Monday Meander

"I want to see the sea," I told him when he asked how we should spend this holiday. "And shop."

So we headed east....

past Wagon Hill Farm.



We crossed the river (aka the Border) into Maine.



We shopped at Kittery Outlets and the Kittery Trading Post. At Orvis I bought this rabbit. Technically it's a dog toy, but my dogs will never be allowed anywhere near it. I'm thinking of keeping it in my car.



Crossing back into Portsmouth, we ate lunch at the Friendly Toast. I had scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and fresh dill and needless to say it was delicious. As were the onion rings.

I hadn't found any garments worthy of purchase in Maine. So I popped into my favourite vintage clothing store and found the cutest skirt. On sale. For $11! I might even wear it on Wednesday for the floor debate.

Leaving Portsmouth we followed Route 1-A south, along the coast. On the right side, marsh.



On the other side, the sea. We stopped for some photos at Wallis Sands. It was such a clear day, the water and sky so blue, and the Isles of Shoals clearly visible on the horizon.



A breaker.



Our next stop was North Hampton Beach.

Love on the beach.



Nice afternoon for a stroll, as long as you don't mind a heavy sea breeze.



We continued to Hampton. Thomas Chase, nn ancestor of mine landed there in the late 1630's. "Wish he'd held onto some seafront property," I sighed before we turned westward for the drive back to the Lodge. "But then," I added, "Nowadays I'm more a living-on-the-lake person than a living-by-the-beach person."

Now that my "seeing the sea" wish has been fulfilled, our next weekend road trip will probably be to the cottage on the Big Lake!

I've a favour to ask. Please, please leave me a comment! I need to know that the new widget is working for people other than me. Post anonymously if it lets you. Or not. Just say something! Anything!

Dog Attack, Valentine's Day, Mardi Gras

It's a Sunday Stroll day but my camera batteries croaked before I had a chance to stroll after church. So I'm posting pics from yesterday and before church this morning.

As previously mentioned our Friend from the North Country, also known all last week as Birthday Girl, was using the Lodge as her base late in the week. Yesterday before she and I headed out on a shopping trip, she was saying goodbye to Ruth and Jewel (and trying to explain to them that because she's soon headed to the Holy Land it will be a month or more before she sees them again.)

They all posed for pictures.



Then the girls mauled her with affection.



First thing this morning the Chap and I exchanged Valentine's cards--some home-made, some store bought--this morning, and opened gifts, which included a dog book, a fave DVD, a music cd (the new Sade album), and cholocate candy and cookies.

At church we were having our Mardi Gras celebration (two days early). I was able to wear my groovy and colourful new sweater and found some actual Mardi Gras beads that matched nicely. The Chap acquired the beads during a New Orleans Mardi Gras parade, approximately a month before we first met.



In response to a request for a scarf photo, here's the finished product. I chose the yarn because it goes so nicely with this winter jacket (and other clothes I've got.)



Oh, I was wearing some festive Mardi Gras shoes, also.



Last night while watching Olympics I started my next knitting project--a prayer shawl. I'm using Homespun (that's the brand name) yarn, which has a crimp in it, and a Beginner level pattern. The shawl is really just a bigger, wider scarf. We have an active Prayer Shawl Ministry at our parish.

Tomorrow the Chap has a day off and we're heading for the Seacoast for food and frolic. So it will be a Monday Stroll this week.

I think I'm about to bite the bullet and install the upgrade of the Haloscan software that I dislike so much. Also I'm adding a couple of new blogs to the sidebar--two friends of mine started blogging recently--and deleting any that are shut down or so dormant they might as well have done.

And then I'll compose the speech I'll be giving in the House of Reps on Wednesday.

Waiting

It's indicative of this week that the only time for blogging is now, as I wait for my Mercedes to be serviced. The customer lounge here at the dealership is one of the perks of having a posh car. Wifi, coffee on demand with a Keurig machine, comfy leather chairs, wall-mounted flat-screen tv. All I lack are some cuddly dogs!

