Archive for Sutton
Looking for something to do on a Sunday?
Head to the Muster Field Farm Museum in Sutton. You can bring the whole family for a free tour of the Matthew Harvey Homestead, an 18th century farmhouse listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is open Sundays, 1 to 4 p.m., from July to September. And you’ll be able to get a super cool cow photo, like mine above, with one of your family members. Learn more at www.musterfieldfarm.com
Relay for Life #10
Mark your calendar – the first weekend in June is the 10th Relay for Life of Kearsarge Lake Sunapee. The Relay is the American Cancer Society’s signature activity, offering everyone in the community an opportunity to participate in the fight against cancer. Start getting your team together now – you’ll need 3 to 15 people to ensure someone is on the Kearsarge High School track at all times during the 24-hour event. Sutton resident Christine Nelson, last year’s Sandra Labaree Volunteer Values Award winner, is an organizer and a really nice person; she’ll inspire you immediately! If you don’t want to walk, there are many different ways you can help, such as volunteering during the event or donating raffle items. More information is on the Web at www.relayforlife.org/klsnh
Does anyone know this graffiti artist?
Every Monday I take my son to pottery class in Sutton, and every Monday I drive under the Interstate bridge. If you know Sutton, you know what I’m talking about – the four scenes (winter, spring, summer and fall) painted on the concrete underneath the overpass. I’d love to know the story behind them. If someone has the scoop, please e-mail me at info@kearsargedirectory.com. Thanks! 
Shop local
Before I traveled to Tilton and points beyond, I started my shopping day at 9:30 at several local shops. The first was Bayberry Barn (www.bayberrybarn.com) on Route 114 in Sutton for a 20 percent off sale on items throughout the store. Now there’s a shop to get you in the Christmas mood – ornaments, candles, cards, linens, calendars, music boxes and wind chimes displayed throughout the store with great holiday cheer.
Then it was off to the holiday open house at Country Treasures in East Andover. Marsha and her family have turned their home into an extravagant craft emporium for several days. There are so many cool things (made by local artists) that I had to make the loop to all five rooms several times to make sure I didn’t miss anything! I bought a gift for my daughter (not telling what it is – but let’s just say it is less expensive than a real horse) and a back up gift for some lucky person (just in case I didn’t check my list twice). Read the article in the winter 2008 issue of Kearsarge Magazine if you want more information. 
This has been on my to-do list for quite some time: American Cottage (www.americancottagerugs.com) in Andover. WOW! Was it ever worth the trip! I fell in love with several of Jodi Sleeper’s magnificent rugs. She is super talented and a nice person to boot. In addition to handcrafted rugs in all sizes, the store also has furniture, lamps, pillows and accessories, such as oversize dragonflies with pyrite eyes made by Tom Sleeper of Sleeper Welding in Belmont. (His glass top table with a cement and metal base resembling a tree was spectacular.) I predict great things for Jodi – her products are high quality, fun, colorful and will change the way you look at rugs. 
Holy hot, batman
So much for all that rain. It’s so hot that even the sky looks heavy, hazy and tired. (This photo was taken somewhere in Sutton.) We’re still beaching it most late afternoons – the lake water, although it doesn’t smell that great, does ease the sticky stress of the day.
Everyone’s garden is in full bloom. The daylilies made an appearance early this week, and are adding bright bursts of color. The front walk of the Village House B&B in Sutton is lovely. I don’t know how Marilyn Paige finds the time with a full-time job, an inn, and her floorcloth business. 
I’m sorry that all I can give you today are a few photos. I’ve been hunkered down most days, in front of the fan, trying to catch up on some writing. I pick up the kids around noon from their various summer programs, then I’m mom for the afternoon. (Sometimes a multitasking mom, thanks to the laptop.) In the cooler evenings if I’m inspired, I’ll try to write a bit more but mainly I end up shuffling paper to get ready for the next day. When the humidity passes, I’ll get back in the car and see what’s going on in the area. I’ve received e-mails about a new gallery in Sunapee and a new gallery in Wilmot, so I’ll be checking them out soon.
Rain, rain, go away
The first week of summer vacation and what does it do? In typical New England fashion, it rains. But it doesn’t rain consistently, you’ll wake up to a sunny summer morning and by the time your bathing suit is on, a dark cloud will be looming and it rains for the rest of the day. Or, since you woke up to rain and it doesn’t seem to be abating, you dress in rain clothes to head out to do errands. (Rain clothes, for me, means socks – sandals are cold and my feet get wet – and layers since I don’t have a rain coat.) But you drive 20 minutes on the interstate to another town to find hot, humid, sunny weather…and you’re dressed for an entirely different climate. I dragged out the kiddie pool (a 15-foot inflatable) for my kids yesterday and, as soon as it was filled, it rained. Just try to take a photo around here. There’s sure to be a cloud looming overhead. Here’s Blaisdell Lake in Sutton. When I pulled over, it was sunny. The minute I got out the camera, the clouds came out. Does anyone know where I can buy a good raincoat? 
