We got out a few times in October, before the weather turned too cold. We saw some of our usual suspects: Common mergansers and mallards, loons, blackbirds and kingfishers, a hawk or two, a painted turtle and a beaver.
Loon. Kettle Pond 9/27/24
Common mergansers. Grafton Pond, 10/4/24 Common mergansers. Squam Lake 10/13/24Mallard flying. Ompompanoosuc River, 10/3/24Flock of mallards. Connecticut River 10/2/24Common loon. Grafton Pond, 10/4/24Common loon. Long Pond, 10/6/24Red winged blackbirds. Ompompanoosuc River, 10/3/24Kingfisher Connecticut River 10/2/24Hawk. Ompompanoosuc River, 10/3/24Young ring-billed gull. Grafton Pond, 10/4/24Beaver. Kettle Pond 9/27/24Painted turtle. Grafton Pond, 10/4/24
We also found a few interesting things: rocks that look like elephants, a large black ball with a handle, a log that looks like a wolf. The foliage turned colors and the leaves fell. The mornings were cold and the valley was full of fog.
Rock that looks like an elephant . Kettle Pond 9/27/24Connecticut River. 10/21/24The wolf log. Squam Lake 10/13/24Mt. Cardigan. Grafton Pond, 10/4/24Kettle Pond 9/27/24 Color on the point. Squam Lake 10/13/24 Long Pond, 10/6/24Paddle to Great Island. Squam Lake 10/13/24Sun thru the fog. Connecticut River 10/2/24Rowing in the fog. Connecticut River 10/2/24Jane in the fog. Connecticut River 10/2/24
Most of the birds have flown, and the kayaks have been put away for the winter. It was a good season.
I went to our family compound on Squam Lake for a week with my sisters and their families.
Nabil, Gene, Ruthe, Scott, and Jain on the porchJain Archie, Ruthe’s friend.On the porch with the Lymans and friendsNabil and Lisa looking for Ruthe’s glasses.Nabil Uri on the dock Lisa Scott working on the TreacleSunset
On Saturday, the Dave Himot family and Jen Bellows, Wyatt and Aysha arrived.
The younger generation playing cards ToesFloating on noodles Dave with beerDagwood in his carrierClouds building into thunder stormGeneJenn BellowsPhil and LisaDinner is served
The next day our cousin, Kate Bowden and family, and Jared Lenz and family came. The Lenz family hadn’t been to Squam for more than 10 years.
Jenna, Kate, RutheJennaSage, formerly known as LydiaDaveBodieAysiaSamSophieBodieEileeUriTaco nightNancy at the campfireSleeping in the dining room
When Uri flew east on Wednesday , he sat next to a person who coughed the entire flight. By Saturday evening he wasn’t feeling well, tested positive on a Covid test and went to bed. The boys who were supposed to sleep in his room, ended up sleeping on blow-up mattresses in the dining room. Bil took Uri back to White River Junction on Sunday
Starting the swim to Great IslandOn the way to Great IslandWe made itOn the way backJenn and Dagwood paddle a rescue canoeDave and JaredDave made it round trip!Hawk inspecting the swimmers
Each morning Kate lead a yoga session.
Yoga on the dockJennaJaredLoonBodie on the blow up loon.GenePhilRutheSimone, Nabil’s partnerSophieShoes by the door
We climbed Mt Rattlesnake one morning.
Sam and BodieOn the way upBodie and SamRuthe making it to the topNabil and SimoneBarb’s family: Jenn, Dagwood, Wyatt and AysiaBarb points out our house to Jenn HimotThe David Himot familyThe Lenz familyThe MaynardsWaiting for the last of our family.Ruthe made it!
Another fun activity was a “treasure hunt”. Teams competed against each other, solving clues that lead to the next clue.
Aysia, Wyatt and Kate work on a clueGo girls, one of the teamsAnother team: Dave, Sophia, Russ and TateOne of the cluesThe winners: Sage, Sam, Lisa, Phil and Bodie
Renny celebrated his 80th birthday.
Singing “Happy Birthday”The birthday cardRenny with his new sweatshirt
We made tie dye shirts and wore them for a group picture the next day.
Working on the shirtsOne technique was to crumple the shirt in a plastic bag and squirt dye on it.Sadie rinsing out the excess dyeThe group in their shirts.
Flotilla for a trip around Great IslandNabilJuniperJuniper and IsaacPhil working on the gutter.Around Great IslandSundewPainted turtlesRing-billed gullGreat blue heronDragonfly
The Bowden sistersThe Burnham Bowdens came to visitThe sistersPhil, Juniper and Isaac in a canoeSusan and Rebecca at Great IslandBarb practicing towing other kayaksRebecca and SusanJennifer serving supperIsaacDamsel flyCommon mergansersCommon merganser familyDragon flySpiderWild RoseWater lily
July 14-15
The guysThe galsThe sistersBarb around Great IslandRebecca eating blueberriesRebecca around Great IslandOur friendly North American water snakeSnake hiding
I spent the week at Squam Lake with my family. My sons, Uriah and Nabil, along with Uri’s girlfriend, Anne, flew in from Portland, OR.
Monday morning I woke up to a scarlet sun shining in my window. I ran down to the dock, not even stopping to put my glasses on, to take some pictures.
Smoky sunrise. Squam Lake 7/26/21
That whole day, was smoky from wild fires in the West. Nabil and I went kayaking around Great Island and could hardly see the mountains.
Nabil kayaking through the haze. Squam Lake 7/26/21
Anne and her friend, Ingrid, in a canoe.
We sat on the dock, swam and kayaked,
Uri
Nabil on the dock.
Uri and Anne
and slept.
Sleeping beauties. Anne and Uri.
On Tuesday evening, my sisters started to arrive: Jain and Renny from Colorado, Ruthe from Arizona and Barb and Gene from Newfoundland.
Sisters. Ruthe, Barb, Jain, Nancy. 7/31/21
We had a good time catching up (we hadn’t seen Barb and Gene for two years because of COVID).
After dinner.
Barb, Anne and I went kayaking and saw stuff including blueberries.
Button bush 7/26/21
Great blue heron overhead. Squam Lake 7/26/21
Barb picking blueberries. 7/26/21
Anne and Barb kayaking. 7/26/21
Dragonfly. Squam Lake 7/26/21
Ring-billed gull. Squam Lake 7/26/21
Spotted sandpiper. Squam Lake, 7/26/21
Common loon. Squam Lake, 7/31/21
We also climbed Mt. Rattlesnake, which has the best views for the amount of effort.
Anne, Nabil, Nancy and Barb on Mt. Rattlesnake. 7/30/21
Anne had wanted to go sailing and waterskiing sometime over the week. She and Renny tried to get the Sunfishes ready to go, but Renny forgot he was over 70 and overestimated his strength and pulled a muscle, so Anne had to wait until Barb showed up to help teach her. By the time the Sunfishes were ready, the wind had picked up to the point that only the most experienced sailers would be able to handle it, so they didn’t go.
Rigging the Sunfish
Jennifer Bellows arrived Friday night during an all point picnic with our cousins the Ingrams and the Smiths. The next morning, Anne got her chance at waterskiing before the wind came up.
