Debra LaValley's Blog

Family Fun

On Saturday, September 15th we had a gathering at my folks’ house to celebrate my nephew Michael’s birthday. He was up for the long weekend from West Virginia. His brother Joe who works in Saudi Arabia was also in town for the week. That morning, I saw my first praying mantis in a few years. It flew on me, and my sister Jackie snapped a photos. Below are a few of the family shots taken on Sunday that some of you will enjoy.

Joe and Mike in Back
Danielle, Melissa (holding Jaxon) and Rachel

Great Grandma & Jaxon

Great Grandpa & Jaxon

Chris, Jessica, Dad, Mom, Jaxon

Jackie, MaryBeth, Me

Melissa, Justin, Mom

Jessica and Lucian

Joe, Jaxon, Mike

Mike and Rachel

Labor Day 2013

I woke up at 6:00 AM to the wildest thunderstorm! Molly was hiding under the bed. My mom called from the campground in Weare at 7:00 AM to tell me about the storms there. The air was thick and the sun was only seen for a few seconds here and there. It was a relaxing day though. I managed to take a few decent photos early in the morning of a Broad-winged Hawk that was trying to dry its feathers.

Broad-winged Hawk

It was a good day to stay close to home. The southbound traffic on the highway looked like a giant parking lot. All the vacationers were heading home after spending the last “unofficial” Day of Summer in New Hampshire. Some left the highway and traveled the back roads. It was crazy out there.

I got my flu shot and then picked up my sister Jackie, and we spent a few hours in Penacook. Tomorrow is back to work, and hopefully the end of this humidity and rain.

Moooooo!

Penacook’s Albino Squirrel

Always Have a Camera with You!

This morning, I headed out a little before 8:00 AM to pick up my mom to go grocery shopping. Whenever I drive down Lilac Street (what used to be West Main Street), I always check for the albino squirrel. I had not seen it for a few weeks or so – but today I saw it coming down a tree that was near the road. I pulled over – grabbed the camera that I had in the car and snapped some shots. I was a bit nervous for a while when I noticed a cat – stalking the squirrel that at that time was on the ground. The squirrel scurried up a tree … the cat followed … but luckily the squirrel was smart enough to go higher into the tree and out of the cats reach.

Cat Stalking the Squirrel

After shopping – my mom and I headed home and drove by Horseshoe Pond. I noticed something up in a tree and pulled over. It was an immature Peregrine Falcon.

Look at my feet!

Always have a camera with you! You never know what you might see!

Newfound Lake

“The Lake”

I spend today with my folks and some of the people from the Penacook Senior Center. We were at Wellington State Park in Bristol, New Hampshire. The state park is along Newfound Lake. Newfound Lake has a very special place in the hearts of my family. My mother came here often with her dad and family when she was growing up. My siblings and I came with my folks and many other relatives often during the summer. My folks even rented a camp for a week over a few summers. It is “our” lake. Whenever we say we are going to “The Lake” – we know that it means Newfound Lake. The lake brings back more memories than I can even begin to write down. Today was the perfect day! Truly Lovely!

Dad, Mom, Uncle Ralph, Nana – Wellington State Park

MaryBeth & Debbie (Me) at Newfound Lake, Wellington State Park

Full “Sturgeon” Moon

Tonight is the Full “Sturgeon” Moon! It is a beauty! Look up and HOWL! Owwwwooooooooo! 🙂

A Perfect Summer Day

Today was quite lovely! No humidity – sun- and reasonable temperatures. I mowed my parents’ lawn while my dad got out the weed whacker and did the trimming. I bought corn from Highway View Farm (aka Crete’s) yesterday, and we had that tonight along with squash casserole that my mom made. The corn was so tender it practically melted in your mouth and the squash casserole was so good that I made quite the pig of myself. I like that casserole even cold! It is DELICIOUS! The recipe was given to my mother by Helene Watts. You must make it! Below is the recipe:

Summer Squash Casserole

1 1/2 lbs. diced (sliced) summer squash (salt optional)
1 large carrot grated (or thinly sliced)
1 small onion cut up
1 can cream of chicken soup (can substitute cream of mushroom, etc.)
1/2 pint sour cream
1 stick oleo (aka margarine/butter)
1 pkg. Pepperidge Farm Dressing

Stew squash, onions, and carrot until tender. Drain off water. Add sour cream, soup, and mix. Melt oleo and mix with dressing. Put 1/2 in bottom of greased dish then squash. Then put other 1/2 on top.

Bake 350 for 35-40 minutes.

(You can vary – use zucchini and summer squash, etc.)

Black AU at 3 Years Old

Today, I got a positive ID on the eagle banded with the Black AU band – that also has a transmitter on its back. The transmitter stopped working last summer. I spotted this eagle at Crete’s (Highway View Farm) last September when it flew right over my head. About a week ago – I spotted a 3 year old bald eagle with a transmitter on its back and wondered if it could be Black AU. Today, I had my answer – it indeed was.

At about 11:10 AM – I stopped at Crete’s and didn’t see any eagles in the “eagle tree” – but got out of my car any way and looked around. To my surprise – an eagle was heading right toward me, and it was the 3 year old eagle with a transmitter. I snapped a bunch of photos of this eagle and a 4 year old eagle that was flying near the 3 year old. I couldn’t believe how close they were. They both were swooping back and forth along the small pond closest to the driveway of the farm. Martha Crete and a couple who were visiting her from Maine also came by to watch the display. If two eagles weren’t enough – a third eagle – a 2 year old came by and made a couple passes overhead.

Upond reviewing my photos – I had shots that showed the black band was indeed AU. Such an awesome find. To read more about the eagle – check out the link from last fall HERE.

Also – check out my Flickr photostream (see link in the right column of this page) to see more eagle photos from today.

Castle in the Clouds

Castle in the Clouds

Yesterday, I went with friends to Castle in the Clouds. We all have lived in NH all our lives and had never been. Even though it rained off and on, we enjoyed it very much. There are renovations being done in some areas – but most of the mansion was open. It was a very beautiful home. There was a pretty good view even through the clouds. I would like to go back again in the fall. Next year is their 100th Anniversary and special events are going to be planned.

We had a delicious lunch at the cafe located at the Carriage House. We ate out on the patio. The weather cooperated. It did not rain until after we headed back to the parking lot.

We saw Zeus the largest horse in the world (he is a Belgian) at the stables. He is HUGE!

Zeus

See my Flickr account for more photos.

Betty & Tom 7/14/1956

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad!

Today is my parents’ 57th Wedding Anniversary! Congratulations! My Mom told me today that they were going together for 5 years before they were married. They also were Penacook High School’s Class Lovebirds Class of 1953 too! Thanks Mom and Dad for being such great parents’ and for all the love and great memories you have given us and the memories to come!

Love you! Debbie 🙂

Mr. & Mrs. Thomas C. La Valley

Molly 10/2008

Happy Birthday, to Molly!

I adopted Molly 10/8/2008. She was 14 weeks old. Her real birthday was not known-so I chose June 30th. She was one crazy kitten at the Concord SPCA and her craziness is why I picked her. She is always searching for food and has been on a diet since she was about 9 months old. She has a slow metabolism 🙂

She is still one crazy kitty. She is quite a bit bigger than she was in October of 2008. The photo below, I snapped today.

5 Years Old