Debra LaValley's Blog

Eclipse – Super Blood Moon (9/27/15)

Last Night’s Celestial Event

Last night was a full “super moon.” It was also a total lunar eclipse. It won’t happen again for quite a few years. I went to Tim & Dianne’s house around 9:00 to watch the eclipse. Tim, Dianne and their daughter sat in lawn chairs and watched. I stood by my tripod and snapped photos. The above was one of the better ones. Unfortunately, dew was all over my lens around 10:00 – so I didn’t get too many good photos when the moon was in full eclipse. It was a great thing to watch.

This morning, I had a Casper the Albino Squirrel sighting. His feet were stained. He looked like he had been touched by the Super Blood Moon last night. 🙂

The Past is Calling

I love hearing stories about the past. Family stories. Stories about Penacook and Boscawen. I love genealogy and reading about those who came before and their stories. I find it all fascinating. I grew up listening to stories told by my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. Many of our stories were told around a family table with a lot of delicious food. We spent so much time with our extended families. Great times.

Most of the Gang at Bob & Shary’s Party

The lamp in the photo was made by my Uncle Leo and Grampa Ross (Ken Ross). I was told that they knew where candlestick phones were thrown away. They cleaned some of the phones up, and my Uncle Leo – who was very handy with electrical stuff – fitted the old phones with wiring to make lamps. Recently, my mom gave me this lamp. My parents had it for decades. The lamp still works. I remember Uncle Leo had to put in a new cord. The lamp is cool because when you pick up the receiver, the light goes on and when you hang it up, the light turns off. Very ingenious, I think.

Keep the stories coming . . .

Snow Street out by the Fire – many years ago

Smokey Bear

Boscawen Old Home Day Parade

Today, is Boscawen Old Home Day! The parade is always such great fun. I always love to see Smokey Bear. I miss the parades Penacook used to have. There were events all day long in Boscawen. My mom and Aunt Mary Jane went to the chicken and pork BBQ supper. There are also fireworks planned at Jamie Welch Field. I am sure that I will be able to hear them from my house. I won’t be able to see them from my house. I am not able to drive yet – so won’t be heading to the field anyway. It would be too hard to walk around even if I got a ride. I had knee surgery Monday (for a torn meniscus and to get arthritis smoothed). I am doing well and walking OK – but tire easily. I didn’t have to use a cane today and managed a few walks 🙂

Below are a few more parade shots – I took many! It was a beautiful day!

This year’s theme: We love our cows and that’s no bull.

My cousin told me the theme came as a result of a town meeting where some new folks complained about the smell of the cows at Highway View Farm! This farm has been in the Crete family for generations and the town said they loved the cows, etc. 🙂

Decorative cows have lined Main Street for a few weeks. It was a contest. There had to have been about 50 of them. A couple of my favorites:

Newfound Lake, Bristol, NH

Ahhhh – Vacation!

I returned yesterday from a 2 week vacation at Newfound Lake with my mom and Aunt Mary Jane. I have not had a 2 week vacation in years. It was so relaxing. Newfound Lake has always been special in our family. My mother went when she was young, and we spent many weekends at Wellington State Park growing up as well. For a few summers, my folks rented a camp for a week at the lake. Such memories and so much fun.

Last year, my mom and dad sold their camper. Camping was getting to be too much work. My mom asked if I would rent a cabin for one week if they did. I said sure. In January, we made our reservations for 2 weeks. Unfortunately, my dad died on March 3, but we decided to keep the reservations and invite my Aunt Mary Jane to come along with us too since Uncle Bob passed two weeks before my dad. It was a great get away for us all and the weather was great! It was quite steamy inland – but the lake was refreshing and was a bit cooler than in town. Toby the dog enjoyed the vacation as well. He was a good boy.

We are hoping to reserve the same cabin again next year for two weeks.

Below is a small selection of photos from the vacation.

Mom and Aunt Mary Jane

Aunt Mary Jane Enjoying the Peace of the lake

Me 🙂

Gorgeous Sunset

I could go on and on sharing photos, but I will leave you with only one more:

Ahhhhhhh 🙂

Tom & Betty 7/14/1956

Today would have been my parents’ 59th wedding anniversary. I am sure my dad’s spirit is by my mom’s side today. He used to always say that they got married on Bastille Day because that is when all the Frenchman got out of jail. When he said this, it always made us smile.

My mom treated herself to a lobster roll from 30 Pines (she said it was huge and very tasty) and then bought a single red rose and put it at my dad’s grave. Whenever he would give her roses – he always gave her 11 saying she was the twelfth rose.

Happy Anniversary, Mom & Dad!

Double Rainbow!

