Hillside Village is now Covenant Living of Keene! Over the course of our 130 year history, Covenant Living has grown to serve 5,500 residents in 19 communities across 10 states. We are one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit senior living organizations, and with a strong fiscal foundation, an excellent retirement choice. We’re proud to be in Keene and we’re committed to offering seniors a future filled with promise by providing happier, healthier engaged living surrounded by friendship, purpose and security.
Learn more about us, schedule a visit or request a copy of our financial report by calling 1-877-285-6631 or visiting CovLivingKeene.org/Stability
Not only is it a great place to live, but it’s a great place to work!
Covenant Living of Keene is NOW HIRING:
• LNAs • RNs • LPNs
• Receptionist
• Dietary Aides
• Housekeepers
• Laundry Aides
• Wait Staff
• Cooks • Dishwashers
• Security Guards
TO APPLY:
TEXT: mycareers to 52345
95 Wyman Road | Keene, NH 03431
VISIT: CovLivingKeene.org/Careers
SCAN: the QR code
Ask me what I’m plotting and planning this winter and I may point to the walls that need painting in the kitchen, foyer and upstairs hallway.
Or I may tell you about my scheme to renovate my downstairs bathroom with a new walk-in shower, new black and white tiles, and a new floor plan.
Let’s grab a cup of tea at my kitchen counter and I may just crack open some seed catalogs and show you the heirloom tomatoes I have in mind for my garden this spring (enough to keep my freezer in sauce for the entire next winter), and the cold-hardy leeks I’m eying (to make leek potato soup). And the dark, leafy Tuscan kale I will plant in neat rows (again to harvest in the fall and freeze for the winter), and colorful heirloom rainbow beets that look so pretty and tempting.
But some days my planning and plotting wane like the bleak winter sun. And I think: Will I have all this energy to complete all my projects? Winter, especially when it drags on, has a way of taking the wind out of our sails. But then, just like that, spring arrives, and suddenly, I rise and shake off my passive planning and plotting, and get moving. After all, there’s lots to do.
Enjoy plotting and planning this winter. Spring is coming. Marcia
PUBLISHER Backporch
FOUNDER/EDITOR
CONTRIBUTORS
Rob Parisi
Sarah Sim
PROOFREADER
PHOTOGRAPHY
ADVERTISING
“In winter I plot and plan. In spring I move.”
Henry Rollins
***Please come see the new expansion of country and primitives antiques at Fairgrounds****
A favorite haunt for dealers and retail shoppers for more than 40 years, Fairgrounds Antiques is a group shop with more than 60 dealers. We’re never the same twice, so make it your destination.
It’s worth the trip!
249 Monadnock Highway Swanzey, New Hampshire OPEN 7 DAYS, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Find us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/FairgroundsAntiques Call (603) 352-4420
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons MOV Gravenstein Apple White Balsamic
1 ½ oz. of bourbon
1 cup of hot water
1 lemon wedge
1 NHHS cinnamon stick
Directions:
Add honey and Balsamic Vinegar into your mug
Add hot water and bourbon.
Squeeze lemon from lemon wedge
Stir with cinnamon stick until honey and balsamic are dissolved
For more delicious recipes visit monadnockoilandvinegar.com/recipes.html
By Patricia Herlevi Courtesy images
In the tradition of painters from the Northeast, pastel artist Carol Corliss captures the essence of the natural world. Her repertoire ranges from gardens and pets to landscapes and vintage trucks. In 2001, she discovered pastels, and her artistic career took off. She is a current member of the Pastel Society of New Hampshire and the Vermont Pastel Society. Corliss is a past treasurer of the Monadnock Area Artists Association and the Saxton River Art Guild; she also co-founded the River Valley Artisan Tour.
I knew I wanted to take painting lessons, and I took acrylic lessons to start. Then I saw the work of a local pastelist and liked it. She also worked in oils, but she told me that pastels were more forgiving than oils and definitely more than watercolor. For a beginner, I figured this was a good place to start, and I haven’t looked back. The vibrancy of the colors really drew me in, and once I started with pastels, I was hooked.
As a child or even a teen, I wasn’t exposed to much art. I certainly knew of Monet, Van Gogh, etc., but other than in a book, I never saw their work. There are so many talented local artists, and I like many styles. In 2003, I saw an oil painting in a gallery in Martha’s Vineyard, and it stuck with me. It was a large close-up of a flower. I was just amazed at the realism. I think this painting has always been in the back of my mind as a goal for the way I wanted to work. I have since done a series of large, close-up floral paintings.
Lighting is always important, but I just love painting local places that people recognize and have a connection with. I love wildlife. I’m always taking photos of the birds
and animals on our property and flowers wherever I go. I couldn’t ask for a better place to be with such a beautiful landscape and abundant wildlife.
When did you paint your first pet portrait?
My first pet portrait was of two cocker spaniels I had, Bagel and Bialy. I did this in a class in 2001 (my first pastel painting), and while it still hangs in my home, and I do love it, I like to think I’ve come a long way since then.
I noticed that you have painted mostly dogs and some cats. Has anyone requested a painting for an iguana or a parrot?
I’ve never painted a parrot, although it’s on my list of birds to paint because of its beautiful colors. I’ve painted bobcats, lions, llamas, and baby lynxes from photos that I took, along with birds and, of course, many landscape and still-life paintings.
Has anyone requested a painting of their pet during the animal’s last days or after their death?
I’ve been commissioned to do many portraits of a beloved pet that has gone. But most of my commissions have been for animals still with us, and they are a special, lasting way for them to remember them after they are gone. It’s truly a gift for them and me as well.
See more of Carol’s work online at carol-corliss.pixels.com.