Tuesday was incredibly hectic. Chairs & Vice Chairs at 8:30. From there I raced to the Fish & Game Department in the State Office Complex for some presentations on Search & Rescue and non-game wildlife management programs. Headed back to the State House block for a delicious and informative luncheon hosted by the county Farm Bureau. After that the F&G committee held an executive session on our 3 remaining (and most controversial) bills, all of which we killed. Returning home I made sure the pups were fed, then the Chap and I headed out for planning meeting with clergy and lay folks in our convocation (pizza supper!) followed by the convocation meeting itself. Home by 9:30 and my head was spinning.

The Wednesday House of Reps session will go down in the annals as one of the strangest and most frustrating. It was long, but could've been longer. I won't go into all the details. If you're inclined, you can read about it here. I suppose it's not a bad thing that the public becomes aware of the Consent Calendar and how it works, although some seem not to understand the necessity or desirability. I felt like a hostage until we adjourned a bit after 5 p.m.

That night we had company and celebrated a special occasion.

Yesterday afternoon was a Concord day. My Friend from the North Country is spending a few days with us, and we each had meetings and I had my lesson and we had lunch together and eventually there was a Diocesan Council meeting and we got home in time to make shawarma for dinner. She showed me how to cast off, so my super-long scarf is now finished and in fact I am wearing it at this very moment because it beautifully matches my top as well as my jacket.

On the way home I'll pick up some new yarn to stat another project.

Revising happens at times.

This weekend is the Audubon Society's annual Backyard Bird Count, so I've got my form ready to fill out and will be making my observations throughout the weekend. Hope all the cool birdies show up to be counted!

The weather has been amazing...bright and dry, though we had a trickle of non-accumulating snow on Wednesday. All the snow is to our south, and it's so very strange. The sled dog championship races have been cancelled or at least postponed, the snowmobile registrations are down, our overall economy is adversely affected by the lack of snow. Meanwhile, it piles up in places where people are not accustomed to dealing with it! And poor Vancouver could use some, too, with the Winter Olympics starting up.

I haven't had a great deal of time to think about Valentine's Day. Until now!

Sunday Stroll: Ice, Ice Baby!

The heavy snowfall far to or south is more typical of what our state expects in February. We are caught in a hard freeze, and the wind can be brisk. But sunshine and blue skies reign...at least for the time being.

After church the Chap and I took a little excursion. We were headed for a retail outlet mecca not terribly far away. Our loopy sort of circular route there and back to the Lodge took us through pretty country--rolling hills, distant white-capped mountains. And past lots and lots of ice.

Bog ice.



Lake ice.



River ice.



A bit of open water in the river.



Field ice.



Deserted beaver pond ice.



Home ice. Our little lake.



Hope your strolls took you to interesting places. To continue strolling stop over at Aisling's blog.

Three Wolf Moon T-Shirt

My schedule hasn't been conducive to blogging this week, either. On my days at the Lodge I'm focussed on the revisions (there's light at the end of this tunnel.)

This is a very busy time for me, legislatively. Yesterday I was drafted onto another policy committee so they could ensure a quorum for an Executive Session on some of their bills. It took nearly all day...but the Chap was at the State House and we were able to have lunch together in the cafeteria. And then he sat in on one of the bills we were voting on.

Today's House session was a very long. But I was home at 6.45 and feared it might be even later, so I won't complain. It's so odd that sitting and listening to other people talk all day is more exhausting and draining than doing something much more physically active.

Next week is also rather busy. Afterwards things should settle down a bit.

There was a big news development in our state last week, and I was an official go-to source for commentary. Enjoy!

Exclusive: N.H. Rep. on Three Wolf Moon Becoming Granite State's Official Shirt

Sunday Stroll: Feeding Time

My morning routine includes feeding the birds--before I feed myself. I re-fill the small feeder with safflower seeds for the chickadees, nuthatches, titmice, cardinals, and lately winter goldfinches. Then I fling bread crumbs and cracked corn on the ground for the jays and juncoes and anyone who feeds down below.

