Debra LaValley's Blog

Moose in Dummer, NH (Yes, there is a Dummer.)

My August vacation is almost at an end. I went on a couple drives and snapped some photos. I also caught a cold or the goldenrod got to me – anyway – still forged up into the Great North Woods (Coos County) in New Hampshire on Tuesday (8/3) with my Uncle Ralph. He is a great tour guide. It was a cloudy/rainy/misty day – but it was not HOT and Humid so it was good 🙂 I had not been that far north in many many years. We stopped in Colebrook for lunch at the Wilderness Restaurant on Main Street. I lived in Colebrook for a year – I was 3-4 years old. My dad had his first teaching job up there. I had been back when I was in grammar school to camp – but hadn’t been there since. We then traveled East to visit the Balsams Resort. What a gorgeous location – it looks like you are in Europe.

The Balsams Resort

The moose was seen in Dummer, NH on the side of Route 16. They ares such huge animals. We then went to Berlin, and Uncle Ralph showed me where he used to teach. Then we took Bear Notch Road (closed during the winter) and returned home via “the Kank.” I was hoping to see even more moose or a black bear – but saw a couple loons and some smaller and more abundent creatures. It was a nice day, and we traveled over 300 miles round trip. The new Corolla S got 38.77 mpg (highway/backroads and high elevation)…not bad 🙂

Honolulu Sunset

August already! I am hoping that the August weather that we had in July will not return 🙂 We only had one decent thunderstorm too with all that heat and humidity. A very good thing is that I didn’t have to worry about my dad ruining himself mowing the lawn in the nasty heat – because most of the grass is brown and crunchy! There is always a positive side to things. My new air conditioner has been LOVELY! I don’t even care what the electric bill will be. It will be well worth it!

I am on vacation this week. I am going to do day trips and just relax. I am also going to try and not let the kids from the upstairs apartment and next door irritate me. Most of the time – they are kids just being kids. It has been getting much better. The thing that bothers me the most is the throwing food and candy wrappers etc. all over the walkway and my steps. Maybe it is just me – but I don’t remember just throwing trash on the ground, etc. Maybe, I am just showing my age, and I was a slob too then! LOL! I hear stories from other folks and whether you live in your own house or in an apartment – you can never really choose your neighbors. The other neighbors are nice and quiet, and in the past 22 years – I have had some neighbors who were MUCH worse. So… I at those annoying times, I will yoga breathe and chant “school starts in a few weeks – school starts in a few weeks.” I will let them enjoy their last days of summer and then let the homework be piled on! Whahahahahahahaha! LOL! I am smiling already! 🙂

I saw headlines on line today that said something like “Shark Seen Off Massachusetts.” Now – aren’t sharks in the oceans of the world? Most of the sharks that have been seen lately have been quite a distance off shore. You would think no one has seen a shark before. Maybe folks are just noticing them more – It has been a very warm summer! Stay hydrated! 🙂

Enough with the heat wave already! UGH! I cannot stand the heat and humidity. It feels like Florida in July instead of New Hampshire in July! I really would rather have 30 degree weather instead of this sauna. It feels as if you need a snorkel and a mask to breathe the air! It is TERRIBLE! I haven’t taken my Nikon D90 out to snap shots since the 5th of July! It was a sauna then too – but I was at Northwood Lake – so it was bearable. After about 22 years of living in my own place – I finally caved and purchased an air conditioner. It has been a life saver. It keeps my apartment comfortable! I “can’t” wait to see what my electric bill will be since it has been running almost non-stop since my uncle installed it for me on the 7th. It will be worth the money though! I can actually walk around the house without passing out with heat exhaustion. What makes this weather even worse is that we haven’t really had any rain to speak of and not a decent t-storm either. They keep promising t-storms – but they skirt us. The grass is brown. I am looking outside and it looks so inviting – a nice breeze … sunny … only a few clouds … but it is 90 degrees!

I will be heading out shortly to celebrate a friend’s 50th birthday. I am going with her family to The Rainforest Cafe in the Burlington Mall outside of Boston. It should be fun. At least there will be a t-storm inside the restaurant 🙂 If you have never been to The Rainforest Cafe – I highly recommend going. They have great food and a neat jungle atmosphere.

Try to stay cool and have a safe and enjoyable day! (Queue Linda Rondstatt singing Heat Wave . . .)

S'Mores

S’Mores – the food of summer! These simple yummy (and very gooey) desserts remind me of so many good times. Girl Scout camping trips – there were always s’mores and if we ran out of chocolate we used peanut butter. Those were called Robinson Carousos. We would see how golden brown we could toast the marshmallows without catching them on fire. If we caught them on fire – we would say that was the Boy Scout way … torching the marshmallows. LOL. We Girl Scouts could never get over hearing that the Boy Scouts washed their dishes with sand. I wonder if that was true. Somehow – I believe it. S’mores also remind me of family camping. Growing up – we went camping as a family almost every weekend. We had a six-man canvas tent with a floor. Great times. To this day, s’mores are made whenever we are near a campfire and even times when there isn’t a campfire to be had. When my folks got their first microwave oven many years ago – one of the first things we did was make s’mores in the microwave. We were amazed at how big a marshmallow swelled inside a microwave. It was such an amazing new gadget – the microwave.

S’mores really bring folks together and seem to taste best when there is a group of folks around joining you. They are fun to make and so messy. You feel like a kid again taking a bite out of a gooey s’more. It seems that no matter how hard you try, you get a bit of marshmallow or melted chocolate on your face …. but that is part of the fun of eating a s’more. You can just be yourself and it doesn’t matter if things get a little messy. They are the ultimate comfort food.

So – break out the marshmallows, graham crackers, Hershey bars and make some great memories. Enjoy your summer!

