Warner's Fall Festival 2009

The temperature rose and the sun came out. We had lots of fun with the theme being "Then and Now". There were bumblebees, dizzy dragons, marching bands, raffles too and just the right amount of confectionary sugar on the fried dough. I especially liked going down the slide. It "is very high up and very long, and shiny-like-mica, right Nan?"










With All Hallow's Eve around the corner, the next adventure should be Shipwrecks of Salem Sound boat tour at Pickering Wharf in Salem, MA.

...Happy trails...

19th Annual Keene Pumpkin Festival

The 19th Annual Keene Pumpkin Festival
Saturday, October 17, 2009
(Take the bikes & double up on sparse parking space! )

In 1991 600 carved pumpkins were lit around Central Square and the 2008 record is over 22,000! The question is "Will 2009 be the year the record is broken again?"

Community Night is Friday, October 16th, from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Take along your carved pumpkin and 3" candle and have it officially logged in.

One of the great entertainment features of the Keene Pumpkin Festival® is three stages of live music. There are special events for the children which include a Children's Costume Parade. The teens can take a shot at the Climbing Wall and enter the Seed Spitting contest.

The Bitter Sweet Season

On the homefront I like to putter out of doors; tending to the perennials and the moss garden, reading, or enjoying a day at the beach or Pow Wow, alone or with the best of company (who never complain if I bring along some knitting). It's all warm fuzzies with lots of fresh air and sun.

...but the signs that Old Man Winter is approaching are all around; leaves have reached peak color, daylight hours are shorter, nights are chilly. I really should get out the cashmere and knit some warm wear just for me. I know only three people (men) who look forward to the shorter days and colder nights. CRAZY! I know. Soon any biker festivity will be off road, confined to a clubhouse, function hall, or a good bar ;o).

Sadly, I missed the Harvest Moon Festival last weekend at the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum and the Fire & Iron Motorcycle Club rescheduled the Station 102's Fall Foliage (Benefit) Ride for today until tomorrow.

Sunday's forecast is sun. Let us hope so, as the rain has been relentless. I almost feel sorry for the leaf peepers. They travel world wide to ooh-awe over New England's Fall foliage and then it rains, it always does, but they wait for the sun. I have always wondered why when the sun is out they (leaf peepers) do not remove their sun glasses. They are denying themselves the natural splendor for which they came to see.   Do they realize that? 

With nice weather in the forecast, check out Warner's Fall Festival and Keene's Pumpkin Festival. Both festivals evoke community spirit and a lot of fun for all. October 10th is the grand opening of the Indian Museum Exhibit in the new Museum of Springfield in Springfield, MA. Vote for your favorite vintage or classic auto or motorcycle.

The Winnipesaukee Scenic Rail provides transportation into and out of Weirs Beach " for the Annual Laconia Bike Week event but you can also step aboard the Hobo or Winnipesaukee Rail Road for a Fall Foliage Tour of New England by train.

Ya just never know what purty thangs can be found at a pit stop ....

...Happy trails.....

P.S. I think we set our clocks back November 1. We "fall back" at 2 a.m. giving Trick or Treaters an extra hour of daylight on All Hallow's Eve.

Autumn + Motorcyle Riding = Cashmere

Autumn is probably one of the best seasons for motorcycle riding in New England. The mountains and valleys burst-in-your-face with breath-taking foliage that is 100% pure Mother Nature magic and better then a "Kodak Moment."

The open air freedom of motorcycle riding is thrilling and I always wear protective gear to reduce exposure to the elements, road debris, UFOs and insects. It is amazing how much a big bug in the forehead hurts! Discomfort could actually cause the unmentionable so I do not move until I am satisfied with my gear. Any delay is minimal and will only enchance the ride - so I just give the road captain a big grin when the pack starts to gr-rumble.

The saddle bag always includes "protective gear" for my long hair. Knots and tangles from wind damage are not pretty and always require a trip to the salon. Imagine trying to detangle a skein of Rowan's Kidsilk Haze that was -tragically- tumbled in the dryer.

My stylist (influenced by Jose Eber who announced many years ago on national television that shoulder length hair was the the longest acceptable length for women over a certain age), lectured me passionately on hair breakage from wind, sun and cheap ponytail holders... until I humbly left his salon with a sensitive scalp, sleek but slightly shorter hair and $90 less in the fanny pack.

During warm weather months French braids, bandanas and my Native American leather ties minimize damage and keep my hair out of my eyes. When temps drop warm headwear is essential. Helmets keep your head dry but I've never met a helmet that kept my hair away from my eyes, minimized wind damage or kept my forehead, neck and ears warm.

With no time to knit up a nice light weight and custom cashmere hat imagine my delight when while browsing at Helium (an exceptional shoe store in Hanover, NH), I was shown this in all its cashmere cuteness:

"Beehive"

The tag reads Another "one-of-a-kind 'e ko logic original" Handmade in Troy, NY from recycled garments containing 90 - 100% cashmere.

A very chic hat for cool weather motorcycle riding and geniusly designed. Traditional cool weather hats never provide room at the crown for my long hair and this hat is open at the top! It protects my hair from wind and keeps me warm. Bad hair problems solved!

I can wear my hair up in "Beehive" fashion (when riding) and let my hair down through the top (at the rally).

Clip On

Clip Off

This hat is soft, comfortable, stylish and warm! I love knitting with cashmere but this handmade one-of-a-kind hat by Ekologic is instant gratification.

Thank you Helium!

If you tour the open roads of New Hampshire's White Mountains and Vermont's Green Mountains keep in mind that temperatures can change from warm-fuzzy to frrfrigid as quickly as you round a turn. Dress in layers, and the layer next to your skin should have moisture wicking properties to keep you warm and dry! Look out for moose, bear, wet leaves, apples and loose gravel too.

P.S. I did the math and unless men are excluded, I'm thinking Jose is of that certain age where long hair is not acceptable ...

Autumn Leaves - Falling Rain

Stone walls and color, Woodstock, Vermont