TheLaker_Home_Fall_22

Susan

This Home Is a True Sanctuary

The cornerstone for the beautiful stone church, St. Peter’s In The Mount, an old Protestant Episcopalian structure, was set in 1888.

It still sits atop Shepard Hill* in Holderness, but was transformed into an amazingly stunning home in 1978. When constructed, it

By Leigh Sharps

was on a bare knoll absent of any trees or ground cover. It commanded a 360-degree expansive view of both Big and Little Squam Lakes. Since that time the conservancy forestland has erased that view, but in its place it affords a special privacy now appreciated by

the current owners, Robert ‘Robin’ and Carolyn Dorf., who had been looking in the area for the perfect retirement home.

Historical documents say the chapel (a mission church under the Episcopalian Church in Ashland) served the local community for nearly 90 years. It was especially popular in the late 1890s through early 1900s. The chapel began to see a diminishing number of worshipers due to the newly built outdoor chapel on ‘Church Island’ on Big Squam. In 1976 the trustees decided to end ser vices at St. Peter’s, and the carved pews and the bell in the outdoors belfry were re moved. The bell went  to a church in Lancaster. Two years later, Plymouth businessman Russell Harris and his wife Barbara, (who had been married in the church) converted it into a four bedroom home. After the Harrises only one other family lived there, former Holderness Postmaster Larry Mowbray and his wife Claire, before the Dorffs took ownership four years ago.

Carolyn said there is quite a story leading to their purchase. Robin is an international businessman who traveled the world while Carolyn is an accomplished opera headliner who holds a Master’s

in Opera Performance. One of her claims to fame, she says, was traveling with the Broadway musical of ‘The Secret Garden’ with her daughter for nearly a year. Her daughter is also an accomplished performer, along with a son and other close relatives, so there is no lack of talent in this family. Both Carolyn and Robin are also actors appearing in many plays together over the years.

They had looked at a house in Thornton that Robin said was ‘okay’, but their realtor (Maureen Clifford of Holderness) suggested they look at this church/house in Holderness near the Squam Lakes. “It was much more than we thought we could afford,” said Carolyn. “But while we were touring the house separately, I stood on the staircase balcony overlooking the Great Room with Maureen and sang ‘The Hills Are Alive With The Sound of Music’ and Maureen cried. Maureen told Larry (Mowbray) that “these people need to have this house! Both our realtor and Larry’s agreed they wanted us to have it!” After some negotiations and selling their house in Atlanta, Ga., the home was theirs.

One of the first things Carolyn did was to search to replace the bell in the stone belfry arch. Robin said, “She wanted to do that

design,

from the get-go.” Carolyn found the perfect bell at an auction and Robin said they were thrilled when Holderness Rusty Rakes owner, Russell Sargent, made the frame for the bell from scrap metal. “There was a lot of welding going on,” said Robin. “And he did it at no charge because he said it was for the community,” added Carolyn.

The belfry being complete, the Dorffs turned their attention to replacing the huge cross that once was over the altar. The cross was replicated from a piece of walnut that was left over from a polished plank that now serves as a countertop separating the kitchen from the dining room. The plank has inlaid colored designs that mimic the trefoil pattern in the authentic stained glass windows throughout the house. It was another creative brainstorm by Carolyn.

The 20x20 Great Room with its 18-foot-high cathedral ceiling, outstanding ash floors, and huge pine beams and rafters is where the Dorffs spend most of their time and is a special place for Caro lyn, who is bravely battling cancer. A woodburning stove is situated on a granite hearth there to keep the couple warm in winter. A unique staircase leads to the second floor where three bedrooms, a bath and closets are located.

Most eleven-foot-high windows are still in place, but some transom bottoms were re-leaded and set with hinges to serve as casement openings, while other window panels were set into in terior walls.  One stained glass window was moved to the firstfloor bathroom off the master suite. An addition was built in 1990 to house a bright solarium/spa/hot tub room on the east side. A door was installed there and its stained glass door complements the church exterior.

The 20x20 Great Room with its 18-foot-high cathedral ceil ing, outstanding ash floors, and large pine beams and rafters is where the Dorffs spend most of their time and is a special place for Carolyn, who is bravely battling cancer.  A woodburning stove is situated on a granite hearth to keep the couple warm in winter. A unique staircase leads to the second floor where three bedrooms, a bath and closets are located.

In front of the church is a walkway beginning at the road where there is a roofed ‘lych gate’ where worshippers once waited to attend services in inclement weather. There is also a patio made of bricks and landscaped to meld into the church’s hillside. Recalled Robin: “During the pandemic in 2020 Carolyn was out here in the gardens, practically every day on her hands and knees, pulling out the large overgrowth to expose the magnificent flowers and bushes that were there originally.”

“I was awe-struck when I first saw this place. It is just wondrous and amazing, and if I’m going to die anywhere, I’m glad it’s here,” said Carolyn who added that Robin “feels the same way but, of course, we didn’t know that when we moved here.”

Concluded Robin, “When we first saw the house, it was absolutely stunning. When we drove up to it, just seeing it was something I’ll never forget and, almost immediately, we knew we had to make it work. We had to figure it out....we knew we just had to do it. And I have to say the people around here have been remarkable, helping with every kind of issue we’ve run into including Carolyn’s health most recently. But being surrounded by the lakes we both love and the four seasons, we know we’ve come to our own little kind of heaven!”

REFERENCES: ‘A Look At St. Peter’s In The Mount And Its Special Location’ by Barbara A. Harris. ‘The Shepard Hill Historic District in Holderness, N.H.’ prepared by Elizabeth Durfee Hen gen, Preservation Consultant, Concord, N.H.

*Some folks think the Shepard Hill sign is misspelled when it is actually the family name of one of the first settlers in Holderness.

thanks to Robin and Carolyn Dorff!

Affordable Ways to Make Homes More Appealing to Modern Buyers

Home trends come and go. Today’s must-have items tend to become tomorrow’s outdated features in the blink of an eye.

Homeowners who plan to stay in their current homes for years to come needn’t prioritize modern trends over personal preferences. However, homeowners looking to sell their homes can consider these favored features to increase their properties’ appeal to modern buyers.

• Separate laundry room: According to the National Association of Home Builders’ 2021 What Home Buyers Really Want report, a separate room dedicated to laundry was the most desired feature among prospective home buyers. Though it might not inspire the awe of an outdoor living room or floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a wooded backyard, a laundry room fills a direct and universal need. Perhaps that’s why 87 percent of buyers want a room dedicated to laundry in a home.

• Exterior lighting: Drive through a modern suburban neighbor hood at night and it won’t take long before you realize the popularity of exterior lighting. And that’s no coincidence, as homeowners everywhere appear to embrace exterior lighting. The NAHB report indicates that exterior lighting is the most sought-after outdoor feature. The good news for prospective sellers is that exterior lighting is an inexpensive and instant way to transform a property at night. Some solar-powered lighting along walkways and outside the front door can make a home feel safer, while some uplighting of large trees in the backyard can produce a sight to behold once the sun goes down.

• Energy-efficient upgrades: Inflation has driven up the cost of just about everything over the last year-plus, and energy is no exception. So it should come as no surprise that 83 percent of prospective home buyers are looking for energy-efficient windows and appliances in a home. These features save money and benefit the planet, making them a win-win among buyers.

• Patio: Patio spaces have long been popular, but that popularity reached new heights during the pandemic. When forced to stay at home for long periods of time, millions of people longed for ways to spend more time outdoors without breaking lockdown rules. Patios provide outdoor living spaces, and 82 percent of buyers indicated they wanted a patio with their next property.

• Side-by-side sink: A double or side-by-side sink is among the more affordable features buyers are looking for. At less than $1,000 on average, a side-by-sink is an affordable way to make a home more appealing to modern buyers.

Modern buyers want a lot out of their homes, and sellers can do their best to meet those desires while getting the most money for their properties. ~Metro

A Beginner’s Guide to Fall Planting and Maintenance

Spring and summer are perhaps the busiest times of year for gardeners. However, fall also is a prime time to tend to gardens.

The tree and bare root retailer Bower & Branch advise that soil temperatures in many regions of the country may still be warm enough to encourage root growth well into the start of winter. Furthermore, fall is often the ideal time to plant, fertilize and keep a garden going or to get a head start on next year’s bounty.

Here are some tips to make the most of the fall gardening season.

• Think about fall annuals and bulb planting. Near the end of September, start planting cool-weather-loving pansies and violas for pops of color as summer flowers fade. Also, it’s a good idea to stock up on bulbs that will bloom in the months to come before they sell out in stores. Wait until the temperatures really cool down before planting them in desired spots for spring sprouts.

• Sow salad seeds. Lettuce, spinach, radishes, and arugula tolerate cooler temperatures. Try new and interesting lettuce varieties and enjoy salads well into the fall season.

• Take inventory of the sun. Positioning a garden carefully means maximizing hours of sunlight, which begin to dwindle in the fall. Experts say gardens grow best in sunny locations that receive six hours of direct sunlight each day. This is where container gardens can be helpful, as they allow gardeners to move plants into spots that will get ample sunlight.

• Fill in landscaping gaps. Some fall plants can add color around

the landscape and brighten up homes to add curb appeal. In addition to pansies and violas, asters, kale and chrysanthemums are fall blooms. Keep in mind that mums can come back year af ter year. So take them out of those flower pots and get them into the ground. They can be enjoyed next year as well, sprouting in early spring and developing leaves and buds through late summer.

• Clean up unwanted growth. Fall is an ideal time to cut back spent vegetable plants and get rid of errant weeds. Rather than bagging leaves, mow them with a grass catcher and then add the mix to a vegetable garden as an excellent soil insulator. The nitrogen and carbon will fertilize the soil, enhancing growing possibilities and limiting weed growth.

• Propagate plants in the fall. As temperatures gradually begin to cool, start taking cuttings from perennials, gathering seed pods from azaleas and rhododendrons and dividing hardwood cuttings, says the resource Gardening Know How. Consult with a garden center or horticulturist on the proper ways to propagate stems using root ing hormone and other techniques.

• Continue to water plants. Water is essential in the fall and win ter as roots can still be growing. Gradually reduce watering duration as plants go dormant.

Fall planting and maintenance can extend gardening season and improve the chances of growing a healthy spring garden.

-metro

A Gorgeous Parade Home

By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper Photos courtesy Lauren Roman Interior Design

The Parade of Homes, a project of the Lakes Region Builders and Remodeler’s Association, features many homes each year. The event, this year, is runs from Oct. 8-10 (Columbus Day weekend) and includes some truly beautiful homes in various locations.

Those who want to take the tour purchase tickets and gain admission to tour the homes. Visitors are inspired with décor and construction ideas. If they are thinking of building a home, it is an opportunity to speak directly with representatives of the building company for each home on the Parade and often, with the interior designer or decorator.

One of this year’s homes is a gem, located on Lovell Lake in Sanbornville. It was constructed by Key Day Builders and the design company was Lauren Roman Interior Design. While the home is not huge, it has all the right components to make it an outstanding residence, from careful construction details with such touches as the use of natural stone throughout.

Lauren Roman was the perfect designer to work closely with Key Day Builders, and she has great respect for the company. “I work with many contractors on projects,” she says,” and I think Key Day is among the best for the quality of work they deliver. They are there to please the client and they do not say no to a request. They tell the homeowner they will find a way to make it happen. They go the extra mile for their clients.”

One example of the creative effort to go the extra mile for a homeowner is the bird design Key Day built on the homeowner’s shed, a special detail that is much appreciated.

The new home is located on the lakefront. There was already an existing cottage on the property, and no new permits were required. The homeowners were open to new ideas and specified that they dreamed of a lodge room and a large fireplace for the

home. “I would say the house is in the Craftsman style, some what,” Lauren explains.

The exterior of the home is cedar shingles, and the front entry and rear porch are timber frame structures, which create a woodsy, natural feeling. Inside, the kitchen countertops are of natural stone and the floors in the home are all French oak stained to a walnut color. “There is no carpeting, and instead, we used custom area rugs,” Lauren points out.

In keeping with the natural style, the colors in the house are mostly earth tones with lots of wood. The floors are light wood and in contrast, some are darker in hue.

Lauren worked on the entire project and brought the natural look to a cohesive, finished product, with further colors in variations of blues and greens, as well as some yellow and gold tones, topping it with earth neutral shades.

At about 2,500 square feet, the home has three bedrooms plus an office and is a welcoming space for the owner’s family, with a definite lake/woodsy/natural style.

Designing such as this is an involved process. “It starts with consultation,” Lauren explains. “I ask the homeowner specific questions to get to know them and what they want. Some of the questions are tailored to the specific client, their likes and dislikes in design and colors. Then I come up with a conceptual design for them to see, including colors, finishes and main core items. The designs make sure we are on the right track. Once approved, I design details, window treatments, plumbing fixtures, and tile, to name but a few elements.