Scott-Farrar at Peterborough has been providing compassionate care to seniors of the Monadnock Region for over 113 years! Some of the great benefits of living in the Scott-Farrar Community today include:
• Chef prepared meals
• Staff onsite 24/7
• Happy Hour, yoga, movie matinees, gardening & more
• Housekeeping & maintenance
• Medication & transportation assistance
• Individualized care plan
• Onsite physical, occupational and speech therapy services And much more!
Call us today 603-924-3691 to schedule a tour of Scott-Farrar at Peterborough.
CELL: 603-682-9472
GISELLE@GLASCALAHOMES
My journey with chili began with me believing for the first 15 years of my life that it was simply a topping. Twenty-five years later, it is a staple in my diet. To date, I have enjoyed over 25 varieties, including beef brisket, barbecue pork, “white” chili, pheasant, linguiça, chicken, bison, venison and vegan chili, among others, so I am always on the lookout for my next chili variety.
One of the great food debates is beans or no beans in chili; to me, it’s no question; I’m all in on beans! While the protein is often the focus of the chili, the beans offer the good “stick to your ribs” fiber, glycemic index-friendly carbs and protein. Not to mention a load of nutrients, including vitamins B1, B9 and K and minerals, including iron, manganese, copper and magnesium, that will have you craving them on these cold, snowy winter days.
Whenever you can, it’s worth it to buy organic canned beans and rinse them appropriately. Dried beans can be an excellent choice, but they require up to 24 hours to prep. Chili beans are certainly an ambiguous, regionally defined item. Stores will often market them described as “prepared red beans”’ on the packaging. For a good chili, rinse and drain these beans no matter what the claim on the can is. Large red kidney beans, black beans, and pintos are all favorites and will be welcomed, but the unsung hero of beans here is the garbanzo, also known as the chickpea. Along with having a nice texture, they are well-balanced in protein and nutritious value, and they can have digestive-enhancing properties if part of the regular diet.
The meat component of most chili is far too often beef. Many other types of meat are fabulous in chili, including bison, pork, chicken, turkey, venison and lamb, as well as adding more beans or other veggies. While ground meat is common, barbecued, sliced or shredded, meat can also be used. My personal favorite
is bison or locally harvested venison. Even leftover meats, including burgers from the grill or grilled chicken breast, can all make an appearance.
Variety is the spice of life, and few dishes can carry so much variety simply with toppings. Cheese is a crowd-pleaser, but shredded cheddar is certainly not the only act in town. Monterey Jack, pepper Jack, and American cheese slices can do in a pinch. One could also push the envelope for flavor and texture with authentic Mexican cheese like cotija or queso fresco Sour cream adds a rich, creamy coolness if the spice dial is turned way up. Avocados offer robust flavor and healthy fats.
Other fresh fruits/veggies options on a chili bar can be scallions, jalapenos, onions, scallions, and even corn. Your chili can be as unique as your palette, audience and ingredients. With an appetite for culinary discovery, chili is an amazing canvas. I hope you enjoy chili, and if you haven’t pushed the limits of chili, maybe this will inspire you too. Until next time! Bon Appetit!
This is a classic, simple yet flavorful dish that everyone will find comforting. Serves 2-3 people; double this recipe for a larger group of 4 -6. Your cooking vessel of your choice should be a cast iron Dutch oven 5 quarts for this recipe or 7 quarts for this recipe doubled, enameled or well seasoned. A 6/8 quart electric pressure cooker would do fine. I would NOT recommend using the pressure cycle, just the saute, slow cook and warming as it could burn the chili. (Recipe continued on page 12) >>>
SPRINKLER SYSTEM DESIGN & INSTALLATION
More than 30 years of protecting lives and property
24-HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE
Sprinkler System Installations
Sprinkler System Designs
Sprinkler System Inspections/Service
Fire Pump Testing/Service
Sprinkler and Domestic Backflow Testing
Backflow Repairs
Fire Extinguisher Inspections/Service
Fire Extinguisher Sales
Fire Suppression Inspections/Service
Fire Suppression Installations
Emergency Lighting Inspections/Service
Servicing NH, VT, MA, ME
Toll-Free 877-433-3300
MAIN OFFICE 97 Lower Jaffrey Road Dublin, NH 03444
SEACOAST OFFICE
1001 Islington St., Unit C1 Portsmouth, NH 03801
www.lifesafetyfire.com
In the last few months, have you noticed that your family member: Has lost a significant amount of weight? Has fallen several times? Is spending all day in bed? Has shortness of breath, even while resting?
Let HCS help you explore eligibility for the many benefits of hospice care. Hospice is available through Medicare, Medicaid, and most insurance plans and care is provided wherever you call home.
P r o j e c t H o m e i s a g r a s s r o o t s o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d n o n p r o f i t t h a t h e l p s a s y l u m - s e e k e r s m o v e f r o m d e t e n t i o n c e n t e r s i n t o o u r c o m m u n i t i e s a n d h o m e s a s t h e y a w a i t t h e i r a s y l u m h e a r i n g s .
F o u n d e d i n 2 0 1 9 , w e w e l c o m e d 1 5 g u e s t s i n t o f i v e h o m e s i n 2 0 2 0 - 2 0 2 1 : p r o v i d i n g n o t o n l y h o u s i n g , b u t l e g a l , m e d i c a l , e d u c a t i o n a l a n d o t h e r n e c e s s a r y s u p p o r t . O u r g u e s t s h a v e a l l f i l e d f o r a s y l u m , a r e l e a r n i n g E n g l i s h , v o l u n t e e r i n g i n o u r c o m m u n i t y , a n d t h e i r c h i l d r e n a r e t h r i v i n g i n o u r s c h o o l s . S e v e r a l h a v e r e c e i v e d w o r k a u t h o r i z a t i o n s a n d a r e w o r k i n g w i t h l o c a l e m p l o y e r s .
