Making a home……

If you're married, or living with a partner, have you 

moved since you first put down roots in a home together?

I was living in a tiny apartment in Washington, D.C. when 

Bob and I married almost fifty years ago! Within a 

couple of weeks we moved to Bob's home town of Manchester, 

New Hampshire . . .  

 . . . and set up house in this lovely home, renting the 

second floor from the elderly French Canadian owners who 

lived downstairs. We had to scrimp to pay the rent - times 

were really tough for us in those days. I would often sit 

on the back steps looking out across the city to 

Mt. Uncanoonuc in the distance - wondering how on earth 

I had ended up so far from my home and family in England.

I was so happy when we drove by the house today and saw 

how well it has been kept up and is obviously loved by its 

current owners. Those simple wooden steps where I sat,

planning my future, knowing I would probably never live 

in England again, have been replaced by lovely decks 

and stairs. 

The garden was neat and attractive and the red front door 

most welcoming. Some windows were open allowing the fresh 

air in. Notice the beautiful front porch, sadly it was a 

part of the house we were not permitted to use. 

My dear in-laws lived a few hundred yards up the street 

and were very kind to me during my New Hampshire years. 

Burying my mother-in-law next to Bob's father this week 

brought back so many memories. We've spent a lot of time 

driving around town and chatting about those early years.

Today we returned to the cemetery to make sure all was well.

It was, and we feel comfortable leaving for home tomorrow 

knowing our loved ones are together again.

Lake Champlain. . . . . . .

Last night we took an unplanned ferry ride across 

Lake Champlain from Vermont to Plattsburgh, New York.

Old style lakefront vacation lodgings - still very attractive when kept up so well.

Returning to Vermont today we drove down through the sunlit 

lake islands to Burlington, arriving back in Manchester, 

New Hampshire - our starting point last Tuesday. 

Our unplanned road trip turn into a lovely vacation - 

the countryside and coastal regions were all so scenic, 

the kindness of the near perfect late Summer weather was 

a most generous extra.

Always an interesting journey………..

No time to write much as we head even further north this morning toward the Canadian border. We didn't expect to get this far and don't have passports with us so will not be venturing into that lovely land, unfortunately!

More of New Hampshire included the Bretton Woods resort, Bethlehem with historic theatre and quaint shops, and a sudden drop in temps. which had me digging out a jacket to ward off the bracing mountain air.

Vermont was awesome and included a tour of the Cabot cheese factory, with nibbles - dinner at the New England Culinary Institute in Montpelier - and scenery to behold!

Looking out at Lake Champlain now and will be on the road after breakfast.

More later.

Continuing the New England road trip………………

We're snuggled into our hotel room in the mountains tonight.  

 This was the view as we drove into North Conway, NH this 
evening, the air cooling comfortably following another

very warm and sunny day.

Evening falls over Mt. Washington, New Hampshire - 6,288 feet, highest mountain in the 

Northeastern United States.

New England countryside.

White Mountains of New Hampshire.

Coastal Maine, USA . . . . . . . . .

This is where Bob and I spent today in brilliant sunshine 

and 78 degrees. . .talk about a perfect late Summer's 

day, this was it!

Cape Neddick Lighthouse known as 'Nubble Light', York, Maine,

 was built in 1879 and is still in use today.

Perkins Cove, Ogunquit Beach, Maine. . . we spent 

many a Summer's day here between 1965-1977 when we lived

in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and always love

to come back.

Wild white roses at the beach.

Tomorrow we plan more New England travel. . . heading inland 

from the Maine coast to New Hampshire's White Mountains, 

then on into Vermont.

New Hampshire Summers . . . . . . .

I'd almost forgotten how perfect the late Summer days can be

 'up North'. Yesterday we took a drive through New Hampshire 

back roads, stopping at a couple of small country towns, 

once for a coffee, and then to buy yarn from a truly

old-fashioned yarn shop. I thought of how some of my 

blog friends who knit, crochet etc., - including 

Claudia in NY, Tammy far away in Kuwait - would 

have enjoyed being there with me.

It was the most amazing selection of yarns I've ever seen. 

Yes, I did buy some French yarn to knit a scarf while 

TV watching come Winter. Nothing complicated as were 

some of the knitted beauties on display in the shop, 

because I don't need complications at this time of life.

Domed building is the State House in New Hampshire's 

capital city of Concord.

The red house and barns were a gracious complex of 

buildings, and FOR SALE, set back from a country road rolling 

through the small town of Weare. I can imagine it soon 

dressed in even more color as Autumn foliage appears.

I'd enjoy living there, just far enough removed from the 

madding crowd such as we now have in greater Raleigh, which 

by the way, welcomed its one millionth resident last Friday!