“In this case, the project was a two-year process for construction and furnishing the home. It was made more convenient because the client didn’t have to live on site. It gave us a relaxed timeline with no rush to finish.”

Asked what the clients think of the completed home, in which they now reside, Lauren says, “They love it, and they love living

(Left) Bathroom design shows stonework.

(Center) Unique design of a bird crafted in shingles into an outdoor building.

(Right) Natural stone for the fireplace.

there year round.”

Lauren explains the difference between her work as an inte rior designer versus an interior decorator. “An interior designer works on all the interior details, and the exterior design, including shingles, stonework, the palette of stone, and interior architectural designs. It also includes working on the plans for the lighting, and floors - the whole project.”

The convenient kitchen has walnut cabinets on the lowers and island and white upper cabinets. The hardware is of the Craftsman style and the cabinetry in the house was provided by Fred Varney Company in Wolfeboro. In keeping with the natural look of the home, the countertops are of natural stone. “And most of the appliances are Kitchen Aid,” Lauren says.

The bathrooms are beautiful, and one has unusual, fun wallpaper. The master bathroom has quartz countertops and tile on the

floor in a pale blue with greens and grays. Lower-level cabinets are green with the shower floor of tile to resemble river rocks; again, in keeping with a natural woodsy feel.

“The bathroom faucets are wall mounted for convenience and in the master bathroom there is a hot tub,” Lauren says.

The homeowners were easy to work with and the husband said he had no clear notion and depended upon Lauren to bring in things he liked. The couple simply wanted someone to curate the project into a cohesive design and Lauren’s company fit that request.

With offices in New Hampton, New Hampshire, Lauren has been in business since 2007, and working in the field since 2000. She has a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from Wentworth Institute of Technology, NCIDQ certification, and many years project managing in the field, where she calls on both her analyti-

cal and artistic roots in all she does.

This work includes a knowledge of HVAC, electrical, building systems, as well as décor knowledge. She also took architectural classes. This deep knowledge allows her to really understand the entire building process and she has an ease working with builders.

As for the home that will be on the Parade, Lauren says, “We paid attention to the right details. Things like the fireplace and a lot of exterior stone on the entrance and the use of natural stone versus manmade make the home special.” There also is a bar on the downstairs level of the home with lots of windows and a convenient wine refrigerator.

The owners certainly enjoy the home and property with docking on the lake and extended family living next door. They all enjoy such things as a firepit for gathering and socializing and of course, the beauty and recreation available on Lovell Lake.

Those who stop to tour the property on the Parade of Homes weekend will see amenities and décor designs galore, which they can use in their own homes.

For people who are ready to jump in, Lauren invites them to call her to find out what their options might be, or to call to learn about the design process before putting out a bid to locate a con tractor. She says among her favorite parts of the job is working alongside the builders and this is a benefit to the homeowner. “I have a good rapport with trade professionals, and I know what they need. It is a collaborative process.”

During the Parade, Lauren will be on-site at the home to meet and talk with visitors. She will point out and explain the special features of the home and Key Day will also be on site.

“The home is Parade-worthy because it is a quality of home with attention to detail. This is what makes it stand out,” she concludes.

Guide to Outdoor Lighting

Lighting is an essential component of interior and exterior home design. Not only does lighting add style and make spaces more appealing, when done correctly, it also makes a home safer and more functional.

Homeowners who plan to utilize outdoor spaces like backyards, front porches and walkways to the fullest should think carefully about lighting. These guidelines can assist with select ing outdoor lighting fixtures.

Security lighting

Flood lights and security lights are a good investment for those who want to beef up visibility and security around the home. These lights are high-intensity and designed to illuminate large areas. The brightness and reach can serve as a preventive measure to keep animals and even criminals away. Motion-sensor lights will immediately engage if something crosses the path of the sensor. Some lights will remain on from dusk until dawn. Lowes Home Improvement suggests using the correct wattage on outdoor security lights so they flood an area thoroughly without affecting neighboring properties.

Wall, post and ceiling lights

Outdoor lighting fixtures beyond security options come in a variety of styles, according to Lamps USA. Wall lights are mounted to the outdoor wall of the home. These typically flank doorways or the garage. Post lights are often installed on the posts of decks and porches, or are free-standing on properties, providing visibility but also style. Ceiling-mounted lights may be above doorways or installed in any structure that has an overhead area. Warm-colored temperature bulbs in these fixtures can create an inviting atmosphere that is not too bright and jarring, especially when multiple lighting fixtures are working together. When selecting lighting for wall-mounted fixtures, experts suggest sizing up if you are not sure of the size to pick, as lights will look much smaller in scale from a distance.

Accent and landscape lighting

A bevy of accent lighting choices are available. Accent light ing is designed to enhance the mood and appearance of certain elements of a landscape. Accent lighting is not intended to add bright light. For example, upward-directed lights can be cast on trees or shrubs to accentuate their shapes. Accent lighting also may call out a structure, such as a garden or a fountain. While accent lighting may be hard-wired, homeowners who want the luxury of changing lighting can opt for solar fixtures, which are more mobile but not as bright.

Additional pointers

When shopping for bulbs, consider the number of lumens. A standard 100-watt bulb produces around 1,600 lumens. Security lights should range from 700 to 1,300 lumens for optimal brightness. Other lights needn’t be so bright.

Furthermore, ensure that any fixtures that are being used are safety-rated for outdoors. Wet-rated fixtures are designed to withstand direct exposure to outdoor elements, advises the de sign experts at Schoolhouse, a lighting and lifestyle goods company. Damp-rated fixtures are built for outdoor locations protected from harsh weather. Look for the product details or work with an electrician to choose the right lighting choices.

Lighting can transform outdoors spaces for the better. -metro

You Deserve

years representing so many

just like you in the Lakes Region.

you! I have acquired first-hand knowledge of state and local market conditions, zoning regulations, financing, infrastructure issues, schools, taxes, etc. This has proven valuable time and again to my many happy clients. I look forward to being of service to you.

a sampling of properties I’ve

sold

families

like yours.

How to Prepare for Drought in Advance

Drought is becoming a more frequent problem. According to NASA, the last 20 years have produced some of the driest conditions in the American west on record. When drought occurs, it is now more severe and pervasive than it once was, which underscores the importance of planning for drought before it occurs.

Government efforts to combat climate change, which NASA indicates is behind the increase in drought over the last two decades, might produce large scale change needed to protect against drought. But there’s also steps private homeowners can take to prepare for drought before it occurs.

• Check your well pump regularly. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security urges homeowners who have a well pump on their properties to check them regularly for leaks. If the pump turns on and off while water is not being used, it has a leak. Addressing the leak promptly helps to conserve water, which is one of the most effective means to combatting drought.

• Plant native species. The U.S. Forest Service notes that native plants are adapted to the local climate and soil conditions. That means they will require less water and will be hardy enough to withstand heat waves in areas where especially high summer temperatures are the norm.

• Raise the blades on your lawn mower. The DHS notes that lawn mower blades raised to at least three inches encour-

age grass roots to grow deeper and hold soil moisture. That can help lawns sur vive drought without much intervention, including extra water during times when water restrictions are in place.

• Reseed lawns with drought in mind. When reseeding a lawn, consider the potential for drought. The DHS recommends individuals in areas affected or likely to be affected by drought plant drought-resistant lawn seed. Droughtresistant grasses, which include Bermuda and Zoysia grass, can withstand prolonged periods without water. However, before reseeding, consult a local lawn and garden professional to ensure the grass will thrive in your area.

• Devise a wise watering strategy. Come late spring, devise a watering strategy to take you through the dog days of summer. Water-efficient irrigation systems can protect flowers, plants and shrubs during prolonged periods marked by little to no precipitation. In addition, less water will be lost to evaporation when watering during early morning or evening hours when temperatures tend to be less extreme and the sun is not as high. If possible, hand water during these times of day or set irrigation system timers to do so.

Dry conditions are more common today than they were 20 years ago. That reality means homeowners must plan ahead as they try to help their lawns and gardens survive drought. -metro

Cabin Rustics specializes in locally and American made furniture fitting rustic, lake house and log cabin decor. We carry living, dining and bedroom furniture made of cedar, pine, birch, aspen, maple, cherry, barn board and many more beautiful species of wood. From sofa groups, coffee tables, dining room sets, cabinets, shelving, tables, benches, bedroom sets, mattresses, lighting and lamps, outdoor and more you’ll find plenty of choices to fit your home.

of Autumn Tastes Tastes

By Chef Kelly Ross

Lakes Region. For starters, I hope all is well with all of you and that you have enjoyed the beautiful summer season this area has offered. It truly has been a wonderful one on The Lakes and beyond. The area saw a great boom in business this year with Covid taking a step back. For good or bad, summer is history, and for many of us, our favorite season is upon us. Fall and Spring have always been my favorite seasons, and since Spring rarely gives us a traditional one, by default Autumn is my favorite season. The weather is perfect from my standpoint, not too hot, cool nights for sleeping,

Hello

and the scenery is truly as good as it can possibly get.

Well, with this time of year comes a specific mentality when it comes to how many of us cook and eat, and that’s utilizing the great fall flavors.

Apples are a

huge addition to fall cooking, although apples are found in supermarkets year-round, but picking fresh apples is always a big thing for many, and with that comes some fun baking. Let’s face it, everyone loves apples, as opposed to a love/hate fall food and that is the invasion of pumpkin this, and pumpkin that. Every now and then I talk about a specific love/ hate food item with not much middle ground generally, and pumpkin may be the #1 that fits those criteria, but let’s face it, you can’t get away from it this time of year, and those who love it truly do so. Apples and pumpkin are quite possibly the top two

fall flavors that springs to most minds, so much of what I toss your way will fall into one of those groups, but there are others such as butternut squash, sweet potatoes, maple, and corn.

Let’s start off with a couple of great quick bread recipes, great for breakfast or a snack at any time of the day. I love slicing a good breakfast bread and either toasting them and buttering or buttering and grilling. Either way, I always need mega-willpower to keep myself from eating a whole loaf, because quite simply, they are so darn scrumptious. I’m going to start with an apple bread that’s incredibly moist as it’s made with fresh apples as well as applesauce, and I often make this with white wheat flour for those wanting to stay gluten free, although the choice is yours as to what kind of flour you prefer, which goes for any recipe containing flour. This recipe will get you a single loaf, so feel free to at least double up on this one. Prep time is 15 minutes and cook time is 45.

Apple Bread

½ cup walnut halves, I prefer using raw

2 cups tart apples, such as Cortland or Granny Smiths, cored, peeled, and cut into ¼ inch dice, 2-3 apples

1 ½ cups whole wheat white flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

¼ tsp kosher salt

½ cup unsweetened applesauce

2 tbsp canola oil or light olive oil or melted, cooled coconut oil

2 tbsp milk

½ cup sugar

1 large egg

Well Company

Well Company

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and lightly coat an 8×4inch loaf pan with baking spray. Set aside.

Spread the walnuts in a single layer on an ungreased baking sheet. Place in the oven and bake until toasted and fragrant, about 8-12 minutes, stirring once throughout. Make sure you babysit them during the last few minutes as they can burn up quick if not watching. Transfer to a cutting board. Once cool enough to handle, roughly chop, and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together the applesauce, canola oil, milk, sugar, egg, and vanilla until smooth. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients, then add the wet ingredient all at once. Mix in by hand just until combined. The batter will look very thick and stiff. Fold in the apples and walnuts. It will be hard to do because the batter is so thick. Use a rubber spatula and smush and push it around gently but firmly as needed. Distribute the apples and walnuts as evenly as you can. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. With the back of a rubber spatula, press and smooth the top so it is mostly flat. For the cinnamon sugar topping, combine the last 2 ingredients together in a small bowl. Sprinkle evenly over the top of the batter. Bake for 25 minutes, loosely tent with foil, then bake for 20 additional minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean without any wet batter clinging to it. Place on a wire rack and let cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy warm or at room temperature. Quick

bread can be hard to judge sometimes. The best way is to take its temperature with an instant-read thermometer. When the bread hits 195 to 200 degrees, it’s done.

OK, so it is pumpkins turn to shine in the quick bread world. Like the last one, we toss toasted walnuts into the bread as well since walnuts seem to always be involved in these kinds of breads, but you obviously know how to eliminate them if nut allergies are an issue, or if you just aren’t a fan. This one takes a little longer to make, about 25 minutes to prep and about an hour to cook, but the good news is that this one makes 2 loaves.

