Maybe it's the snow flakes coming down, but I suddenly began to reminisce about this hot springs in Safford, Arizona, where I went two years ago. Not only was there thick slime in the goldfish pond, but the cement baths that held the springs had roaches running around them.
The gift shop proffered up painted goddess cards by the owner's sister and we were offered the choice between a tiny, windowless cabin, or an ancient tipi to sleep in.
For 35 bucks a night, which included as much tub as you wanted ("where nature's waters bless and caress"), in the middle of nowhere in southern Arizona, we chose the tipi. Needless to say, it was a great time.


The Roman Themed Tub (no roaches)


(Not as big as it looks)

Kids

White Mountain Waldorf School Ribbon Cutting

What the hell is Homologation?

You might ask. Frankly, I'm still not sure, though I did just walk a homologated cross country ski course this morning with other media sorts and Jackson Ski Touring Center board members.

"Let's make an alpine ski analogy," says Amy "Gunn" Patinaude, a master ski racer and winner of Jackson's last 30 K marathon she'll have you know. "Cross country skiing on the old course is like glade skiing. It's an art, it's a sport. Now, these trails are like a slalom course. You need to fine tune your athletic ability, because there isn't anything in the way anymore."



The course has basically been landscaped to ski like a Nascar track. The turns are banked and elevated, the trails widened and evened out.


"It's a 17,520 foot long earth sculpture," says president Tom Perkins proudly.




Jackson, NH

I just thought it was a nice walk in the woods.

North Country Fair Jewelry

Brian Smith was one of the original North Conway, NH, hippies. Or so says one of my neighbors. For a recent article I did about his 40-year-old jewelry business, he took a framed photo of himself off the wall, in part of the shop called "weeds for your needs."
Here, his daughter and talented business partner Emily, shows off her hand crafted charm necklace.

Three Feet Low

The month-long work on the causeway culvert on Mill Street had Conway Lake drained three feet lower than normal.



I called the guy in charge of the dam.
"The paper already covered this," he said.
"What's the history of the dam?" I asked.
"Ask the town."
"But what exactly do you do, when you drain the lake?"
"What? You just open the dam."






I didn't get around to calling the town. Just took photos and saw a lot of oil slick, presumably from years of motor boats, on the sand.
So I don't know anything more about the lake being three feet lower. Environmental problems? Fish dying? Sailboats stranded? Anyone?

Chill Chaser at Project Warm

"I call this the chill chaser," says Sally Chapel,
modeling the hooded cloak for the entire Project Warm committee meeting, in Bridgeton, Maine.
"I made it from some old skirts from high school. You know, these pleats aren't in style anymore."
The crowd murmurs appreciatively.
"It's an old boy scout trick," adds Sally happily. "You have to keep your head warm."

Anna

Quite the work weekend recently--my uncles and their friends making repairs on the old stomping grounds. Everyone was stacking firewood, or building cellar stairs, or off to buy plywood. Anna wasn't terribly impressed.
"Let's go to the graveyard," she said. "And we'll visit the woody woodchuck hole."
So we did.
And then came back to collect acorns.

My sister comes to visit

My sis in Oaxaca
and
Her bird stencil at her house in Montreal

Palin in NH

If you're around Salem, NH,tomorrow, Wednesday, October 15th,
or you're so dedicated to Sarah Palin that you're willing to travel, Palin will be gracing Salem High School.

From Channel Eight News

"Superintendent Michael Delahunty said he expects a crowd of between 5,000 and 8,000 people for the early evening event.

Delahunty said the only comparable event the school has seen is a regional marching band competition that draws about 4,500 people."

Early bird gets the worm.

Kettle Corn

Butcher Day

Last Sunday I helped my dad load up the borrowed trailer with his ten pigs. It was a beautiful day, bright sun. The pigs thought something suspicious was going on, but luckily were more interested in the wet mushy grain that we scattered up the ramp. My dad came behind them with a board, pushing them slowly. He's been getting more and more into animal husbandry over the last 5 years, but this is his least favorite part.
"The pigs are being murdered as we speak," Dad announced the next day at breakfast.
"Butchered honey, they're being butchered," Ruth corrected him.
I guess it's a matter of perspective.

Katie in the summer

Photos by Aaron Lakoff

Inside the Gates

More shots of the Fair

Lawns turned into parking lots

Thanksgiving Dinner on a sandwich

Of the many Fryeburg Fair food options, turkey dinners seemed to be the only non-fried item, aside from pizza. Here, a man carves up a boiled turkey. Sure beats the fried bologna burger.