Today's theme: taverns. Apparently New Englanders really like to gather over food! I've seen restaurants, pubs, taverns, and Jersey-style diners. A few favorites are Gilberts in Portland, ME; Nick's in Providence, RI; Corner Inn in Sandwich, NH; and the Common Cafe in nearby Rumney, NH. Even the smallest village has its own local eatery, and … Continue reading 10-30-18 →

Today's theme: cemeteries. Not just average, everyday cemeteries - really old cemeteries. Age is of course relative - New England's memorials are very recent compared to Italy's. Even so, these pockets of history leave me with a sense of awe and mystery about the people who lived here long before Montana was even an idea. … Continue reading 10-29-18 →

Today’s theme: churches. Congregational, Baptist, Episcopal - their tall steeples create a glowing white silhouette against crisp blue or soft gray skies. They sit at the edge of town squares or dominate hilltops. They date back to the 1700s - some in the original building, others relocated or rebuilt. These are just a few including … Continue reading 10-28-18 →

I'm dispensing pain meds, fluffing pillows, and preparing Powerpoint slides this week. Consequently I'm not getting out much, so each of the next few days will feature a retrospective on a New England theme, with photos I've been collecting during my stay. Today's theme: fall color. I'm pretty proud of the bouquet I create for … Continue reading 10-27-18 →

Freedom at last! We are all delighted to be bringing Julie home for recovery after three long days in the hospital. I spent last night napping in a very utilitarian recliner in her hospital room. Not an ideal way to sleep, but way better than the bottomed-out cot that was my other option! (The sleeping … Continue reading 10-26-18 →

Another unanticipated hospital day. The wait time is great for mundane work...like compiling and condensing the files and records I've accumulated over a decade of online/blended learning projects. Many hours are committed to the un-glamorous chores of gathering and organizing the products, information, and data I've stashed all over the Interweb. I'm also learning to … Continue reading 10-25-18 →

Scenes from a hospital - continued! Same-day surgery is a nice concept, but goes out the window when swelling and other difficulties result in a return to the OR for a new set of sutures. This was NOT on the plan (weren't we supposed to be home by now, binge-watching Netflix and doing PT exercises?). … Continue reading 10-24-25 →

Today was consumed with my sister's knee replacement surgery, courtesy of the  teaching hospital associated with Dartmouth's medical school. We got a preview of the joint that will be inhabiting her body. I guess I wasn't expecting something so...substantial. Yikes. The good news is we somehow scored the VIP room with the best view on … Continue reading 10-23-18 →

Dartmouth day! My sister had a doctor's appointment in Hanover on the Vermont/New Hampshire border (defined by the Connecticut River, go figure). We took a turn around the campus past the Baker Library and Bell Tower and through the charming downtown. Dartmouth is the smallest of the eight Ivy League campuses (I could only name … Continue reading 10-22-18 →

Today's scenic photos are brought to you from last week's leaf-peeping archives, because I have no entertaining pictures from this rainy Sunday. I got some work done while listening to podcasts of my nephew Seth preaching from Wellspring, his church in Queens. I'm missing their baby shower this weekend - he and his wife Jenavene … Continue reading 10-21-18 →

The fall foliage is beginning to wind down - much of the vivid red has faded. But there is still plenty of color and contrast, especially by Rocky Mountain standards! Every road is a scenic drive. In many places, the tall trees lend a feeling of remoteness and also block the sunshine. I imagine this … Continue reading 10-20-18 →

This afternoon's break was a solo visit to Castle in the Clouds - a 1920s-era mansion built by the founder of a New England shoe empire. It's a bit the worse for wear but slowly being restored. The best part is the hilltop view of enormous Lake Winnepesaukee and the thousands of acres of surrounding … Continue reading 10-19-18 →

Riggins (the dog) and I took a two-mile walk around the Quincy Bog Natural Area. Apparently bogs are very popular in New Hampshire. A bog is defined at "wet spongy ground" - very accurate judging from my mud-covered Keenes! (One definition added "unable to support a heavy body" but let's just leave that one alone.) … Continue reading 10-18-18 →

I try to take Riggins (the rambunctious Weimaraner) for a walk most mornings. Tough job - following leaf-covered trails through autumn hardwood forest, scrambling over streams and granite stones...okay, and falling in mud but just once. We climbed to the top of the conference center's sledding hill - apparently the second longest in New Hampshire … Continue reading 10-17-18 →

Blue skies today! This prompted a midday road trip for poetry, pancakes, and panoramas. We walked the nature trail behind Robert Frost's mountain home - truly a "yellow wood" with plaques displaying his poetry along the way. I'll confess that our true destination was Polly's Pancake Parlor, with a different sort of historic significance, but … Continue reading 10-16-18 →

This is Riggins! He was an adorable cuddly bundle of smoky gray puppy in that Amish barnyard five years ago. Then he grew legs. Still adorable, not quite as cuddly, but a great companion. Riggins and I are spending a lot of quality time together this month. He already knows I add extra nuggets to … Continue reading 10-15-18 →

Today my brother-in-law spoke at a church in southern Maine, so after the service we continued on to Portland to have lunch on the harbor. I would say the quaint/cute factor is getting out of control, but this stuff is real! I wonder if East Coast tourists have the same sense of wonder when they … Continue reading 10-14-18 →

Are you weary of fall foliage yet? It's still raining every other day - a soaking rain but not unpleasant. Very different than what apparently takes place on Mount Washington, known for some of the most extreme weather on earth (look it up!). It gets crazy wind, rain, snow, and deep freezes. Meanwhile, my sister … Continue reading 10-13-18 →

My brother-in-law is executive director of a sprawling and historic camp/conference center located between the mountains and lakes regions of New Hampshire. It needs a lot of TLC and rejuvenation, but he's made amazing progress since they arrived in February. This afternoon we toured the grounds - 500 acres for the main conference grounds plus … Continue reading 10-12-18 →

Today it rained, rained, rained. The next ten days seem to be alternating downpours and sunshine. I stayed in most of the day getting settled and working (when I refer to "working," picture my laptop, a giant file box, books, and a dining room table). Rather than wet leaves, here are other images of New … Continue reading 10-11-18 →