On the other side of Back Lake

 

During our time at beautiful Back Lake, we always enjoy sitting on the dock.  We like seeing what's going on across the water, as well as on it -- for example, loons.  Above you see a partial view of what we see from the dock.  We can often hear hammering in the distance, as it seems homes are being worked on, or new houses are being built.  

Quite a few years ago, our curiosity got the better of us and we figured out how to get to the other side of the lake.  We had to drive over there and park at a public boat launch and then we could walk from there.  This year, we decided to do that again and I'll share some of the photos we took.

The sun finally came out around 5 pm after a day of open-and-shut.  We thought this would be the best part of the day for our expedition, and we were right.

Aren't the cloud reflections glorious?

The scrubby little bushes below were so colorful!  Notice that a couple of the leaves are brilliant red.

And that is some of what is on the other side of Back Lake!  There are some incredibly large and beautiful homes being built over there, but we wanted to focus on nature rather than the man-made with our photos.

Late-fall beauty at First Connecticut Lake

 

During our recent trip up north, which I hope to blog about soon in its entirety, Mr. T and I spent some good time at First Connecticut Lake.  (For those who may not know, there are four Connecticut Lakes, the headwaters of the Connecticut River, up here in the tippy-top of New Hampshire.)  First Lake, the largest of the four, covers 4.8 square miles!   The foliage is pretty much gone up north, other than yellow tamaracks, but we saw some lovely sights regardless.  We spent a long, long time just sitting on a bench and soaking in the beauty and sunshine.  Storing it up for later.

The above was one of our favorite photos from the afternoon.  We loved the red leaves up close, the water, the evergreens, and the majestic mountains in the distance.

So pretty framed by the evergreens!

Have you noticed in your part of the country that picnic tables have disappeared from parks and public areas since c*vid?   There are a lot less of them than there were in many places here in our state, and there is no viable reason for it.  But I was happy to see here in this state park that there are plenty of picnic tables in scenic spots, and even a few thoughtfully placed benches.  Wouldn't you love to picnic here by the lake?

The red leaves are such an eye-catcher!

We loved the red and yellow leaves along the stone edges of the lake.

Some pretty yellow bushes.

Another shot from our favorite vantage point ... this one shows a bit more of the mountains, I think.

Pretty gold shrubbery.  We liked the red and gold effect below also.

Hope you've enjoyed this peek at some late-fall beauty on magnificent First Lake!

Late to the Hodgepodge

 Yes, call me late to the Hodgepodge, where Joyce asks the questions and bloggers provide the answers.  It's always a lot of fun and a good way to come up with an interesting blog post.   Since I haven 't blogged since last Friday, I thought I would jump in, better late than never, and answer this week's questions:

1. What's one thing you learned at the ripe old age of whatever age you are now?

Something that I already knew could happen in one's personal world, but never thought I would see in the world at large: everything can turn upside down in a moment.  However ...

Oh, and I learned a new game this week: Quiddler.

2. I read here a list of foods that can help you look younger-

extra virgin olive oil, green tea, fatty fish, dark chocolate, vegetables, flaxseeds, pomegranates, avocados, tomatoes, spices, bone broth.

How many of the foods listed have you tried? How many do you eat regularly? Your favorite from the list?

I eat nearly all of those on a somewhat regular basis.  I've tried them all.  My favorite?  It would be a tossup between dark chocolate and avocados.  Sounds messy, doesn't it?

You can't tell at all, but this is an avocado omelet from Happy Corner Cafe in Pittsburg, NH

3. Something you miss from the 'good old days'? When were the good old days anyway?

The good old days were as recent as 2019.  I miss liberty and common sense.

Graphic by Abby at Little Birdie Blessings

4. What are two or three of the most rewarding things to be found in growing older?

Julia and Josiah

It would have to be these, and others in the same category, plus many not pictured:

Sam

Sarah

Darrin

Julia

5. What's your favorite part of your life right now?

See above.  Also, that we are retired and don't have to restrict our activities to weekends.   If we want to take a weekday getaway or do an important errand, we can go whenever it works for us.  

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

So thankful for a getaway up north Monday through Friday!  We enjoyed lake time, visits with friends,  yummy food, peace and quiet, being out of cell and internet service, and much more.

A corner of our cabin on Back Lake

A Back Lake sunset from last year

So ends my belated Hodgepodge post!  I have lots more to share so hope to get back to blogging next week, but we will see.

High fiving the Wednesday Hodgepodge

Wednesday again, and time for the Wednesday Hodgepodge, in which Joyce asks the questions and bloggers provide the answers.  It's always a lot of fun (and sometimes challenging).   If you'd like to join in,  just head over to From This Side of the Pond and get the questions from Joyce, then answer them on your own blog.  Here are this week's questions, many of which have to do with the number 5:

1. Five years ago this month hubs and I relocated from New Jersey to the Palmetto State. What were you doing five years ago this month?