A s o u r g u e s t s ’ l e g a l c a s e s a r e r e s o l v e d , w e e x p e c t t h a t t h e y w i l l b e m o v i n g i n t o f u l l i n d e p e n d e n c e , a t w h i c h t i m e w e w i l l b e w e l c o m i n g n e w g u e s t s . W e w o u l d b e d e l i g h t e d t o h e a r f r o m a l l i n t e r e s t e d i n l e a r n i n g m o r e a b o u t t h e a s y l u m p r o c e s s , v o l u n t e e r i n g o n s u p p o r t t e a m s , o r c o n s i d e r i n g b e c o m i n g a h o s t f a m i l y . T o l e a r n m o r e c o n t a c t u s t h r o u g h o u r w e b s i t e .
To learn more about supporting asylum-seekers in our area, please visit our website. ProjectHomeNH.org
Ingredients:
● 2 tablespoons of your favorite oil (olive, avocado or coconut are my favorites)
● 1 medium onion (white, yellow or sweet)
● 3 cloves of garlic finely chopped *optional
● 1 medium pepper (red, yellow or green)
*optional
● ½ cup of diced carrots *optional
● 1 pound ground or diced protein (beef, chicken, pork, sausage, or add 1 extra can of beans)
● 16 oz broth (beef, chicken, vegetable or wateradd more for soupier results)
● 2 (16 oz.) cans of beans of your choice drained and rinsed (chili, red kidney beans, pinto, chickpeas, organic if possible)
● 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
Spice to your liking, but here is what works for my crew!
● 2 tablespoons chili powder
● 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
● 1 tablespoon ground cumin
● 2 tablespoons brown sugar
● 1 tablespoon garlic powder
● 1 tablespoon white pepper
● 2 tablespoons favorite salt
Instructions
1. Mix all your seasonings in a bowl
2. Open all cans and packing
3. Chop all veggies
4. Add oil to the pot and place on medium-high for two minutes.
5. Add the onions, garlic, peppers & carrots, now, cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. Add first ½ seasonings to the veggies
7. Add the protein; cook for 5-8 minutes until brown & cooked sufficiently.
8. Add a second ½ seasoning
9. Add the 16 oz broth and tomatoes to the mix
10. Stir well and evaluate if additional liquid is needed, broth or water to your liking.
11. Add beans
12. Bring the liquid to a low boil, then reduce to low and cook uncovered for 20-30 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes.
13. Remove the pot from heat and allow it to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
14. Enjoy, and don’t forget the toppings!
Toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado, crackers, scallions, jalapenos, onion, scallions, corn.
Possible companion items: cornbread, spaghetti, grilled cheese and Mexican rice.
Leftover ideas: nachos, baked potatoes, quesadillas, tacos, taco salad, chili mac, chili cheese stuffed peppers, chilli cheese corn chip bowls.
Crafty pantry tips: In a pinch, a can of tomato sauce for pasta can be substituted for the can of crushed tomatoes. In season fresh local vegetables are welcomed, but alas, this is currently winter in New Hampshire, so that’s simply not an option.
Crafty freezer tip: Ground meat can be purchased from local farms 5 to 10 pounds at a time and easily stay very fresh frozen for up to 6 months. And remember, beef isn’t the only act in town: lamb, pork, chicken and bison are wonderful, healthy alternatives and available readily at farmers’ markets, local farms and food co-ops.
My name is Rob Parisi, and my kitchen is my sanctuary. As the owner/ operator of PoshHaus, I challenge my clients to purchase products that bring their kitchens to life. Now in my newest mission, Shop.Design.Build, we are bringing local homes to life as we remodel and renew kitchen spaces all over the region! The first stage is in the new PoshHaus test kitchen, located at 104 Emerald Street in the old Kipco building in Keene, NH. Built in 1910 and empty for over five years, the place is finally vibrant and back to life! Learn more at poshhaus.com.
The Dublin Inn, one of Dublin’s most important buildings architecturally and historically, has been a significant element in the townscape since 1827. Next door to the busy Dublin General Store, it’s hosted many famous visitors, but in 1912 a visitor from Palestine transformed the Inn’s future in ways no one could have foreseen.
In August of 1912, Abdu’l Baha, son of the founder of the Baha’i faith, on a pilgrimage to the United States, arrived in Harrisville by train and came to Dublin via horse and buggy, staying for three weeks at the Dublin Inn, then known as French’s Tavern. He gave talks there and at the Dublin Community Church, drew crowds, and visited with many artists in Dublin’s summer colony.
Almost a century later, in 2001, a member of the Baha’i faith Gisu Mohadjer and her husband, Robert Cook, bought the Inn and donated it in 2005 to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’i of the United States. The Baha’i were attracted to this property because of its historical importance to the Baha’i, in honor of its illustrious guest, Abdu’l Baha, the son of Baha’u’llah, the prophet/founder of the Baha’i religion.
According to the Dublin Historical Society, Abdul Baha visited Dublin at the invitation of Agnes Parsons, a member of the Baha’i faith he’d met in Washington, DC. Sixtyeight years old at the time of his visit, he’d been imprisoned in Palestine for 40 years by Turkish authorities there.
He said, “We have come for work and service, not for amusement and pleasure.” In daily talks, he “discussed >
china, has a goal of a “corner cupboard in every room” for her extensive and lovely collections of Limoges, Delft, Spode, Meissenware and Royal Doulton china.
All of the furniture in the Inn has been donated by Baha’i members. According to Ruth, a whole houseful of furniture was donated by a family before their move back to Australia. The floors are richly covered in many silk and wool Persian carpets. Some furnishings are period pieces appropriate to this 19th century Inn; another Baha’i member donated an even older milk-painted hutch. Of course, Ruth has filled it with a china collection.
Ruth points out that “None of this belongs to us. It belongs to the Faith. It stays.”
