Monday, October 08, 2007

New England Weekend

I have been out of town again, this time for pleasure instead of work, although that will come soon enough: I leave first thing tomorrow for a business trip that won't have me back until Thursday night. I am really starting to covet a laptop so I can keep in touch a little better. It's good to have goals, right? Something to work for... In case I get impulsive, does anyone have a particular laptop they love, or conversely, one they hate?


We travelled this weekend to New England, to visit old friends who recently bought their first house. Their house is beautiful, a rambling old farmhouse that was built in 1790. I love the history in New England, how it is everywhere, and how it is valued. The area I live in was settled in the same era that J&S's house was built, but one must expend more effort to find the evidence. In New England it is everywhere, in the winding roads that follow the rivers, in the stone fences, in the town squares.

Every time I see those old stone fences, I am filled with admiration for the folks who dug them out of the rocky soil, eking a living off the land. I wonder about the character of the community in 1790, and the family who built the house. I could easily become obsessed with history in such a place, and not just the historical events we all learn about in school. I hunger for details of day to day life of the people who came before. J&S have joined the local historical society. Perhaps they will find out.


It was a gorgeous weekend. We hiked up a mountain along an old rail line that had been built in 1905 and abandoned after WWII. All the rail ties were rotted away, with only a few spikes left. The ground along the trail glittered with mica. We explored some ruins in the woods along the trail, fodder for another post if I ever have time at the computer again. This seems unlikely: by the time I return from the wetlands, SodaBoy's parents will be in town visiting.

These photos were both taken on the drive back home. A drive without scenic stops is hardly worth taking.

8 comments:

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

Glad you had a pleasure outing@! YAY! Nice fall color! We have nothing like that yet here. I did pass a tee that is brightly colored and has lost most of its leaves on my walk tonight. And there is more and more yellow and more and more leaves on the ground, but nothing like that!

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

that should read "tree"

a/k/a Nadine said...

Lovely pictures! I find the history of New England charming and fascinating as well.

Woman Warrior said...

On my blog, these pictures would be filed under the label 'homesickness.' Oh New England, I adore thee!

Oh Berry Bird, how I adore thee for adoring New England! At least the outside bits.

Electronic Goose said...

Gorgeous pictures!

jo(e) said...

Beautiful.

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

So pretty! :-D

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

Ah, fall color. I mostly missed it this year, though we may still get some.

I did get a nice dose at Wolcott on Sunday.