Almost as soon as I step onto the deck, the jays swarm in for their food.



Today the grey squirrels came in greater numbers than usual.

One in the tree.




Another on the ground.



I counted four in all, before we had to leave for church.

Candlemas preparations.



This was the day of our parish Annual Meeting, at which we receive reports and elect officers and other members of leadership. Oh, and the Vestry feeds us brunch/lunch!

We had two types of soup--a curry butternut squash soup, plus a chowder of corn and potatoes. Here's my trinity of bowls--



That's not all I ate. I had mixed nuts and caramel kettle popcorn and a couple of brownies afterwards.

After the meeting adjourned we headed for the car wash to clean off my honourable automobile.

After two days of waking up to 0 degrees on the thermometer and intense wind chill, we're enjoying this balmy (?!) 23 degree day. The Chap just returned from walking the girls...a far more pleasant afternoon for it than yesterday.

Thanks for strolling with me on this Sunday. To continue, visit Aisling's blog.

Commentary & Conversation

A couple of days ago I received notice that Haloscan, the comments widget I've used for years, will cease to exist on February 11. This is extremely unsettling news, coming at a most inconvenient time. I've investigated Echo, the paid replacement of Haloscan. Don't much like it. User comments are not encouraging. I considered signing on with a yearly subscription--I'd gladly pay 10 bucks to buy a only few more months to figure out what to do. My priorities right now are my legislative responsibilities (it's the busy season), my novel, diocesan commitments, my personal life (all the stuff I mostly don't share here), and being a supportive and available friend. Depending on the day, the hierarchy of importance changes.

But...did I say I really don't like Echo?

I've customised my original Blogger template to the point that I don't think I can easily resurrect the Blogger comment feature. Even if I could, I can't import my archive of Haloscan comments. I've looked into Wordpress as an option, I think I can import Haloscan. Not sure about the Blog template. My author website host has blogging software but I've never used it. Getting up to speed with it or with Wordpress would be extremely time-consuming during weeks when I have not a moment to spare.

My investigations turned up the interesting fact that some Blogger/Haloscan folk are cutting and pasting their archives of visitor comments directly into the old blogposts to preserve them. That's an easy workaround...except that I've written over 1000 posts here. And while my comments section doesn't begin to reflect actual visitor numbers, just opening up the majority of my posts to insert the comments is a mind-boggling operation. Especially right now. Even if I did it selectively. There's a chance I could harvest my archive from the Haloscan website (while it still exists) and save the comments in a document and export them at a later date, over time.

It's hard for me to put into words how greatly I value the comments I receive here. I've never cared about the volume or frequency of comments, but I do cherish every single one. They provide the connection with my blog visitors, and create a sense of community and friendship that is, for me, extremely important. I have been touched and oh, so grateful for things people said in times of joy (progress on the book, election or re-election, birthdays, anniversaries, achievements) or sadness (loss of a pet or family member or close friend). I share with you my activities, thoughts, my photos, my dogs' antics, my gardens, my lake views, and when you reply it becomes a conversation.

The prospect of losing the record of that conversation on a date certain makes me want to weep. I remind myself that the internet is both permanent and ephemeral. Blogs I used to read regularly have vanished without a trace. Others remain, dormant for years, preserved in amber.

Going with Haloscan was a calculated risk for me and a lot of others. I wish I'd received the announcement sooner...apparently the changeover has been known since December. I can't explain why I am the last to know.

I'm not sure what to do about the archive. I'm not sure what I can do in the time left.

I'll keep up my investigations, hoping for quick and not-to-complicated solution. But I have to admit my optimism is waning.

So all I'll say for now is thank you, thank you to everyone who responds to my postings. There will most certainly be a platform for comments in the future...but I have no idea what will happen with all those meaningful ones from the past.