The Gammons have chosen period-appropriate colors for the first-floor rooms, one of which is where Abdu’l Baha visited and is a little shrine to him. According to Ruth, no representation or other manifestations of the Bab or Abdu’l are permitted. However, nine-pointed star symbols of the Faith, showing its openness to all religions, are hung throughout the Inn.
The lively rooms on the second floor are painted in what the Gammons jokingly call “Necco Wafer” colors. An interesting decoration is a birdhouse replica of the Inn, crafted by the famous Jim Sovik. Another is the white adoption celebration dress for the Gammons’ daughter, handmade by Ruth in the style of Samantha, an American Girl Doll.
The Gammons’ caretakers’ apartment connects to the Inn through the large kitchen behind the oversized beehive brick fireplace. The kitchen’s vaulted ceiling exposes hand-hewn beams. The long table neatly displays Ruth’s jigsaw puzzle in process.
the basic tenets of the Baha’i faith: unity of the world’s races, equality of men and women, elimination of prejudice and universal compulsory education.”
In 2005, after many repairs and upgrades, Baha’i members Ruth and Phillip Gammons, the current caretakers, moved into the east wing apartment, probably built on the footprint of the original 1790 building. Ruth notes that when the Inn was donated, “The upstairs was a mess. There had been an auction; items had been stripped from the house.” Phillip adds, “The National Organization sent crews to do the repairs.”
He helped the plasterers, and some original horse hair and lath plaster was saved. Original railings, moldings and floors were preserved. A falling-down fire escape on the back of the Inn was replaced. A future goal is to reopen the Inn’s center staircase, which had been closed to meet fire regulations.
Despite the Inn having undergone renovations in 1890 and many changes by prior owners, the Baha’i have retained the beauty of its old bones. Fireplaces in most rooms gleam, including a rebuilt beehive fireplace, though the chimneys have been capped for safety. The Inn’s 12 rooms have been meticulously rehabilitated and detailed. They shine with the loving care of the Gammons.
Phillip maintains the grounds, and Ruth, a collector of
When the Inn was donated to the Baha’i in 2005, Phil and Ruth worked for the National Organization in Wilmette, Illinois. Since they were originally from the Northeast, they jumped at the chance to move back and be caretakers.
Though they both grew up in the Congregational Church, they learned about Baha’i after they met in Connecticut. They joined because of the Baha’i vision for the future: equality, justice, brotherhood, and a strong loyalty to the Earth.
Ruth says, “We view the universe as a generous place, and the source of that generosity is God. There’s unlimited room for the just and fair distribution of wealth.”
She sees the Baha’i goal of empowering Indigenous people with local needs, such as water access, solar power and schools, not as a type of colonialism because the Baha’i are not attempting to superimpose their system.
“We help them and go home,” she notes.
The Gammons not only take care of the Inn but are also the president and treasurer of the Dublin Friends of the Library. The Inn is more than a memorial to the visit of Abdu’l Baha; it hosts conferences and meetings of the Faith.
Phillip notes, “Every Sunday, we have devotions and children’s classes.”
Ruth adds, “We want people to know who we are but in a quiet way.” The building is open for quiet meditation and prayer.
The Dublin Inn is a New England-style Federal House on the National Register of Historic Places. Its brick end walls feature especially tall, blind or shallow arches. It is a local builders’ interpretation of the Boston-Salem high style (probably Master Carpenter Rufus Piper and Mason Asa Fisk), influenced by the plans of Charles Bullfinch, architect of the US Capitol Dome.
Primarily a working inn for 75 years, then also a Post Office for 24 years, after Dr. Asa Heald was appointed Postmaster by President Franklin Pierce, a fellow alum from Bowdoin College. The Inn served triple duty as Heald’s doctor’s office. Originally, it was known as Heald’s Inn and stagecoach stop, then The Monadnock Hotel, then French’s Tavern, until 1940. A 1922 ad in the Automobile Green Book (Trip 16), the ALA’s Official Guide, showcased French’s Tavern’s fresh dairy and garden products from its own farm, as well as golf, tennis, riding, and mountain climbing.
The three-story, hipped roofed building has a frame one-and-a-half story east wing, thought to be the original 1790 house or its footprint. Some Inn windows are local versions of Palladian windows. A semi-elliptical fan tops the main doorway. It had a hand-hewn wooden shingle roof. Originally, like most stagecoach inns, it had a thirdfloor ballroom with an ash-sprung floor and an arched ceiling.
In 1907 part of the Inn was leased to the German Ambassador, Count Von Sternberg. Dublin summer colony artists Alexander James and Richard Meryman worked in a studio behind the Inn from 1918-1922. After its years as an Inn, the building became a real estate white elephant, offered for sale over and over. Buyers with high hopes purchased it and undertook repairs, but the Inn repeatedly bounced back to the market until saved, repaired, and now deeply loved by the Baha’i.
This happy ending and bright future for the Dublin Inn, one of New England’s best examples of a 19thcentury Inn, could never have been foreseen but is a gift for all of Dublin. Learn more at dublininn.org. Learn more about the Baha’i Faith at bahai.org.
In the fall of 2006, when Ivy Vann and her husband Hugh Beyer bought their expansive 6,000-square-foot home on Summer Street in Peterborough, they thought it was temporary. They were working on developing a housing community on High Street and needed a place to live in the meantime.
Ultimately the housing plan never panned out, but the couple’s personal and professional pursuits led them to transform the Summer Street home into a microcosm of the living community they had envisioned.
The property’s story started as a single-family built for a wealthy manufacturer.
“Interestingly enough, a lot of the original details are still there,” Vann notes. “Every room has the closed coal grate with art tile around it.”
Unfortunately, the original windows were exchanged for vinyl at some point, but the surroundings remain intact.
“I’d give anything to have the wooden windows that house had,” Vann says.
While some of the house’s updates couldn’t be reversed, Vann and Beyer were quick to tackle others. Between October, when they purchased, and December, when they officially moved in, they took out five bathrooms and pulled up a ton of dated carpeting.