One August day five years ago, we had an unexpected beach day with some of our grandkids when Mr. T ended up with an unplanned (and very unusual) day off.  Read about it here: A gift of a day.  
Sprinkled throughout the post are some pictures from that day:

It was so much fun to look back on a special, unexpected blessing God had given us.  I'd forgotten all about how it happened.

2. What was the last 9-5 job you worked? Tell us about it.

Well, it wasn't 9-5 but more like 8-3.  My last regular job was working as a teachers' aide in a small Christian school.  I also taught art and creative writing.

3. Plead the fifth, high five, take five, it's five o'clock somewhere, or the big 5-0...which number five phrase relates to your life in some way currently? Tell us how.

Mr. T and I are high-fiving one another these days as the homestead clean-out is nearly complete.  We're also planning to "take five" when it's all done and have planned a couple of autumn getaways.

4. During this season of spending so much time at home, what distractions get in the way of being your most productive? Or have you been extra productive since this whole thing started?

I felt somewhat of out of sorts with the new routine during lockdown and am thankful that's over.  When we returned from our Western vacation, I found myself with new energy and increased productivity.  Even though a number of things about travel were not "normal", I still feel that getting a huge change of scene energized me.  Trying to get the homestead cleaned out, though, has definitely distracted me from being productive here at home. 

Ari was just a baby five years ago.  She will be 6 in November!

 

5. Give us a list here of your top five anything.

Oh, how about beverages?  1) Water; 2) Coffee; 3) Iced tea; 4) Hot tea; 5) Iced coffee.

That day at the lake, we also took a hike with three of the grandkids.  These boys are 16 and 12  now!

A water view from the hiking trail

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Today we visited my cousin at the extended family's cottage on a quiet pond.  As always, this sign reminded us we need to visit this lovely place more often and even book some time here for ourselves.
 
And that's the Hodgepodge for this week!  Happy Wednesday, all!

Friday five ~ August 14

I'm not sure how it happened, but the month of August is nearly half over!  I have never been one for wishing time away, and current events notwithstanding I still don't want to wish away the rest of the month.  But it's been a hot, humid, uncomfortable August so far, and I will be thankful when the weather is cooler and less sticky on a regular basis.  Here are a few more things I'm thankful for this week:

1.  Vintage finds like the postcard at top.  When life is as crazy as it is right now, I appreciate being reminded that the world has survived craziness before.   This view of the Cannon Mountain tram is from a long, long time ago. 

The tram cars have been red and yellow for as long as I can remember.  Sadly, this year the tram is not running at all thanks to COVID-19.

2.  Supper picnics at the lake.  We have a beautiful lake about 20 minutes away.  The park is never very busy by the time we get there, so we enjoy the water and a lakeside picnic.  It's been especially necessary in this hot sticky weather ... we have had 3 beachfront picnics in the past week!  We keep the menu very simple -- usually wraps, chips, and some sort of fruit.  This view never gets old.

3.  A wonderful time at our friends' wedding on Saturday!  It was a beautiful outdoor ceremony and, although it rained earlier in the morning, by the time of the wedding all was well.  I failed to get any photos to speak of, which is a shame.  The lovely decorations, whimsical table centerpieces (little "fairy houses" on wood slices), the fun of a square dance -- all would have made great pictures.  I only had my tablet though, which wouldn't have done justice to any of these.  Hopefully someone got good photos which I can maybe share at a later time.

4.  A wonderful Sunday of fellowship, both in and out of church.  We enjoyed a good church service with a great message on being vessels God can use.  In the late afternoon our dear friends Sam and Jennifer and their boys came for supper and a bit of Bible study.  I made a salad I'd not thought of in years, Taco Pasta Salad, and it was a huge hit with our guests.  I will definitely be making this again soon.  I used ground turkey instead of beef, and I doubled all of the quantities except the meat.  I also used regular tortilla chips instead of nacho flavored ones.  I think this salad would be really good with black beans added also.

Photo from Taste of Home

5.  Seeing God work in different situations this week.  It's so encouraging to be reminded that He knows our every need and we can cast all of our care upon Him, knowing without a doubt that He cares for us and will perfect that which concerns us.

From Baptist Bible Hour

And that's the Friday five for this week!  Happy weekend, everyone!

Views from a mountain

  Mr. T has been doing a lot of walking lately, with the idea of building up his endurance to do some hiking this summer.  Yesterday, he had the opportunity to take a hike up a local mountain.  He got some great photos of Newfound Lake.  Since his pictures are wonderful reminders of God's power in creation, I thought I'd share them with  my readers.  Enjoy!

