River Deep, Mountain High

Woke up to a gorgeous day with sunshine and temperatures in the 80's. We had off and decided to spend the afternoon sunning ourselves and doing a little shopping. Heading north we stopped on a one lane bridge to photograph Mt. Chocorua. I love how the cloud's shadows appear on the mountain.

We spent a lovely hour sitting near the Swift River at the Lower Falls on the Kancamagus Highway. The sound of the water rushing through the rocks is intoxicating. The water is a little too cold for us to swim right now, but climbing on the rocks is fun. Afterwards we stopped at WalMart, Lowe's and Shaw's Supermarket. This is a great market with beautiful meats and fish. They even have my favorite frozen eggplant parmiagiana.
Back at the ranch we walked Sirius and had dinner. Now we are watching TV and playing with our computers.

How Great Thou Art

Okay this title is a stretch, but I've been coming up with songs for many years now. Our afternoon in Manchester was spent at the Currier Museum of Art. Governor Currier and his wife left their property to the city for this art museum. They also have a Frank Lloyd Wright home which we hope to visit. The collection at the two story museum was impressive with Monet, Tiepello, Wyeth, Homer, Sargent, Roualt, Hopper, O'Keefe and many of my favorite Hudson River School painters, Cole, Kennett, Durand and Bierstadt.

That's me in front of the building with a neat sculpture that moves in the breeze. A painting of our own Mt. Chocorua.

Yummy, Yummy, Yummy, I Got Love in my Tummy

Went to Manchester, NH, to explore today. It's almost a two hour ride from the campground and we were hungry for lunch. Luckily we got a great tip to  visit the Red Arrow Diner which turns out to be a famous place. It is tiny with about 20 stools at the counter and five tables in the front. The menu has a great variety of choices with many specialties. Turns out that Guy Fieri visited and showcased their American Chop Suey. I happened to sit in the same seat as Guy. The waitresses were sassy and fun and the gal seated next to me was helpful in filling us in on the history. I ended up with breakfast - fabulous cheese topped hash browns with eggs and toast. Jeff went for his usual turkey club and a local diet root beer. Pictures on the wall showed celebrity visitors and politicians including the Clintons, Barack Obama, Paul Newman and Adam Sandler. When we were done eating the waitress rang a bell and announced to everyone that we had two "virgins" from South Carolina visiting and slapped stickers on our chests. It reads, "I've been de-virginized at the Red Arrow Diner."

Let the Sun Shine

Finally got a sunny day after a rainy weekend. I was off today and Sirius and I took a long walk this morning. The grounds are so green and lush. After a restful afternoon and dinner we all went on an evening walk. 

Wild Thing

Moe Z Moose is our camp mascot. Here he is getting ready for the Memorial Day Parade.

Rainy Day

Another cold, gloomy day and perfect for staying inside. We did that until mid afternoon when we headed to N. Conway to see the new Star Trek movie. A very entertaining 3D flick that held our attention and provided good entertainment for a few hours. Afterwards we found an Italian restaurant and I enjoyed their eggplant parmagiana (surprised?) and Jeff had veal parm. Back to the RV and in came the rain which lasted all night.

Rain, Rain Go Away

It rained and was gloomy all day in addition to being cold. We worked a few hours this morning unpacking cartons in the store and stocking the shelves. A good day for a nap and a little laundry. Around 5:00 we drove to Meredith which is on the shore of Lake Winnepesaukie. We had a turkey dinner for two at Hart's Turkey Farm. It was a pound of turkey over stuffing with gravy, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and butternut squash in addition to rolls and corn bread. We were stuffed and took home enough for several sandwiches. Afterwards we waddled to a supermarket and stocked up for the holiday weekend. We'll be working and don't want to venture out with all the heavy traffic coming our way.

Eight Days a Week

Today it rained and I worked in the office all afternoon. We have lots of free time this week and then it is Memorial Day Weekend. We are totally booked and Jeff and I will work all weekend.

Please Help Me I'm Falling

This afternoon we took a ride to North Conway and had lunch in a small cafe. Afterwards we visited Jackson with its covered bridge. Many years ago we had gone to a farm there and took a winter sleigh ride with horses pulling us through the woods. Next we took a short hike to see the waterfall on the Ellis River.