“Every room had been turned into a bedroom because it was a B&B, and they all had terrible quarter bathrooms,” Vann says.
On the ground floor, there were two rooms she suspected had been double parlors in the property’s heyday.
“So I used chalk, drew on the wall, and said to the carpenters: ‘I want you to open up the wall.’”
They called her a couple of hours later, shocked to have discovered existing framing for an opening; her intuition had been right.
On the same floor, they also discovered that two bedrooms in the back had initially been divided into four small rooms adjacent to the stairs. These were likely maid’s quarters when the house was first built.
In its current iteration, that main floor has four bedrooms and two and a half baths.
“We also have two gorgeous screen porches, and the first warm day we get in April, we move outside, and we sleep outside,” Vann says.
While she would sleep that way year-round, her husband makes the call around Thanksgiving, and they settle back indoors.
It’s been a seasonal ritual since they moved in after that initial restructuring in 2006. One of their
long-term goals then involved renovating an existing third-floor apartment that was only accessible through the main house. But after living on Summer Street for about a year and a half, a friend of a friend lost their job, which had included housing, and desperately needed a place to live. Vann and Beyer said yes.
“They paid us, you know, peppercorn rent. It was someone I knew, so I was okay with renting and rehabbing,” Vann says.
The apartment got a makeover while being leased and served as a safe landing for several other renters as time went on.
“In the meantime, I had gotten looped into the Congress for the New Urbanism and had started doing the work to get certified as a planner,” Vann says.
She became involved with the Incremental Development Alliance, a nonprofit that helps locals strengthen their neighborhoods through small-scale real estate projects.
“We talked a lot about naturally occurring affordable housing. And typically, that’s an existing building that you make into a multifamily. So that’s the ocean I was swimming in,” Vann says.
Suddenly the bigger picture was aligning.
“Our house is huge, and even with somebody living on the third floor, there was still way too much house for us,” she explains.
She started running the numbers, using the rule she teaches as a certified planner.
“For every $100 you put into a project, you need
to be sure that you’re going to get $1 out in rent every month. So I worked backwards,” she says.
Vann knew that with renovation, she could provide two beautiful apartments, each with a new kitchen and entryway. She estimated that between the two apartments she could plan on a total of $3,000 per month in rent.
PICTURED: The Peterborough, New Hampshire mansion that has been transformed into not only a home for Ivy Vann (pictured) and her husband, but two additional charming apartments. They say that sharing the property enhances daily living.
“The missing middle (in housing) is duplexes, cottage courts, triple-deckers, fourplexes, dignified, small apartment buildings ... we used to create them out of existing buildings.”
- Ivy Vann
“That meant I could invest $300,000 in doing the work … So I said to Hugh: ‘I think we should we should rebuild the house and turn it into a three-family,’” she says.
Early in their marriage, they had owned a duplex and had tenants on several other occasions, so it wasn’t a hard sell. Beyer agreed it was a great idea, and in 2020, they asked their local architect friend, Susan Phillips-Hungerford, to draw up plans. Their daughter, Lily Beyer, a licensed structural engineer practicing in Portsmouth, also played a significant role in the project.
The contractor began work in March 2020, with the renovation spanning 18 months before completion.
“I knew it was going to be at least a year because it was a lot of work,” Vann says.
In addition to the interior overhaul, a new stair tower was constructed outside, giving access to both the second and third-floor apartments; for structural soundness, it had to be supported straight down to the basement, requiring access holes to be cut at every level of the house. Though it took months of orchestrating plans and finances, living elsewhere, and maintaining a healthy dose of patience, the result was two charming apartments.
“One’s a two-bed, two-bath, and they both have brand new kitchens. The third floor is a three-bed,
two-bath,” Vann says.
Both spaces were already spoken for before construction even wrapped up, and Vann and Beyer have been fortunate enough to cultivate strong relationships with the residents who now share their multifamily property.
While they enjoy the interaction and community of having tenants, she notes, “It’s not for you if you are intensely private.”
However, much of renting depends on how you set it up.
“You get to pick how cozy and comfy you want to be with your tenants,” she says, and adds, “We like our tenants. We have them down for dinner, and they have us up for dinner. I’ve played pickleball with them, and they have observed Hugh and me on our electric bicycles, and now they have their own,” she says.
For them, sharing the property enhances daily living.
In the fall of 2022, Vann spoke at the Radically Rural summit in Keene, calling on her personal experience with a multifamily conversion and her knowledge as an urban planner to address the region’s “missing middle” in terms of housing.
“The missing middle is duplexes, cottage courts, triple-deckers, fourplexes, dignified, small apartment buildings,” she notes. “All of those things are the missing middle, and we used to build them, and we used to create them out of existing buildings.”
But dating as far back as Herbert Hoover’s presidency, uniform zoning codes have emphasized single-family residences above other forms of housing, feeding into the housing crisis many communities are now experiencing.
“This is not a Peterborough problem. It’s probably everywhere,” Vann notes.
She has made it her mission to modernize zoning policies in New Hampshire to make it possible for a wider variety of practical housing types to be prioritized.
“My house is the poster child for why this goal is important,” she said.
When the wind blows cold, it’s delightful to leaf through gorgeous gardening and seed catalogs. We could dream of a slightly larger vision for our gardens this coming year rather than the sameold-same-old. There are regular gardeners in our midst choosing to grow much more of their food at home. In particular, a local Monadnock Region gardener is growing a wide variety of new and old-world fruits right at her Keene, New Hampshire home.
Sylvie Singh-Lamy (pictured, above) is an avid gardener like many of us. She is fascinated with growing fruit, sometimes even starting fruit plants from seeds. Her current collection of more than 15 trees and shrubs shows the possibility of reducing our carbon footprint by growing more of our own fruit and growing fruits unavailable locally. We spoke as the last leaves fell.
