Category: The Seasons

The Peak Is Past

I looked out today at the lake and everything was still. It was also a simple burnt brown and yellow and the vivid reds and orange and corals are done.

PA210019 copy

Still, it was beautiful, and so when I went to get the mail, I took my big camera and took a few pictures. The one below was when the sun was shining. So beautiful!

PA210020 copy

Soon the trees will be bare and the blustery winds of November will be upon us. With just the skeletal remains of the trees blowing eerily this way and that.

PA210017 copy

It’s strange but my favorite time of year is Autumn when the colors are bright. The month of November, my birthday month, the weather, the colors, tend to be rather grim.

Yet, November holds two things I am looking forward to. My 61st birthday and Thanksgiving. My personal favorite holiday!

People ask me what dish is my favorite during the Thanksgiving meal? Hmm. Let’s see, turkey, stuffing made with roasted chestnuts, mashed potato, cranberry sauce, butternut squash, green beans, gravy, rosemary crusted hot dinner rolls, apple pie, pumpkin pie, or mince Pie? Umm, yes! All of it! LOL!

The Long Weekend

Our long weekend was not a bad one. I am still fighting this blasted cold, but I went outside in the warm air and all the beautiful leaves. It’s good for the soul to be surrounded by such beauty.
PA120005I think even when you are not feeling your best, the beautiful Autumn colors can turn your day around. And so it was with me.

The train went by again today, as it was the holiday. I checked their schedule and determined that next weekend is their last foliage train! Too bad. This year our Autumn is about two weeks late, so there would have been plenty to see at the end of the month.

20191008_145040

This is another quiet week for me, which is a very good thing. I keep hoping to shake off this cold and being able to take it easy and do a few crafts and rest is really helpful.

At least this is what I am telling my immune system!

Autumn in New Hampshire

Here we are, midweek in New Hampshire. The foliage colors are getting prettier and stronger, but we have another two weeks or thereabouts until we have peak colors.

Every day, busses of tourists from all over the world travel through the Lakes Region of New Hampshire and further north to see our beautiful leaves. I have always taken it for granted, but this year, I am enjoying it so very much!

20191008_145439

I took this as I came down my driveway today. You can see a little of the change of color, but also that we still have a lot of green around.

20191008_145415

I was out today driving around, and I got my hair done. It came so pretty. I’m just loving what my hairstylist Becca is doing for me!

In the next few days I want to slow things down. I have, what I hope are just Autumn Allergies, a slight sore throat, and stuffy nose. Fingers crossed it is nothing at all.

Redd Foxx

On Tuesday I found a new animal in my Yard-Zoo. Why I have Deer and Wild Turkey’s, a plethora of Birds and Geese, a Duck or two, Squirrels, Chipmunks and Ground Hogs, and now I can add a handsome and seemingly healthy Fox.

P9170008 (2)I think I will call him Redd Foxx!

P9170006 (2)He scampered about the Orchard in our yard grabbing Pears, Peaches, and apple and munching on them. I knew something had been in the yard, I suspected Bears, as frequently Lili wakes up around 2:00 AM barking at something. I usually stumble to the bedroom door and tell her to be quiet! Then stumble back to bed!

Now I know, it’s Redd Foxx!

Since he/she looks healthy I am thrilled with the new addition. It certainly makes life interesting!

Isn’t that just wonderful!

Peaches

Usually, I cook and can my Heavenly Peach Jam in early August. But for us, this year, our peach crop is still not completely ripe.

Our Spring was very wet, very cold and very late. Our Apple and Peach trees blossom in mid-May, but this year it was the first week in June!

Thus the Peach Crop is small and late. We have all the supplies that we need to make the Heavenly Jam, but it will be the weekend before I can even start.

It got me to thinking back to when my friend Emily lived next door. She would come over and the three of us would work, Dipping the peaches in boiling water for a minute, tossing them in ice water and then peel off the skin and then we would take out the seed, and chop the peaches.

Em and MeEmily and I back in August 2006.

Yes, Jack, Emily and I were a great team and the prep time went fast and we talked and joked and had fun. Below you will see some of the Jam we made together.

24 Jars Of Heavenly Jam & A New Hair Cut

I sure miss Emily and I wish that she lived closer! Of course, she and her husband are expecting baby boy #2 any day now, so I don’t think she would be up for jam making.

So on Wednesday I will be preparing the peaches and setting the Jam to rest before cooking it up on Thursday and canning it.

The Recipe can be found HERE

A little aside, if you share this recipe, I am all for it, but please be sure to credit me. Recently someone “borrowed” one of my very own recipes and took credit for the recipe. For the first time in my 60 years, I felt bad. Perhaps it was because I’d worked hard to create that recipe. In any case, use whatever you would like and please don’t forget me!

The Seasons

Sunday was quite simply, a beautiful day. If I could order perfect weather like this every day I would. Of course, then all the tourists would stay and the crowds would make me crazy!

There are reasons for the Seasons up here and I admit to enjoying them all. We’re definitely at the end of summer. With temperatures in the 70’s that is right where it should be.

The Sun rises after 6:00 and sets at just about 7:20 in the evening. The days are getting shorter and shorter.

Soon the trees will start their color change, leaves will fall, as well as temperatures. My truly favorite time of year! Autumn!

Here is a picture from last year.

Oct 17 006Ah, before I know it, the lake will be awash in color! Truly, my favorite time up here.

Of course, winter will follow, but truth be told, I don’t mind that too much either.

Four beautiful Seasons! It’s why I love New England!

Lobster Fest 2019

Today my cousins Janet and Larry, and Janet’s husband Dave came up for our annual Lobster Fest. They stopped to pick up the Lobster, steamers and corn all fresh from the sea and the garden, on their way up here and they arrived by 10 o’clock.

I’d been cleaning and puttering all morning and I’d managed to set the table, put out the dishes and I got the pots we would need too.

69021047_377893962922778_543479174451429376_nThe Lobsters before being cooked!

When Dave and I unpacked the loot, we worked together deciding which lobsters to cook in which pot and when and where to cook the corn and steamers. For those who do not know, Steamers are Clams.

69609880_809810296087837_4730889726171545600_nMy cousin Janet took this picture of Dave and me after we put everything we had cooked on the table!

Dave and I cook so well together. Since we had 5 pots that all needed full flame on the burners, we did a bit of juggling and in about 40 minutes (By this time it was about 12:45) we served up the luncheon. If anyone left here feeling hungry, it was their own fault.

20190818_125655I took this one of my plate.

We each had a two-pound Lobster, Corn on the Cob, Steamers, and Potato Salad. I never really appreciated the size of a two-pound Lobster until I found myself unable to finish mine!

68496064_495298354551991_733756336017244160_nJanet took this picture of her two-pound Lobster! Just look at that sucker!

I cleaned the rest of my Lobster, and the rest of Jack’s Lobster and we have enough for a nice meal tomorrow. I really must be getting old if I am unable to finish my Lobster!

20190818_125705My homemade potato salad with eggs. A real hit today!

One really great thing about cooking the meal with Dave was that at the end of the meal, Janet washed all the cooking pots. I managed to get all the other dishes into the dishwasher, but all those pots! She made quick work of them, and she told me that she really likes washing dishes. I’m thankful. At this point in the day, I was getting pretty tired.

So Lobster Fest 2019 is over and a success! I love eating Lobster, but more than that, I love getting together with my family! Thanks, Janet, Dave, and Larry!