Pumpkin Walnut Bread

1/2 cup old-fashioned oats

1/4 tsp sugar

1/8 tsp ground cinnamon

1 can, 15 oz solid-pack pumpkin

4 large eggs

3/4 cup canola oil

2/3 cup water

2 cups sugar

1 cup honey

1 ½ tsp vanilla extract

3 ½ cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking soda

1 ½ tsp salt

1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground nutmeg

½ tsp ground cloves

½ tsp ground ginger

1 cup walnut halves, toasted and coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small skillet, combine oats, sugar, and cinnamon and cook and stir over medium heat 4-6 minutes or until oats are toasted. Remove from heat. To toast nuts, bake in a shallow pan in a 350-degree oven for 8-12 minutes or cook in a skillet over low heat until lightly browned, stirring occasionally. Once cooled, chop. For the bread, in a large bowl, beat pumpkin, eggs, oil, water, sugar, honey and vanilla until well blended. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, salt, and spices and gradually beat into pumpkin mixture. Fold in walnuts. Transfer to two greased 9x5-inch loaf pans. Sprinkle tops with oat mixture. Bake 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool before slicing.

In what has become a huge craze in recent years at this time is cider doughnuts, and who am I to refute that because they are awesome. I will not lie, for best results it does help if you have a doughnut pan which isn’t in the average kitchen, but rest assured you can still make these without one. A muffin pan is Plan B if you don’t have the doughnut pan and I know you all have at least one of those and as muffins, they taste the same way. Admittedly, most times these doughnuts are fried when made professionally, so these won’t be quite the same as what you may be used to when buying out there in the retail world, but these are still pretty darn good, or I wouldn’t be sharing this recipe. On the good side of things, they aren’t as bad for you when not fried, so you have that going for you. This will get you the classic cider doughnut flavor you have enjoyed elsewhere, and you get a dozen doughnuts. They go together quicker than you likely expect as 45 minutes should do it.

Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts

1¾ cup all-purpose flour

1¼ tsp baking powder

¾ tsp fine sea salt

2 tsp ground cinnamon

½ tsp freshly grated nutmeg

1 cup unsalted butter, 2 sticks, at room temperature, separated

¾ cup light brown sugar

¾ cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs, at room temperature

1 tsp vanilla extract

½ cup apple cider

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 2 doughnut pans, 6 cavity each, or a 12-cup muffin tin with nonstick spray. In a medium bowl, add flour, baking powder, salt, half the cinnamon and all the nutmeg and whisk to combine. Set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream 10 tbsp butter, brown sugar and ¼ cup granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3-4 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time and mix until well incorporated after each addi tion, scraping the bowl as necessary. Beat in the vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed until incorporated. With the mixer running, add the apple cider in a slow, steady stream and mix to combine. Scrape the bowl well to make sure the batter is homogeneous. Spoon the batter into prepared doughnut pans, filling them about ⅔ of the way. You can also do this using a disposable piping bag or a resealable plastic bag with a ½-inch opening cut from one corner. Bake until evenly golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the

thickest portion comes out clean, 12-15 minutes. Rotate the pans halfway through baking. If you are making muffins, divide batter evenly between the prepared cups and bake for 15-20 minutes, rotating halfway through. While the doughnuts bake, whisk the remaining ½ cup granulated sugar and 1 tsp cinna mon together in a small bowl to combine. In a separate small bowl, melt the remaining 6 tbsp butter in the microwave. Let the doughnuts cool for 5 minutes after baking, then unmold them from the pans, brush with the melted butter and dredge them in the cinnamon sugar while they are still warm. With muffins, also brush with the butter and either dredge in the mixture or if easier since muffins can crumble easier, you can sprinkle the mixture all over them. Serve immediately or let cool to room temperature. Absolutely Delicious!!

Only because there are so many incredible autumn breakfast options, I feel I would be negligent to not add another gem to this batch of fun. Again, apples are the theme since we are often up to our eyeballs in apples right now. It’s not a bad thing though. Prep/cook time will take 1½ hours and depending on how you cut this, you will get 16-20 scrumptious, moist hunks of heaven as either a breakfast cake or dessert or snack.

Apple Harvest Coffee Cake

For The Topping

1 cup brown sugar

1 tbsp ground cinnamon

For The Cake

1 ½ cups granulated sugar

1 cup butter softened

3 large eggs

2 tsp vanilla extract

locatedhere

208A Daniel Webster

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 cup plain Greek yogurt

For The Apples

4 large apples, any kind or combo, approximately 4 cups diced, skin on or off, your call

2 tbsp lemon juice

2 tbsp granulated sugar

2 tsp ground cinnamon

For The Icing

1 cup powdered sugar

1-3 tbsp milk or cream depending on the thickness of the glaze desired, for thicker use cream

For the topping, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl and set aside. As for the apples, add the lemon juice to them and mix to coat the apples. Add the sugar, and cinnamon to the diced apples and mix. To mix the cake, start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees. Using pan spray, coat a 9 x 13 glass cake pan. In a large bowl, beat the granulated sugar, and softened butter with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Beat in eggs one at a time and add vanilla extract and yogurt. Whisk the flour and baking powder in a separate bowl. Add a little at a time and mix until just combined. Pour half the cake batter into the cake pan, add half of the apple mixture and sprinkle half of the brown sugar cinnamon mixture on top of the apple layer. Spoon the remaining cake batter over the

Dreaming of comfortable spaces and lower home energy bills? It's probably time to think about replacing your windows and doors. Not sure where to start? We're here to help you understand each step of the process and find everything you need to achieve your replacement vision.

Schedule a visit at your local, Marvin replacement specialist today.

©2022 Marvin Lumber and Cedar Co., LLC. Photo courtesy of Laurey W. Glenn

apple layer and spread it evenly with a knife, then top with the remaining chopped apples and brown sugar cinnamon mixture. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 60 minutes. Pull and set the pan on a cooling rack. While cooling, combine the powdered sugar and the milk or cream until well blended. Once the cake has cooled drizzle the icing over the top.

How about a change of pace? This is a year-round staple in my house as this is something my beautiful Gram used to make when I was a kid and it made for one of the best house incenses there is. Certain foods when cooking can turn a house into the best smells ever as I put this in my top 3 along with caramelizing onions, sautéing garlic, and yes, making homemade applesauce. Talk about the true essence of fall. Since apples are a year-round thing as I mentioned earlier, I always have some on hand. I’m most definitely showing my age here, but when I hear “apple sauce”, I instantly think Peter Brady for some silly reason. Go figure! This obviously goes great with pork chops, again a Peter Brady thing, but it also goes great as a breakfast side dish or just as is as a kick butt snack. This goes together in a half hour and makes 4 cups, but if you are anything like me, I make this in a triple to quadruple batch, especially in the fall. If you have never made your own applesauce, you will never buy store bought again once you make it yourself. All it takes is 8 apples and 3 other ingredients. It truly doesn’t get any easier boys and girls. One thing I would like to add is that although there are no bad apples to use, for best results I find that using a variety of different kinds of apples gets you the best flavor.

Chunky Cinnamon Applesauce 8 apples, peeled, cored, and cut into chunks.

½ cup apple juice

½ cup packed light brown sugar

1 cinnamon stick

In a soup pot over medium-high heat, combine all ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer 30-35 minutes or until desired texture, stirring occasionally. Remove cinnamon stick. Allow applesauce to cool then cover and chill until ready to serve. I dare you not to make this repeatedly. It’s great addition to the Thanksgiving table, warm right off the stove, although I know the stove/oven is busy on Turkey Day, so you can always make it the day before

PROTECTING

LANDSCAPE

is all about strengthening your green

offseason. From nourishing your soil

pruning

fertilizing, our services

your trees

shrubs

and microwave it on Game Day.

Moving away from the apple/pumpkin theme for the time being, I want to share a great salsa recipe made with roasted corn and veggies which creates such a great flavor like the grill is so famous for. I love a good salsa, and like the applesauce, if and when you start making your own, you’ll never want to buy that jarred stuff. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes the storebought works in a pinch, but fresh is in a completely different league. Add fire roasted corn and other veggies to the equation and you have yourselves a winner. A big winner. This salsa goes incredibly well with most any grilled protein and obviously as

an accompaniment to tortilla chips or crackers or any situation you would use any salsa. All in all, it’ll take you maybe 45 minutes to throw together and as a general rule, it tastes better when it sits for a while, but don’t get me wrong, it’s still awesome if you dig in 10 seconds after making it. This will get you about 6 cups.

Smoky Grilled Corn Salsa

6 plum tomatoes, halved

4 medium ears sweet corn, husks removed

2 medium yellow bell peppers, halved

2 medium green bell peppers, halved

3 jalapeno peppers, halved and seeded

1 medium red onion, cut into ½ inch slices

¼ cup minced fresh cilantro

3 tbsp olive oil

3 tbsp red wine vinegar

5 garlic cloves, minced

1 tsp salt

½ tsp sugar

½ tsp pepper

Grill the tomatoes, corn, peppers, and onion, covered, over medium heat for 10-12 minutes or until tender on a well-oiled grill, turning occasionally. Allow vegetables to cool slightly. Cut the corn from cobs and transfer to a large bowl. Chop the remaining vegetables and add to corn. In a small bowl, whisk the cilantro, oil, vinegar, garlic, salt, sugar, and pepper. Pour over vegetables and toss to coat. Serve warm or cold. So Good!!

I know I spoke of my Gram earlier and bring her up often in

my articles as she was always the best cook I have ever known and a true inspiration in my life. Whenever the two of us would go out to eat lunch somewhere, she, like many of her age group, loved grabbing soup and a sandwich, often a half sandwich. Well, this one has her name written all over it. The soup is a fall classic, a butternut squash soup, and the sandwich is a fun twist on an American staple comfort food. Grilled cheese lives in every American home but slide some slices of fresh apples in between the grilled bread and you have yourself a new version of the old classic. We all know soups are better on the norm when they sit for a day, but this, like the salsa, is great right off the stove as well. This recipe is for 4 if doing half sandwiches, although unless Gram was around, who does that lol? Big Hugs Gram. The soup may give you more than 4 portions depending on what you consider a soup portion, but the soup is a great change up from the traditional tomato soup that many of us like to dip our grilled cheese sandwiches into. Both the soup and sandwich are obviously easy to double up, especially if you want to have some leftover soup. All in all, the soup might take you 45 minutes, and we all know how quick a grilled cheese goes together, whether apples are inside them or not.

Butternut Squash Soup with Apple Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

1 tbsp grapeseed or coconut oil

1 cup chopped sweet white onion

2 tbsp fresh minced ginger

1 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp ground turmeric

¼ tsp cayenne pepper, plus more for garnish

5 cups of fresh 1-inch cubed peeled butternut squash

1 can light coconut milk, 15 oz, divided

2 cups chicken broth or stock

1 apple, cored and thinly sliced, divided

¾ tsp salt

1 tbsp fresh squeezed lime juice

4 slices whole wheat buttered bread

1 cup shredded smoked Gouda cheese

Fresh grind black pepper

Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and ginger and cook, stirring, until starting to soften, about 3 minutes. Add cumin, turmeric, and cayenne, continuing to cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add squash, coconut milk, reserving ¼ cup for garnish if desired, broth, half the apple slices and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the squash is tender, about 20 minutes. Stir in lime juice. Remove from heat. Puree the soup in the pan using an immersion blender or in batches in a blender, showing caution when blending hot liquids.

Divide ½ cup cheese between 2 slices of buttered bread. Top with the remaining apple slices, cheese, and other slices of buttered bread. In a large heated nonstick skillet over medium heat, add the sandwiches and cook until lightly browned on both sides and the cheese is melted, about 2 minutes per side. Cut in half. Garnish the soup with the reserved coconut milk, more cayenne and ground pepper, if desired.

I am going to share one more classic fall soup with you for two reasons. The first is that it is awesome, and the second is that it only requires a little more than a handful of ingredients, and you could likely put this together blindfolded, well almost. The soup is a combo of pumpkin, corn, black beans and a hint

of heat. This can be done in 20 minutes, although the longer it sits, the better. This will give you 6-8 servings.

Spicy Pumpkin & Corn Soup

1 can packed pumpkin, 15 oz

1 can black beans, 15 oz, rinsed and drained

1 ½ cups frozen corn

1 can diced tomatoes with green chiles, 10 oz

2 cans chicken broth, 14 ½ oz each ¼ tsp pepper

A few drops of hot sauce, optional

In a large saucepan, mix all ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer, uncovered, 10-15 minutes or until slightly thickened, stirring occasionally……Was that quick enough for all of you out there? I think you will hit this one up again and again.

Let’s move onto a few side dishes, although some can be used as the main course, especially for the vegetarian crowd. This first one is a classic casserole dish containing sweet potatoes and turnips and has had a place at many a Thanksgiving table in my

day. My mentality is if you throw the term Gratin or Au Gratin on a casserole dish, I’m in! Prep is 20 minutes, cook time closer to 1 ½ hours and serves 8.

