Twenty Years of Cow Hampshire: Celebrating New Hampshire’s Heart and History

Posted on 27 March, 2026 by Janice Brown

First Cow Hampshire (2006) blog photograph of an elm tree that grew next to my grandparents’ house.

On March 22, 2006, two decades ago, a small but mighty corner of the internet sprouted in New Hampshire soil—equal parts granite dust, genealogy notes, and the faint smell of molasses cookies cooling on a colonial hearth.

Today, Cow Hampshire stands as a living archive of the state’s quirks, characters, and quietly extraordinary history. It’s only fitting to mark its 20th anniversary with a story worthy of the blog’s own blend of wit, reverence, and delight.

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The Birds and the Bees in New Hampshire: Strutting And A Whole Lot of Buzz

Posted on 14 March, 2026 by Janice Brown

New Hampshire’s birds and bees form a surprisingly rich, distinctly local tapestry—one shaped by granite ridges, cold forests, and pollinator‑friendly meadows. The state’s mix of boreal and temperate habitats creates pockets of species you won’t find just anywhere, and together they form an ecosystem that’s both rugged and delicately interdependent.

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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. Granite Staters don’t just endure February; they’ve turned it into a season of rituals, quirks, and community gatherings that make winter feel almost… affectionate. 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 long taken a distinctive shape.

A Brief History of Resolutions

The idea of making promises at the turn of the year is ancient. Babylonians made pledges to their gods to repay debts and return borrowed tools. Romans dedicated January to Janus, the two-faced god of endings and beginnings, resolving to act honorably in the year ahead.

Possibly the oldest surviving written New Year resolution was found in Anne Halkett’s 1671 diary. She was a Scottish writer who penned,”I will not offend any more” beneath a ‘resolutions’ heading on January 2nd. 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 of the year 1704. The Piscataqua River moved slow and black, rimmed with ice, and every footstep on the hard-packed earth rang like a hammer blow.

Inside a modest timber-framed house near the harbor, warmth pooled around a stone hearth. Mehitable Uran leaned over a pot of broth, her cheeks flushed from tending the fire. Dried onions and salt pork simmered together—nothing fancy, but reliable against a cold that showed no mercy. Above her, bundles of herbs hung from rafters darkened by years of wood smoke: sage, thyme, and the last precious sprigs of dried rosemary saved for winter.

Outside, Christmas approached. Continue reading →

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