Never on Sunday

Today is Sunday and we have nothing to do but sleep late and explore. Sirius and I took a long walk and spotted two birds I have never seen before, a gray catbird and a yellow warbler. We also took photos of the lady slippers. These endangered plants are growing along the path in our rustic area. They are almost in bloom. Sirius loves these walks in the woods as do I.

America the Beautiful

Some scenes from our campground. Sirius in the dog park, the bridge to the rustic area and marsh.

Moments in the Woods

Settled into our summer home in Chocorua, NH. A beautiful, 185 acre campground with a small lake. They have a beach, pool and boating. Our site is quite private with great views and pine trees. Enough room for all our stuff including a bird feeder and Jeff's hammock swing with stand. Tomorrow is our orientation starting at 7:30 am. Our cable TV isn't working yet so we will happily go to bed early.
Our title is from the Sondheim show Into the Woods.

Happiness

Left our NJ perch and headed north to the Boston area. Found a beautiful, wooded campground in Littleton, about 40 minutes from my sister, Carol's house. She came to get us and we had dinner at a British Pub in a neighboring town. Then to Kimball's, a famous ice cream place, where Jeff and I had hot fudge sundaes. Technically we are on vacation, so this is allowed. Now we are resting and playing on our computers since there is no TV signal out in the woods. Tomorrow we drive to our summer home in New Hampshire. The title today is from You're A Good Man Charlie Brown, "Happiness is two kinds of ice cream..."

Come Together

Another travel day and we have arrived in NYC. We got to our campground in Jersey City, NJ about 3:00 in the afternoon and immediately took the PATH train to World Trade Center. We met Brian and he got us passes to see the WTC Memorial. After passing through stringent security checks we entered the huge park area with two spectacular pools each in the footprint of one of the twin towers. Each pool is surrounded by a wall with names of the victims and heroes of 9/11 etched into the stone. The pools have water flowing down the sides and then into a lower square opening where it seems to disappear into the earth. All around are trees and benches and places to reflect and remember the horrors that happened here.

Since it is Mother's Day I am thrilled to spend a few hours with Brian. We got to talk and catch up on news and then had a good dinner at a nearby restaurant. Brian got me two books on backyard birding and I am anxious to read them and look at the pictures. A great gift for me.

Back on the PATH train to the stop about five long blocks from the campground. We have stayed here before and it is a parking lot adjacent to the parking lot for the ferry and water taxis to the financial district. No grass, but a great location and views of downtown NY and the Statue of Liberty.

The top photo is the new tower with a crane on top. A plaque in homage to NYFD on the way to the memorial site. Jeff at the South pool. The North pool where I found the name of a young man from Yardley whose family we knew. Brian and me relaxing in the park.

Carry Me Back to Old Virginny

On our way with a quick stop to visit cousins Lauren and Jim in Ashland, VA. We enjoyed lunch along with catching up on family news and travels. Drove north through horrible traffic and finally got past DC. I DO NOT miss the traffic jams. We are staying overnight in College Park, MD and it is raining. Tomorrow we fight more traffic on our way to NYC. Special bonus - we will see Brian!

Country Roads

The travelling Glazers are on the road again. We are off for another summer adventure leaving South Carolina and the very hot weather behind. We loaded up the RV and took a skeptical Sirius onboard. Tonight we in the Selma/Smithfield area of North Carolina. It is a lovely campground with a large lake. Sirius scared all the geese from the bank into the water without uttering a bark.

Tomorrow we will venture north and hope for no traffic in the DC area. We need to be at our New Hampshire campground on Tuesday.

Tonight, Tonight

Tonight was very special as a short play I wrote was presented to an audience at the May monthly meeting of the Sun City Theatre Club. Each month we have a short show which can be part of a larger script or a reading or improv. It gives an opportunity for new and experienced actors and directors to do a small piece. Tonight three new playwrights were given a chance to have their works presented on stage.
Cha Cha Cha is a 10 - minute comedy that I wrote in a playwriting workshop last year. it is based on my parents and the ballroom dance lessons they took in our basement rec room when I was a young girl. It was very exciting to see my words brought to life by talented actors and the interpretation of a director along with sound and lighting.
The evening was a great success and we got a few laughs and a lot of nice comments. I hope to keep revising this play and maybe attempt another.
Above is the cast: Lynda as Ida; Jim as Walter; Ruelaine as Miss Annette.