I grow my own fruit because I love variety, and the activity gives me the chance to talk with neighbors and friends about growing more of their own fruit as well.
Well, some choices are by mistake, some by research, and some by trusted nursery stock. My priorities are fruits that store well to last through winter, as well as by flavor. I have the largest number of apple trees. I chose the “Snow Sweet” apple from Minnesota by mistake, but I’ve been very pleased with its crisp flavor. I’ve complimented this variety with “Cortland” for cooking. I grow an unusual “Black Oxford” apple from Maine, which has a deep purple, almost blackish skin; then there is “Calville Blanc D’Hiver” or “White Winter Calville” and the “Fameuse” apple, also called “Snow.” Historians speculate that both of these varieties originated in France. There are two peach trees as well: “Red Haven” and “Suncrest,” and two plum trees: one “Stanley” and one “Green Gage.” I am excited to add a second Asian pear, “Shinko,” to the “Yoinashi” that I’m already growing. I have purchased trees from both local markets and local nurseries. Whereas five of the quince plants I’m growing are from a particularly tasty fruit, I bought at the Brattleboro Co-op! I loved it so much that I kept the seeds and grew them. Ten seeds sprouted initially, and the remaining five quince plants have been joined in the orchard with a “Smyrna” variety from Scott Farms in Vermont for diversity. There are three Elderberry shrubs: one “Adams,” one “Black Lace,” and a mystery variety. And lastly, a single apricot called “Chinese Mormon.” I began the orchard several years ago; it is definitely a long-term project.
did you choose which partic- ular varieties of apple, quince, kiwi, hops, pears, peaches and elderberry to grow?
Yes! I was delighted to find the “Breda Giant” medlar variety also at Scott Farms. It is very satisfying to experiment with fruits that have been grown since ancient times.* I must tell you that I am also excited to grow pawpaw trees next because they are native fruit. They are finicky trees, needing shade when they are young but more sun later. Luckily I have the perfect canopy of a native cherry tree that will
In the Garden with Michele Chalice
provide shade now. Later it will be able to be limbed up as the pawpaw trees grow larger.**
Oh, much patience is needed, and pay special attention to your soil. I am fortunate to have a large open field with the full sunshine that fruit plants need. It also helps to grow preferably native, flowering perennials as well because they attract additional, effective pollinators and return reliably every year on their own. Also, be willing to share with the wildlife. While I consider my orchard, an edible landscape, my “queendom,” I depend on the turkeys for fertilizing, while fox control rabbits and fisher control porcupines. The deer fertilize and prune my trees’ tips.
So, while winter winds blow, consider Sylvie Singh-Lamy’s exciting ideas for experimentation by growing a variety of new fruits in your home garden as well!
* “Medlar fruit is rich in potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and iron. They have been used in traditional medicine due to their diuretic and astringent effects. Tangy medlar fruit is also a good source of vitamin C and a number of B family vitamins … The tree is native to the area surrounding modern-day Iran and was introduced to Western Europe by the Romans.” Source: finedininglovers. com/article/medlar-winter-fruit-recipes
** “Pawpaw’s fruit is an amazing combination of flavors described as sunny, electric, and downright tropical: a riot of mango-banana-citrus that’s incongruous with its temperate, deciduous forest origins.” Source: tinyurl.com/7nszcebb
Michele Chalice is the owner of Healthy Home Habits.
Let’s do both at your home! Now is a great time to plan for changes to your landscape for next year.
•
• Our Florist Shop is designed for All Occasions.
• Hours: Mon-Fri 8-5 p.m. / Sat 8-4 p.m. / Sunday Hours begin
many micro-body movements BEFORE he ever gets to the barking, lunging part.
But we miss the small communications.
By Denise MazzolaBarking, growling and lunging are equivalent to when a parent shouts, “Stop yelling at your sister!” or “If you don’t stop poking each other, I’m going to stop the car!” You get the idea.
Most of us have been communicating our intentions long before we start yelling, right? We might observe, “Sounds like your sister is saying she doesn’t want to play.”
However, there is a tipping point where we are frustrated, worried, and even scared, and we lash out verbally at our kids, spouse, neighbor and store clerk.
Well, your dog is exactly like you. He has a tipping point where he is frustrated, worried, scared or anxious and lashes out — he yells! (That is, he growls, barks, snarls, bites …)
He is constantly communicating with micro-body movements that go unnoticed by 99% of pet parents. Some small, mostly unnoticed body signals include:
As a dog trainer, I observe behavior. All kinds of behavior: People behavior. Birds at our bird feeder. And, of course, dog behavior.
When I’m in a client’s home, I’m always observing the dog, watching the dog, “listening” with my eyes and listening to the client with my ears.
Most of your dog’s communication is done quietly. A head turn, a yawn, a stillness in the body or a lip curl.
Dogs will communicate how they are feeling — stressed, anxious, and happy — with their body movements.
So many times, people will say to me, “He didn’t mean to bite me,” or “His teeth are just so sharp,” and my personal favorite, “He didn’t mean to.”
Your dog’s body movements are not random. Just like your body movements are not random.
For example, I’m sitting on a train as I write this, and I’m acutely aware of where my arms are and where my legs are, especially when I cross them. I don’t want to poke my neighbor or trip someone in the aisle. Nothing we do is random.
Similarly, your dog knows where his mouth is and what he’s doing with it, just like you know where your hands are and what you are doing with them.
Everyone understands the growl, the bark, the lunge etc. I hope so; these are HUGE body movements. Yet, your dog has communicated in
Yawning: a sign of stress.
Panting when it’s not hot: stress.
A full body shake-off: trying to regulate his stress or “shake it off.”
Staring at something or someone: not a friendly sign.