 "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God."  (Psalm 90:2)

 "I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.  I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, ... the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together."  (Isaiah 41:18-19)

"Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars ... Let them praise the name of the LORD: for His name alone is excellent; His glory is above the earth and heaven."  (Psalm 148:9, 13)

 "Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; Thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, Thou preservest man and beast."  (Psalm 36:6)

 "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.  My help cometh from the LORD, who made heaven and earth."  (Psalm 121:1-2)

 "As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about His people from henceforth even for ever."  (Psalm 125:2)

 "By terrible things in righteousness wilt Thou answer us, O God of our salvation; Who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea; Which by His strength setteth fast the mountains, being girded with power."  (Psalm 65:5-6)

Hope these photos and Scriptures are a blessing to someone today!

Our trip to the Great North Woods, part 5

Ducks on the shore just outside our cabin.

Time for the fifth and final installment of our trip to the Great North Woods!  This one will cover Thursday and Friday -- Friday being our travel day.

Thursday morning as the mist was rising over the lake, we saw an interesting sight.  A boat docked at the next place over was slowly sinking into the lake!  Apparently it had filled up with water from all the rain.  (The photo below is blurry for two reasons -- the mist, and a secondary reason which I'll explain later.  Those of you who are on Instagram already know what happened!)

Mr. T did try and find out who the boat belonged to and eventually tracked down someone who knew a friend of the owner.  Presumably he was able to contact his friend and hopefully get his boat pumped out and out of the water.  The dunking would not have done the engine much good.

Our plans for Thursday included two major events.  Mr. T was planning a morning kayak paddle on Second Connecticut Lake with our friend Charlotte.  And in the afternoon we were having longtime friends over for coffee, with Charlotte joining us for this time also.

The photos below are from Second Connecticut Lake.

When Charlotte dropped Mr. T off following their paddle, I was very surprised to see that he was soaking wet!   He hurried into dry clothes while I found places to hang/drape the wet ones; then he spread the contents of his wallet on the heater to dry.

What happened?  As he was getting out of his kayak (not his own; he was using Charlotte's extra one), it started floating away and he ended up with one leg in and one leg out of the kayak and landed in the lake.  Obviously the water was not very deep there at the shore, but he got very wet, and so did the camera, which was literally floating in the kayak.

More about that later.  But any photos from here on out would be taken with the Kindle.

Our friends arrived in the late afternoon and we enjoyed a great time of catching up with them and hearing all about what  they -- their kids and grandkids -- are doing these days.  (Our daughters all went to college together.)  I had made and frozen some brownies and some peanut butter brownies and had brought those along with us -- so we had treats to enjoy with coffee.  Charlotte also brought some cookies, and our friends did as well.

It was a truly lovely visit and one we hope to repeat the next time we are up north.

We had another quiet cozy evening in the cabin and even did a little packing.

We'd planned to go out for breakfast on Thursday morning, but the restaurant ended up being closed, so we put it off until Friday.  We always enjoy Happy Corner Cafe, and -- though we could have chosen to go elsewhere, we decided to just wait until they were open.  We knew that even though we were leaving on Friday, a breakfast out might be just the ticket and we would still have plenty of time to  pack the car before we needed to check out of the cabin.

Part of the dining room at Happy Corner

Happy Corner Cafe has an entire page of omelets to choose from.  I chose one I'd never tried before, a Benedict Omelet with Canadian bacon, Swiss cheese, and Hollandaise sauce.  Very rich but oh so good!  I would love Eggs Benedict but I just can't stand poached eggs, so I jumped at the chance to try this.  And that's a homemade English muffin in the photo too.  Happy Corner specializes in those.

Fueled and fortified by this amazing breakfast, we finished packing up the van and left the cabin as neat as possible.  Mr. T tried once again to get some photos of that favorite scene across the lake, but it was a losing battle from the start using the Kindle.

 The one above was taken through the living room window.

We  then headed out and snapped photos along the way, again using the Kindle, but they came out quite well.

 I think the three photos above were all taken along Route 145 in Pittsburg.  We took sort of a back way to Littleton and the photo below is in one of the tiny towns on the route we took.

We took our time going home and stopped to do a few errands en route.  Arriving home,  we were delighted to discover that all of the photos on the water-logged camera actually did transfer to the computer.  The first few (like the one of the sinking boat) had obviously been affected by the moisture, but not the others.  Thankfully there were only a dozen or so pictures on that new card anyway.

What a wonderful trip it was!  So many memories have been made.  Hope you've enjoyed following along...