It's National Grandparents Day!

Did she have a rogue Scottish accent?  I'd like to think so!

This is my Great-Grandmother Mackenzie!  I had the opportunity to know all of my immediate grandparents, but unfortunately none of my great-grandparents.  So often, we don't ask important questions when we're younger....Where were my great-grandparents from?  What were they like?  Where are they buried?  

Over the past several years I have managed to obtain death certificates for all of my great-grandparents except one; thus allowing me to find the cemeteries where these important family members are buried.  Sadly, one of my paternal great-grandfathers is in an unmarked grave and the cemetery records were destroyed in a fire many years ago.  My maternal great-grandparents from Scotland are in two different cemeteries and one of them, rumored to have tuberculosis, didn't even have a headstone.  Ironically, he was a stone-cutter.  I have since had a head-stone made for him and planted a mum there just last week.  My paternal great-grandparents from Norway have beautifully carved marble headstones and rest side-by-side as do my maternal great-grandparents from Germany.

It's Lumina that I can't find.  She's my French-Canadian paternal great-grandmother who's trail disappears in Rhode Island.  Did she go back to Canada?  Perhaps she re-married and took another name.  

I simply love the name Lumina!  It conjures up an image of an amazing woman; one who lives life to the fullest.  Meaning radiating or reflecting light; I can only hope that these rays of light guide me to her one day.  

If you have the opportunity to speak to your grandparents or great-grandparents, call them today and say hello.  Tell them you love them and ask family questions that only they can answer.

Happy National Grandparents Day!

I entered my Bread & Butter Pickles in the Grange Fair!

Many years ago, my family entered several items in our local Grange Fair. 

The End of Summer

Nothing signifies the end of summer like the long car ride home after a wonderful vacation!

A sweet Crab Apple and Chili Jelly recipe for you to enjoy!

The crab apples are ready for picking!

It's that time of year again.  There's a cool breeze that seems to be whispering "Fall is coming".  Leaves trickle to the ground one at a time; a prelude to the deluge we'll witness (here in New England) in October.  If you're lucky enough to have a crab apple tree, you can take advantage of the reappearance of these tiny red fruit.  Grab a basket and pick the crab apples!  You'll need three cups for this Crab Apple and Chili recipe. 

Plan a trip up Mount Washington on the Cog Railway!

cog

¹ [kog, kawg] noun

1.  (not in technical use) a gear tooth, formerly especially one of hardwood or metal, fitted into a slot in a gearwheel of less durable material.

2.  a cogwheel. 

I have always wanted to ride the Cog Railway on Mount Washington.  Several people tried to talk me out of it by saying, "That train looks like it will fall off the mountain."  I'll admit, it does look like it might fall off the mountain but I took that fateful train ride and guess what?  I'm still here to write about it.

The Mount Washington cog is the only cog railroad East of the Rockies.  It's a thrilling, yet educational trip that you will never forget.  In operation for over one-hundred and forty years, the cog was designated a National Historic Engineering Landmark in 1976. 

I took my ride on my birthday last October.  You may want to make your journey this summer before the kids go back to school.  I would recommend reservations; as it's popularity is understandable.

I specifically wanted to ride on the steam train which is the first train up the mountain in the morning.  The sun was still on it's way up when we arrived at the train station.

The engine "pushes" the passenger car up the mountain.

A complicated feat of engineering?  Not really.  Pure genius. 

I was determined to be first in line.  After all, it was my birthday!

A daunting look at the track taking us to new heights.

The ceiling of the passenger car was beautifully crafted.

Here we go....

The scenery quickly began to change.

 Notice how the pieces are numbered.

The terrain continues to change.

The sun was finally beginning to reach our side of the mountain.

The building in this photo is the halfway point on the Cog.

Precarious?  Not at all!

Simply beautiful.

Where do old railway parts go?

The Appalachian Trail reaches the Cog track shortly before reaching the top of the mountain.

Almost there!

The excitement was building as our trip was nearing the end.

The wind shifted and the steam was blowing along side the train.

There happened to be a weather inversion that day; it was warmer at the top of the mountain than it was at the bottom.

This way to the infamous Tuckerman RavineTrail.

The sign says it all.

Standing on top of the world!

The United States Geological Survey allows scientists to study the landscape of the United States.

A window to the past tucked in an early shelter.

Awe inspiring.

The absolutely incredible view.

You can see the chains that anchor this building to the ground.

An up close look at the cog mechanism.

The next train on it's way up.

The day is in full swing.  We pass yet another train full of passengers.

Back on solid ground!  A wonderful experience.

Happy summer!

Solstice:  noun

1.  Astronomy

     a.  either of the two times a year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator; 

     about June 21, when the sun reaches its northernmost point on the celestial sphere, or about 

     December 22, when it reaches its southernmost point.

     b.  either of the two points in the ecliptic farthest from the equator.

2.  a furthest or culminating point; a turning point.

 

 

  

 Happy Summer!

Do you have a Bleeding Heart in your shade garden?

The Bleeding Heart is one of my favorite perennial flowers.  A member of the Papaveraceae family, this delicate old-fashioned flower is an absolute must for your shade garden!

I find Bleeding Hearts to be quite hardy in a rather cold climate.  Not sure if one that I planted last year would return after such a cold winter, I bought another to replace it with.  Sure enough, last year's plant began to emerge from the cold brown soil in mid May!  The plants will grow to be fairly large if treated properly.  They do seem to like moist soil but it should drain well.  Don't plant them in direct sunlight as they thrive in the shade.

Often sharing space in the garden with mossy stepping stones and shade loving Hosta, the bleeding heart comes in many varieties and colors.  Once the blooms have gone by and the stalks turn yellow and dry, I cut the old stalks off before the heat of the summer.  Don't worry, this beautiful  flower of old will greet you again next Spring!

This red bleeding heart seems a bit more dainty than my pink one and is blooming a bit later.

The taller bleeding heart is a nice compliment to the shorter mound of hosta.

We love the pretty pink flower accented with white and a touch of yellow!  Beautiful.

White is pure and simple. 

It "glows" in the shadows of the sun.

Of course they look wonderful when loosely arranged with other garden flowers!

Visit your local garden center today.  It's not too late to find one of these gorgeous perennials.  If you happen to find one that has gone by and is marked down, good for you!  Buy it and bring it home.  Plant it as soon as possible and wait for all of the stalks to turn yellow, then trim.  You may have missed the glory of this year's blooms, but next Spring is sure to bring more!