Loon Mountain Trip...

Saturday, Janet and I met up for a trip to Loon Mountain. The ride up was beautiful and the colors astounding. Never having been that far up in New Hampshire - it was fun to see the scenery.

This is the Loon Mountain Gondola Skyride - and since we both have a thing about height - I was hoping that it would be a nice ride - and not scary. The ride turned out to be so quiet and so easy that you would have never known that you were traveling about a mile and a half up a mountain.

The view looking down the mountain as we traveled.The sky tower was fun even though I only climbed up to the second level. Janet walked up to the top. You could see Mount Washington from there - even though it is 27 miles away (which translates into a hour and half drive - depending on traffic.)

Lovely yellow leaves.
Isn't this little cabin gorgeous! We both thought it would be the perfect place to live. Janet and her dogs, Wolf and Max, would be so happy there with all that space to run around in.
Me - I could really love living up there - Can you imagine how awesome it would be - the view would be awesome year round. The only thing would be that it would require the sky way, or the ski lift, or maybe a really nice snowmobile to get around - cause it is at the top of the summit.

I love this photo - actually I was trying to take a nice close up - but, instead I got this neat photo where the leaf is blurry and the background is so clear - you can see right through those holes in the leaf.
Here is another shot of the tower...

There is even an amphitheatre at the summit...

Little cat ears at the top of the mountain - at least that's what Janet and I thought they looked like. Lunch was at a really good BBQ place. Janet had the salad pictured above - and it looked so good. She said the veggies were so fresh.
I opted for a BBQ pork sandwich on Texas toast, slaw and home cut french fries! Oh.so.good.

I know I had a lot of fun and it was so great to meet up with Janet. She is just how I expected her to be...warm and friendly! I think our personalities meshed pretty well...and I look forward to getting together again.

Wool Tour 2008...

My first - but not my last - New Hampshire Wool Tour! I loved it! The truth of the matter was that I was only going to go to one stop - #3 on the list - Washington. But, the drive up there was so gorgeous - while there I decided to head on to all the other stops - and am I glad I did!

The roads that were chosen to get you from place to place were mostly back roads - in some cases dirt roads - covered and surrounded by trees showing off their most beautiful leaves.

Let's talk babies first - these two boys were being raffled off - if you donated some coin to the NH Food Bank. My name is in the pot to win them...don't even go there - I know I live in an apartment...but, I have a plan!!!

Aren't they the sweetest looking little things. The white one is Matthew...and the brown one is 50/50
Matthew is a hummer - and if you hum back at him he comes up and nuzzles you...gets right up against you with his sweet little face...

This one girl and I started kidding each other about who was going to win them ... and it seemed that at the next couple of stops we ran into each other - and we'd laugh and tease each other about the sweet little alpacas. When we were leaving the last stop that we would see each other at - she said to me "If I don't win them - I hope you do!" The same goes for her - If I don't, I hope she does.
The drive was majestic - Oh...the colors just blew me away. Honestly, I think this is the most colorful fall we have had since I moved here. On the way up outside a graveyard on Route 10.
The photo opportunities were everywhere -
Trying to learn how to frame my photos better - did I do it on the photo above???

This waterfall took my breath away...on the other side of the bridge - it is a nice beautiful stream that is just starting to become a fall - then it goes under the bridge and becomes this gorgeous waterfall. Could have stayed there for hours...next year I'll pack a lunch and plan on taking a break right there.Lots of pumpkins too - at this stop - It is actually the number 2 stop - but it was my 4th stop. The two tents at the top housed vendors. There was a lot of roving to be had - and yarn - and knit items.
Here this woman is spinning right off the rabbit - if you click on the photo - you will see more clearly how she has taken his "fur" off of him - and you can see how different he looks in two spots.
And, at most of the stops there was music...a harp player at one...
And a group of young musicians at another stop.

It was great fun...I am so glad I took the day to do this...

Stopped on the way home for a nice dinner at the Appleseed Restaurant in Bradford...

I'll show you what I bought in the next day or so - I was very thrifty this year...

Busy, Busy Day...

Just walked in the door!

The morning started with a craft show at Colby-Sawyer College...bought 2 photo magnets, 5 decorated envelopes, and three candle holders!

Next was the NH Wool Tour - oh, did I have fun! Went to all five of the sites and traveled a ton of New Hampshire back roads that would take your breath away...and it was a great day. Did not buy any yarn except for one skein of alpaca (330 yards) DK weight and it is gorgeous!

Took tons of photos...and will share with you soon...but, for now I am going to rest...it was a long day behind the wheel!

More Color...

Lobster! Now that is colorful as well as delicious! This was last night's dinner along with some boiled blue potatoes slathered in butter! This little guy was about 1-1/2 pounds...and the grocery store steamed him for me.
Mentioned that I go by Otter Pond when I go up to see Mom - well, this is Otter Pond. The colors should be changing even more throughout these next few weeks.
The sea grass was blowing in the wind - and at the base of the tree colors were cropping up.
Looking along the shoreline the trees are showing off their color.


Such loveliness. Just makes the ride so much more fun to see all the glorious color!
I love Fall!

My Corner of the World...

A few days ago I mentioned that the I got a call from the local bookstore telling me Free Range Knitter was in...so I thought I'd show you around Violet's Bookstore! Violet's is lcoated on the circle and there have been photos of the front of it before.

Walking in you are greeted by a ton of books, nice book bags, cards, and local artwork. All of which is for sale.
Love browsing the bookcases - they are neat and orderly...and a ton of books to choose from.

Violet's is the original name of the bookstore - and was the name of the previous owner. The new owner, Laurel, kept the name. Laurel is very friendly...and you can tell she likes books!

