A summer day at the lake

The torrential bursts of rain last Friday created a symphony: the rap-tap-tap of the rain drops on the roof, the swoosh of the water pouring down through the drain pipe along the edge of the windows, the stream rushing along the gutters in the street. With a sigh, and the shake of a wet umbrella, I kept hearing, “we need the rain.”

The rain so thick, the dark was clotted by it.
Passage through it, constricted in the waters,
Made tumid by it, blinded by me. …

Swans in the Dark, Ned O’Gorman

I sought shelter in the Laconia Public Library. There is little that can compare to sinking into a leather chair with a good book on a gray, rainy day. Or course I wasn’t the only person with this thought, there were others reading and using the computers in this warmly lit, welcoming place.

Saturday morning the rain stopped. Sun filled the sky. The cardinal reappeared. The chickadees began chirping. A chipmunk scampered out from under the deck and then quickly retreated, just checking the weather it seemed.

My day began at the Taylor Community garage sales. Colorful green and silver mylar balloons marked the homes along the streets where there were open garages and tables covered with Christmas decorations, china, linen, lots of mugs and clothes. Suitcases, paintings, tools and various ephemera could be found beneath the tables and lined against the walls. The residents use this sale to raise funds for the Taylor Community staff to say thank you for creating and maintaining a pleasant place to live. There were lots of smiles and greetings all around.

By mid-morning activities were underway downtown celebrating Laconia,125 years. Music, gifts, cookies and lemonade and the opportunity for a ride on the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad. How refreshing, on this Saturday morning, to be in a public square filled with laughter, conversation and friendship, without suspicion, anger or fear. Without backpack check points. Without armed security.

On a lovely New Hampshire Saturday, there is the temptation to take a drive, with all the windows rolled down, to find a café for lunch. We ventured to Center Sandwich, walked through the New Hampshire League of Arts and Crafts and enjoyed a picnic with delicious sandwiches from the Village Green Café and Market located just in the center of town.

The afternoon wouldn’t have been complete without a swim in Lake Winnisquam, watching the loons floating and bobbing in the water next to the shore and viewing the mountains in the distance.

The wind blew across the lake and the sun began to dip below the horizon. Dinner was a menu of sweet beets and greens, grilled red onion and peppers, corn, luscious tomatoes and grilled hamburgers from the Farmer’s Market.

We noticed a small red leaf on the ground as we cleared the table and cleaned the grill.
The season of butterflies, daisies, Queen Anne’s Lace and geraniums is beginning a slow shift into autumn.