Buy Local!

I am basically done with most of my Christmas shopping, save the fun and local items that I find at craft fairs, etc. This year, as the last, I am trying to buy local and handmade products. These are businesses I love to support. Some favorites so far this year (one old, one new).....

Picassic Pond Winery
This local NH company makes mead. I have always bought mead produced by far-away companies. I did not know until recently that it is made right over the border. Sold in the local wine section of the NH state liquor stores on the highways up here. They also have a spiced mead which I am eager to try.

Jewell Towne Vineyards

Their Muscat recieved the folowing rave review from TIME:
It's sweet but balanced, with some nice mineral on the finish, like a good riesling. It's not a wine that's trying too hard or is too proud of itself. It just gets the job done right. This is one of the very few wines we drank the whole bottle of. Who knew New Hampshire was better at picking grapes than Democratic nominees?—by Joel Stein

They are right over the border from Amesbury. I hope to try all their wines soon.

(on a side note - a hillarious look at a wine from eaach of the 50 states, courtesy of Joel Stein is here in TIME magazine. Check out th Massachusetts "undrinkable" selection)

Plum Island Soap Company

All that wine might make you feel a little dirty - here's an awesome way to get clean. Their products are phenomenal, and they are a local company run by nice people. I buy their products at "Soak" in downtown Newburyport, but their Plum Island factory home is a great way to get their stuff too!