Debra LaValley's Blog

Happy New Year – 2025!

Let the sunshine into the New Year! Wishing everyone a year filled with joy, laughter, peace, and good health!

Merry Christmas to All!

This Christmas will be our first without our mother. It is sad; however, the memories that our parents and other relatives and friends who are no longer with us fill us also with joy, laughter and sometimes a few tears. I feel blessed that I grew up in a loving home surrounded by family and friends. I am still blessed with friends and family. It also brings me joy that I have Maisey (my sweet Calico) who tolerates me putting her in hats, etc. LOL! I spoil her often.

Below is a photo of the Christmas Tree in downtown Penacook this year.

I wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and a Happy & Healthy New Year.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving. It is a quiet one here in New Hampshire this year. There is a bit of mixed frozen precipitation, so my Thanksgiving with my sister Mary Beth has been pushed to tomorrow. I decorated my little tabletop Christmas tree and watched parades on TV and a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. It is certainly different with my mom now not with us. Our parents certainly left us with great and wonderful memories! We are truly blessed. I am thankful for all my relatives and friends! Enjoy the holiday and stay safe out there!

Debbie 🙂

November always seems to fly by. Daylight Saving Time has ended and the dark of night starts before 4:00 pm. The color of October has turned into the gray of November has begun. It isn’t all dark and gloomy! We have had some very warm days so far. It has been quite lovely. We are in a moderate drought; however, and we are in great need of some decent rain. I want it to stay rain for a bit longer. I am not ready for snow. Thanksgiving will be here before we know it. Thanksgiving and Christmas will be very different for our family this year with my mom joining our dad in Heaven. We are very thankful that we had her in our lives as long as we did. Some are not as fortunate as we were.

Have a great day!

Happy Halloween to All! I hope it is Spooktacular!

Another Great Showing of the Aurora Borealis

Last night and early this morning (pictured above), we were treated to a great show of the Aurora Borealis. There were clouds in Boscawen last night; but the sky was colored with purple, reds, blues, and greens. I could see the pink with my naked eyes. I have uploaded more photos to my Flickr stream. The link is on this page. The photo above, I took through my kitchen window early this morning. It is such a treat to see the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). Magical! Happy October, everyone! It is my favorite month!

The Spiritual Nature of Frogs 
by Me 🙂 circa 1998 

Mesmerized
they line the streets
to begin their pilgrimage
across the great black plain.
A few edge into the unknown
in deep meditation, they enter the mist
and slowly cross the great expanse,
pausing occasionally, but never doubting the way.
Wide-eyed they approach the light…
lead by something .
Never blinking their eyes
the path – clear –
A test of faith?
Their faith in me?
My faith in them?
(Faith in myself?)
Or Someone’s faith in both of us?

(PS – I took the above shot of a toad at my friends Tim & Dianne’s last night. It was my first toad sighting of the summer! I love how they just seem to stare off into space.)

Thanks for all the Love, Mom!

On 8/1/2024, my mother Betty (88 years old) passed away while we were on vacation on Newfound Lake in Bristol, NH. It was her happy place! My Aunt Mary Jane, my mom, and I have been renting a lakeside cabin for several years for two weeks. This year, we got to the lake on July 21st. We had many fun days, especially when visiting family spent multiple days with us. She especially loved seeing her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her health had been declining in the past few months, and it was hard for her to get around. She loved Newfound Lake and that is where she passed on to the next journey. I am sure that she was glad to see my dad again! They were Class Lovebirds (Class of 1953) and married in 1956. My dad passed away almost 10 years ago. She is most likely busy touching base with all of her other loved ones, including my brother Tom. She will be greatly missed by many. and we are blessed with all the great memories she left us. Love you!

Happy Independence Day – Tomorrow!

I wish everyone a very happy and safe Independence Day/4th of July! Above is a local landmark, The Red Barn. It is located in Concord (Riverhill area), New Hampshire at the corner of Warner Road and Blackwater Road. This old barn was built around 1817. The new owners placed the flag on the barn this past Sunday! They have saved this local landmark and will be taking good care of it. Thank you!

Well, June certainly moving along quickly. Even though I am retired, I am never bored and always seem to have things to do! I love being retired!

Last evening, I took my mother out for a drive to see if we could see any wildlife. We were lucky to see 3 white-tailed deer. One was by itself, the other two were together close to the road. I stopped the car, the two deer watched us for a minute and then ran into the large field. They looked very healthy. Deer are such beautiful creatures. We usually don’t see them so close. Luckily, I had my 18-300 mm lens on my Nikon and was able to capture some shots. I have added two of my favorites on this page. You can see more on my Flickr photostream.