Message from the Mountain

Music is very important in our family life and always has been. Regardless of your religion, music plays a major part in the holidays as well as all aspects of life. It can calm your soul and ignite …

The male cardinal appeared to be enjoying his food as he looked in the window. At the same time, he was providing a feast of gratitude for us for his choosing our feeder. There are many feasts for ou…

The woodpeckers love the log suet holder. It was fascinating to watch through a hole and see a bird pecking away on the other side. It reminded me that there are two ways to view life, from the outsi…

The nights are now at the darkest of the entire year and we place festive lights in the windows. They not only cheer up the night but greet us in the morning. Our goal is to brighten our days and tha…

Now that the snow has covered the landscape and, especially, the mountains across the valley, the morning pink alpine glows are brilliant, Add to that the glow of people enjoying the holiday season, …

Today, December first, we turn the calendar page to four months of fun or four months of dread, depending on your expectations of snow. It is an individual choice, as it is every day, on how one view…

Winter arrived and spread over nine inches of snow on the foothills. It is now time to be mindful of every step we take as we go about our daily routines - in the same way that we are mindful of spre…

As the first big snowstorm loomed on the horizon there were still some last-minute things to do before it arrived. Our son set some new bird house poles in the orchard. Mindfulness in life helps us a…

Forty years ago this Thanksgiving we were in New York City to watch our son Brian march with 99 other high school musicians in the McDonald’s All-American Band. Music still plays a special role in hi…

In this country a turkey is usually the main attraction for a Thanksgiving feast. The other day we hosted thirty wild turkeys for a feast on our front lawn. When people invite others to share a meal,…

The tall oak stands alone against the November sky, ready to bear the brunt of the harsh winds of winter. I admire people who have positive beliefs who stand alone against a flow of negativity. They …

We used to decorate a small spruce tree in the orchard and put wrapped packages in the old wagon near it to celebrate the holidays. Time has moved on, and the tree is too big now. We still celebrate,…

There is an old legend here in the valley: When Mount Chocorua has its first snow, we will be covered with it within two weeks. We live in a world of predictions; some we fear and some we look forwar…

Ever since my childhood days I have loved the sound of rain on the roof. The latest sound of rain is particularly welcome as we have been in a drought for almost three months. It is nourishing my min…

Some of the hiking trails had become a little hard to follow with new undergrowth where cutting had taken place, so my wife bought and placed new metal arrows for visitors to confirm they were on the…

I am amazed how woodpeckers know that what seems to me a perfectly healthy tree is being eaten away on the inside by ants. The woodpeckers drill large holes in it to get at them. Negative thoughts ca…

At first glance the November landscape here in the mountains appears to be very barren. If we look closer there is still much to focus on. Life can appear the same way if we don’t pay attention to al…

The fairies must be enjoying their new sanctuary at the base of the old pine tree. I recently discovered that they had invited several deer into their safety zone. Whoever assists them brings a smile…

We find a lot of enjoyment in sharing our special piece of NH landscape with hikers and skiers. We have four ski trails maintained by the Granite Back County Alliance. Actually, everyone has somethin…

There is a tiny tree, only a few inches tall, that I am told was a giant that nature shrunk over time but still flourishes on the mountain side. People play different roles in the journey of their So…