for the Versatile Blogger Award!
This is because you are awesome, and I think your blog is too. Thank you for sharing your experiences and advice.
Please find my nomination here: http://katiepede.wordpress.com/2012/06/22/the-versatile-blogger-award-oh-la-la/
and then pass on the honour…
They have some rules, and then also add your link to here: http://versatilebloggeraward.wordpress.com/vba-winners/
Much love
Kate x
Thank you very much Katie, for your kind words. I so glad that you enjoy my blog and thought of me for the Versatile Blogger Award. I will put your name under the award on my awards page. I’m always honored when a fellow blogger thinks highly of my blog.
Hello – You have a beautiful homestead. Thank you for sharing. I look forward to following your adventures.
Thanks for following my blog. I am quite honored. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy reading yours.
I think you write an amazing blog, I have nominated you for a tell me about yourself award. I really enjoy reading your posts. Here is my post with the nomination https://goodnesswrappedinhappiness.wordpress.com/2012/07/11/tell-me-about-yourself-award/
Hi Meagan, I appreciate your nice compliment. Thank you for thinking of my blog for an award.
I have nominated you for an awrd which you can pick up here:
http://nutsfortreasure.wordpress.com/2012/07/25/my-award-for-you/
ENJOY!!!
Thank you for thinking of my blog for this award. It is very much appreciated.
What a beautiful blog you have! I love your new lifestyle, this is my husband and I dream when the children grow up (but they are stil only 3 and 6 !!!), we would like to move to the Italian countryside, travel and drink good wine….a dream. Rita (you know me as ritacoooksitalian.com which is my main blog!!!!)
Hi Rita, Thank you for stopping by to visit and your lovely compliment. Dreams can come true so never stop dreaming.
Hi Karen! I just nominated you for Beautiful Blogger Award.
Here’s the link. http://karistaskitchen.com/2012/08/10/strawberries-romanoff-and-two-very-belated-thank-yous/
Thank you so much Karista for thinking of my blog for this award. That is very kind of you and I truly appreciate your thoughtfulness.
Hello Karen!! I have nominated your blog for the One Lovely Blog award. Check out my blog for more details. One more award for your vast collection. ~~Mary
Thank you very much Mary, for thinking about my blog for the One Lovely Blog award. It is very much appreciated.
Hi Karen, I’ve just nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award and The Versatile Blogger Award! I so enjoy following your blog, and it’s my pleasure to introduce more people to it. To see my comments about your blog and the criteria for accepting the nominations, please visit http://lifethroughthekitchenwindow.wordpress.com/2012/09/13/awards-❦-very-inspiring-blogger-and-the-versatile-blogger/
Thank you so much Marlene, for enjoying my blog enough to think of it for the awards. I truly appreciate it and will be adding your nomination to my awards page.
Life Thought a Kitchen Window recommended that I stop by for a visit – glad I did!!! Looking forward to reading about your adventures…
I love you wide open arms – embracing the world with enthusiasm and humour!!! Life just keeps on getting better and better!!!
Love your blog! My boyfriend – and hopefully future husband
– and I are always travelling and exploring too 
The only way to live!! Enjoy x
Karen, I would love to have your home address … have a little thing planned for Christmas or New Year – and it’s not me popping up … in person *smile – hope you don’t mind. Send it through my email address. Thanks
Hi, Karen! It’s so good to meet you, and I can tell we share much in common about life and adventure! I’m really looking forward to getting to know you! xo Ally
Hi Ally, Thank you for stopping by to visit my blog. It is always nice to meet someone that you have a lot in common with. Thank you for your nice comment and I look forward to your visits in the future.
Karen are you near Milford I live in Epping and we are around the corner from where Rudy’s Apple Cider used to be made they sold the land for houses trees sit with apples an no one to pick them and they call the place Orchard View
Silly really 
It is always nice to meet a fellow blogger from New Hampshire.
Karen, you have a beautiful blog. I love and miss the northeast! You are an inspiration
Thank you Judy, for your kind words…they are very much appreciated.
So delighted that you visited my blog and commented because it means I could discover you! I have been reading through your lovely recipes and decided that I should comment here rather leaving a comment on each and every one since I loved each one I read. Beautiful, delicious dishes, each and every one! Your ideal holiday sounds like ours as well. We like to rent a car and get off the highway when possible. One of our favorite meals was in a little country restaurant on the road from Bologna to Venice last year. Rustic Italian food with wine on tap included which, despite the unusual dispensing, was a great wine. Who would have thought?! I look forward to spending more time reading through your posts.
Thank you Stacy, for your lovely compliment. I’m happy that you took the time to visit and that you have enjoyed the posts and recipes. It does sound like we enjoy traveling the same way. I look forward to your return.
Hi Karen, I’m happy to discover your blog! I’m feeling very nostalgic reading your posts. I grew up in Massachusetts and love the backroads of NH. My husband and I honeymooned in Maine, too (on Monhegan Island). I miss the small towns of New England and delicious food – I look forward to exploring your blog more since you share about both beautifully. I love the photo of your dining room decorated for Christmas! Merry Christmas!
Hi Hannah, Thank you for stopping by for a visit and your lovely compliment. It sounds like we have a lot in common. I look forward to your visits.
Hi, Karen. Thrilled to let you know that I’ve nominated you for the Blog of the Year 2012 award. All details within my post: http://feedthepiglet.wordpress.com/2012/12/26/blog-of-the-year-2012-award-02-03/
Happy New Year!
Thank you so much Johnny, for thinking about me. I appreciate your nominating my blog for the award…it is a real honor.