Getting small, tucking his tail, putting his ears back: appeasement signals, often mistaken for “feeling guilty” Dogs are not moral beings. He’s not guilty.
Your dog is asking for something, usually more space from you, from another person or another dog. When you start to recognize and notice what your dog is communicating fear, stress or pre-aggression, you are in a much better position to be proactive. To intervene before the growling, barking and lunging begin.
When you notice three or more stress signals, it’s time to step in and help Fluffy out of a potentially bad situation.
When my daughters visit with their young children, I carefully monitor my dog Gio, who has not been raised around young kids and has a history of being hit by a child once when he was a wee pup. Not surprisingly, he is very nervous and cautious around young children. When I see him start yawning and scratching at his neck, I remove him from the situation and give him a brain toy to keep him busy and provide some stress relief. I would never force him to stay in a situation where he is clearly uncomfortable.
Yawning does not mean your dog is tired. He is internally stressed.
Scratching at the neck is another sign of stress. It is not a case of fleas.
I recently heard one of the best podcast interviews with Kim Brophy, author of the book, “Meet Your Dog,” where she states that dogs and humans have coevolved for thousands of years. Dogs have learned to read OUR body movements and listen for important words, for example: “Do you want to go for a RIDE?”
But sadly, we, the human end of the relationship, have NOT learned our dog’s language.
This is so unfortunate. Our dogs deserve better from us.
Isn’t it time you learned what your dog was saying? I think so.
Your dog is communicating ALL the time; let’s start listening.
Believe me, your dog will thank you.
Certified Professional Dog Trainer
Denise Mazzola (pictured here with Gio) is the owner of Denise Mazzola’s Everything Dog. She has been working with people and training dogs for over 30 years. Everything Dog provides services to clients throughout the Monadnock Region of NH by offering private lessons, group classes, board and train, as well as day training services. Denise has been published in the trade journal, Chronicle of the Dog, and writes a monthly column for Everything Dog’s Monthly Newsletter. She also hosts a monthly “Ask the Trainer” radio show on WKBK. Denise lives in Keene with her life and business partner, Amy Willey CPDT-KA, and they share their home with two dogs. She has three adult daughters and two grandsons. For more information visit everythingdognh.com. On Youtube at Everything Dog.
The phenomenon of color has long fascinated humans. Color is inextricably linked to our daily lives. We are immersed in color in our environment and can even experience color with closed eyes; we can imagine and dream about colors. We all have a relationship with color, which plays a big part in how we perceive the world.
The sensation of color is generated by light, reflected from surfaces, and sensed by the human eye. It was not until Newton (1666) that we learned that when pure white light passes through a prism, it separates into all visible colors. Light is emitted by a light source in wavelengths. Our eye senses those wavelengths and transmits them to the brain, where they are identified as color. Individual wavelengths are perceived as separate colors (hues).
In our brain, light is received in two areas: The cerebral cortex and the hypothalamus, or midbrain. While the cerebral cortex, the center of our cognitive activity, receives and interprets information, the midbrain is the center for regulating blood pressure and body temperature and producing hormones. When the midbrain is stimulated by a thought or outside stimulus, like light, the midbrain triggers the release of hormones. That alone might explain how colors impact our bodies and overall well-being.
Color psychology is the study of how colors affect human feelings and behavior. It explores how colors can influence
emotional responses and how responses to color are affected by factors such as age and cultural background.
Have you ever asked yourself why you favor certain colors over others? Why a color triggers a negative response in you? When the reasoning part of our brain, the cerebral cortex, is stimulated by wavelengths, it identifies each hue and organizes a subconscious reaction based on past learning. Our personal preferences and ideas about color begin almost at birth and are influenced by many factors such as culture, the influence of fashion, trends, individual experiences and environmental surroundings. All those factors play an important role in your unique emotional and behavioral response to color.
In recent years, the subject has gained in popularity, and more research studies have emerged around the globe.
One 2020 study that surveyed the emotional associations with different colors of 4,598 people from 30 different countries found that people commonly associate certain colors with specific emotions. According to the study results, i.e., 68% of respondents associated red with love, >>
Structural Restoration, Repair and/or Replacement of Damaged Foundations, Sills, Joists & Framing Timber
New Foundations Constructed Under Existing Buildings
Barn Frames, Timbers & Barn Board for Sale
Recycling & Dismantling of Old Barns & Reassembly
Tasteful Remodeling of & Additions to Period Homes
51% associated black with sadness, and 52% felt that yellow means joy. In July this year, a study was conducted in China about how color psychology can be applied to environmental design. According to the study results, people who feel anxious, lonely, and otherwise emotionally unstable are drawn to warmer colors in the spectrum, specifically to yellow and orange hues, pinks and reds, and greens. Whereas the color combinations black-white and blue-purple had a negative effect on most participants.
Considering that colors have an impact on our bodies, our emotions and our overall well-being, we can use color in interior spaces not only to create interest and vitality, illusions of size or shape, but for the
purpose of focus or balance (“flow”); We can also apply color to generate an emotional response, and even to contribute to the creation of healing environments. When designing your own spaces, ask yourself the following questions:
• How do you want to feel in your space? (Peaceful, motivated, grounded, spacious, joyous)
• Which colors are you drawn to and why? Become aware of unconscious links to past experiences (Maybe you love pinks because they remind you of the tulips in your grandmother’s garden.)
• What do you associate with certain colors? (Maybe you associate the color red or pink with selflove and romance.)
• Looking at your space, what is the status quo? Which colors are needed to invite the sensation you are after? For example, say you want to feel more warm and comfortable and associate orange with earthy sand tones in Arizona, which you love, as well as the warm feeling of sun rays on your skin. If orange sparks warmth and coziness for you, consider bringing some orange into your space!
I invite you this winter season to take a moment and scan your home with your mind; you could even meditate on it and become aware of how you feel in the different spaces and how they affect your body, your breathing, and your thoughts ... And how do you WANT to feel? What colors need changing to achieve your desired outcome?