I lived up here in New England for 12 years - I think I 

could return quite easily.

This precious life . . . . . . . .

I will be away for a little while.

The loss of my dear mother-in-law requires a trip north 

to New Hampshire for her burial. We'll then take 

some time to visit with our family, followed by a few 

days touring around much-loved New England places, 

especially those holding fond memories for us from 

the years when we lived there. 

Bob and I thank all of you who have been so kind leaving

loving and meaningful condolences at this sad time.

Rest in peace…………………

We have lost a lovely and loved woman.

My mother-in-law, after ninety six years of sharing her 

kindness and great love, has gone home to be with her 

many family members and dearly loved friends who left this 

earth in years gone by.

It hurts so much to lose a person who was good and gracious,

gentle, yet strong when necessary. Her infectious smile and 

natural beauty enveloped us all for a very long time, and 

for that we are so grateful. 

Bertha Lucille (Messier) Sullivan

Manchester, New Hampshire

June 16,1918 - August 20,2014

Books in Denmark. . . . . . . .

Last year I found intricately folded books tucked into displays in several antiques shops 

around North Carolina. I took some time to look at how they were fashioned, photographed 

some, then came home and made a couple of my own.  It was fun and not too difficult, 

click HERE for directions - I used inexpensive vintage hardcover books from the used 

book store.

Above is a very simple folding job - my first ever and something even 
children might enjoy creating.

The reason for another post on folding are the following books. In June, I found 
these amazing creations displayed in the window of a small gallery in a 
Copenhagen, Denmark side street as we were strolling off the main 
thoroughfares during our day in the lovely city.

I think you will agree that this artist has brought paper folding to another 

level with these folded books - I think they are truly awesome.

The one above is my personal favorite and I think I will have to try 

my hand at creating something similar.

I photographed these through the window. I like the idea of framing folded books 

and hanging them on the wall for a three dimensional piece of art.

My folded books and vintage books. 

Farewell to figs………………

Over the weekend the figs seemed to vanish into thin air. The plump ones left on the 

trees Saturday - because I just couldn't handle any more in my kitchen - were devoured 

by birds, especially robins, and the occasional squirrel. Fruits pecked open and 

savored allowed the bees to buzz in. . . . so I stayed away.

It has been a great crop this year and I have made good use of the figs. . . . . come 

on over if you want a jar of yummy jam, I have plenty, fig and lemon, fig and ginger.

Need to do some gentle pruning soon as both trees are so big now. . . . . have some 

friends who would like a fig tree of their own so I may try propagating a few to share.

Creating serenity . . . . . . . .

I haven't done anything creative around the cottage all Summer,

so yesterday I just had to change a few things around or go crazy 

staring at the same old same old for one more hot and muggy day!

I picked the dining room which is to the left as soon as you enter the 

front door so I try to keep it tidy. I no longer use the table as my 'office'.  

When Bob retired we were able to make his upstairs office (formerly a bedroom)

 into an office for the two of us. . . . . yes, the stairs provide exercise!

I decided to cover the farm table in my heavy vintage French linen tablecloth - a great 
find in a quaint little antiques shop in Carcassonne, France - and layered a French 
linen bolster cover across the center under the dough bowl, also French.

I moved the large grey metal baskets, great find at SuzAnna's Antiques, from the top 
of the dresser to the table and tweaked a few items on the dresser shelves.

In the corner you can see my 'cabinet of curiosities', moved from the living room.
 Inside, who knows what you may discover . . . . right now a birds' nest, butterflies, 
this and that from the natural world. On top I placed a bowl made from resin starfish, 
holding my collection of white china vegetables!
No drastic changes but I'm pleased with how cool and serene the room looks 
on these very hot August days.

Do you find yourself just enjoying your rooms as they are for Summer, but when 
you feel Autumn in the air your creative energy returns and you want to 
make changes?

Sunflower Saturday. . . . . . . .

In the quiet, early hours of Saturday morning. . . . . 

. . . . . a lone sunflower remains in the front garden, its face 

turned toward the east as the sun rises and another beautiful 

late Summer day begins.

Happy weekend.

My Summer reads ~~~~~~

What are you reading?

I'm half way through an incredible book - definitely not pretty - in fact a very painful story to read.

behind the beautiful forevers

by Pulitzer Prize winner Katherine Boo

If you've traveled to India, especially Mumbai,

you will want to read this story. 

Although I did see some disturbing sights around the city,

this book opened my eyes to what I didn't see when visiting 

there a couple of years ago.

"This book is both a tour de force of social justice, 

reportage and a literary masterpiece."

