Lyme Local

Brian and Jim in the New Hampshire village of Lyme

  • Catching up with an old friend, and admiring the pollinator garden on a walk around the Common.

    Jim saw his high school friend Ann Lipsitt for the first time in 50 years, over lunch at Lou’s restaurant in Hanover. Ann lives 100 miles away near Burlington, Vt.

    We were very happy to see each other.

    Later in the week, Jim took in the sights on a Sunday walk around the Common. (Brian was back in Louisville.)

    The Northern Woodlands pollinator is taking off.
    Orange coneflower.
    Black-eyed susans.
    A sign of the times.
    Flowers by an intersection at the Common.
    A florescent-pink zinnia.
    Yet more flowers.
    Sunflowers galore.
    Lyme Inn is one of two bed-and-breakfasts on the Common.
    A stall bearing a well-known local surname.
    A panoramic of all 27 stalls in the old horse barn.
    Lyme Historical Society is only open on Saturdays.
    There’s a museum, too.
    No horses allowed in the cemetery.
    The old temporary burial vault when the ground is frozen.
    This was once the Lyme jail.
    A big rainbow bus in the Lyme Hardware parking lot.
    A seasonal view to the nature preserve.
    A panoramic view of the pollinator garden shows it’s thriving.

  • It was a beautiful day to visit the Norwich Farmers Market

    We saw lots of colorful vegetables; tried peach-basil ice cream (it was good), and bought small spice dishes from local potter Susan Leader.

  • Viewing the Sphinx secret society building

    The society is known for the windowless Sphinx Tomb, an Egyptian Revival-style building by architect William M. Butterfield in 1903.

    The entrance is actually on the right side; this door doesn’t operate.

    It was constructed with reinforced concrete on East Wheelock Street and inspired by the the Temple of Dendur. In addition to providing space for the society’s gatherings, the tomb also includes a living room, a library, a billiards room and a card room, according to Wikipedia.

  • Charlie visited and we went shopping

    He visited from Boston for three nights, seeing Jack and Sarah in person for the first time in four decades. During a road trip to Bradford, Vt., to see the falls downtown, we stopped at Farm-Way for what turned out to be one of the biggest shoe departments in the nation.

    We also had great dinners at Pine at the Hanover Inn and Stella’s, plus lunch at the Red Clover.

  • Paying a visit to a famous Vermont gardener

    Our Dartmouth neighbor Carol Pye introduced us to Bill Noble by way of a book he wrote about his garden near Norwich.We enjoyed the sights and sounds (so many birds!) during our visit today.

    The book that led us there.
    He grew vegetables, too.
    The views to the distant hills were wonderful.
    This is what happens when you accidentally take a photo in iPhone portrait mode.

  • We bought new china and lots of flatware

    We used Williams-Sonoma gift cards received as gifts. Total cost: $2,100. (But we saved $120 in Louisville sales tax by having it all shipped to Lyme.)

    Packed in many boxes so nothing would get damaged …
    … including the many cups and saucers …
    … and lots of flatware.

  • We missed Jack’s 95th, but the birthday show went on

    We were supposed to be in Lyme June 14, but Brian was under the weather, so we delayed our visit until much later in the month.

    Emmy and Josie like anyone’s birthday if it means cake and ice cream.

  • We get our office chair, and Lyme Congregational gets a coat of paint

    Pompanoosuc Mills in Thetford built the walnut chair for $946, but it’ll last a couple lifetimes.