ACCOUNTANTS
Anderson & Gilbert 295 Park Ave. Keene, NH 03431
603-357-1928 taxfolks.net
ANTIQUES/VINTAGE
Fairgrounds Antiques
249 Monadnock Hwy Swanzey, NH 03446 603-352-4420
ARCHITECTS
KCS Architects
310 Marlborough St. Keene, NH 03431 603-439-6648 kcs-architects.com
ART FRAMING
Indian King Framery
149 Emerald St., Ste. D2 Keene, NH 03431 603-352-8434 indiankingframery.com
BUILDING/ CONSTRUCTION CARPENTRY/ REMODELING
C hris Parker Building & Restoration
4657 Coolidge Hwy. Guilford, VT 05301 802-257-4610 oldbuildingfix.com
Eco-Logical Building
Solutions
27 Frost Hill Road Marlborough, NH 603-876-4040 ecologicalbuilding solutions.com
Finn Property Maintenance
21 Sugar Hill Road Swanzey, NH 03446 603-892-1192 finnproperty maintenance.com
JA Jubb
38 Swanzey Factory Road, Swanzey, NH 603-762-0669 jajubb.com
K+J Dean Builders, Inc. 20 Pine St. Swanzey, NH 03446 603-499-3561 kandjbuilders.com
Niemela Design Builders
118 Craig Road Dublin, NH 03444 603-563-8895 niemeladesign.com
Monadnock Design Studios PO Box 128 Winchester, NH 03470 757-272-2924 monadnock.design
Monadnock Millwork
1 Railroad St. W. Swanzey NH 03446 603-352-3207 monadnock millwork.com
DESIGN/SURVEY Huntley Survey/Design 659 West Road Temple, NH 603-924-1669 huntleysurvey.com
EDUCATION Mountain Shadows School
149 Valley Road Dublin, NH 03444 603-563-8170 mountainshadows school.com
ENERGY (RENEWABLE) Green Energy Options 37 Roxbury St. Keene, NH 03431 603-358-3444 greenenergyoptions.com
EVENT VENUES
Aldworth Manor
184 Aldworth Manor Rd Harrisville, NH 03450 603-903-7547 aldworthmanor.com
FIRE PROTECTION
Life Safety Fire Protection PO Box 432 Keene, NH 03431 603-352-0202 lifesafetyfire.com
FLOORING
Monadnock Flooring
1024 Route 12 Westmoreland, NH 03467
603-399-4004 monadnockflooring.com
FURNITURE
Shaker Style
Handcrafted Furniture 292 Chesham Road Harrisville, NH 03450 603-827-3340 shakerstyle.com
GARDEN/ LANDSCAPING
Achilles Agway
Six Locations achilleagway.com
Coll’s Garden Center 63 North St. Jaffrey, NH 03452 603-532-7516 collsgardencenter.com
DS Stone & Garden Scapes Greenfield, NH 03047 603-769-7173 dsstoneandgardenscapes.com
Ecoscapes 121 Pond Brook Road W. Chesterfield, NH 03466 603-209-4778 ecoscapeslandscapes.com
Healthy Home Habitats
Keene, NH 603-313-9163 healthyhomehabitats.com
INTERIOR DESIGN
Sarah Sim
Intentional Interiors 603-562-4644 sarahsimdesign.com
JEWELRY/HANDCRAFTED
GeoGraphic Gems
Keene, NH 603-369-2525 geographicgems.com
LOCKSMITHING
Goodwin’s Locksmithing 4 Elm St. Swanzey, NH 03431 603-252-5625
PAINTING
Robert Codman Painting 603-547-7906 RobertCodmanPainting.com
PLUMBERS Plumbusters 603-831-0594 plumbusters.net
POOL & SPA
Clearwater Pool & Spa
233 Monadnock Hwy, Swanzey, NH 03446 603-357-5874 clearwaterpool andspa.net
REAL ESTATE
Blais & Associates Realtors 32 Monadnock Highway Keene, NH 603-352-1972 blaisrealestate.com
Giselle LaScala
RE/Max Town & Country 117 West St. Keene, NH (O) 603-357-4100 (C) 603-682-9472 glascalahomes.com
Traditions Real Estate
73 Main St, Walpole, NH 03608 603-756-3973 traditionsreal-estate.com
RETAIL: GIFTS & MORE
Gaia’s Blessing 1 Summer St. Peterborough, NH 603-567-7129 gaiasblessingshop.com
Historical Society of Cheshire County 246 Main St. Keene, NH 03431 603-352-1895 hsccnh.org
Monadnock Oil & Vinegar 3 Grove St. Peterborough, NH 603-784-5175 monadnockoil andvinegar.com
ROOFING
Craig Finnell Roofing Brattleboro, VT 802-257-0841
SENIOR LIVING Campbell House/ Wayne’s Place 164 Old Springfield Rd. Charlestown, NH 03603 603-826-0840
Covenant Living of Keene 95 Wyman Road Keene, NH 03431 1-877-285-6631 CovLivingKeene.org
Home Healthcare Hospice & Community 312 Marlboro St. Keene NH 03431 603-352-2253 hcsservices.org
NH Care Collaborative 25 Roxbury St. Keene, NH 03431 603-313-1869 nhcare-c.org
Scott-Farrar at Peterborough 11 Elm Street Peterborough, NH 603-924-3691 scott-farrar.com
TREE SERVICES Phil’s Tree Services PO Box 432, 34 Dale St. Keene, NH 03431 603-352-0202 philstreeservices.com
Wilcox Tree Service 334 Horse Hill Road Marlborough, NH 03445 603-313-0073 wilcoxtreeservice.com
UPHOLSTERY Spofford Upholstery Spofford, NH 603-363-8057
Home at
