Readers, Welcome to my blog (formerly Birds, Blooms, Books, etc). I'm entering a new decade taking on the challenge of moving from Maryland after living there 46 years and learning about my new home here in New England in the Live Free or Die state - New Hampshire. Join me as a write this new chapter of my life.

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

After Dinner Hike

On Labor Day after a nice dinner with daughter and her family we drove to this tree farm in Cornish that the owner has opened up for hiking.  She even provides a trail map.  Our destination this evening was the Top of the World.  And yes, at first the climb was steep in the fields to reach the start of the trail that then circled the hill to reach the summit.  Oh, what a view awaited us there.


Here's the restored barn, available to rent.


Starting the climb in the field.  See the grapevine sheep there?


The trail to the Top of the World is home to old stuffed animals or stuffies as they are now referred to.  Granddaughter brought this one to contribute but then picked it up on our way out to take it back home.


Lots of birdhouses line the sides of the trail.  And what a wonderful trail to a walk on!




Top of the World!
That's Mount Ascutney in Vermont.


Notice the picnic table and chairs? We sat and watched the sky darken.


On the side of the barn is this map. Can you see what it's made out of?


Here's a close up of New England.


And to get a sense of the size here's oldest granddaughter standing in front of it.



Tuesday, September 15, 2020

The Cold Weather Comes!

 


Look at the low temps predicted for this weekend.



We badly need rain here too.  




Monday, September 14, 2020

Another Hike

 Tuesday September 1st we joined Emily and granddaughters for a hike on the Bridle path to West Rattlesnake Mountain.  This is a very popular hike with families with kids as we found out.  There were lots of cars in the lot and lots of people on the trail.  We pulled our masks up most of the time as we passed them by.  It is a beautiful hike up, gradual with steps in places and once at the top a perfect place for a picnic lunch with a view.






First view looking south to Squam Lake.


Our destination with wider views of the Lake.


Oldest granddaughter trying her rock climbing skills.  She mastered it and must have done it 10 times.



The patterns on the rocks were interesting.


A stop off in Plymouth for ice cream on our way home. The town green was across the street with a picnic table for us to eat at.


Exhausted mountain climber.



Saturday, September 12, 2020

50 Books Read

 I'm listing the book titles I've read this year on a separate page.  Scroll down to connect to it.  I've just reached the 50 mark.  I was thinking that was low for me but in going back through my lists it's actually about right.  I guess I have been reading more than I thought and it's probably due to Covid.

Here is a quick note on what I liked for each of the last 5 books.

#46 The Story of Andrew Trulove by Elizabeth Berg 

It was a feel good story.  People doing the decent thing by helping each other.  Old man helping a teenaged girl and she helping him.





#47 The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney

A mystery set in 1800s Canada in the winter! Something I knew nothing about yet I could picture since we camped in northern parts of Ontario and took a train to Moose Factory on the James Bay.  I couldn't fathom what the winter would be like.  I learned by reading this.






#48 The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate

It's quite the thing in writing to have two time periods going back and forth.  Some authors do it well like Wingate did here.  This was a historical fiction taking place in Louisiana after the Civil War and in present day.




#49 The Light Keeper's Daughters by Jean Pendziwol

Another mystery set in Canada on Lake Superior. I liked the two voices: one old and one young.  Much like Trulove story above in young helping old and vice versa.  In this case a mystery was solved.








#50 The Invisible Ones by Stef Penney


I liked Penney's first book so sought out another one.  Again quite a mystery that kept me reading. Interesting because of the Roma/Gypsy characters.  I've realized of late how much I learn from well written and well researched fiction.