Author Archives: Janice Brown

February in New Hampshire: A Month of Frost, Fire, and Fierce Traditions

Posted on 16 February, 2026 by Janice Brown

February in New Hampshire is not for the faint of heart. It’s a month that arrives with a frosty grin, dumps a few feet of snow on your driveway, and then invites you—politely, of course—to come outside and celebrate anyway. … Continue reading →

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Granite Resolve: New Year’s Resolutions in New Hampshire, Past and Present

Posted on 1 January, 2026 by Janice Brown

Present New Year’s resolutions are often treated lightly—earnest on January 1, forgotten by February. Yet the act of resolving to do better has deep historical roots, and in New Hampshire, where practicality, independence, and community have always mattered, resolutions have … Continue reading →

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A Hearth Against the Cold: Christmas in Colonial New Hampshire

Posted on 24 December, 2025 by Janice Brown

The wind came first—rattling shutters, worrying the bare branches of the great elm by the meetinghouse, and carrying with it the sharp, iron scent of snow. In the small coastal town of Portsmouth, winter had settled deeply into the bones … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Holidays | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Mince Pie on Granite Plates: A New Hampshire Story

Posted on 12 December, 2025 by Janice Brown

The first mince pie I ever saw  sat on a chipped blue plate at the edge of a church supper table in New Hampshire, tucked between apple crisp and plain white rolls. It was dark, almost black at the center, … Continue reading →

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The Quiet Journey That Carried Us

Posted on 5 December, 2025 by Janice Brown

It began, as so many journeys do, with a name. *Patrick.* Not the saint. Not a hero carved in stone. Just a name etched into a Vermont census list, beside the birthplace “Ireland” and the designation “aged 10.” No middle … Continue reading →

Posted in Genealogy, Irish in New Hampshire, Personal History | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments