The Concord Life

A New Dawn in Carlisle

Lisa — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 16:24:11 +0000

The new year was aptly rung in by a fresh blanket of snow. Following hours of snowfall on New Year’s Eve, we were greeted in the early morning hours of our new year with a clean slate, both literally and figuratively. I ventured out first thing, or as close as I could muster to first thing following the night before.

The metaphor was perfect. I walked through swaths of farmland and winding back roads enjoying the perfection early morning hours can bring. The snow, sky and winding post and beam fence in today’s photograph reminded me again of the beauty and peace this town and its land affords us. And while there is no certainty in the year ahead or ability to speculate with any precision on what may come, a stroll on these back roads of Carlisle has a wonderful way of preserving the “moment” and the serenity which that brings. Happy New Year. (originally published 1/2009)

O Tannenbaum!

Lisa — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 23:51:05 +0000

Yesterday, our most recent blanket of snow provided a glimpse back for me. As I waited for my daughters to get off the bus I had the time and inclination to step into the middle of the road our house resides on in Carlisle. Of course this wouldn’t typically be remarkable except for the fact that even though Carlisle is a relatively sleepy town in comparison to its neighbors, our particular road is a main route to and from other towns making it always quite busy.

The snow brought everything to a halt. A wonderful gift because it allowed me to see what those residents, perhaps 60 or 100 years ago saw, with very little alternation. Vast tracks of untouched land, gently sloping hills, an abundance of snow covered limbs and a beautiful period farmhouse just across the street from us. With the absence of any kind of vehicle, time really does becomes more fluid. It could easily be any moment in the last century or so…at least until the snowplows arrived.

Today’s picture is of our “outdoor” Christmas tree. My daughters feel the snow dresses it beautifully. We all marvel at its height and the many holiday celebrations before us it must have silently watched over. O Tannenbaum! (originally posted December 2007)

Thanksgiving Preparations…cranberries at the source

Lisa — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:14:17 +0000

As promised, I returned to the Cranberry Bog for Fall Harvest. Never actually having seen it in action it was quite an amazing sight. I walk these paths around the Bog rather frequently and up until last week was concerned I could only catch the faintest hint of berry or any other reddish hue amidst the sandy soil. So when I went out this Sunday I was surprised to find, not the low lying plants and sand I had become acquainted with, but a completely submerged parcel of land resembling a large pond or marsh area. Along with this newly created body of water was an unmistakable sea of red.

As I walked closer what I found were thousands of shiny ripe cranberries floating in close formation in the water. Beyond this flotilla were two men on foot (I think) and one in a machine called a water reel that uses horizontal paddles to detach the berries from their vines, herding them toward a upward sloping conveyor belt of sorts. This evidently separates the berry from the water, channeling the berries into the back of a truck.

It’s really a remarkable site to see the entire landscape transform overnight. It was hard to resist reaching down and plucking from the waters edge these brilliant red berries. But as I walked the boundary I quickly understood I was not the only one who would consider going for ultimate freshness. As I pondered my next move, my eyes were directed toward a sign requesting a little self-control. A warning to keep one’s hands out of the bog and wait until the berries found their way into jars and other offerings at The Great Brook Farm for purchase. So for anyone craving an early start on Thanksgiving, your jars, pies, sauce, etc. will be waiting for you at Great Brook! (This entry was first published in Fall 2007)

Fall Arrives

Lisa — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:40:50 +0000

Heywood Meadow has survived over 370 years in Concord and is a link to Concord’s pre-history as an area used by Native Americans and later to the first English settlement of Concord in 1630’s. Its survival has not been without incident. It was originally part of Concord’s Mill Pond constructed in the early days of incorporation to power 17th century local industry. Later, The Concord Gun House was built on a portion of it, storing Colonists’ arms through the Revolution. This beautiful meadow also served as inspiration to the following century of renowned writers and philosophers. Finally, more recent history of the 20th century records repeated attempts to modify or suspend its existence all together.