Turnip and Sweet Potato Gratin

1 ½ lbs turnips, 3-4 medium, peeled and cut into ¼ inch thick rounds

Coarse salt and fresh grind black pepper ¼ cup flour

1 lb sweet potatoes, 2-3, peeled and cut into ¼ inch rounds 2 tbsp unsalted butter, cut into pieces

¾ cup chicken stock, although veggie stock also works ¼ cup dry white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc

1 ½ cups grated Gruyere cheese, about 6 oz

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In an 8-inch square baking dish, arrange a single layer of turnips and sweet potatoes, overlapping slightly. Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with 1/3 of the flour. Repeat to make 3 more layers, sprinkling with salt, pepper, and flour between layers. Dot top layer with butter, then slowly pour broth and wine into dish, keeping layers intact. Cover with foil and bake until vegetables are tender when pierced with a knife, 45 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 425 degrees. Remove foil and sprinkle cheese over dish. Bake until cheese is golden and bubbling, 12-15 minutes. Let gratin sit 10 minutes before serving. Yumbaly in the Tummy!!

This is easily my favorite side dish of the day as I’ve been inhaling this stuff since my teens. I hate to share too much with you but let’s just say that’s pushing half a century. Ooops, I guess I spilled my beans on that one. It’s ok because it just proves how much I love this dish. This is an autumn bake of

Bigger than

It’s been 91 years since we

M-F

look!

opened our doors.

6 Large Showrooms with Over 35,000

Daniel’s Amish

Large Leather Gallery

sorts, although also nicknamed sweet potato pudding, which may not sound the most appealing, but it’s got a great combo of ingredients that is sure to wow you. Prep/cook time will take 1 ½ hours and feeds 8. The flavor combo in this is phenomenal.

Harvest Bake

3 cups peeled and grated sweet potato, about 2 medium sweet potatoes

2 cups peeled and grated carrot, about 3 medium-large carrots

2 cups peeled, cored, and grated apples of choice, about 2 large apples

3/4 cup light brown sugar

2 tbsp pure maple syrup

1 cup raisins

½ cup cracker crumbs

3 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp salt

1 stick butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat an 8-inch square baking dish or 1 ½ quart casserole dish with cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients, mix well then pour into baking dish. Bake 55-60 minutes, or until heated through. Seriously, that’s all she wrote, and it’s awesome!!

I have a single dinner entrée to share with you before I give you a few crazy good desserts. This is a pasta dish, using but ternut squash as the pasta, which is a great healthier option, not to mention pretty darn good. The rest of the dish will sound somewhat familiar as this is butternut squash alfredo with chicken and spinach. How can that possibly not sound great?

I like to use this

meal at home a few times a year, and although I think autumn when I hear butternut squash, we all know it can be found yearround. Prep time is 35-40 minutes, as is the cook time and it will feed 4 lucky eaters.

Butternut Squash Alfredo with Chicken & Spinach

2 ½ lbs peeled butternut squash

1 cup chicken broth or stock

½ cup dry white wine

1 lb of chicken tenders, or breasts

8 cloves of garlic, peeled

8 cups baby spinach

1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp water

1 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese, plus 3 tbsp, divided

½ cup sour cream

3 tbsp unsalted butter

4-6 good healthy turns of fresh grind black pepper

Pinch of fresh grated nutmeg

1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

Put a large pot of water on to boil. Using a spiral vegetable slicer or a julienne or regular vegetable peeler, cut squash into

Pellet Stove

Pellet Stove

Pellet Stove

The smartest pellet stove ever made. The Absolute43

engineering excellence are infused into

long, thin strands. You should have about 10 cups of squash “noodles.”

Combine broth, wine, chicken tenders and garlic in a medium saucepan, bring to a boil over high heat. Cover, reduce heat to a simmer and cook until the chicken is cooked through, and the garlic is soft, 10-12 minutes. Meanwhile, cook the squash noodles in the boiling water, stirring often, for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in spinach. Drain in a colander for 3 minutes, then transfer to a serving bowl. Cover with foil to keep warm. Transfer the chicken to a clean cutting board and chop or shred into bite-size pieces. Transfer the garlic and broth to a blender and process until smooth, about 1 minute. Use caution when blending hot liquids. Return the mixture to the saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Add cornstarch mixture and whisk until slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Whisk in 1 cup Parmesan, sour cream, butter, pepper, and nutmeg. Stir in the chicken and cook for 1 minute more. Pour the chicken mixture over the squash noodles. Serve topped with the remaining 3 tbsp of Parmesan and the parsley. You may want some lightly toasted rustic bread to sop up the delicious sauce.

I know I tossed some sweets your way earlier, even though they did have more of a breakfast feel to them. The following are straight up dessert. Two are incredible classics that are amazing and the one I’m tossing in between them is a fun dip that can also be used as a fun appetizer if you care to, but I’m getting ahead of myself. First off, I offer you a pie with a combo of pumpkin and white chocolate mousse sitting on top of a crunchy graham cracker crust. This makes a 9-inch pie, and the entire process will take 4 ½ hours, much of that to sit.

Pumpkin and White Chocolate Mousse Pie

For The Crust

¼ cup macadamia nuts

10 whole graham crackers, broken into small pieces

7 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

¼ cup light brown sugar

1 tbsp fine cornmeal

¾ tsp ground cinnamon

¼ tsp grated nutmeg

¼ tsp salt

For The Filling

1 tbsp unflavored powdered gelatin

3 ½ oz white chocolate, finely chopped

2 large egg yolks

¼ cup granulated sugar

1 cup heavy cream

1 small bay leaf

1 cinnamon stick, 2 inches long

2 pinches of ground allspice

1 pinch of grated nutmeg

½ tsp pure vanilla extract

1 ½ cups pumpkin puree

½ tsp kosher salt

To make the crust, preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Toast the macadamias on a pie plate for 15 minutes, until golden. Let cool. In a food processor, pulse the graham crackers until finely ground and transfer to a bowl. Next, pulse the macadamias until finely ground and add them to the bowl. Add all the remaining crust ingredients and mix well. Press the crust over the bottom and up the side of a lightly sprayed 9-inch pie plate. Bake for about 20 minutes, until set. Transfer to a rack and cool.

Meanwhile, as for the filling, sprinkle the gelatin over 1/3 cup of water in a bowl and let stand for 5 minutes. Place the white chocolate in a large bowl. In another bowl, whisk the egg yolks with the granulated sugar. In a small saucepan, simmer ¾ cup of the heavy cream with the bay leaf, cinnamon stick, allspice, nut meg and vanilla for 1 minute. Discard the cinnamon stick and bay leaf. While whisking constantly, slowly drizzle the heavy cream mixture into the egg mixture, and once combined, whisk in the gelatin mixture. Immediately pour the hot egg mixture over the white chocolate and let stand for 1 minute, then whisk until smooth. Whisk in the pumpkin puree and salt until incor porated. Refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour. In a small bowl, whisk the remaining ¼ cup of heavy cream until soft peaks form, then fold into the pumpkin filling until incorporated. Scrape the filling into the baked crust and spread in an even layer. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving and as long as overnight. If I might suggest, a light drizzle of caramel sauce at service is wicked good.

So as for that dip I mentioned earlier, this is a pumpkin dip that is outstanding when dipping sliced apples, pears, cookies, and such. This will go together quick although it should sit for an hour under refrigeration. This will give you 4 cups or so.

Pumpkin Dip

1 cup canned pumpkin puree

½ cup confectioner›s sugar

1 package cream cheese, 8 oz, softened

½ tsp ground cinnamon

1 tub frozen whipped topping, 8 oz, thawed Apple slices, pear slices, graham crackers, gingersnap cookies for dipping

Using an electric or stand mixer, beat the pumpkin, powdered sugar, cream cheese, and cinnamon until smooth and creamy. Fold in cool whip topping. Place in fridge until ready to serve. Serve with the dipping items or any other options. You’ll love it!!

Lastly today, I always like to end on a big note, and this should do the trick. Like most, I’m a huge sucker for tiramisu, and this variation is a winner as it is sort of tiramisu meets pumpkin pie. Like a traditional tiramisu, this includes mascarpone cheese, but instead of lady fingers, this uses gingersnap cookies. This goes together in 45-50 minutes and will serve a dozen of you. You should make this 24 hour prior to wanting to eat it though, so plan accordingly

Pumpkin Gingersnap Tiramisu

3 ½ tsp unflavored gelatin from 1 ½ envelopes

2 tbsp water

6 large egg yolks

¼ cup plus 2 tbsp cornstarch

¼ tsp salt

1 ½ cups plus 1 tbsp sugar

1 qt whole milk

1 can pumpkin puree, 15 oz

1 tbsp pure vanilla extract

¾ tsp cinnamon

1 lb mascarpone, 2 cups

3 tbsp apple brandy

1 ¼ lbs gingersnaps, ¼ pound finely crushed

In a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over the water and let stand for 5 minutes. In a large bowl, whisk the yolks, cornstarch, salt and 1 ½ cups of the sugar until the sugar is moistened. In a large saucepan, heat the milk just until steaming. Whisk 1 cup of the hot milk into the yolk mixture. Pour the mixture back into the milk in the saucepan and cook over low-medium heat, whisking constantly, until boiling and thick, about 5 minutes. Whisk in the pumpkin puree and cook, whisking, for 1 minute. Pull off the heat, whisk in the gelatin, vanilla, and cinnamon. Whisk in the mascarpone. In a small microwave-safe bowl, microwave the brandy with the remaining 1 tbsp of sugar at high power for 10 seconds, just until the sugar is dissolved. Arrange 1/3 of the whole gingersnaps in a 9x13x2 ½ inch glass baking dish. Lightly brush the gingersnaps with some of the brandy and top with 1/3 of the pumpkin custard. Repeat the layering twice more with the remaining whole gingersnaps, brandy, and custard. Sprinkle half of the crushed gingersnaps on top and press a sheet of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the tiramisu. Freeze overnight. Let the tiramisu stand at room temperature for 6 hours, until thawed. Sprinkle with the remaining gingersnaps. Serve and Conquer. So Good!! This can be frozen up to a week before pulling and if you want, pull from freezer the night before and let it thaw under refrigeration and serve that way if made in advance.

I feel quite confident many of these could easily fall into your repertoire of great recipes to cook this autumn season and maybe even make an appearance or two at your Thanksgiving get togethers. Keep your taste buds happy everyone and be safe out there.

If anyone wants to touch base with any questions or feedback, please reach out at fenwaysox10@gmail.com

The Future is Now

By Mark Okrant

varied.

55-plus active communities share a number of attrac tive characteristics, especially elimination of yard care responsibilities and opportunities to make lasting friendships.

The proportion of United States residents reaching retire ment age has been increasing. In 2022, 16.5 percent of the country’s population is 65 years of age or older. This is unsurprising, as Baby Boomers comprise 21.2 percent of inhabitants. With birth rates presently dropping, the figure for 65-plus year olds is expected to exceed 20 percent by 2050, when Generation Xers and early Millennials will fill that niche.

The business sphere’s response has been strong, as more than 21 thousand active retirement communities had been built by 2019, with many more to follow. The largest of these is central Florida’s Villages, a living and recreational space with more than 132 thousand residents. Additionally, according to a recent census, there are 28.9 thousand assisted living communities that serve US seniors who require some level of on-going health care.

Here in New Hampshire, there are seventy-seven 55-plus active communities. These vary in type: age-restricted, not agerestricted, gated, as well as resale homes versus new houses. While complexes in many other parts of the country tend to be considerably larger, the average size of a New Hampshire active retirement community is 60 homes, with 79 percent providing fewer than 100 houses, and 21 percent providing 100 or more. Locally, Meredith Bay Village in the Lakes Region has 70 homes. The smallest of this state’s 55-plus communities is

Chedwick Place in Windham, with a mere 15 houses. The larg est is Cross Farm in Londonderry, with 189 units.

All but a handful (1 percent) of 55-plus homes in New Hampshire are strictly limited to occupants who have reached the age of 55. Some communities require the older owner to be 55-plus, while the younger member of the household must have reached an age between 50 and 54.

The price range of homes within these communities varies considerably: 19 percent fall into the $200-300 thousand range, 49 percent sell for $300-plus to 400 thousand, while 32 percent cost more than $400 thousand. The overwhelming majority (92 percent) of these 55-plus homes are resale properties, i.e., preowned. The architecture for 59 percent of units is single family, while 41 percent are attached living components.

Occupants of these communities buy with the expectation that certain services will be provided for them. Having worked and owned a home for decades, most prospective residents do not expect to shovel snow or do yard work—other than gardening—for the rest of their lives. They arrive with the image of rolling green lawns that someone else will fertilize, water, and mow. Other desired amenities are proximity to medical facilities and access to transportation or, at the very least, nearby shopping opportunities.