_____Judges Citation for the PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award

"Reported like Watergate, written like Great Expectations, 

and handily the best international nonfiction in years."

_____NEW YORK

"There are books that change the way you feel and see: 

this is one of them."

______Adrian Nicole Leblanc

"Pure, astonishing reportage. . .

an unforgettable TRUE story, meticulously researched 

with unblinking honesty."

______The Christian Science Monitor

"Extraordinary. . .moving. . .Like the best journeys, Boo's

book cracks open our preconceptions and constructs an

abiding bridge - at once daunting and inspiring - to a world we 

would never otherwise recognize as our own." 

______National Geographic Traveler

If you would like to have this book, leave me a comment in this post only.  I'll draw 

a winner next weekend then mail it to you as soon as I've finished reading it.

**********

Do you read short stories?

I like to keep this type of book nearby when traveling-----here, there, everywhere; but specifically for times when waiting for appointments, flight departures, a coffee break alone with nobody to chat with. . .moments in time that needn't be wasted by just waiting for something.

My current book of short stories is extraordinary and by a wonderful writer.

Brief Encounters with Che Guevara

by Ben Fountain

I was directed to this book when in Mr. B's Bookshop 

in Bath, England. Knowing nothing about this Dallas

author - acclaimed and awarded for his first novel, 

Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk (which I've yet to read)-

I took a chance and purchased it.

These are amazing short stories.

"Exceptional. . .Each of these eight stories is as rich 

as a novel. . .heartbreaking." 

_______NEW YORK TIMES 

*********

Waiting to be enjoyed again - 

- one of those all time favorites we each have - and I'm anxious to pick up my copy for what has to be the fourth time. Of course I've watched the incredible movie even more times. 

Out of Africa

by Isak Dinesen

My old, much-loved copy was printed in 1965. It's a bit 

dog-eared and stained inside from a folded 1992 

newspaper article. It details Karen Blixen's

(she wrote under the pen name Isak Dinesen)final refuge 

in her childhood home in Rungstedlund in the northern 

suburbs of Copenhagen, Denmark. 

She lived there the last 31 years of her life - it's 

where she wrote this book about her heartbreaking years on 

her coffee farm in Kenya.

If only I'd had time I would have visited Rungstedland, 

now a museum, in June when in Copenhagen.

Meanwhile, a journey in the not too distant future has once 

again put this wonderful story on my book list.

Still picking the sweetest figs………….

They just keep growing, plumping up and getting 

sweeter……hubby just keeps picking, trying to beat 

the feasting birds, despite his arms getting covered 

in mosquito bites, poor guy. 

Whereas, yours truly is still running a jam factory in

the kitchen, baking all things figgy, and now leaving 

bags of fresh picked figs on the front porch for neighbors 

to collect! 

Yes, still on the galette kick. I love making these 

rustic fruit tarts. 

I even saw recipe for a tomato galette which set me 

thinking - I might try that with a a mix of heirloom 

tomatoes for supper one evening.

Anyway, I enjoyed making this one with fresh picked figs 

last weekend - and Bob, who picks them but rarely eats 

them, actually said he loved this 'figgy tart'.

Rustic fresh fig galette

A day in Kristiansand, Norway……..

"God Dag" from Norway.

It was a beautiful, warm sunny day when the ship docked in southern Norway.

The 'capital' of this area is Kristiansand, a pleasant town of 70,000, making it 

the fifth largest town in Norway, and situated at the mouth of the River Otra.

Kristiansand is a thriving port and tourism is expanding as the city has become

a popular Summer resort.

Exploring on foot was easy as distances were not great.

Walking from the dock we passed the colorful fish market, 

shops and restaurants.

The waterside was lively, boating obviously very popular and we were told most 

citizens owned a boat of some type.

Beautiful swan families along the riverbanks………..

Charming architecture and local ladies……….. 

….and this surprise, a McDonald's in an elegant historic building. 

That's definitely taking fast food to another level!

The time here went by much too fast and soon it was time to return to the ship for 
our sail back to home port, Southampton.
Queen Victoria set a south westerly course passing over 'Jutland Bank', famous
from the naval battle of WWII. Later that evening, after transiting the North Sea, 
she joined south west bound traffic lanes to once more pass through the 
Dover Straits in the late evening, en route for an early morning arrival in England.

Crossing the North Sea.

Hard to get back to real life after two weeks of being spoiled, and visiting 

many beautiful places in and around the Baltic. However, with some time ahead 

in my real home, England, before heading back to the States, I was ready to disembark 

and sally forth knowing there were family and friends to see, and new places to visit.

So, next travel story will be about time spent in Bath - hope you will come 

back to share the wonderful visit to an amazing historic city.