Memory Lane

It's all water under the bridge now, but I'm tired of winter and playing with Picasa so here is a good thing to blog about that I just didn't have time to do in the fall!

Here is the water under the bridge.  

It was September.  I'd just started my new job as Office Manager of Dupont's Service Center in Dover NH just a few weeks earlier.  The fall brought huge changes to our family all around.  A previously homeschooled boy going to school full time.  A new grandbaby on the way and due soon, a new job for me, a new job for our middle son who's still on his gap-year adventure and an internship for our oldest, college son.  I think John was the only one who didn't make his own personal changes although all of these affected him, I'm sure.

With all of this going on I still wanted very much to take the vacation I'd booked back in January.  So I drove up to Memory Lane in Andover, ME on Friday after working a little in the morning (to get payroll accomplished.)  I grabbed the horse and too much gear and off we went.  It rained most of the day that I traveled.  It was cold and overcast and very dreary.  But in Maine I got the horse settled into one of their stalls and schlepped my stuff into the studio to find that a few quiet minutes to myself were almost helped by the inclement weather.  I pulled out some knitting and began to unwind.  I had lots of unwinding ahead!

There were 5 of us sharing this weekend together and I was horrible at taking photos.  Not a one of the hot tub.  Not a photo of the horses in their paddocks or stalls.  Not even a photo of 2 of the ladies who were there!  

Shame.  But I did take some photos so here is what I've got.  On Saturday we woke up to rain and spent a bit of time eating breakfast and looking at the weather reports from various sources.  We agreed that the rain would end mid-morning and we'd have time to ride out to a waterfall for lunch.  It was a bit of a muddy ride in spots due to the recent rain but otherwise we were dry for our ride.  The waterfall was spectacular and I was lucky enough to leave my horse in the care of others so I could explore it.  Then we ate lunch while the horses found suitable leaves to munch on.  A friend had come along with her car to meet us at the lunch spot and took photos as we were getting ready to head back.  Thanks for the photo!  

 This farm really intrigued me.  As we approached it was obvious that someone put some time and money into the grass and the fencing.  At first I didn't know what they were raising in there.  Could it be horses?

Nope.  No horses.  I'm thinking they are raising rocks.

This is the daddy rock....

Oh, there they are, it's cattle!!  The farm had some huge barns and a brand new looking windmill to boot.  Quite a farm.

On the way back from the waterfall that day King decided that he was no longer a pleasure horse and we should get a move on.  Fortunately we enjoy riding alone, and fast.  I had some precious unwinding during that part of the ride.  As quick as we went we did stop and eat the apples....

On Sunday we needed to sneak in another ride before leaving.  This time we took different trails and rode out crossing the Ellis River and riding some really lovely and flat trails which were sandy.  Just beautiful.  We decided to turn back after getting a drink in the river out at this crossing.  I couldn't believe the difference a day made.  We rode over this river at this spot the day before on a paved road's bridge as this river was at least 2 feet higher, solid brown and raging from the rains on Thursday and Friday.  By Sunday morning it was as tame as could be, crystal clear and lovely.

Memory Lane certainly was full of good memories.  Hot tub after riding.  A crock pot meal waiting for us and beer for some (wine for me).  The laughing and ride stories and sharing our passion of horses.  Priceless.

December 2013, lots happening

It's been a while since I posted, but life has just rushed by for the family.  We've had many neat things happen, and here are just a few of them:  Cory & Justin got married on 12/7/13 with plenty of family and friends to celibrate the event with them.

Rachel and I had a great time at her new work's (Duponts Service Center) Christmas party that was held at the Woodman's Institute Museum in Dover, NH.  Here is a photo of the wonderful couple:

There was plenty of Christmas cheer and fun times.  The new Kerr family got a chance to visit and we were lucky enough to have our wonderful neighbor, Amy, take the picture for us.

It was definitely a wonderful and very busy December.  We didn't slow down for a minute.  Brian ended up having to replace his old 1996 Saturn Station wagon and now drives a nice Volvo S80 Sedan.
We're now a 4-car and 4-driver family, so keeping the old vehicles on the road is a real challenge.  Well, enough for now.  Thanks for visiting our blog and we hope you enjoyed it. ~ John

What happened to the fall?

A grandbaby for starters!  Welcome Oliver and congratulations Cory & Justin.