While residents may vary in age from mid-fifties to early nineties, the vast majority is physically and socially active. Therefore, they demand a range of amenities including a/an: clubhouse/ amenity center, fitness center, outdoor or indoor pool, restaurant, aerobics and dance studio, bocce court, performance/ movie center, tennis and/or pickle ball court, and RV/boat parking. Still others will organize their own activities, including golf events, book clubs, ping pong, poker/Texas Hold‘em, Tuck,

To gain greater insight into life within a 55-plus active community, four residents of The Villages at Loudon, a beautiful complex of 100 houses situated northeast of Concord, in the town of Loudon, were interviewed. Residents of The Villages have ownership of their structures and responsibility for main taining a twelve-foot swath of surrounding yard space. Monthly dues are paid, and a fiveperson board has the authority to enforce as sociation rules.

Alan and his wife moved to The Villages from nearby Belmont, in 2014. Their purpose was “to downsize and move on with our lives.” When his wife saw The Villages’ beautiful layout for the first time, she was sold. Asked to describe the benefits from living in this community, Alan immediately cited, “the people here, and the long-term friendships we have developed; everyone looks after one another.” Asked to describe anything about living in the complex that disappoints him, he was quick to respond. “The written standards here are rigid; however, some go unenforced. For example, at times, we wonder who pays for some of the actions that favor a few—rather than the body of residents.”

A single man, Stan moved from Montpelier, Vermont into The Villages in December 2017. He had lived in an old farmhouse, and decided he’d reached the age when it was time to forgo its on-going maintenance. Stan finds his new neighborhood a quiet place, with people who are laid back and friendly. Problems stemmed from the fact that the builder and original board of directors had not worked together on several impor-

tant items. As a result, due to drought con ditions in the region, the lawns in The Villages do not grow, and needed landscaping assistance is lacking.

Jim and his wife moved from New Boston into The Villages in December 2016. Like so many others living in the complex, the couple was looking to downsize. Also, he had a sister who was living here. This couple appreciates “having stuff done for us;” however, both lament that not as much is being done as they were led to expect. Jim appreciates the fact that there is a rigid set of rules and regulations but is displeased by the lack of enforcement.

Mark and his wife moved to The Villages in May 2015 from an hour north, in Plymouth.

As others described, they were looking for a house that didn’t necessitate mowing, raking, or shoveling snow. This couple loves their house, especially the large, attached garage, and describes the community as “wonderful.” However, because their house has a northern exposure, the snow shoveling has disappointed at times; also, “our lawn looks more like the Serengeti than New England.” Asked if there is anything the couple finds discon certing, he replied, “We will never get used to seeing the flashing lights of an ambulance in the middle of the night. Of course, this is to be expected at our age.”

Given the ever-increasing proportion of aging residents in the Lakes Region, our state, the US, and the world, 55-plus active communities are a desirable option. While no complex is without its foibles, this is a sensible way for people to enjoy life once they satisfy the age requirement.

Amish handcra ed furniture

Amish

ountry Barn

Primitive and Country Home Décor

expression of living

How to Spot Mold in Your Home

Homes are safe havens and relaxing spaces for their residents. No one wants to imagine the place they call home putting their health in jeopardy, but that’s precisely the case for people who live in homes where mold is present.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency notes that molds are not usually a problem indoors. However, when they are, molds produce allergens, irritants, and potentially toxic substances. Molds can become problematic when spores land on wet or damp surfaces and begin growing. If inhaled, those spores can cause allergic reactions in people with asthma who have mold allergies. Even people without such allergies may suffer from irritated eyes, skin, nose, throat, or lungs due to exposure to mold. Mold also can affect the home itself, as the EPA notes that mold gradually destroys the things it grows on, potentially leading to costly remediation and renovation expenses.

Mold is sometimes visible in parts of a home. For example, mold problems in a bathroom may be recognizable when tiny black spots are present on surfaces that frequently get wet. Those areas may gradually expand from small spots and cover larger areas, such as windowsills and areas around the bathtub. Other signs indicating the presence of mold may be less recognizable though potentially just as harmful. That’s one reason why it makes sense for everyone to learn how to spot mold in

a home.

• Learn what mold looks like. Not all molds are black. Some are white and look like thread, but they also can have a gray-brown or graygreen tint. When peeling old wallpaper, some people may notice orange, pink or purple growth on the newly exposed walls, and that’s likely mold.

• Identify problems with paint. If paint is peeling, bubbling or cracking, it’s likely indicative of a mold issue. In such instances, contact a mold remediation specialist rather than simply painting over the affected areas with a fresh coat of paint.

• Conduct a smell test. Most molds will emit a damp, musty odor. However, a lack of this distinct and unpleasant smell should not lead individuals to conclude they don’t have a mold issue, as some molds do not produce an odor. In addition, the EPA notes that the smell of indoor molds can differ depending on the type of mold present in the home. Homeowners who have experienced mold issues in the past should not ignore a foul odor simply because it smells different from a previous infestation. Contact a mold remediation professional if you sus pect an unpleasant smell could be a byproduct of mold.

Mold can be harmful to homes and humans. Anyone who suspects their home has a mold problem is urged to contact a remediation specialist as soon as possible. -metro

SPAS STOVES SHEDS GAZEBOS PLAYSETS GRILLS

343 Court St, Laconia, NH HOT TUBS SWIM SPAS

Lakes Region Real Estate

By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper

Demand

continues. There is a mix of semi-retirement, second home, and primary occupancy real estate buyers. It has been a strong summer season for real estate sales. And on it goes.

The prediction for upcoming sales and recent seasonal sales in the real estate market can make a buyer’s head spin. Houses have for-sale signs in the front yard and properties are being snapped up quickly. New homes and communities of condos and single-family units are springing up all over the area.

What does all this mean? Perhaps you want a home here, or a second-home get away and dream of living on or near the lake? Is there anything available? Who is buying and what are the current prices for homes?

And what about all the condos being built in the area? Are they already purchased, with families just waiting for construction completion so they can move in?

The local real estate scene is fast-moving and difficult to discern. If anyone knows where it has been and where we are headed, it is Frank Roche, president of Roche Realty Group, Inc. With offices in Meredith and Laconia, Roche watches the market as he works with the realtors in his office and home buyers. Another area realtor recently said, “Frank is like an encyclopedia when it comes to real estate. If you want to find out what’s happening – now and in the past and get some solid predictions for the future

– talk to Frank.”

Roche says, “The spring/summer months have been very productive in the Lakes Region. We started the early spring season with record low inventory levels in all categories. I recall back in March of 2022, in 25 towns throughout the Lakes Region, there were only 115 homes on the market. Laconia had eight single-family homes, Meredith had nine, Wolfeboro had five, and Moultonborough only had five single-family homes for sale. Back then, I was optimistic that more product would flow into the market over the summer months, and it did.”

Another knowledgeable area realtor is Susan Bradley of Coldwell-Banker Realty with offices in Gilford. “Prices are modifying,” she explains. “Demand remains high, but the frenzied buying has stopped. Interest rates have increased, and although there are many cash buyers, there are fewer multiple offers. As summer ends, there is no urgency to purchase a second home for use this year.”

“The Lakes Region is a desirable destination and has always attracted an affluent audience. We are … New England’s playground.”

What about all the new construction in the area? Roche explains, “In the Lakes Region, we’ve seen lots of new construction this year all around the lakes. Many new, custom lake homes have been built, many high-end residential homes, ad ditions and remodeling projects scattered throughout the region, and new condominium developments have sprouted. There are a lot of moving parts. There’s a shortage of good labor

GAF Certified Installer

New Roofs | Repairs | Inspections | Commerical Roofing

System Plus covers 100% of material defects for 50 years, 20 years on 3-Tab shingles. It covers 100% of installation labor costs for the lifetime of the roof.

Frank Roche, president, Roche Realty Group

in the trades, certain materials are lagging in delivery times, costs have increased, and the timelines to complete projects have been challenging. Everyone is very busy, and it shows.”

At Lakeside at Paugus Bay, Roche Realty Group has been marketing the construction of 32 luxury condominium homes on the lake. Says Roche, “To date; we have 23 homes under agreement or closed out of 32 total units in four separate build ings. The one-level units average 2,200 square feet with a twocar garage and huge balcony overlooking the lake. The quality construction, large open floorplans, high-end finishes, docking, and natural sandy beach have attracted a lot of semi-retired couples from Massachusetts, southern New Hampshire, and outlying states. The final stage will be released in September.”

Adding to this, Roche says, “At Brook Hill at Meredith, we have under contract or closed, 30 spacious townhouses with attached garages and a full basement. The primary suite on the first floor have been a big attraction, plus the vaulted ceil ing and spacious sunroom. In addition to Massachusetts and New Hampshire, buyers have come from Canada, California, Nevada, and Rhode Island. There’s a mix of semi-retirement, second home, and primary occupancy.”

Roche diligently tracks sales and facts and figures to stay on top of real estate as it trends and changes each year. “On our area lakes, it’s been a very strong selling season. In early spring, there were only 10 waterfront homes for sale on Winnipesaukee. Today there are 30 waterfronts available which include eight island properties. The median listing price is $2,547,500, and there are only five waterfronts for sale under $2,000,000, excluding island properties.” There have been a lot of cash sales and bidding wars over the listing price this past summer, and

Frank sees the fall season reacting in the same way. “There is simply too much demand chasing few properties.”

Susan Bradley sees it this way, “Generally buyers for waterfront or water access homes are second-home buyers. Given the flexibility of work schedules, many buyers have the option of spending more time working from home.”

She adds, when asked who it is buying many of the newhome construction properties, such as the condos being built, “A mix of buyers are purchasing these homes.”

What about the uptick in home prices and the competition to purchase a home that might have multiple offers? Will that continue? “Prices are modifying,” explains Bradley.

She adds that demand remains high, “but the urgency to purchase immediately has seemingly changed. Children are back to school, and vacationers are back to work. Buyers are there, but the frantic search has slowed.”

Always looking at numbers, Roche says, “On August 29, I pulled up 21 towns in the Lakes Region (not the full 25), and there were 312 single-family homes for sale, about three times the amount of inventory we had back in March. The median listing price was $552,450 and the median days on the market was 54, indicating that current inventory is taking quite a bit longer to sell. For example, in Laconia, there are 20 homes for sale compared to eight in March; in Meredith, there are 24 compared to nine; and in Moultonborough, there are 24 compared to five in March.

“Because of the low inventory levels into the summer season, the number of closed unit sales dropped this year in Belknap, Carroll, and Grafton Counties. Year-to-date sales (1/1/20227/31/2022) in Belknap County decreased 15.4%, from 552

We are on a mission to change the way you feel about insurance.

Buying insurance is one of the most important protections you can offer yourself and your family. Chalmers offers easy, knowledgeable advice, all in one call.

8 0 0 - 3 6 0 - 3 0 0 0

Our team is ready and waiting!

When you choose Chalmers, you can expect:

A personalized experience every step of the way

A relentless commitment to excellence

A fresh approach to understanding insurance

Access to 100% digital communication and billing

Same day coverage

units in 2021 vs. 467 in 2022. In Carroll Country, unit sales dropped 21.4% from 613 to 482 sales. In Grafton County, the decrease was 23.3%, from 683 units to 524.”

Median sale prices are a further indicator of how things are faring. Roche explains, “The opposite occurs when you look at the median sale prices for the same period. In Belknap County, the median sales price increased 13% from $367,150 in 2021 to $415,000 in 2022. In Carroll County, the increase was 15.1%, from $365,000 to $420,000, and in Grafton County the in crease jumped 25% from $299,900 to $375,000. Total sales volume decreased slightly in each county, averaging around 4.8%, and days on the market dropped an average of 25.4% to 25 days on the market for the three counties.”

Bradley sees that homes are “selling over the broad market. Inventory levels remain at historic lows, and homes at all price points are selling. We seem to be returning to a more ‘normal’ market. If a property is properly priced, it will sell quickly.”

Looking ahead to fall and winter real estate market sales, Roche explains, “Everyone is watching the Federal Reserve and other global central bankers. They have continued to signal that they will raise interest rates to squash inflation despite the consequences for economic growth, including in the housing sector. If they become too hawkish, the worry is the potential for a recession in 2023.

“In any case, it will impact the housing and stock markets, which will continue to taper if interest rates continue to climb. The current market is not sustainable, with real estate at epic price levels after adjusting for inflation over time. Nationally median home prices have increased 121% since 1960; however, median household income has increased only 29%. After infla-

tion adjustments, there’s too much of an imbalance of home prices relative to household incomes. At the same time, rents have increased at twice the rate of household incomes since 1960, making saving for a down payment increasingly difficult. For example, real estate on the West Coast is becoming almost unobtainable, and it’s beginning to show its colors. In the last few months, home prices in San Jose, California, are down 10%, and the steep rise in prices is now impacted by increasing mort gage interest rates. During the first week of January 2022, rates were at 3.22%. Today the 30-year fixed rate nationally is 5.89%, a huge difference that will ultimately lower prices moving forward.”

