summer – Page 2 – New England's Narrow Road

Blackberry Brambles Are a Real Pain

flowering blackberry bush — Battling the Blackberries

Pretty little white flowers mean blackberries will be growing soon. I hate them.
Blackberry bushes, or blackberry brambles, cover the sloping area of my backyard and I spent most of last Fall pruning and pulling them up to make room for my garden. My backyard is tiny and they are the last think I need causing me trouble, but they aren’t easy to get rid of with their very thorny stems. They can easily take over with runners underground and as they grow throughout the summer their tall, spiky branches hang over my tomatoes and other crops.

I don’t like the plants and I don’t like the berries. The only seed-filled berries I like are raspberries and I can stomach the black raspberries, but not these (yes, they are different). I have bunches of raspberry plants too, and I wish they produced more berries, but I don’t think they get enough sun. Someone must have planted them years ago and now they are stuck back in the shade.

I don’t like the taste or the looks of the blackberry plant. I guess I should pick whatever the chipmunks don’t eat and give them away -once they have fruit. Then I’ll get out my clippers and chop them down as they stick me with their thorns…ugh.

Blackberry Pruning – How to Trim Blackberry Bushes (johnspagarden.wordpress.com)
Berry Recipes – Strawberries, Raspberries & More! (berries.com)
A Guide to Growing Your Own Berries! (berries.com)

Summer at The Lakes In New Hampshire

With only a few short months to swim, boat, vacation and enjoy the warmth up here in New Hampshire, the lakeside communities get filled up and busy quickly.
The photo below was taken a few years ago near the docks in Meredith on Lake Winnipesaukee. (Aerial view to the right.)
My “New England” blog is suppose to have photos of this area of the country, but I have been remiss in providing them. I’ve become caught up in moving and home improvements and haven’t ventured out anywhere.
So the photo is old, but I’ll bet that the Lakes Region will be jumping soon if it’s not already.
When my son comes to visit this summer, I want to take him out on the MS Mount Washington – the boat that cruises the big Lake Winni.
I hope to begin living like normal people this year and actually take a break and much needed vacation time for myself. Then I will have some New England photos to share here.

My Trip to Holderness and The Manor on Golden Pond (newenglandsnarrowroad.wordpress.com)
Lake Winnipesaukee Has Earliest ‘Ice-Out’ Ever (boston.cbslocal.com)
Mother’s Day Cruise Kicks off M/S Mount Washington’s 140th Cruise Season (thetipsheet.typepad.com)
Family Friendly Day Trip to Ruggles Mine in New Hampshire (newenglandsnarrowroad.wordpress.com)

A Trip to Boston

My two sons who live out of town came to visit me this summer and while they were here they went to Boston with their sister and her boyfriend to see a Red Sox / Rangers game at Fenway. They all love baseball (well, my daughter not so much), but they love the city too and had a great time – and sunny, warm weather for the short trip. My son took a ton of photos during the game and I think that this one is a pretty good shot showing the “green monster”.

statue at the cigar store — Nick and friend

How nice that Nick found a cigar smoking buddy.

My son, Nick, is a firefighter in Florida so he had to snap this shot of the Boston fire department’s truck running a call. He also took a photo of one of the fire hydrants and a wall hydrant. Funny.

Of course they had to visit “Cheers” and they all drank water I guess!

They had a blast even if it was only for a couple of days. The weather was great and I got a break from all their bickering! Ha ha!

Meredith New Hampshire Classic Boat Show

My brother-in-law just bought a place in Meredith so my kids and I drove up to check it out. We chose Saturday because the weather was suppose to be nice – and it was. We haven’t had too many nice summery days this season, so when there is sun…everyone wants a part of it!

We walked (thankfully) down to the docks in downtown Meredith which is at the north end of the big lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. There was a bit of a crowd and the traffic never let up!

The boats were interesting and we took some shots.

The boats and jet ski’s came and went as everyone was enjoying the heck out of the day.

I thought that this one with the blue trim looked nice. They all mostly seemed to be built in the early to mid 1900’s and each had a paper with stats and some history.