Liberty Bell Replica - Concord, NH

Happy Independence Day to everyone! Special thanks to all that fought for our country in the fight for our Independence and all who continue to serve and protect us.

July 4th is one of those holidays that bring families together for cookouts or people head out for vacations or fireworks. Last night – I heard various fireworks all around me. Growing up it was illegal to shoot off any kind of fireworks (but folks smuggled in firecrackers and cherry bombs, etc.) – but now they are everywhere and some neighborhood displays are quite wonderful. Most likely, I will be treated to some very nice displays tonight that I will be able to watch from my living room.

Growing up – I remember packing up my father’s old khaki Air Force blanket (I can still remember the wooly smell of that prickly blanket) and some snacks and walk what seemed like miles to get to Memorial Field in Concord. The huge football field would be packed with others all there to watch the annual Concord 4th of July fireworks display. Years, later when my parents starting renting a cabin at Newfound Lake for a week or two every summer over the 4th – we were mesmerized with the Bristol fireworks that where exploded over the lake. These displays spoiled us so much that the Concord fireworks were no longer worth the walk or long wait. Those summers at Newfound Lake (our family calls is “The Lake”) were filled with great memories and great fun. It is such a beautiful area.

We will be heading to my sister Mary Beth’s house this afternoon for her annual 4th of July cookout. There will be quite a gang there and lots of yummy food. It will also be Hot and Humid – another 4th of July “tradition.” I wish she had a pool. I am certain – many will ask her today – when is she going to get a pool and point our exactly where the pool should go 🙂

However, you celebrate Independence Day – I hope that you have a wonderful and safe day. Remember your sunscreen!

God Bless America!

Where has JUNE gone? I can’t believe that there are only a few more days left of June and the 4th of July is next Sunday!

Tonight feels like July. It is very humid and hazy. We had a few sprinkles but could have used a nice thunderstorm (nothing serious – but a little bit of a lit show – a little rumbling and some rain). I am watching The Crocodile Hunter – Collision Course movie. I remember taking a long lunch when it came out to watch the first showing the day it was released. I greatly admired Steve Irwin. He loved wildlife so much and was such a passionate crusader for wildlife. I felt as if I lost a friend when I heard he died. I know that his work lives on with his family – but I certainly do miss his enthusiastic character. He was such a hoot. The Animal Planet hasn’t been the same since. The movie may be a little goofy – but it has a great message and is entertaining – especially for Stevo fans.

Have a great day and be a Wildlife Warrior and keep Steve’s memory alive 🙂

Dad - Flyfishing on the Merrimack (Sewall's Falls)

Happy Father’s Day!

Today, we are having a party to celebrate my Dad’s birthday (6/15) and Father’s Day. We all will be gathering at the homestead for food and fun – things my family know a lot about. On this day celebrating my Dad – brings back the many memories I have doing fun things with my Dad. The things that I remember the most are the rock hunts he used to bring us on. His major in college was geology not teaching – though he ended up being a teacher because there were no jobs for geologists in New Hampshire. He would take us to Ruggle’s Mine or highway outcrops (for new highways that weren’t open yet) and we would search out amethyst, quartz crystals and other sparkly things. To this day, I pick up interesting rocks wherever I travel. You could say that my Dad put rocks in my head. 🙂 When we were young, my dad also had a telescope and showed me the heavens. Even today, we go out from time-to-time and he will point out constellations, etc. I chose this recent photo of my Dad flyfishing because out of all the things that I have done with my Dad – fishing stands out the most. When we were all little – he fashioned bamboo fishing rods for us to use and we would go to Broad Cove or Stumpfield Pond and fish from shore with my Mom and usually my Aunt Mary Jane – while he would be just off shore in a rowboat with my Uncle Bob Bailey. When I got older, I would go fishing with my Dad during the week and weekends – usually going to Hothole Pond and flyfishing from the canoe for trout. I haven’t fished in years. I became a vegetarian and felt it did not go well with vegetarianism. My brother Ken fishes with Dad every once in a while. They were fishing together the day I took this photo.

I could go on and on with memories of family camping trips in our 6 person tent at Shawtown and most every other campground in the state – but then this would become a novel. So , I will end with saying, “Thank You, Dad for all the great memories (may we have many more) and for being such a great Dad!” Love, Debbie 🙂

I am sitting here and watching the PBS special Carole King /James Taylor live! Wow – they are both so fabulous. If I were to pick the most perfect album ever done and which album that I would pick to bring to a deserted island it would be Tapestry by Carole King. Both singers are poets extraordinaire. Of course, I also adored Simon and Garfunkel, Carly Simon, and Judy Collins. All were who I listed too my high school years. When visiting my best friend at the time we would stack their albums on the record player and listen to their music over and over again. Out of all the albums and music that I have listened to over the years – nothing brings back the memories as the songs of these “folk” singers. What most folks may not know is the “You’ve Got a Friend” was written by Carole King though James Taylor is better known for that song. This song is also on Tapestry. They certainly don’t write songs like they did back then! 🙂

Live Long and Prosper

We had a very stormy day here in New Hampshire. There was a tornado warning – very rare in these parts. We had torrential downpours and thunderstorms. When they subsided – I took some shots. I liked the cosmic affect of the reflections in the puddles. Yes, I am a Trekker (aka Trekkie). I love Star Trek = all of the variations. I love Science Fiction in general 🙂

We certainly needed the rain – we have not had much the past month and things were very dry. The rain today should really help. It was coming down so hard that I saw manhole covers bubbling over with water. It was very freaky. Unfortunately – it wasn’t safe to pull over and snap photos where I saw it. All is calm now! I hope all is well with everyone and you didn’t have any storm damage where you are. Enjoy your day!