Fiddles, Runners and Plows

Opening weekend at the Shaker Village had perfect weather . . . 

and great music, a foot race, and a communal plowing for the gardens.

Good Quiet Night Shaker Village

The quiet, usually empty, Shaker Village I've been wandering through and photographing all year is about to come to life! Saturday is opening day at the Village. Go visit! 

Past the crossroads

Near the Canterbury/Concord town line is a dirt trail high above one of the Merrimack River oxbows. It's one of my favorite places for a sunset, or soon a swim. Lots of tiny wildflowers blooming now. And black flies.

May 1 and Hot, Peregrine Falcon

The last week was warm and dry, then cold and rainy, with the year's final big snow storm in the mountains (we hope) - up to 30 inches in the Greens, and Extreme avalanche warmings up in Tucks. A normal New England Spring. Then Saturday it was almost 90 and muggy. Too hot for me this early in the year. Everything is blooming.

Driving home from Shaker Village Saturday morning I topped the hill in Canterbury Center, drove down the hill a bit, then was joined by a beautiful Peregrine Falcon flying 10 feet outside my driver's window. We drove and flew together, eye to eye, checking each other out, for maybe 30 seconds. That was incredible!