Debra LaValley's Blog

Another snowstorm is heading up the East Coast. If we are lucky – the bulk of the snow will just miss us. The southern areas of the Northeast are not going to be so lucky.

It is always a great worry that we will lose power when there is a storm. Most of us are very dependent on electricity. If the power goes out most of us do not have heat, and houses lose heat quickly (They are not made like they use to be). We have to light candles, lamps, or carry flashlights. Once the batteries in our laptops and phones die – we are cut off from the Internet – which is a catastrophe to most. What are we to do with no internet, phone, or cable television! It is a very scary place for those of us addicted to technology.

Just think – back a couple hundreds of years ago – snow storms came and the houses had fireplaces to keep off the chill. Folks weren’t running to the local stores to buy milk, bread, and toilet paper for fear of being stuck in the house for a day or two. The stoves were run by coal or wood – so hot meals were still available. If you had to go out somewhere – you jumped in the sleigh and traveled over the snow (but most of the time – there was no need for you to go anywhere – so you just stayed home). You didn’t have to wait for the plow to come.

It seems like it is getting harder and harder for modern humans to deal with mother nature. Even the slight mention of a few snow flakes heading our way – seems to rile folks up into a frenzy. Heaven forbid you may have to spend a few hours at home in quite meditation, or reading, or talking (not texting) the person sitting next to you.

So – whether or not you get an inch or a foot of snow in the next day or so – remember the snow will melt. Break out a board game and enjoy each other’s company or start up a conversation. Spring will be here before you know it.

My First Sleigh Ride

Sleigh Ride

I have ALWAYS wanted to go on a sleigh ride – but never had until today. I remember Pepe (my Grandfather LaValley) telling us when he took a sleigh from Vermont to New Hampshire – back in the day when that was the winter transportation. I also love the Christmas Carol – SLEIGH RIDE. I have thought about it a few times and even looked into it – but something always came up or there was no one to go with. The rides were also very expensive.

Recently, I saw that there are sleigh rides available about 5 minutes from me on Corn Hill Road in Boscawen (Painted Blessing Ranch/Pustizzi Fruit Farm)! Even better – the price was only $20.00! I knew that the weather was going to be mild today, and we had plenty of snow cover for the horses to pull a sleigh. I asked around to see if anyone was interested – but no one was available – so I decided to go myself. I am not usually one to do activities by myself – but I decided to go for it. (I have gone to movies by myself – that took a little getting used to – but it isn’t bad at all – especially since you don’t “visit” while the movie is playing.) I was out of my comfort zone at first – being by myself – but once I arrived at the location. I was fine. Everyone was very friendly, and the driver of the sleigh was someone I went to high school with that I hadn’t seen in about 35 years.

The horses pulling the wagon-sleigh were two Belgian horses. They were HUGE horses and very handsome.

I am glad that I went. There was just a couple from Pittsfield and me on the sleigh – plus the driver and copilot. I would like to go on a real old-fashioned 2-4 seat sleigh . . . but until that time . . . I am happy that I had a sleigh ride on a beautiful March day.

“It’s lovely weather for a sleigh ride together . . .”

Sleigh & Belgian Team

The Day After

It is a beautiful sunny day! The snow is all cleared away. It is a good thing because tomorrow we are going to get a little snow and then rain. The rain will make a real mess and make the snow heavy. Everyone is out clearing roof tops and driveways today.

Have a great Sunday!

Snowed In!

The Snow Has Hit!

It is still snowing – but the worst is past. I went out to measure the snow total so far, and the average is 18 inches. The drifts are much higher. The snow was above my knees. My sister is at my parents’ house, and she stepped out into snow above her hips. Luckily, it is very dry and fluffy snow so there are only a few hundred power outages in NH and all PSNH right now. There was one Unitil (that is my provider). Mass is a mess because they had wet snow so they have about 400,000 people without power.

I just shoveled off my steps. I am on strike and will NOT be shoveling the walkways! It is too deep for me. One of the young neighbors borrowed my shovel and did shovel a short path between my porch and the main porch.

The plow guy just came! My neighbors Lara and Andre helped me with my car. Andre and the plow guy helped push my car out so I didn’t have to shovel around the car (which was at the top of my legs!). Andre and Lara also helped me clear off my car. They know I have been sick and have asthma. I really appreciated their help. I would have never gotten the car out myself! 🙂

More photos to come – here are some quick shots. Jeff came out and shoveled the path 🙂

Jeff shoveling – Jillian sitting in the snow (neighbors).

Aloha from New Hampshire!

Nor’easter is on its way!

We haven’t had much snow yet this winter; however, we are expected to get at least a foot tonight and into tomorrow! I will make sure to take lots of photos. My work is closing today at noon. The worst of the storm starts late afternoon. Right now, things are not bad at all.

I will make sure to take lots of photos. The snowman shot above, I took in April 2007. It was at a house around the corner from where I live. I thought it was fitting to post for today.