Summer

This summer just flew by.  I can't even recall now most of what went on.  At least I have a few photos to help me remember.  Blueberry picking up at Joy's State forest.

Then we turned those blueberries into both a pie and a cake for someone's Birthday.

After one trail ride we went back on foot to a tricky spot to find my missing hoof boot.  And here it is!  Good job boys in finding that!

And of course having a lot of fun while we were in that tricky spot.  It was much more difficult on horse than these boys found it to be.  We spent a good amount of time playing in the woods that day.

The potato patch doing well in the early summer.  We've had so many good meals from this patch this summer and into the fall still.

Another day in the woods found us hugging the big oak.  What a huge tree!

And then climbing some rocks.

And enjoying the view from the top of the cliff.

And sometimes enjoying the view under our feet.  So much to explore.

Olde Sturbridge Village

We spent 2 days at Olde Sturbridge Village and had a ball.

We've been to a lot of museums over the years and this one felt special as I had the feeling it might be the last time we go as this group.  The boys are now 20, 18 & 12.  We were so very, very lucky to find 2 solid days where we could all free up our schedules to have time together.  That in itself was amazing.  So off we went on a trip planned only a couple of days in advance.  We were lucky to find neighbors to watch the house and animals and with packing food to keep the costs low we made it happen!  The boys looking over the sheep paddock.

Discovering a trundle bed in a house set up to touch things.

We played graces as a family as well as other games they've set out.  Here the boys run around with hoops.  The "hoopy" jokes kept us laughing for a while.  I love how the boys interact and play with language.  I love how they engage in all of it and join in.  They joined tug of war when it was offered, they tried on shoes...

Here one enjoys the freeman farm.

Taking a break on a bridge in the hot afternoon sun.

We toured the mill pond and river by boat.

Petted the animals when we could.

Took photos...

And relaxed back at the hotel.  Here John shows us his handstand.  Still a kid that one.

The older boys were happier to play dice games poolside while their brother swam for the 2nd time of the visit.

What made this museum special--apart from other museums, was the interpreters.  What wonderful people at Sturbridge.  From the tinsmith to the 

teamsters to the

shoe maker or 

a farmer who had to join the militia.  It was a great experience to talk with the people there.  

Maybe it won't be the last time but if it was...I enjoyed every minute with my "little boys" while we were there.

Graduation and June happenings

Graduation!  We were so happy to all go and see this middle boy graduate from CATA.  His four years at the Cocheco Arts and Technology Academy have been a wonderful experience.  Lots and lots of performing has happened over the years and that night was no exception.  Here he is playing with the guitar ensemble before the ceremony.  Unfortunately the rain moved their show inside the school instead of outside at the clamshell where they had planned to hold graduation.  It was a tight fit to get everyone inside.  

He did walk up and receive his diploma but neither John nor I could get a very good shot of that.  Here are our 2 attempts.  

Back at home a week later (after another week of performances by jazz & rock band as well as guitar ensemble) we had our own little celebration.  His graduation present of choice was a Bouzouki.  We managed to find a used one that he fell in love with and here he is playing it on his first day with that instrument.  It's an "irish mandolin" and sounds beautiful for the celtic songs that he loves to play so much.  He is a finger style guitarist and although he can and will play jazz, rock, classical and other songs put in front of him...his passion is for historical music and celtic music.  I often wonder what his future will hold...but with his incredible enthusiasm for life and happy attitude...the sky is the limit with him.  He's taking a "gap" year and he's begun blogging about it here 

We love living in our little community.  When we had jobs that required a tractor we need to look no further than a neighbor up the street.  We brush hog for neighbors when they need it.  It's just what you do in a rural community we think.  Items travel around amongst the neighbors as needed.  This year we even bought into the CSA (community supported agriculture) at the NH Farm Museum which is just 4 miles away from us.  These photos are from the first 2 weeks of our share.  Love it!  

June also had me traveling away again for a trail ride.  This is my home away from home.  This was more than a trail ride though, it was an Endurance race and 70 horses were camping at this fairgrounds for the night.  We had wonderful weather!  I was able to sleep in my tent on the truck bed without the fly so I could look out and see stars or peek on my horse as he was laying down for a little rest himself before the big day.  Love this experience.

Do you recognize the tractor?  Yup, it's pulling a "boat float" in the 4th of July parade.  I love our little town.