Many realtors concur, and things are possibly changing in the hot market we have seen the last few years.

Roche concludes, “I can see the market transitioning with much slower price appreciation, where prices will stabilize and, in many cases, drop. Too many listings have been introduced to the market at unsustainable prices, and we are seeing a reduction. You can’t fight the Fed, higher interest rates, and stock market volatility. There are so many factors worldwide that in fluence confidence and the economy.

“However, one thing is certain — the Lakes Region is a desirable destination and has always attracted an affluent audi ence. We are so close to major metropolitan markets exploding with growth, and we are New England’s playground.”

Prepare Your Garden for Winter’s Onslaught

Individuals who don’t live near the equator or in another warm climate know that winter will rear its chilly head this year. Cold temperatures and snowy conditions may be excellent for skiing and sledding, but gardeners recognize these conditions are not ideal for their plants.

The inevitable slowing of activity in the garden during fall marks a time to shift attention from constant plant care to preparing the landscape for next season. It may be tempting to simply let Mother Nature take over, but a little pre-winter TLC can ensure gardens make it through winter unscathed.

Remove spent plants

Decomposing organic material is the basis for compost and other fertilizers. However, vegetable plants that are left to sit can lead to decay in the garden. Decaying plants can serve as hosts for pest populations and diseases. Rotting vegetables also can drop unwanted seeds into the soil, which eventually can strip nutrients that normally would go to next year’s crops.

Ornamental plants and perennials can be cut back in fall. Cut down stalks and remove leaves.

Plant a cover crop

The gardening resource This Is My Garden recommends planting a cover crop to set the stage for a successful spring. A cover crop protects the soil and can return nutrients to it. When the soil is bare during winter, weed seeds can easily blow in and lie in wait, ultimately becoming a problem during the ensuing year. Cover crops can include clover or field peas, which will increase the levels of available nitrogen.

Amend the soil

Fall is a perfect time to add soil amendments, such as manure and compost. These fertilizers will add nutrients and break down gradually, enriching the soil over the winter.

Replenish mulch

Gardeners may have added mulch around shrubs and other areas of the landscape early in the season because it is attractive. But mulch also does much to reduce water loss and protect the soil from erosion. It may inhibit weed growth as well. Replacing mulch when the mercury drops can insulate the soil, which helps to regulate soil temperature. A thick layer of mulch around root vegetables left in the garden can offer protection against hard frosts.

Divide bulbs

Divide plant bulbs and plant them where you want flowers like daffodils and tulips to grow in the spring.

Prune dormant plants

Wait until plants are dormant to prune them and adjust their shape. Most shrubs and trees should be pruned in late winter, right before new growth.

Move potted plants

Bring delicate plants into a sheltered area, such as a greenhouse or indoor garage, so they can continue to thrive during the winter.

Fall and winter still provide opportunities to spend time in the garden. At this point in the year, gardeners can prepare landscapes for the next season. -metro

The Leader in Non-Medical Elder Care Services

AGING LIFE CARE EXPERTS

KNOW NOT AGE, NOR WEARINESS, NOR

A Lakes Region Gem

Quietude: A Little-Known Historical Estate with Big Renovations

on 60 sprawling acres with sweeping views of the Belknap Range (including Gunstock) lies Quietude, a mountain retreat most don’t know exists, even locals. The spectacular, but deteriorated 1904 estate in Tuftonboro, NH, recently sold for just under one million dollars. The striking Southern Yellow

walls of the sizable Adirondack-style lodge caught the attention of ember escapes co-owners, Kathy DelMedico, a native to New Hampshire with ties to the Lakes Region, and Chris Gasbarro, who grew up vacationing in the area. While the property would require significant attention, the quintessential

aesthetic didn’t need to be transformed but rather protected.

The intention of the new owners was to preserve the design of architect J. Williams Beal who later constructed yet

local gem, Castle in the Clouds. In January 2022 a careful restoration of the property began to keep the spirit of the aptly named “Quietude,” a retreat built for a wealthy Boston accountant H.M. Brock, who sought nature when escaping the city. Like many of Beal’s structures, Quietude was designed to harmonize with its surroundings, using natural and sometimes local materials. Now for the first time in over 100 years, Quietude will be accessible for the public to experience the grandeur of living in a Castle in the Clouds style estate.

A member of the Wollaston Country Club, Brock was also involved with founding the Fallon Cup (a prestigious Amateur golf tournament). Beal, a graduate of the Massachusetts Insti tute of Technology in 1877, became a pioneer in the structural use of concrete. In addition to building sophisticated private homes, Beal also designed some of Massachusetts’ most promi-

nent churches that are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Beal and Brock were connected through Boston’s affluent social circles.

The restoration priority was to protect all the wood, 1904 Southern Yellow Pine from the Carolinas – which takes careful craftsmanship when moving hallways, creating new rooms, and updating HVAC systems. Modern Heritage, based just north of Boston and known for superior woodworking in the Lakes Region, was chosen to manage the design and build. In February 2022, with permits in hand and a six-month plan, a steady crew of the Modern Heritage team descended on the mountainside property in 30-degree weather.

The reinforcement of the foundation needed immediate attention since the lodge was originally built on a mountain ledge, once a volcano. New support footings were put in place to safe guard a structurally sound building for new guests. Next, was the priority of moving rooms, creating hallways, and improving bathrooms with the addition of two new ones. All the wood

Kitchen Before Kitchen During Kitchen After

that was necessary to remove during renovation was preserved and repurposed for beams, conduit enclosures, and new wall construction. Any visible new wood needed was sourced from the Carolinas.

capture the historical charm but also complemented by inviting modern comforts. All the furnishings and room layouts were designed to enhance a relaxed atmosphere and encourage groups to spontaneously interact.

Bathroom Before

The property was originally used as a summer residence with an occasional winter visit, meaning the lodge would need a new heating and cooling system. Also, adding proper insulation to the building would be necessary since, during careful removal of the wall areas, newspapers from the 1900s were found as the original insulation. Significant knob-and-tube wiring (75%) was uncovered and required code improvement.

The interior design was directed by Kathy DelMedico with over 20 years of experience curating event designs for galas, customer events, and Fortune 500 conferences. Alexandra Wil liams, Endicott College, BFA, Interior Architecture, and Kelly Bushey, Modern Heritage, Interior Designer & Project Manag er assisted. Similar to the emphasis placed on maintaining Qui etude’s architectural integrity, the interior theme was styled to

Since 1941

Bathroom After

Gathering areas, from the library to the dining room, were designed for up to 14 people, with the ability to configure and flex seating throughout the entire house without feeling crowded. The opulent millwork walls in the library are brightened with cozy, soft, white sofas and arranged to spark conversation or just relax by the hearth. There is a Chickering baby grand player piano for entertainment so the musicians can share their talents or perhaps even start a sing-along. The built-in shelves are stacked with games, books, and puzzles to enjoy and to leave behind any screen dis tractions

The kitchen was the only room brought down to studs in the main lodge. Most of the appliances, linoleum floors, and lami nate countertops dated back to the 60s and felt more like a mu seum than a place to dine. The most popular room to gather, the kitchen, was designed to create plenty of hangout space for guests and working areas for private chefs. A wall was removed

adjacent to the mudroom to add 250 more sq. ft and created a breakfast nook with large windows overlooking Gunstock and the soaring pines of Tuftonboro.

Custom cabinetry and specially designed engineered stone countertops were installed along with luxury appliances including an Italian, Fulgar Milano refrigerator and six-burner stove with high BTU output. There is also a secondary refrigerator for the coffee nook and refreshments with an old bread baking oven turned into a glass case for wine storage. The refinement is curated all the way to the chef-grade cutlery made by Global Knives.

The two new bathrooms are each different and designed with high-end tile and stone to reflect the calming nature surround ing the property. The bedrooms were made to feel within reach of the original style showcasing the wood furniture, and styled

with pops of color in pillows, artwork, and linens to create signature rooms.

It’s rumored that Mr. Brock, one of only three previous owners of the estate, was friendly with Theodore Roosevelt, who would spend several nights at the property when visiting the area post-presidency. Now, this bedroom is dubbed “The Roosevelt Room” in his honor. The last of the three wood stoves on the second level connecting to the three chimneys were preserved and repointed, each of the owners’ initials still prevalent on the stacks. The small spring-fed pond has also been carefully restored, including restocking rainbow trout and cleaning out the outflow. A local forester was hired to oversee a strategic land harvest to remove mature trees and create three kilometers of new trails for hiking and nordic skiing.

The adjacent cottage to the lodge formerly served as the ice-

For more than 25 years we’ve built custom homes with great pride

house (storing cut ice from the pond for year-round use) was the newest of the property’s three buildings and required only gentle updating of aesthetics and appliances. The two-bedroom Gatehouse currently houses the on-property caretakers and will be the focus of the restoration in the Spring of 2023.

Chris and Kathy, business partners for corporate events pro duction company, ember, and owners of Quietude discovered the property while looking to launch a new venture, ember escapes. The initial real estate search started with the Seacoast area, but essential property characteristics led them to expand into the Lakes Region. Chris came upon Quietude while Kathy was visiting her Mom in Wolfeboro. After a quick tour the next day and a FaceTime with Chris, they both knew immediately and without hesitation that the property was perfect.

Quietude is ember escapes’ first purposely-designed gathering destination that is built to encourage connections and inspire

new thinking. The property opens in September for corporate retreats, off-site meetings, and team building and it will be listed on Airbnb for groups. Each gathering can be planned independently or customized with options curated by ember es capes and local partners. Welcome amenities will be provided to all guests and hand-selected for the group’s visit: craft cocktail package, special s’mores kit, outdoor essentials, and even a specially crafted box to tuck away phones to help free yourself from tech interruptions.

As the Lakes Region looks to expand its tourism to four seasons, Quietude’s year-round gathering space will bring new visitors to the area. The miles of trails connecting to the Wolfeboro Snowmobile clubs circuit of 68 miles trails can be enjoyed walking amongst the autumn tree colors, nordic skiing, and snowmobiling during the winter months. Quietude will accommodate up to thirteen overnight guests with meeting spaces indoors and out for twenty-plus. ember escapes’ leader ship is personally taking on many of the renovation projects to create special gathering spaces: large outdoor meeting platforms under towering pines, hidden fire pits, direct access to trout fishing, and plentiful seating to warm up by the beautiful, yellow-pine library hearth.

Forty construction workers, four large earth moving machines – cranes – skidders for weeks at a time, sixteen dump sters, one mile of wiring, and 250 feet of new plumbing – those stats while impressive are all second to the most important statistic – that original Quietude remains intact, refined and ready to welcome people escaping from the city – working – or any occasion for that matter.

Website: www.emberescapes.com. Instagram: @ember.escapes.

Crowning Achievements

By Dan Smiley

The first part of the New Hampshire constitution is based on the ownership of land. It’s in our fabric, our DNA as Americans to own land if possible.

The way we obtain a home has changed over the years, but some things remain the same. Whether you’re building a first home or a dream home, you’re going to make many decisions. Along with a choice of colors, appliances and flooring, the biggest and most significant choice will be where to build or buy a home.

Whatever the future may hold for homeowners, there are always three variables to factor in: Good, Fast or Affordable? If

it’s good and fast, it’s not going to be affordable. Likewise, if it’s fast and affordable, it’s not going to be good, and so on.

At a time when there is little in the way of affordable housing for sale, more and more folks are building homes. For firsttime home buyers, young families, and those on a budget, this may mean a construction loan or a pay-as-you-go method. Ultimately, buyers tend to aim for the good and affordable approach to building their home, meaning construction might not be fast. Often, there is an RV acting as temporary housing parked on the perimeter of a construction site while the property owner waits for completion of their new home. Travel trailers instead

Achievements

of covered wagons are fast becoming the image of the new American homesteader.

One of the places you can find an affordable house lot in the Lakes Region is in the Copple Crown Village District (CCVD) in New Durham, just south of Wolfeboro along King’s High way. The CCVD is a subdivision on the side of the mountain sharing its name. Rising to 1,868 feet above sea level, Copple Crown is the highest peak on the western end of the Moose Mountain Range. The property was developed in the 1960s by Town and Country Homes, of Reading, Massachusetts. The company offered buyers a private/semi-private ski area and a

housing development of affordable vacation homes. In total, the ski area had seven trails with a vertical drop of 500 feet, servic ing both day and night skiing with lighted trails, a T-bar, and a rope tow.