Sunday Stroll: Turkey Trot!

The week ended pleasantly, with fun, food, fellowship, baking birthday cake for people I do not know and a party I was not even attending, and knitting.

On Friday in addition to errands my Friend From The North Country and I stopped at the Chap's office for a tour, and a quick visit to Michael's to pick up gold stars and dots. When we exited the store this is what we saw, and she took this photo with her new camera:



My progress on knitting my scarf is nothing short of scary! I seem to be a compulsive knitter, and therefore I have nearly got through my entire ball of yarn. I need more to make the scarf longer, so today I will yet again stop by Michael's for more. However, I'm putting away the knitting until Wednesday's legislative session...I need to be finishing up my revisions!

Today on the way to church, we saw turkeys.





There were 10 of them in all, 9 of which can be seen in this photo.



A photo of the statue in the park beside our church.



After the service we stayed for the annual budget review meeting, which was short and sweet.

On the drive home--more turkeys!

We met 4 more, 3 of which can be seen in this photo.



I've reported my sightings to the NH Winter Turkey Flock Survey for the NH Fish & Game Department.

I'm driving my FFTNC to the aiport this afternoon. I think she'll be astonished, and pleased (perhaps even alarmed) by the knitting monster she created.

If you'd like to continue trotting, um, strolling along, head over to Aisling's blog for links to other strollers.

Look What I Did!

Very busy day yesterday. The State of the State was not at all the downer I expected, in fact it was quite progressive--in the forward-looking but not the spendy sense --and pragmatic. Lots of applause and standing ovations for the Governor. And my FFTNC was in the gallery, and witnessed the Gov's comments about supporting enterprise in the North Country.

Immediately afterwards she and I headed over to the Thai restaurant on Main Street. Then we went shopping. At Michael's I went a little nuts and bought some pretty yarn and a pair of knitting needles with the thought that my FFTNC could teach me to knit. For supper we had tilapia and garlic smashed potatoes and salad and the awesome raspberry sorbet.

After supper I had my knitting lesson. I'm left-handed and my teacher is right-handed, but we got that sorted. She taught me to knit Continental style, while the Chap was laughing at us in the background.

I persevered, and by bedtime I had completed the section of scarf that you see above. "I made a shawl for a mouse!" was my gleeful description.

I'm supposed to be revising a novel and playing mandolin and carrying out other responsibilities. I'm not quite sure where knitting is going to fit into my life. But at least I know I can do it.

Attending the NH Sheep and Wool Festival in May will be really different this year. For me it won't any longer be only about the sheep and the sheepdogs. I can also get excited about wool and yarn!

Looks Like January Round Here

On Monday our snowfall total was about 8 inches.

Yesterday was a grey and snowy day. I had public hearings in committee all morning, and an executive session of several of last week's bills in the afternoon. Received perhaps an additional 3 inches.

Being a little tiny dog, Ruth harbours concerns about excessive snow depth. Here she is this morning, letting us know that another inch had fallen overnight.



Jewel patrols the deck.



The morning after a nice snow can be so extremely picturesque, truly spirit-lifting.



Today in committee we had another public hearing, which attracted many, many members of the public who came to listen and to testify. We started at 10 and adjourned on time at 12.30. The halls of the Legislative Office Building were crammed with citizens participating in democracy today. The Chap was supposed to have been monitoring a Finance Committee bill, and though I went looking right before our hearing started, I never saw him. And if he came looking for me, he probably couldn't get into the room! Standing room only.

By the time I got back to the Lodge the snow was falling again, much to Ruth's dismay. I just shovelled another inch off the main deck. The birds are swarming our feeders.

Our Friend From The North Country will be here for a couple of nights or more. The dogs will be thrilled, and spoilt with attention.

