Tag Archives: Barnstead

“Sawyer’s Holiday Open House”, Barnstead, New Hampshire, 2023.

Leave a reply

by Anura Guruge
on November 24, 2023

Follow Anura Guruge on WordPress.com

Click image to ENLARGE.

Going to this always delightful, ‘Holiday Open House‘, just 1.8 miles from our place, is now an entrenched & beloved, ANNUAL Thanksgiving Tradition for us. It is hosted by a real lovely family that we have come to know over the years. This was probably the 10th or 11th year that we have gone to this Open House. Check here for the pictures from 2022. We obviously didn’t go in 2021 because of COVID.

Last year, because of other commitments we couldn’t get there till the Sunday. It was nearly empty by then. This year the ‘girls’ were determined to get there as early as possible — taking into account that one of them doesn’t move that quickly early in the morning. They set 9:30 as departure time & we made it. Even then, getting there within 40 minutes of them opening, it was BUSY. But, they had fun. They, as always, bought stuff.

I just go to take pictures — & then walk back. Nice walk & today was a gorgeous, not-too-cold day.

A Sea Of Purple ‘Loosestrife’ On The Southside Of ‘Locke Lake’, ‘Barnstead’, New Hampshire.

Leave a reply

by Anura Guruge
on August 21, 2023

Click to ENLARGE & read here. Wikipedia link.

Maine has ‘Lupines‘, we, especially this year, have this purple ‘Loosestrife‘. We have Lupines too, but right now we are awash, especially around where I live, in this Loosestrife.

From what I gather they are both invasive.

I have seen Loosestrife for as long as I can remember. BUT, I have never seen it in the profusion I am seeing it this year — especially around ‘Locke Lake‘. The southend of the lake, as you can see from the above pictures, is a carpet of purple. VERY PRETTY. I like it, but, I also realize that this is ‘not right‘.

I have started to monitor the growth/spread.

“Sawyer’s Holiday Open House”, Barnstead, New Hampshire, 2022.

Leave a reply

by Anura Guruge
on November 27, 2022

Follow Anura Guruge on WordPress.com

Click image to ENLARGE.

Going to this always delightful, ‘Holiday Open House’, hosted by a real lovely family, has been a firm ‘Thanksgiving’ tradition with us for the last nine or ten years. Once we discovered it, we have been going, faithfully & with glee, every year bar the absence forced by COVID-19. They, however, have been holding this multi-vendor Open House for longer. This, bar COVID, was probably their 18th, if not 19th. IF it was the 20th I am sure we would have seen some signage. I bet, the BIG 20 is next year.

Not far from our house, about 1.8-miles (I think). I walked back & gotting in all my steps for the day in the process.

We typically go around lunchtime ‘Black Friday’. We couldn’t this year. We had other commitments both Friday & Saturday. This morning, i.e., Sunday, was the only time we could make it. As we had feared most of the stuff had already been sold. That was what we had expected. On the other hand, it wasn’t mobbed either. I heard that it was packed all day yesterday. So, there was that. We could take our time slowly wending through the rooms (all with exquisite pastoral views).

It was, as always, good & rewarding. We bought a few things. SMILE. Now looking forward to next year.

A Tableau Of New Hampshire Flora — July 30, 2021.

Leave a reply

by Anura Guruge
on July 30, 2021

Follow Anura Guruge on WordPress.com

Click to ENLARGE.

Unlike yesterday I didn’t go to Concord or for that matter anywhere that involved getting into a vehicle. So, all of these pictures were taken during my morning’s 5-mile walk — in Alton & Barnstead (New Hampshire). I live on the border. I am into Barnstead within 0.6-miles of home. Today, we walked around ‘Locke Lake‘ in Barnstead after we cout across our lake, ‘Halfmoon‘ (in Alton). Also, unlike yesterday, I am including flora rather than restricting myself just to flowers. Hope that is ‘OK’ with you. Enjoy.

Follow Anura Guruge on WordPress.com

When Local Media Try To Sensationalize A Story By Disingenuously Adding ‘Mystery’ To The Title.

Leave a reply

by Anura Guruge
on July 2, 2021

Click image to access the ‘WMUR TV‘ coverage.
Click image to ENLARGE. Google Image search for ‘New England freshwater crayfish’.

Kind of cute. Making it out that nobody knows what this thing is. Sure looks like a crayfish to me. Not a mystery at all. Just something awaiting confirmation.

This happened real close to us — during the storm I posted about yesterday.

They mention two lakes as the possible source of this ‘creature’, viz. Locke Lake & Halfmoon Lake. The latter is our lake. I have spent a lot of time on that lake, albeit never diving it per se. I have never seen any crayfish. That is not to say that there couldn’t be any in that lake. It is of fairly decent size.

It is just the ‘mystery animal’ part in the title that tickled me. I first assumed that this was going to be an unknown species of animal. Not just another common or garden variety crayfish.

That is local media for YOU. Smile. They have to get the clicks — by hook or by crook.