Hi, Karen. I’ve nominated you for The Versatile Blogger Award. Details within my post:
http://feedthepiglet.wordpress.com/2013/01/20/three-awards/
Thank you Johnny, for your thoughtfulness in thinking of my blog for this award.
Hi karen, your blog is awesome…..
graet recipes within great photograph..
keep sharing your passion, nice to know you then….
btw, i admire your plating skills
Thank you Dedy, for the very nice compliment…I’m glad that you enjoy my blog.
NIce to meet you, Karen. You have a nice blog, here.
After living in big cities all my life, we moved to the country, too. City dwelling was a necessity (jobs), but my heart has always been among the trees. <3
Thank you for stopping by for a visit, Stacy. I’m glad that you enjoy my blog…I appreciate your compliment.
Hi Karen, thank you for stopping by my blog so that I can discover your wonderful site. What a life you are living. I’ve being in the city for 40 years and certainly looking forward to move to some place like yours. There is so much I can gain from what you are sharing. Expect me to drop by often. …danny
Hi Danny, I appreciate your kind words and look forward to your visits…thank you!
lovely ‘about’ page – I’m almost a neighbour to New England here in Eastern Ontario!
Hi Lindy, Thank you for your nice compliment. It is nice to have you stop by my blog and I appreciate your comment. Yes…we are almost neighbors.
Thanks for leaving a comment on my blog and helping me find yours. Your words resonate with me – we have moved to a very rural island location, I grow most of our veg as well as soft fruit. Our trips too focus on food in priority over sightseeing, backstreets or anywhere interesting off the beaten track. Thanks, Tracey
Hi Tracey, Thank you for stopping by for a visit and your nice comment. It does sound like we do have a lot in common.
Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and saying hello. I am so glad to have found you here on the “back road”. Your blog is wonderful and I am so looking forward to reading more.
Hi Danielle, I’m happy that you stopped by for a visit and that you enjoyed my blog…thank you for your compliment. I look forward to your visits in the future.
Thank you for leaving a comment on my blog. Great recipes here! I’m going to have to follow to see what else you come up with!
Hi White Cottage, Thank you for stopping by for a visit and your nice compliment. I’m glad to know that you enjoy by blog and I’ll look forward to your return.
Hi – just wanted you to know I really love your blog and for the last couple days, I’ve saved so many yummy recipes to try !! I’m battling breast cancer and can’t eat much nor have the strength to cook till I get over my chemo…. But reading your blog and your travels puts me in the happy place as if i am with you cooking or holidaying… Thank you for keeping my spirits up and know I really appreciate your sharing your life… I love gardening, cooking and travelling as well and hopefully this year is only a blip in my life and I’ll get back on track to normal next year… Thank you!!
Thank you Wishbonesx, for your kind words…they are very much appreciated. I’m happy that you enjoy visiting my blog and that it lifts your spirits. I do hope that you will be fully recovered in the near future. Take care!
Wow Karen, you do a lot more than I do
. You might like to keep a tab on a new blog I started to document my wanderings – which in the UK is all historical which I love. There’s not much there at the moment.
Cheers
V
Hi Veronique, Thank you for stopping by for a visit. I’ll pop over and take a look at you historical site.
Hi Karen. Thanks for stopping by my blog and good luck with the rural adventures! I will keep an eye on them and on the apple trees hehe.
Alessandro
Hi Alessandro, Thank you for visiting…I’m happy to know that you will be following along on my adventures.
Hi Karen, I nominated you for the WordPress Family Award. http://juliencb.wordpress.com/2013/04/22/and-the-nominees-for-the-liebster-award-are/
Thank you Julie, for thinking of my bog for this award…it is much appreciated.
Thanks for visiting my blog and liking my post.
Hi Karen, Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting on my post! I love your blog! My husband is from western Massachusetts (still have trouble spelling it) and we’ve been out that direction many times. My son went to college in Maine as well. I’m so appreciative of your lifestyle! What a dream! It’s so beautiful up in that part of the country. Anyway… I’ll be following you and look forward to reading more! Have a wonderful weekend!
Hi Julie, Thank you for stopping by for a visit and your nice compliment. I’m happy to know that you enjoyed my blog and I look forward to your return.
Hi,
I enjoy your website. Today, I ready this post: “Apple Blossom Time In New England”
Posted on May 10, 2013. There are some photos of pear trees. Do you happen to know what kind of pear trees these are? I notice that some leaves have some red in them. If you happen to know, I would appreciate it. I only know of one pear that has reddish leaves and that’s Nashi. Curious.
Thank you.
PS. Beautiful photos, by the way
Hi Michael, Thank you for stopping by for a visit…I’m happy that you enjoyed the photos. I have several varieties of pears in our orchard but I think the photo in question is probably Bartlett (William). The tender leaves open with the reddish tint but turn green soon after.
Hi Karen,
You visited my website back in May and I am embarrassed to confess that I have just now been able to visit your site, which I thoroughly adore! Your recipes have me salivating and your delightful commentary has me smiling–okay maybe that image doesn’t convey exactly what I am trying to say–I will be a regular reader of your blog now! Thanks for visiting my site and I hope you will return! Hmmm…maybe we can co-post sometime!
Returning to finish this post–two hours after beginning it–because during the severe electrical storm that just passed through, a huge tree limb flew into our porch, causing a lot of damage and scaring the bejesus out of the dogs and me!
Thanks Karen for sharing your recipes and thoughts with all of us!
Hi Susan, Thank you for stopping by for a visit. It is always nice to meet another New Englander, especially one that lives nearby. I’m happy to know that you enjoy my blog, my stories and the recipes that I create. I look forward to your visits.