Tomorrow the Governor gives his annual State of the State address to a joint session of House and Senate. As an inveterate optimist who also has access to an overabundance of information about New Hampshire, I must say that good things and even progress are indeed happening here. And yet if I had to give a State of the State address, my headline would be pithy: "Not So Good." Sub-headine: "Mostly due to factors beyond control." The sub-sub headline is: "Compared to other U.S. states, we're damned fortunate." My recommendation: "Proceed with Caution."

I have a feeling most of that will be expressed tomorrow morning in Reps Hall, and it will take an hour. Fifteen minutes of ceremony, which includes the Pledge, the National Anthem, introductions of political and other VIPs and honoured guests. And then the Governor's speech. You can tell I've been through this before....But not my FFTNC, who may be watching it all from the gallery.

Snow Day & Holiday

On this Martin Luther King holiday we find ourselves snow-bound at the Lodge. Our accumulation matches--or exceeds--the predictions for our area. As evidence, I present:

the deck.



the horse head statue.



the honeysuckle arbor.



I could also offer up a short video of dogs snow-romping, but it differs not at all from previous versions. The Chap is about to take them for a nice walk through the wintry wonderland.

A perfect day to refine my manuscript and rest up from last week and in preparation for the various activities of this one.

Sunday Stroll: Seasonal Sights

AWOL for a week...I know. It's unprecedented. As you might suppose, I was excessively busy.

Tuesday: Chairs & Vice Chairs meeting. Wednesday: I left home at 8:45 p.m. and didn't return till 7: 30 p.m. Very lengthy House session during which we voted out all the retained bills by deadline. Thursday: first day of public hearings in my committee--6 of them, 2 of which I chaired. One related to clamming in Hampton and Seabrook and one related to processing lobsters for food, so it was a good thing my Friend from the North Country and I had already planned to have dinner at a seafood restaurant after our Diocesan Council meeting. (Newick's in Concord.) Oh, and I chaired the Council meeting, too, and it ended a bit early--also good.

FFTNC spent both Thursday and Friday night at the Lodge. Friday afternoon was spent in Concord for shopping and mandolin lesson (temperature in the 40's!), and we cooked up a gourmet dinner that evening.

Here's the salad.



And the Spicy Garlic Shrimp (a Thai recipe) which I'd never made before. It got rave reviews!



Yesterday...FFTNC and I kept busy with diocesan work. The Chap walked the dogs and did other good things about the Lodge. It was a gorgeous sunny mild day, about 45 degrees. I think we've had our January thaw...rather short-lived, but most welcome.

Which brings me to today, and an honest-to-goodness outdoor Sunday Stroll.

Despite recent melting, branches of saplings are still buried in snow cover. It looks like they're sprouting up, but in fact they are leaning over and the tips (on the left-ish side) are bent downward and the branch angles are pointing in the opposite way they should be.



Another "mess with your head" photo. It's hard to see against the white background, but a nest of snow formed among the branches of my Therese Bugnet rugosa rose and the vines of my perennial sweet pea.



Sedum rising up from the snow.



Interesting smells on No-Name Snow Mountain entice Jewel.



Ruth is similarly occupied on Wolf Mountain.



Our church service was lovely...Gospel lesson was the Marriage at Cana, and the rector preached on that, beautifully. After the service the Chap had a brief Vestry meeting, so I had time to photograph the sanctuary. Especially our stained glass windows.



View of the little lake.



Party of ice fishermen were out when we came home. I took the photo from the "beach" but in fact I can see them from our windows, they are actually fishing in our "front yard."



Needless to say, manuscript revision was a back-burner activity for much of the week though there was some productivity. I was playing catch-up last night and will continue today and tomorrow. I do plan to watch CNN at 6:00 for the Haiti worship service at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC. Our Presiding Bishop will be--well, presiding.

Our January thaw came to an abrupt halt about 30 minutes ago when the snow began falling, heavily and steadily--a lot sooner than expected. We are supposed to get many inches. Fortunately the Chap has a day off tomorrow for the Martin Luther King holiday. I have a day at home as well but will be working steadily.

Thanks very much for strolling with me. To continue, visiting Aisling's blog.