life in the Kearsarge area
what's happening in the Kearsarge/Lake Sunapee area of NHArchive for summer
Eastman Lake
My parents moved to Grantham, N.H., in 1986, so, technically, I did, too. I left for college, then grad school, then came back to buy my own home in Grantham in 1997 (and later a different one in 2002). It’s a nice halfway point between the Upper Valley (Lebanon/Hanover) and Concord. There’s a lot to do – you can golf, cross country ski, hike, swim and rent paddle boats, canoes and these new big wheeled things. And when you leave the traffic and steaming asphalt of the larger towns to see the views of the rolling hills and lake, it feels like you’ve escaped, you’ve gone on vacation, but really you’ve just come home.
More summer in NH
Still doodling around town with my camera/phone. Here’s a big ole tree in Sutton Mills.
Here’s a view of Sutton Mills. Just beyond the trees there’s an old dam that used to power the mills. I scared away a big heron (it scared me, too, so no photo this time).
The dock photo is of Pleasant Lake from Elkins, NH. And the kayaking photo was taken on Lake Sunapee from the state park beach.
Make sure you get outside and enjoy all that summer has to offer!
Summer in NH
Here I am, walking lakeside in North Sutton. Cell phone in hand, I snap a few photos of Kezar Lake, the dam and Wadleigh State Park.
It’s what I do most summers. I have time after dropping the kids off at their respective camps. I don’t particularly want to haul my laptop with me, so I take photos for Facebook, Pinterest and my enjoyment. I’ll include a few here to get you in the summer mood.
Sunapee Spinach Squares
Every summer Kearsarge Magazine has a dining guide. Some years I ask local restaurants for recipes, some years I ask businesses, some years neighbors and friends. This year, we went into the historical archives – church cookbooks, town offices and historical societies – and shared a few recipes. This one, Sunapee Spinach Squares, was super good. Pick up the summer 2016 issue of Kearsarge Magazine if you’re interested in reading a few more!
Sunapee Spinach Squares 
- 4 tbsp. butter
- 1 cup flour
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1 lb. cheddar cheese, grated
- 2 10 oz. packages frozen spinach, thawed and drained
1 tbsp. chopped onion
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9 x 13 pan and melt in oven. Remove. Beat eggs well. Blend in flour, milk, salt and baking powder. Add cheese, spinach and onion. Mix well. Spoon into prepared baking dish. Bake 35 minutes. Remove and cool 45 minutes. Cut into 1-inch squares. Freezes well.
This recipe comes from longtime resident Midge Cross, and is familiar around the Lake Sunapee region as a favorite intermission treat at Summer Music Associates concerts. It is published in Abbott Library’s A Taste of Sunapee Cookbook, a fundraiser cookbook that contains many well-loved local culinary contributions.
25 Things to Do This Summer
1 Find some good deals at town-wide yard sales 
2 Get involved with your hometown. Volunteer with the conservation commission, join the local gardening club or offer to help at Old Home Day
3 Wish you had saved your first car while ogling the oldies (but goodies) at the Sunapee Lions Annual Antique & Classic Car Show
4 Take a nostalgic tour of New London at The Ice House museum on Pleasant Street
5 Go to a play at the New London Barn
6 Love your lake by participating in a local fishing derby; it is great family time while saving the lake from prolific fish
7 Enjoy homemade ice cream at the Sanctuary Dairy Farm in Sunapee
8 Watch blacksmiths in action at the historical smithy in Bradford
9 Stop and smell the flowers in Sunapee Harbor, thanks to the Sunapee Gardeners
10 Pack a picnic and head to the nearest town bandstand for a free summer concert
11 Rent a paddle boat on Eastman Lake in Grantham
12 Eat fresh! Visit a farm stand and purchase dinner — local meat for the grill, fresh veggies, and baked goods like bread or dessert.
13 Or join a CSA. Every week you’ll pick up a box of food in season.
14 Or plant a few of your own vegetables at home. Every year, we enjoy about 20 tomatoes from our five porch plants.
15 Plan a local vacation: choose a Kearsarge/Lake Sunapee inn, campsite or cottage and stay for a weekend.
16 Find a lakeside viewing spot and watch the fireworks
17 Go antiquing — start with the antique show in New London and then travel to shops in Sunapee and Georges Mills
18 Bring a hammer and a pail, and explore the tunnels of Ruggles Mine in Grafton
19 Catch up with old friends at your high school (or summer camp) reunion
20 Make some new friends; stop by a local senior center or church supper and say hello to a stranger
21 Watch the races at the Claremont Speedway on Saturday evenings
22 Support the local arts and visit artists with a studio open to the public
23 Go for a hike. You can find trails at http://www.srkg.com
24 If hiking isn’t for you, get out and walk 10 minutes a day. Soon you’ll be walking 15 minutes, 20 minutes — and ready for a hike
25 Pick and freeze some berries. You’ll be glad to see them in your freezer once summer is over
Go Antiquing
Looking for something unique for a specific space in your home? The Kearsarge/Lake Sunapee region has its fair share of antique dealers, many with shops open to the public. Come and enjoy the treasure hunt!
BRADFORD
Old Road Antiques
9 Old Sutton Road
(603) 938-2833
oldroadantiques.com
The shop has a nice stock of antiques, art and collectibles.
CLAREMONT
Pleasant Street Furniture & Antiques
149 Pleasant Street
(603) 543-1004
pleasantstreetantiques.com
Furniture, vintage clothing, glass, china, jewelry, antiques, art and collectibles — it’s all here at this new Claremont shop.
CONTOOCOOK
Covered Bridge Frame Shop & Gallery
916 Main Street
(603) 746-4996
cbgallery.com
Whether you are looking for antique furniture or want to perfectly preserve a hanging piece with the right frame, this shop has got you covered.
GEORGES MILLS
Prospect Hill Antiques
247 Prospect Hill Road
(603) 763-9676
prospecthillantiques.com
With three floors of antiques and more, take your time — you could spend all day at Prospect Hill Antiques!
NEW LONDON
The Renaissance Shop
107 Newport Road
(603) 526-6711
therenaissanceshoppe.com
Locals donate high-quality antiques — from Wedgewood china to vintage costume jewelry to furniture — to the shop, and proceeds support the Lake Sunapee Region Visiting Nurse Association.
NEWPORT
Debi’s Florist
34 Main Street
(603) 863-2855
We like how this florist shop has transformed its front entrance into an antique shop. There are some lovely antiques and collectibles that you may not have seen elsewhere.
SUNAPEE
Sunapee Landing Trading Company
356 Route 103
(603) 863-2275
sunapee-landing.com
Bill Corey has been collecting antiques across New England since the 1980s. He brings his eclectic collection to Sunapee; items range from $40 cut glass bowls to $15,000 marble tables.
life in the Kearsarge area 