Today, the Copple Crown Village District is a small, sepa rate government entity located within the town of New Durham. The Village District was formed in 1978 by an official vote of residents of that area. This was due in part because Town and Country (the developers) were bankrupt and many of the first buyers still wanted to go skiing; they chose to operate the mountain themselves.

Water Treatment Systems

We can no longer take the safety of our water for granted. When you turn on your faucet, bathe your child, water your lawn, or flush your toilet, you want to know that your water is safe and clean. We will test and explain your water chemistry in a way that is easy to understand and then recommend the most efficient, effective and economical water treatment solution, custom fit to your needs.

SYSTEMS TO REMOVE:

Powerful Solar Energy Solutions

Harnessing the power of the sun is more practical, reliable, and affordable than ever. We design and install complete solar energy systems custom fit to your property and needs. We’ve completed projects designed to power a small home, as well as larger arrays which accommodate business and commercial locations and everything in between.

Tim DiPrizio, who grew up near Copple Crown in Middleton, New Hampshire, recalls skiing at the mountain.

“The homeowners reopened the area after it had been closed for a couple of years and it was open to the public. I was about 12 or 13 at the time. The trails sort of formed the shape of a crown. The view from the top was one of the best you’ve ever seen, especially when it was clear enough to see Mt. Washington. We skied there and at Moose Mountain and at Mt. Whittier. Primarily, we skied Moose Mountain. That was the happening place.”

“In the summer, as a kid, I spent many evenings at the ‘top’ of Copple Crown,” says Lisa Erb, from a quote posted on a lost ski areas website, “a place where we believed was the best view in NH. On a clear day you could see the snow covered Mt. Washington, while viewing the spectacular Lake Winnipesaukee, Lake Wentworth, and Rust Pond. That’s what I loved best about skiing Copple Crown. As small as it was, the view was gor

geous, and I would stop and take it all in as much as possible.”

Many of the roads within the village district have steep inclines and have names such as St. Moritz Drive, Innsbruck Drive and Mountain Drive. The names are reminiscent of Edelweiss in Madi son or Suissevale in Moultonborough, which are good ex amples of similar concept real estate developments from that era in Carroll County, New Hampshire. Some of the house lots appear to have peek-a-boo views of Lake Winnipesaukee and the surrounding mountainside, while others have tremendous views of both. There are lots that are available, but some do not appear to have the world-class view. Many of the house lots are roughly a half-acre in size and vary in price point. Some recent sales examples of prices for raw land in the CCVD are as follows: On April 13 of this year, .46 acres on Innsbruck Drive sold for $7000 after being on the market only 55 days; .69 acres on St. Moritz Road sold in February of 2021

$23,500

lot already had a nicely paved driveway in place

a very level, buildable lot); on Franconia Drive, .59 acres sold for $23,000 in May after being on the market for only seven days. However, there are some considerations. Understandably, the property is older and has gone through changes. A necessary rule for a buyer of any property, it to practice due diligence when acquiring raw land as a variety of factors may play into your ability to build. Will the property pass a perc test and be eligible for a septic system? Is the road a “paper road” and not maintained? Are the setbacks going to allow for both a well and a septic system?

In August, there were six lots for sale in the CCVD, varying in price from $15,000 and $30,000. The most affordable lot is slightly over a third of an acre, while the next one priced at $16,000 is almost two acres. Another half-acre lot is priced at $25,000.

This in no way should make you think there isn’t affordable land in central New Hampshire, or indeed, at CCVD. In the past year, 51 pieces of land sold for $30,000 or less in Carroll County, but only 13 in Belknap County. Strafford County had 19 parcels below $30,000 in that same 12 months with nearly half, 9 out of 19 being sold in the CCVD. In Coos County, 28 pieces of land sold for $30,000 and Grafton County was the big winner in affordable land in the past 12 months with 81 parcels. These statistics point to good news for CCVD. Greater affordability has spurred a construction boom in Copple Crown and at least five or six homes appear to be under construction in the subdivision at this time proving you can build in the development while staying on a budget.

Should you like the idea of building a home with views in New Durham, but find a half-acre a bit too constricting, a little

further down the same side of the mountain towards Wolfe boro is property that might be of interest. A large 14.24 acre homesite is available with green fields, stone walls, and views to both the peak of Copple Crown Mountain on the east side and to the north of the White Mountains and Mt. Washington. “It’s a wonderful parcel of land,” states Jon Parker, the listing agent for the property at Maxfield Real Estate in Wolfeboro. “It’s the quintessential New England property with a lot of hardwood that brings out the autumn colors. Another feature is that it borders up against the 14th hole at the Lake Winnipesaukee Golf Club, offering a unique opportunity for those who love to golf.”

The golf course is considered by many to be one of the more challenging in New England and its private, mem bers-only policy ensures you’ll always get a tee time. Designed by Clive Clark, the 18-hole, Par 72 championship course stretches nearly 7,000 yards across roughly 700 acres down the mountainside from the CCVD in an area known as Perry Hollow. The golf course has a similar story to Copple Crown as it went through bankruptcy back around 2000 and was then transformed into the property it is today.

The good news is most Lakes Region banks and lenders will work with those people who wish to obtain a construction loan to build a house on land they purchased.

When building a home or looking for property, stay diligent, aim high, and try to do your best. This article is pertinent for all the working families in the lakes and mountains of New Hampshire who are looking for a first home and the crowning achievement for those who have been able to build a home. When you find the right property, it is certainly a special feeling of accomplishment.

Custom Homes & Renovations

home is more than blueprints and building

It's the backdrop for your family's most treasured moments. These beliefs are at the heart of

one of the homes

build

We’ve Got the Bathroom Blues

By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper

It is my own personal room from Hell, a dark place, without a window, without decent lighting and a sink faucet that drips, drips, and drips yet again.

Our home bathroom has created blues for my family for many years. The house was built about 1971 and it shows. In a raisedranch style that is somewhere between a chalet and a mystery design, I view the structure with fondness born from years of dealing with its quirks.

When I look at photos of homes built in that time period, I see versions of our house everywhere. It must have been the height of trendiness at the time, with the main living area on what today we would view as the second floor. Stairs led to a deck and a front door.

At the time, few people probably had the luxury of an outdoor deck, where they could grill during the summer and enjoy the great outdoors. Decks were just getting started back then and the trend has continued. But everything else about our house –the design, the ugly slide-sideways windows and multiple sliding glass doors – has been abandoned by new homeowners these

days.

I have tried, over the years since we bought the home in 1987, to fix it up, but admittedly have relented in frustration – and a good dose of getting older and more exhausted at the energy and money it takes to make changes.

My main problem with our house is the excessive amount of dark fake wood paneling. Whoever invented paneling was seen as a genius in the 1960s, because it was less expensive than sheet rock and convenient to install and gave the look of real wood. Except it didn’t look like anything except fake wood. It was thin and ugly, mostly because it was very dark and made any room turn into a dim place.

Our home has a lot of paneling on the main living level. In our spacious kitchen/dining room, I tried painting it white to brighten the room. The trouble is nothing much sticks to the paneling, including paint so that has not been an easy fix. It helps, but it isn’t the miracle I hoped for. Replacing it would be very expensive, because the walls are high with a pretty (real) wood beamed ceiling. I cannot imagine the amount of sheetrock

Cabinetry for Your Space, Your Style and Your Life...

it is the bathroom on the main level

us the most

home

It began when we put a much-needed addition on our home. We did not really consider – and neither did our carpenter –that by adding on we could and did lose a portion of our already narrow bathroom.

It became even narrower, like a tunnel. The carpenter chose even more paneling to fix the wall where the entrance door is placed. He tried to match up the paneling on the other three walls, but he chose badly. And we lost the one window in the room which made it somewhat bright and livable.

I wondered at the time how we would vent the moist air when we showered, but he seemed unphased. Just open the door and let the steam out, I think he suggested. I must have looked shocked because he soon departed when the addition was done. We use a box fan to move the steamy air, which is a bit tricky when we have company and they want some privacy when they shower. “Don’t forget to turn the fan on or just leave the bathroom door open a crack,” we tell them, feeling like fools as they look at us with uncertainty.

The bathtub and sink are a matching yellow that wasn’t too bad a color when we bought the house, but today it has grown too mellow a yellow and looks downright bland and dingy. Harvest gold, I believe some designer labeled the color in the 1970s. It was the companion on the color wheel to burnt orange and avocado green, so I guess harvest yellow was better than having a green or deep orange color scheme in the bathroom. Or

a shell pink tiled color from the 1950s.

The tub has other issues, as one can imagine. There are places where the seams have come a bit loose and the faucet is a mystery no one can solve. When we went on vacation one winter, my niece was house sitting for us and called me from New Hampshire her first morning at our home. “Aunt Kathi?” she asked, sounding baffled and a bit frightened. “I just took a shower and I have a question. Should the tub’s faucet and shower head both have water coming out of them, instead of one or the other? Did I do something wrong?”

I assured her, after having a good laugh, that it seemed to be a plumbing mystery, and both would turn off when she was done showering if she simply turned the shut-off handle on the tub. We know how to deal with it, and now she does as well but I feel sorry for any guests who dare to shower in our bathroom.

The sink – or double sinks in our case – were also the height of luxury in 1970. How many homes had the trendy and luxurious feature of two sinks built into one bathroom vanity? Why, this meant husband and wife could get ready each morning without taking turns. The lady of the house could puff up her beehive hairstyle and apply gobs of turquoise blue eye shadow and black eyeliner, while her beloved husband could apply hair gel and straighten his extra wide and groovy tie and brush his teeth at the adjoining sink. Barbie and Ken, eat your hearts out at this double sink wonder.

But we don’t need double sinks and I suspect most people don’t and never did. Barbie and Ken, we are not. So, one sink is mostly unused and sometime, ages ago, its faucet refused to work well. The few times we turned on the faucet, it was like a stubborn child. It seemed to say, “Fine, you choose the other

The Center of

35 & 36 Center St., Wolfeboro

The fake gold flecked marble vanity countertop is no dream either, but it is not unexpected given the room’s yellowish color scheme. The huge mirror attached to the paneled wall is about the only saving grace in the bathroom, giving lots of reflective space when someone needs to brush their hair.

I could go on and one, but I won’t. I think you get the picture.

With my daughter’s wedding just a few months away, we gave the bathroom one last look and decided it was much more than we could tackle. We both worried out of town guests might have to use the awful bathroom. “Let’s bring in an expert,” I suggested. My husband agreed.

I called one of the many national bathroom businesses that send a rep to the home, take some handy measurements, and pull out lots of samples of shiny new bathtubs.

The rep didn’t faint with shock as I expected he would when he saw the bathroom, but murmured he has seen worse, like a hairstylist trying to soothe someone who hasn’t had a decent haircut in years. He measured the tub and explained how and why they would remove the “wall”, avoiding what we all could see: it wasn’t really a wall but rather more of that bane of my existence: fake wood paneling.

Then came the sales pitch, with a very thick book full of tile samples and explanations. “I would like something durable and not the height of trendy fashion. Something reasonable that won’t be dated in a few years,” I said, thinking yet again of the once-popular paneling.

He seemed to be unwilling to hear me and pointed to subway tile for the bathroom walls and a glass shower door with black trim. It would make our bathroom like one seen on a popular

home improvement television show with yet another mid-30s, hippie wanna-be couple serving as home transformation experts.

When we said we had to think about it, after his final price of $10,000 for a shower and tub. He seemed disappointed to say the least. I felt guilty that I had subjected him to our bathroom, but there it was.

We got price comparisons, but they were all in that range. So, we have done what we do best. Ignore the problem. Procrastinate. Try to tell ourselves we will fix it up ourselves, doing what we realistically can, but knowing we won’t do a darned thing because it is way beyond our skill set.

We will live in hope no wealthy wedding guest with a million dollars and a bathroom to match their pocketbook decides to drop by for a pre- or post-wedding visit or ask to stay overnight. I can just about imagine reminding them to turn on the box fan to clear the steam after taking take a shower in the harvest gold tub. Or if they would rather, they could leave the bathroom door open just a crack.

I console myself with this thought: everything comes back around again. Today’s Fixer Upper farmhouse trend will be gone in a few years, making us wonder how we could have loved it and just had to decorate our homes with shiplap paneling and those ultra-tall, black trimmed farm style windows.

“Harvest gold and burnt orange colors will surely be fashionable again at some point,” I reassure myself. “Then we will be ready. Our bathroom will be in style again.”

Until then, we are – and maybe always will be – the owners of the bathroom that shocks and tortures those who dare to enter.

It is truly the bathroom from Hell.

(If you have a reasonable suggestion for how to cure our bathroom blues, write to pressreleases@thelaker.com.)

Inside the Boundary

Boundary Plus® Wired System

Boundary Plus® Wired System

Boundary Plus® Wired System

The original advanced pet fence technology, keeping over 3 million pets safe at home.

