walking – Page 2 – New England's Narrow Road

My Thoughts on Trees and How They’ve Changed

tree branches in winter — Leafless Tree in Winter

I’ve always loved trees. They are just so amazing in many ways. But now that I live in a place where I have to burn firewood in winter, I look at trees differently. I look at a tree like the one pictured and think, “would that be great firewood or what?” Actually, I don’t know what type of tree this is, but probably it would be great firewood. If I had to guess, I’d say oak.
Without leaves, I have trouble telling an oak from a maple. The beech, with it’s smooth bark, and the birch with it’s white, are no-brainers, but the rest of them leave me baffled.
I don’t know how people go out and hook up their maple syrup collecting apparatus in Spring – and can figure out which trees are the maples.
Being a Florida transplant (even though I grew up in the northeast) I have to learn the tree types that grow around me. I have an acre of land now and out back I have a forest, with some trees that are dead or dying and when I have them cut down, I’ll use them to heat my house.
Trees are beautiful, but they were meant to be used and I don’t feel bad cutting down a tree to serve a purpose. It’s helpful to thin the forest and allow other trees to grow larger too. Then again, some trees are too beautiful to cut down.

♦The Chore of Stacking Firewood
♦Make Birds Happy With Homemade Suet

How to Remove a Tree (answers.com)
Halkias: A tale of two maples (vtdigger.org)

This is a Beautiful Week for Enjoying The New Hampshire Outdoors

View from Pitcher Mountain

Here in New Hampshire we are having a gorgeous weather week with temps in the 80’s and 50’s (at night). With sunshine and low humidity, who could ask for more?

It’s a great week to get outside and hike, kayak, swim (take the dog) and pick local berries.

I am planning a trip to my favorite little mountain this week to see what I’ll find for blueberries. Pitcher Mountain is easy to climb and has fabulous panoramic views from the top. This time of year the place is loaded with blueberries – I just hope they are blue by now.

Roxy In the lake — Roxie wades in the lake to cool off

It is not necessary to get into the car and travel on a nice day. Sunny, warm days are perfect for walks and I currently live near a lake in a rural area. My landlady lets me take her dog Roxie with me, and we have loads of fun getting exercise together. On our way home I let Roxie take a dip, and she loves the water.

If we decide to go hiking, we have Mount Monadnock and Pack Monadnock (smaller) close by in the towns of Jaffrey and Peterborough in the southern area of the state. And if my son was younger we’d take another ride up to Ruggles Mine in Grafton. That is a cool place to visit and collect rocks.

Early Morning Walk

I love where I live in New Hampshire. I have always been a “country girl” and if I can’t live in the mountains, then I’ll settle for living in the hills.

morning sun on hills — Morning in the Hills

This is one of my favorite views when I take my walks. I captured this photo in the early morning light. It always makes me think of Psalm 121 verse 1:
I lift my eyes up to the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the maker of heaven and earth.

On the left, in the picture above, you’ll see the tree I call the “slingshot tree”. And in the grassy area straight ahead used to stand the little red “house” in the photo below.
One day I noticed it was gone. I have no idea what it was. Maybe just a shed. The land seems to belong to the old man who lives across the street from the field.

Little house-misty field — The Little Red House

My Rock By The Lake

All my life I’ve chosen “favorite spots” to go to when I need a break or to be rejuvenated. A place that is quiet and peaceful where I can take time to think or not think.
My latest spot is this rock by the lake. Except for the summer months, there is no one around when I go here and the view of the lake is perfect.
Once I sat here an watched a loon dive under the water and over and over only to surface in some surprise spot. They stay under water for quite a while, like little submarines.
Being outdoors keeps me sane and no matter what the season I greatly appreciate the fresh air, my ability to walk and see the glorious world around me.