If you go out today into the storm – please drive safely!

Our family loves food and many hours of great fun and conversation have happened around our kitchen tables through the years. Below are a few recipes that we often had growing up … our comfort foods!

Aunt Cookie’s Secret Chocolate Cake

2 cups sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 cups flour
1 cup cocoa
2 tsp. soda
2 eggs
1 cup Wesson Oil
2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup milk
2 Tbsp. vinegar to sour milk
1 cup hot water

Mix all ingredients and pour into a greased 13×9 pan. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Aunt Cookie would never give out the recipe for her delicious chocolate cake. One day, Aunt Mary Jane “stole” it and shared it with the family. It is the best chocolate cake ever!

Pizza Sauce

1 stick margarine
12 oz. tomato paste
1 1/2 cups grated cheese (cheddar & mozzarella)
1/4 t. garlic
1/4 t. onion
1/4 t. oregano
1/4 t. basil

Mix all together and spread on English muffins. Broil until done.

This makes a great quick snack or appetizer.

The Best Meatloaf

1 1/2 lbs. beef
1 cup fresh bread crumbs
1 onion
1 egg
1 1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
2 cans tomato sauce
1/2 cup water
3 T. vinegar
3 T. brown sugar
2 T. mustard
2 t. Worcestershire sauce

Mix beef, bread crumbs, onion, beaten egg, salt, pepper, 1/2 can tomato sauce and form in 7×10 loaf pan. Combine the rest of the ingredients and pour over loaf. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Enjoy!

NH Audubon Mid-Winter Eagle Count

I believe this is my third year as a volunteer for the NH Audubon Mid-Winter Eagle Count. I enjoy it very much. My territory for the count is along the Merrimack River from Jamie Welch Field in Boscawen to the Penacook Waste Water Treatment Plant off from Penacook Street in Penacook.

Today, I had five sightings. Each year, I seem to see more and more eagles. It is wonderful that our national symbol has been making a comeback. DDT almost destroyed this awesome raptor. Growing up in New Hampshire, I never saw an eagle. Many years ago, I started seeing an eagle only rarely. Now, I am glad to say, I see them fairly regularly.

Today – my first eagle sighting was an immature bird that flew over my head at the boat launch at Jamie Welch Field. It landed downriver in a tree and I watched it for about 15 minutes before it flew south. My next sighting was an adult sitting in a tree across the Crete’s cornfields on River Road in Boscawen. Just before lunch – I headed down Merrimack Street toward the treatment plant. I noticed an immature sitting in a tree behind the old railroad building. I snapped some shots, parked my car and walked down the road to get a better shot. A woman and her daughter were in their car and they too noticed the eagle. I snapped a couple quick shots and the eagle flew away. Much to my surprise – it landed around the corner in a tree near the lookout area near the treatment plant. I stayed in the car and snapped off some shots while it sat in the tree and then took off. The above shot was taken at this time. There are more in my Flickr photostream that you can click. It is located on the right side of this page.

After lunch around 2:30, I came back to the treatment plant and saw both the immature and adult eagles. I believe they both were the same birds that I saw before lunch. The adult bird caught a fish and brought it to a tree. The immature decided to join the adult who did not want to share. I watched them for quite some time. The adult was making a lot of noise.

Happy New Year!

I had a fairly quiet New Year’s Eve. I went with my friends Tim and Dianne to Smitty’s for dinner and a movie. We saw Parental Guidance. It was a very good movie. I was home by 9:00 pm and drifted off for a few minutes and missed the ball deciding in New York – but I woke up in time to hear all the cheering. I find it so hard to believe that it is already 2013! It seems like only yesterday was 2000! Where does the time go?

I did not make any formal resolutions. Every year – I go in hoping to be in better shape by the end of the year. In 2012 – I did manage to lose some weight. I was pleased. I will continue to improve myself in 2013.

Today, I went out for Chinese food with my parents and two of their friends. It was enjoyable and relaxing.

I hope all of you have a Happy and Healthy 2013!

Debbie 🙂

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 2,300 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 4 years to get that many views.

Click here to see the complete report.

Christmas Squatch

Sasquatch came to Penacook on Christmas Day! We all had a great laugh. My cousin Kerry received a ghillie suit from his wife Jean for Christmas. He walked across the main road wearing this and was going to sneak by my trail camera without my noticing. We saw him, and I just had to snap some photos of him in my parents' back yard. Kerry made sure to walk by my trail camera (above). It was such a riot! I especially loved it since one of my guilty pleasures is watching Finding Bigfoot. Penacook is kind of “Squatchy” … I think! 🙂

We had a great family Christmas! Below are some photos for your enjoyment!

Dad, Jaxon, Mom

Justin & Melissa

Christie with Jaxon

Jessica, Christopher & Lucian

The Gang

Jeff, Danielle & Bigfoot

Bigfoot at the Bird feeders

Quincy & Sara

Have a great rest of 2012 Everyone!