There is just something so special about a bookstore...happy times! And, it doesn't hurt that the name is a shade of one of my favorite colors.

Boston with Ann and Dave...Part Two...

Day Two in Boston:

We met up with Dave around ten - and by this time Dave had already done his laundry and taken Dusty to the vet! - you know he is a real early bird!!!

This trip to Boston was very different for me - I got to see things I didn't even know were there - it was an experience to see a different part of the town that I have so grown to love.

We started out - at a couple of graveyards. I find it amazing that there are these tiny graveyards stuck in the middle of these huge skyscrapers...We saw the graves of Sam Adams (not the beer guy), Mother Goose and Benjamin Franklin's parents.


Next stop was the Paul Revere statute and the Old North Church in the background - (yep - the "one if by land, two if by sea" spot!) We saw his house and it was just so plain...but the sense of history was all around you.

We went through the largest Farmers Market I have ever seen - Dave was telling me that the time to arrive is very early in the morning. The prices were so cheap - $1.00 for a bunch of really nice looking asparagus. Let me tell you it was crowded!!!

One of the most inspiring places we stopped was at the Holocast Monument. I was so touched by what I saw...the words along the path, the numbers that filled the plates of glass - knowing that each number represented a person. What an crime against humanity...how could someone so evil have lived on this earth! It really shook me up!
Fanueil Hall was on the tour! As always - there is an excitement both inside and around the building with all the restaurants and shops bidding for your attention. We wandered inside and outside! An awesome lunch in the North End awaited us - at this darling restaurant...You see that table that I took a photo of? It has a special meaning to me - when my daughter, Tara, was in Boston a few years back for training with her company, we went up to spend the evening and next day with her. We ate dinner sitting at that very table! I never thought I would find the restaurant again - and we picked it for lunch quite by accident.This would be the lovely pair of socks which Dave gifted me with (there was another pair for Ann). I love them...my color and they fit perfectly! I was so surprised...and thrilled! And check out the packaging!
The Christian Scientist Plaza was a spot I had never before seen...what gorgeous buildings! And, to think this covers such a huge area of Boston - again - amid all the skyscrapers one finds these plazas, graveyards, and parks. It is truly awesome.Ann and Dave on the bus (I am sitting across from them) - I've done the subway (or T) throughout Boston - but, this was my first time riding a bus. We went over to Cambridge - to Central Square! From there we walked up to Harvard Square taking in the scenry, shops that looked interesting, and just in general talking, laughing, and having a great time!

It was soon time for Dave to head back home - so we got a few shots of us together at a cute little mall called The Garage...

Ann and I wandered over to the area near the T stop in Harvard Square where we sat and listened to these two guys (Killam and Lloyd) playing music and people watched. They had their CD for sale for $4.00 and I got one as a reminder of my time with Ann and Dave in Boston.

From there it was off to the Dolphin Restaurant in Harvard Square for dinner - I had the best tasting Rainbow trout!!!! Oh, it was sooooo good.

Sunday morning dawned way too early and it was time for Ann's flight - scheduled for 11 AM - which ended up being 9PM - she had her knitting with her - and I had a bus to catch back home - so around 11:00 I left her to wait for the plane and I headed back on the Silver line to South Station and the Dartmouth Coach home.

It was a wonderful time with dear friends...and one that I was thrilled to share.

Boston with Ann and Dave...Part One...

Boston!

My friend, Ann, came to Boston - we met up on Thursday night after the storms-from-hell held up her 3:30 arrival until close to 9PM. We started our Friday in Harvard Square with breakfast and then headed over to Harvard Yard.

This rock formation is in front of the Science Building - and we thought it was rather nice to take a photo in front of. We headed over to Woolcott and Co yarn store and met Sean. Then it was time to head downtown.Naturally we did the tourist thing and rode the Swan boats. We wandered the Public Gardens and the Common for a while...went walking down Newbury Street and into Cartier and Chanel...and just in general got a feel for Boston and its beauty. We did a lot of people watching too...
We were amazed at the beauty of the Boston Public Library! Is that room not impressive!!! Then we headed out for a sunset cruise of the Boston Harbor...it was so fun!

Part of the Boston skyline - from our boat. The sun was just setting - and it was so beautiful. Here we are with the setting sun smiling on us. After leaving the boat we headed up to Chinatown. We actually walked quite a ways to get there.
On the way we passed this great water feature - full of kids playing in the water! It was so fun - I am sure the thought crossed our minds - but, dinner was calling.

Stopped in the lobby of the Boston Harbor Hotel (I think that is the correct name) - seems they just received a 5 star rating and they were celebrating. Totally fell in love with the gorgeous orchids in the lobby.
Chinatown and dinner! We experimented with a drink called Bubble Tea - it is like a slushie with tapioca in it. I just had mine plain - and it was totally refreshing (coconut, pineapple & milk). There is no tea in it - so I don't know how they came up with the name...other than the tapioca floating in it...but, it is good!!!

Then it was off to our hotel and bed - for a meet up on Saturday with Dave - who we surprised with Ann's visit!

It was so fun to spend the day with Ann and get to talk in real life! We had a wonderful day!

Happy Me...

My first time in a canoe was at Summer Spa...I was so proud of myself! Here Linda and I are taking the canoe back to the other dock...I was actually paddling! And, it was the second time I did that...the other two times in the canoe were spent sitting in the bottom of the canoe with more experienced paddlers!

I so loved learning how to paddle a canoe - and was not the least bit scared! Maybe I'll get another chance some day! (By the way - it was on my list of things to do - 101 things in 1001 days!!!!)