We had some thunderstorms today. I took this after one of the showers in the evening. The double rainbow was over my cousin’s shop,The Bittersweet Fabric Shop, in Boscawn, NH.

“Those Summer Nights . . .”

The old telephone pole was replaced not too long ago – but this telephone pole stands in the same place on the street that I grew up on.  It is now Hullbakers Place – but it will always be Pine Street to me.  This telephone pole was the place to be when I was growing up .  It was our “ghoul” when we played Hide and Go Seek.  Back then we would hide and eventually run and touch the telephone pole yelling “My Ghoul 1.2.3…”  (It wasn’t until years later that I realized we were really trying to say “My Goal 1.2.3).  All of us kids on the street used to meet under this street light . . . especially on summer nights.  We would stay outside until our folks called us in.  We would play Hide and Go Seek, One Two Three Red Light, Giant Steps, and much more here.  Sometimes, we would just hang out and talk.  I have fond memories of all the games we all played.  Do neighborhood kids play outside any more>  Or do they just stay inside and stare at the computers?

Fast Forward 2015 . . .

Last night, we used my mom’s new “fire pit” for the first time.  We had a great time sitting around the campfire.  We chatted and cooked S’mores!  We saw our first firefly of the season too!

Mom, Aunt MaryJane, Jackie, Quincy, and Sara

On the Steps of Old Penacook High School
6/6/15

My mom and my Aunt Mary Jane – humored me and sat on the step of the old Penacook High School.  They were on their way to a Penacook High School graduates gathering at Alan’s tonight.  They should have a nice time.

Prom 1953

Graduation Days

June – the month of high school graduations.  Seniors from high schools everywhere are graduating into adulthood.  I remember it being exciting and scary.  It is a huge change for many.  Some go to college in the fall.  Some join the military. Others go on to various jobs or move away from their home towns.

Recently my mom shared that the day after her high school graduation in 1953 (Penacook High School), she and her best friend Carol Abbott went back to the high school and sat on the front steps.  They loved school – especially their senior year. They were sad it was over.

My mom’s immediate plans were to go to Concord Commercial College to study book keeping.  she said that she left the college after 2-3 months.  A few years later, she became a Certified Dental Assistant which became her career.

Her friend Carol Abbott – she initially went to school to be a nurse – but stopped and worked at the Penacook Bank.

(My dad – went into the Air Force.  He and my mom were the PHS Class of 1953’s Class Lovebirds.)

Saturday, at Alan’s Restaurant, PHS Alumni are going to be meeting for cocktails and reminiscing. I told my mom that she should go with Aunt Mary Jane.  It will be fun!  I hope they do.  I will let you know . . . and just maybe, I can capture a photo of my mom and Aunt Mary Jane on the steps of Penacook High School reminiscing of their Graduation Days.

Mom/Betty Ross 1953

Spring Show May 1953

Dad/Tom La Valley USAF

FYI – I graduated from Merrimack Valley High School in 1975.  We are having our 40th HS Reunion in September.

My Senior Picture

Memorial Day Weekend 2006

Memorial Days Past

Tomorrow is Memorial Day 2015.  Memorial Day Weekend for many years meant we would be camping in Orford, NH.  My folks would leave Penacook with their fifth wheel camper on Thursday, and I would head up with my sister and her two children on Friday. We camped at Jacob’s Brook Campground.  It was up on a hill in the middle of the woods with Jacob’s Brook running through it.  We all had such a great time there for years.  Sometimes Aunt Mary Jane and Uncle Bob would be there with my folks.  Sometimes, Ken and Dorothy and the girls. Our Uncle Robert Hancock and his friend Bebe spent a few Memorial Days with us as well as Uncle Bob and Aunt Marilyn.  Sometimes it would be chilly and other times warm.  In New Hampshire – you never know what the weather will be like.

It was so peaceful up in Orford.  You didn’t hear cars or civilization.  You could sit by the campfire into the wee hours of the morning and only hear the haunting sounds of coyotes and tree frogs calling in the night.  I really miss those days.  We had such a great time up there, and I have such great memories.

Gingerbread

I would start a fire using flint and my mom would make a pie or gingerbread in the coals.  They tasted so much better than when cooked on a stove.

Jackie & McKenzie

We would often go on walks on the roads around Jacob’s Brook – some were paved – others dirt.  There was a nice waterfall in one area where locals would come and swim.

Dad & McKenzie

McKenzie loved to camp.  She spent many years camping with my parents.  She was such a sweet dog.

I could share so many photos from our Orford camping trips.  Good times, with family and friends.  Memories that will stay with me forever.

Happy Memorial Day Everyone.  May you also have great memories of Memorial Days Past.  Also – a special Thanks to all the men and women in the armed forces who gave their lives for our country.  God Bless Them All.

Debbie