In Honor of National Poetry Month

"Nanny"
Nathalie Delaney Nelson

Trees

Joyce Kilmer

I think that I shall never see   
A poem lovely as a tree.   
   
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest   
Against the sweet earth’s flowing breast;   
   
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;   
   
A tree that may in summer wear   
A nest of robins in her hair;   
   
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;   
Who intimately lives with rain. 
   
Poems are made by fools like me,   
But only God can make a tree.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Did you get a chance to celebrate National Poetry Month? 

I used to be intimidated by poetry, in high school, Miss Linda Felch taught poetry, and although I fancied myself a decent English student, I found the poetry unit rather challenging. I am grateful for her influence, as I've grown a fondness for it.

My husband's Grandmother, Nanny, as we knew her, enjoyed reading and reciting poems. She like to challenge her sharp mind by memorizing long, complex pieces. My daughter remembers her reciting Trees, mostly because I adored hearing it in her voice and often asked her to recite it for me, and she always obliged.

Forgive my lack of tech savvy, and a screen shot photo... but I adore this picture of her. Full of life, wit, humor, wisdom and love. She was a "hot ticket" as they say, gloriously Irish, devoutly Catholic, enjoyed talking philosophy, politics - sharp as a tack right up to the day she left us at 96 - greatly missed.

Wednesday night there was a poetry reading at the Shedd Porter Memorial Library. We were fortunate to have an evening with NH Poet Laureate, Alice B. Fogel as well as Lesle Lewis and Betsy Snider. All local ladies who have been published previously and are also part of this new book: Poet Showcase an anthology of new hampshire poets. I sure wished Nanny could have come with me, I had a wonderful time, but it would have been even better with her. The readings came alive in the poets own voices, and follow up discussion produced interesting conversation. Of course socializing with community members is generally pleasant in our small town. It was an inspiring evening with moments particularly moving to me.

Check out https://www.poets.org/   if you would like to continue this poetic vein

enjoy

Wordless Wednesday

April Vacation

 April break from school, long anticipated, seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. I was thankful that since my children attend our local district, and I work in another - this time our schedules coincided.

We lucked out with a perfect day to take the kayaks out. Around 70 degrees and crystal clear. My adventure partner has been champing at the bit to get out on the water since the ice first went out of the lake! We always have a great time out there, paddling around, exploring, bird watching, having little races. Sometimes we have great conversations, and then we will float in silence listening to the natural world around us.

We hated to come in

We stayed out until the sun began to drop,
casting brilliant sparkles across the water

even lovely along the edge
when we arrived there was a young beaver here

We borrowed my son's truck and he
needed it back to do some chores

 The rest of our week was cooler, mostly in the 50s or 60s, clear, dry and breezy. While this is certainly optimal clothes drying weather - and believe me, I did laundry like a woman on a mission! Blankets, sheets, clothes, all spring fresh and smelling heavenly. The downside: severe forest fire danger, of the red flag alert variety. Some of our Farmgirl Sisters already have lush green growth, but ours is just starting.












The red buds stand out against the sky, they don't last long, but they are great - kind of like a cover band before the big show when the leaves unfold in all their glory.














The first hints of green leaves began last week. It starts down in the river valley, a tree here and there showing off the subtle light green of tender new leaves. A few more trees hint of green each day in the valley, and they they begin higher up. Again in isolated spots, slowly spreading as more and more trees join in. Finally a welcome bit of rain accelerates the whole process and suddenly it feels like a race as green explodes into spring.

 Sigh, closed back in at school, my mind slips outside, even when I can not.

February & March

I work at a school, and I've gotta tell you I was pretty happy to have a snow day last week! I'm even happier this week is school vacation! (ok so I started this post in February... bear with me)

Matter of fact, I have the place to myself this week - my kids had their break this past week. It was a bummer we couldn't do much together though... I did take one day off to take my daughter to her State Championship ski meet, and the following day was my snow day. Then 3 days of work ..... and vacation! Not bad huh?

NH Middle School Girls State Championship Race
Center Sandwich, NH

The ski meet was a blast. We are fortunate to have a fantastic coach and other kids and families that are good fun to spend the day with. Between the whole group, there was a pretty decent set up, tent with walls to protect from wind, a heater, a small campfire, a small grill, Coleman stove to heat up hot chocolate & chili - a feast for sure. Smiles, jokes, hard working kids, cheering every one on. It's great.

It has been an odd winter in NH, not much snow, oddly warm days with some winter mixed in. Last Friday to Sunday was quite cold, single digits during the day with a stiff breeze - brrr. Monday was decent and Tuesday afternoon rain and 50 degrees???

Bretton Woods - Mount Washington in the background
can you make out the observatory on top?

 Several meets were held in The White Mountain region, luckily there was more snow farther north.

BKL Festival at Great Glen Trails
getting an autograph from Nordic Skiing Legend
Bill Koch

great weekend at the
Bill Koch League Festival

surrounded by views that are good for your soul
BKL Festival
Great Glen Trails
Gorham, NH

The ski season came to a close, we celebrated and had team awards with pizza and ice cream. Gear was almost put away and after some 70 degree weather on April 1st (seriously, no joke) April 4th gave us a few inches of snow! Just enough for the kid to spend a little more time on skis! The 4th would have been my dad's birthday, I think he wanted to send a present to his Grand daughter, what do you think?

Wordless Wednesday

photo credit LHN

Loud Snack / Firewood Delivery

At about 3 am Saturday the 19th I arose quickly to the sound of an impromptu firewood delivery for us and fresh leaves snack delivery for the goats! My husband and I hustled around quickly to disconnect the electricity and be sure everyone was okay - thankfully all six were fine, frightened, but fine. It didn't take them long to acclimate and go to work clearing away the leaves  blocking their doorway. In the light of day this is what it looked like...

 I can't tell you how grateful we are to have such good neighbors who came right over with a saw bigger than our and some heavy equipment that lifted the log right off the roof.

 Next my husband and son set to work jacking the roof back up bit by bit. Hard to believe only one rafter broke! The tin isn't as pretty any more, but for the most part looks as if it will be functional.

One of my dedicated workers, pitches in with all sorts of goat activities (getting hay, moving fence, trimming feet, whatever I ask for help with).


By this evening everything was shored up safely and we moved fence around to let them back inside. Plenty more to do, but we will get there.

Fair Time!

 As summer winds down, fair season cranks up. This here is my boy, with a little pullin' tractor he built himself from the ground up. He is a talented kid, and I'm quite proud of him.

What better place to be on a fine summer day, out with the family, taking in the sights, and running across lots of people you know.