Having sung the praises of the humble cabbage in a "Fresh Today" column a few weeks back, it seems appropriate to give a nod to its diminutive, more mildly flavored cousin, the brussels sprout. One of a handful of vegetables that improve in flavor after the first frost, brussels sprouts are being harvested in New Hampshire right now. The California-grown varieties are okay,…

Dragonflies are popular themes on ceramics, dishware, jewelry and stained glass. Since they are the insect of choice to be featured in home decor and glass ornaments, I stopped at the Detailed Stained Glass Store on Main Street in Concord to talk with the proprietor, Annette Burgess. She teaches classes on how to create various stained glass designs. She showed me a circular pane of glass on which the image of a…

Pumpkin picking time, that is. We went on a mini-tour of some of Concord’s local pick-your-own farms. First, we checked out Rossview Farm, out on District 5 Road. They had pumpkins aplenty available, as well as hay rides. (We had to take a pass. Hay makes us itchy!) Then, we headed down the street to Carter Hill Orchard. They had a plethora of pumpkins and apples to pick or purchase.…

Ever wonder who was behind the annual Christmas parade in Concord? Or the tree lightings in front of the state house and on Loudon Road?Why, it's the Pineconia Grange, of course.Don't feel bad if the answer still has you puzzled. It seems the name Pineconia means very little to most Concord residents - The Insider included - a fact the grange members have become all too aware…

Dear Casper and Bill,My husband is one gassy guy. I am, too (not a guy, but gassy), so that's not the problem. What I do take issue with, however, is this: Whenever we sit down to enjoy a nice meal, he just lets 'em rip. They're loud. And yes, they're usually pretty darn stinky. I find it beyond disgusting and have asked him repeatedly to stop. No matter how hard I try to get him to break the habit, all he does is break wind! I don't mind if he does it between meals, but he could at least hold them in or get up from the table. Honestly, am I asking too much?Dear Stinkers,Just…

There are all sorts of iterations of the traditional traffic intersection. Three-ways, four-ways, advance green, blinking yellow light: Concord has them all, and we take them for granted. But one Penacook family has to live with a unique stoplight situation, one that's all its own. The family's driveway is adjacent to a four-way intersection, and they have to have their own personal…