The original advanced pet technology, keeping over 3 pets safe at home.

The original advanced pet fence technology, keeping over 3 million pets safe at home. Invisible Fence® Brand’s Boundary Plus Wired System keeps your pet protected both inside and outside your home.

Invisible Fence® Brand’s Boundary Plus Wired System keeps your pet protected both inside and outside your home. Provide your pets the most security from leaving your yard, while allowing them to enjoy more of it. For pets that are prone to test their boundaries, Boundary Plus Wired has patented correction-free return technology that ensures your pets are never kept outside of the fence.

your pets the most security from leaving your yard, while allowing them to enjoy more of it. For pets that are prone to test their boundaries, Boundary Plus Wired has patented correction-free return technology that ensures your pets are never kept outside of the fence.

Invisible Fence® Brand’s Boundary Plus Wired System keeps your protected both inside and outside your home. Provide your pets most security from leaving your while allowing them to enjoy more of it. For pets that are prone to their boundaries, Boundary Plus Wired has patented correction-free return technology that ensures your pets are never kept outside the fence.

local dealer

installed

Plus® Outdoor Solution

Ideas & InspirationEvents Calendar

Curbside Pickup of Farm Fresh Foods, Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm, 58 Cleveland Hill Rd., Tamworth, 323-7591, remickmuseum.org.

ONGOING

ArtWorks Gallery & Fine Crafts, works by 35 artists, classes & events. Call for hours/events: 323-8041, 132 Rt. 16, Chocorua, www.chocoruaartworks.com.

Belknap Mill, 25 Beacon St. East, Laconia, gallery and textile museum, events and programs, info/call for hours: 524-8813, www.belknapmill.org.

Canterbury Farmers Market, 4-6:30 pm, Wednesdays, live music, vegetables, crafts and more, 9 Center Rd., Canterbury, www.canterburyfarmersmarket.com.

Country Village Quilt Guild, meets the first and third Wednesday of each month from 1:30-3:30 pm, Public Safety Building (back entrance to Police and Fire Dept.), Rt. 25,  1035 Whittier Highway, Moultonboro. Schedule/info. email: countryvillagequilters@yahoo.com.

Franklin Farmers Market, 3-6 pm, Thursdays until Sept. 29, Marceau Park, Central St., Franklin, 934-2118.

Gilmanton Community Farmers Market, at Gilmanton Year Round Library, 11 am-2 pm, Sundays through Oct. 9, 1385 NH Rt. 140, Gilmanton Iron Works, 491-1687.

Lakes Region Art Association, exhibits and classes, Suite 300, Tanger Outlet, Rt. 3, Tilton, 998-0029, www.lraanh.org.

League of NH Craftsmen Meredith Fine Craft Gallery, fine handmade crafts and art for sale, workshops, 279 Daniel Webster Highway, Meredith, hours/info: 279-7920.

Open Air Farmers Market, 10 am-1 pm, New Hampton Historical Townhouse, 86 Town House Rd., New Hampton, local goods, Saturdays until Oct. 8, 254-5858, www.openairmarketnh. com.

Sanbornton Community Arts Festival, second Saturday of every month. Old Town Hall, 19 Meeting House Hill Road, Sanbornton.

Treasure Shop, open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9 am-2 pm during the summer at Old Town Hall, Wakefield, info: 522-3189.

Wolfeboro Farmer’s Market, 12:30-4:30 pm, vendors, food, every Thurs., Through October, The Nick, 10 Trotting Track Rd., Rt. 28, Wolfeboro, www.wolfeborofarmersmarket.org.

SEPTEMBER

Sept. 27, Fiber Arts Gathering, 10-11 am, come knit, stitch, crochet, spin and chat, Sanbornton Public Library, 27 Meetinghouse Hill Rd., Sanbornton, 286-8222.

Sept. 27, Land, People & Property, 10 am, tour grounds & learn history of Castle in the Clouds, Rt. 171, Moultonborough, register: volunteers@castleintheclouds.org, 476-5419, www. castleintheclouds.org.

Sept. 27, Nature Station – Aquatic Invertebrates, 10 am-4 pm, Grey Rocks Conservation Area, Hebron, Newfound Lake Assoc., Bristol, info: 744-8689. Also Oct. 4, 11 and 18.

Sept. 27, New England’s Stone Walls, speaker Kevin Gardner, 7:30 pm, Old Town Hall, Gilmanton Iron Works, program by Gilmanton Historical Society, info: jdickey@metrocast.net.

Sept. 27, Zentangle Art Lessons, 6-8 pm, Galleries at 30 Main, 30 Main St., Meredith, 279-0557.

Sept. 28, Watercolor Workshop, 1-3 pm, Lakes Region Art Association & Gallery, 120 Laconia Rd., Suite 132, Tilton, preregistration a must: 472-3733, patedsalldesigns@gmail.com.

Sept. 29 Intro to Photography Workshop with Matt Cohen. Pre-register at ArtWorks Gallery, 132 Rt. 16, Chocorua, 3238041, www.ChocoruaArtworks.com.

OCTOBER

Oct., 1, Fused Glass Ornaments Workshop with Ann Lambert in her studio. Pre-register at ArtWorks Gallery, www. ChocoruaArtworks.com, 132 Rt. 16, Chocorua, 323-8041. Oct. 1, Tamworth Farmer’s Market, 9 am-noon, 30 Tamworth Road, Tamworth, info: www.tamworthfarmersmarket.org.

Oct. 1-2, 23rd Annual Autumn Craft Festival on the Lake, 10 am, Mill Falls Marketplace, Rt. 3, Meredith, Castleberry Fairs, www.castleberryfairs.com.

Oct. 1-2, Mount Washington Valley, October Craft Fair, Schouler Park, Norcross Circle, N. Conway, www. joycescraftshows.com.

Oct. 2, Wild Mushrooms of Fall, with Stephanie Doyle of NH Mushroom Co., 10:30 am-noon, at 236 Huntress Bridge Rd., program by Green Mt. Conservation Center, pre- register, www.gmcg.org, 539-1859.

Oct. 4, Fiber Arts Gathering, 10-11 am, come knit, stitch, crochet, spin and chat, Sanbornton Public Library, 27 Meetinghouse Hill Rd., Sanbornton, 286-8222.

Oct. 4, Granite State Gallery: NH Arts & Artists Through the Years, 7-9 pm, by Meredith Historical Society, doors open at 6:30 pm for light refreshments, Community Center, 1 Circle Drive, Meredith, 279-1190, www.meredithhistoricalsocietynh. org.

Oct. 4, Sow & Grow Gardening, 9-10 am, adult program, Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center, White Oaks Rd., Laconia, info/pre-registration: www.prescottfarm.org, 366-5695. (Also on Oct. 18.)

Oct. 4, Zentangle Art Lessons, 6-8 pm, Galleries at 30 Main, 30 Main St., Meredith, 279-0557.

Oct. 8, Tamworth Farmer’s Market, 9 am-noon, 30 Tamworth Road, Tamworth, info: www.tamworthfarmersmarket.org.

Oct. 8, Vintage Fair, 11 am-4 pm, Clark House Museum Grounds, 233 S. Main St., Wolfeboro, info: pmhodder@gmail. com. Rain date Oct. 9.

Oct. 8-10, Parade of Homes, by Lakes Region Builders and Remodelers Assoc., 10 am-4 pm, tour area homes for ideas, meet builders and decorators, info/tickets: www.lakesregionbuilders. com, 387-1817.

Oct. 11, Fiber Arts Gathering, 10-11 am, come knit, stitch, crochet, spin and chat, Sanbornton Public Library, 27 Meetinghouse Hill Rd., Sanbornton, 286-8222.

Oct. 11, Zentangle Art Lessons, 6-8 pm, Galleries at 30 Main, 30 Main St., Meredith, 279-0557.

Oct. 12, It’s Harvest Times, Polliwogs, 10-11 am, pre-K with adult program, Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center, White Oaks Rd., Laconia, info/pre-registration: www. prescottfarm.org, 366-5695.

Oct. 13, MasterChef Jr. Live, 7 pm, Chubb Theatre, Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord, tickets/info: www.ccanh.com, 225-1111.

Oct. 14, Marcus Rezak’s Shred is Dead, 8 pm, Bank of NH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, tickets/info: www.ccanh.com, 225-1111.

Oct. 14, One Man Star Wars, 8 pm, Chubb Theatre, Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord, tickets/info: www.ccanh.com, 225-1111.

Oct. 14, Parents Night Out, 4-8:30 pm, drop off your kids in grades 1-6 for activities and pizza so you can have a night off, pre-registration required: Ossipee Parks & Recreation, info: 539-1307.

Oct. 14-16, Almost, Maine, 7:30 pm on Oct. 14 & 15; 2 pm on Oct. 16, The Colonial Theatre at Laconia, 609 Main Street, Laconia. Info: 800-657-8774, www.coloniallaconia.com.

Oct. 15, Harvest Time at the Farm, 10 am-4 pm, 1305 White Mt. Highway, Milton, info: 652-7840, www.nhfarmmuseum. org.

Oct. 15, Learn How to Knit a Cable Hat Workshop with Anne Chant, two Saturdays-Oct. 15 & 22. Pre-register at ArtWorks Gallery, 132 Rt. 16, Chocorua,  www.ChocoruaArtworks.com 323-8041.

Oct. 15, The Boy Band Project, 9 pm, Bank of NH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, tickets/info: www.ccanh.com, 225-1111.

Oct. 15-16, Leaf Peeper’s Craft Fair, 10 am, Schouler Park, downtown N. Conway, over 120 artisans, live music, and more, Joyce’s Craft Shows, info: 387-1510, www.joycescraftshows. com.

Oct. 16, Fall Poetry Reading with Scott Hutchinson 4 pm, Chi-Lin Lakes Gallery, 135 Eastman Rd., Laconia, 556-9384, www.thelakesgallery.com.

Oct. 17-21, Fall Weaving Workshop – 5 Warps in 5 Days with Sara Goodman, 9 am-4 pm, League of NH Craftsmen Center Sandwich Fine Craft Gallery, 32 Main St., Center Sandwich, register 284-6831, www.centersandwich.nhcrafts. org.

Oct. 18, Fiber Arts Gathering, 10-11 am, come knit, stitch, crochet, spin and chat, Sanbornton Public Library, 27 Meetinghouse Hill Rd., Sanbornton, 286-8222.

Oct. 18, Zentangle Art Lessons, 6-8 pm, Galleries at 30 Main, 30 Main St., Meredith, 279-0557.

Oct. 19, Silent Film Series: Faust, 6 pm, Flying Monkey Movie and Performance Center, 39 S. Main St., Plymouth, info./tickets: 536-2551, www.flyingmonkeynh.com

Oct. 22, Cooking Through the Seasons, Fermented Food, 10 am-noon, adult program, Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center, White Oaks Rd., Laconia, info/preregistration: www.prescottfarm.org, 366-5695.

Oct. 22, Scarecrow Workshop, 10 am-4 pm, Clark Museum Barn, 233 S. Main St., Wolfeboro, tickets/info: 569-4997, wolfeborohistoricalsociety@gmail.com.

Rte.125

Oct. 22, Tamworth Farmer’s Market, 9 am-noon, 30 Tamworth Road, Tamworth, info: www.tamworthfarmersmarket.org.

Oct. 25, Fiber Arts Gathering, 10-11 am, come knit, stitch, crochet, spin and chat, Sanbornton Public Library, 27 Meetinghouse Hill Rd., Sanbornton, 286-8222.

Oct. 25, Zentangle Art Lessons, 6-8 pm, Galleries at 30 Main, 30 Main St., Meredith, 279-0557.

Oct. 29, New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival, events all over Laconia, www.nhpumpkinfestival.com.

Oct. 29, Tamworth Farmer’s Market, 9 am-noon, 30 Tamworth Road, Tamworth, info: www.tamworthfarmersmarket.org.

NOVEMBER

Nov. 1, Fiber Arts Gathering, 10-11 am, come knit, stitch, crochet, spin and chat, Sanbornton Public Library, 27 Meetinghouse Hill Rd., Sanbornton, 286-8222.

Nov. 1, Zentangle Art Lessons, 6-8 pm, Galleries at 30 Main, 30 Main St., Meredith, 279-0557.

Nov. 5, Herbs & Natural Therapies, 1-3 pm, Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center, White Oaks Rd., Laconia, info/pre-registration: www.prescottfarm.org, 366-5695.

Nov. 5, Homemade Soaps – Soapmaking 101, 10 am-noon, adult program, Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center, White Oaks Rd., Laconia, info/pre-registration: www. prescottfarm.org, 366-5695.

Flexible… Secure…

Mount Major Hwy,

Alton Bay,

Stacey