Memorial Day is here!

It was a good time, as always, at the Gilford Mountain House!  A bit of hiking, a bit of relaxing...

 

And lots of looking forward to BIKE WEEK!!

Finally....the snow has melted!!

And it is about time....For the past few weeks, I have been thinking, "We will never see the grass again!"  And then, lo and behold, we have grass! And flowers, and new growth on the trees....
Can summer be far behind?!

The BogMen Cometh....

The 5th Annual Pond Hockey Classic was held this past weekend on frozen Meredith Bay in Lake Winnepesaukee.  Our friends participated in the "Legends" class (otherwise known as 50+...but I think we all agree that Legends is preferred) and had a blast.  It was quite a sight, and one I recommend everyone does at least once.  Or maybe, every year.  Great food, great friends - old and new - and of course, pond hockey!  Great skills were on display, and great players were all around.  I can't wait to cheer them on again next winter.

The BogMen will return!!

Happy New Year!

Everyone who loves snow is happy today!  A very Happy and Healthy New Year to everyone!
(And thanks to Michele for this great photo!!)

November's first snow!

What a lovely surprise, the first snow of the season!  But I am getting ahead of myself....

We started the weekend at the Shaker Village in Canterbury.  Delightful setting, a wonderful gift shop, a very peaceful way of life. We got a bit of holiday shopping done, and it was nice to buy gifts that were hand made, by people who care about what they make, and have complete artistic control over what they sell.  Nice to not have to always accept mass production.

Then, after sitting in the car for a while, activity seemed to be the order of the day, so we went for the next mountain in the Belknap chain....this time, Gunstock.  ( I think there are seven more..?) So up we went.  Very different, seeing the mountain without snow.  But the views were just as beautiful.  And the girls enjoyed it, as always.

And then, this morning......

Welcome to winter.  The Farmer's Almanac says there is plenty more where this came from!! Hope you have your shovels and skis ready.

It's Halloween! It's Halloween!

And what better way to spend it than going through Morbid Mountain with a bunch a scaredy-cats.  And I speak of the other customers, not MY family.  You see, we come from a well established line of haunted house staff members.  So it takes a lot to scare us.
But is was cold.
And it was dark.
And there were a lot of creepy things in the woods.

Lots.

But we made it out, and will return next year.  Good job Gunstock Mountain!
BOO!

Take a look at these faces...wouldn't you feel safe walking with them in a haunted house?

Columbus Day goes out with a ...peel out?

It is not the size of the wheels, it is the technique and determination of the driver.  At least that is the story I will stick to when asked. 

A birthday outing for our friends turned into one of the best afternoons I have had so far in Winnipesaukee!  After a rideabout with the Motivator (who was relaxing this afternoon - it was, after all, a holiday), we were searching for a place to eat lunch.  After searching thru three towns, one Harley Davidson dealer, and a few stores along the way, we saw it....  The Broken Spoke!
Now, I have seen the Broken Spoke many times.  I thought it was a summer attraction, and it never entered my line of sight that it served food and beverages.  So, when our friends said, "The Broken Spoke looks like our kind of place", I thought that had given up the intent of eating. 
We entered the parking lot to be greeted by a handful of folks who told us that "you girls need an escort to enter today!"  Yeah, no.  In we went, unescorted.
What ensued was a fabulously fun afternoon of being entertained by a staff that knew they were closing up for the season, and a manager I can not wait to meet again! Professional in every way, and I just want to tell those owners, Keep that guy!!  He is good for your business!
Now comes time to leave.  Just before we exit, a Harley leaves in the way Harleys are wont to leave. Of course, everyone on the back porch (including our wannabe escort) is cheering and clapping the dust and rubber smoke.  We are walking out, and....yes, before I know it, my friends are telling me that a Hyundai can indeed burn rubber, and I am receiving instruction from a girl who really does own a Harley.  She has done this many times before, I can guess, but I am equally sure this will be a disappointment to her Harley sensibilities.  But I will give it a try. And I do.  In front of a lot of people I am grateful I will not see again until May.  Except the Motivator.  And my friends.  Who, I hear, had a fabulous birthday.  Come on back girls.
  Let's make Columbus Day weekend the "We are here to close down the Spoke" weekend!

Oh, and I built a firepit too.  Before the whole Spoke thing.

 And we went to the Barrel Tasting Weekend before that!  I love autumn!!