Fortunately today, Heywood Meadow is overseen by the Heywood Meadow Stewardship Committee and is a thoroughly protected piece of natural beauty and Concord history. Its full glory is realized in the Fall when this extraordinary Maple that remained present for countless defining moments in history, reaches peak foliage. My girls and I have laid under it just to see what a 50 foot golden canopy might look like from the ground up. This tree stands alone on a relatively small meadow landscape that sits just outside of Concord Center proper and near the former Hawthorne, Alcott and Emerson residences.

Dedication to historic preservation is a wonderful hallmark of this part of New England. As today’s picture so clearly gives testament to, no amount of financial resources given to newly landscaped developments can recapture the magnificence that centuries of growth took to create. (Heywood Meadow – first published on The Concord Life 10/07)

Butterfly Summer, Carlisle, MA

Lisa — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:37:34 +0000

Our front yard in Carlisle plays host to butterflies during the day and dragonflies in the evening, each put on a great show.

Horse Farm in Concord

Lisa — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 22:52:33 +0000

Horses have been the theme at our home recently. My six year old is smitten with all manner of horses and we are very fortunate, in her mind, to have numerous opportunities to spot them on Concord and Carlisle farms that abut local roads. This Palomino beauty was our latest chance to opine about the virtues of having a horse in the same way one might discuss a goldfish or cat. For now, thankfully, keeping a sharp eye out through the car window, “collecting” Concord and Carlisle horses as she spots them is enough!

This particular animal seems well-accustomed to roadside visitors, perhaps because it lodges just down the street from Henry David Thoreau’s newly renovated birthplace.

Mill Brook Inn, Concord MA

Lisa — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 02:17:15 +0000

The Mill Brook Inn, is an antique colonial dating to both the Georgian and the Federal period of Concord’s history and architecture. This came about when the original 1758 structure was moved in 1828 to its present Walden Street address and the front of the house as it exists today, was added. The original owners of the home were the Hosmers. The name Hosmer can be found throughout this part of New England. There are Hosmer Houses that have been preserved in Acton, Sudbury and Concord and represents fathers, brothers, daughters and grandchildren that populated this part of Colonial New England.

This particular house is now known as the Mill Brook Inn and is a superb bed and breakfast run by Kathryn and John Paul Gosselin. It is authentic inside and out with a subtle weaving of modern conveniences such as WiFi. It is Concord tradition at its best, civilized right down to the opportunity for guests to enjoy an evening sherry in the Library. When you walk out the front door and you are in the heart of the Mill Dam District of Concord, art galleries, antique shops, museums and cafes are within footsteps.

The Concord Life, Volume I published June, 09

Lisa — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:36:02 +0000

Hello all – My apologies for not blogging over the past month. I have been completing final edits on my book which will be published at the end of June. It is a compilation of selected entries and photos from the past two years. It will be made available for purchase in stores throughout Concord, Massachusetts also on Amazon.com and here on my site. Thanks for your encouragement and loyal readership over the past two years. Above is a preview of the Cover.

Thoreauly Antiques and the lure of Concord.

Lisa — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:00:23 +0000

I was out on Walden Street in Concord yesterday and noticed a distinct difference in the tenor and energy of the people out on the streets. There was more interaction than I’d seen since the holidays accompanied by a leisurely stride that can only signify winter is indeed behind us. Absent was the head down, collar up, determined walk toward ones next retreat from the cold.

Window shopping is particularly gratifying in Concord. Each storefront is so individual, the wares of the various stores spills out onto the sidewalks as does the wholly unique character of each of the shops and its owners. Today’s picture is of Thoreauly Antiques one of Concord’s several excellent antiques shops. Although there are people who comes from long distances specifically to find a treasure of sorts, Thoreauly Antiques is equally compelling to the person who is just crossing its path by chance, as was the case with me. Something caught my eye from the sidewalk display, I hesitated to venture in as this was not something I had intended to or typically seek out. But after choosing to give it a go, I could not have been greeted by a kinder professional. A women of age and experience was welcoming and informative and just the type of person you might envision in a place whose walls are lined with fascinating pieces from the past. I immediately became intrigued, picturing perhaps an Antiques Roadshow type of find in just such an establishment. However, time was short, as I was suppose to be heading in an entirely difference direction. I hurried off, sidewalk item in tow, musing about its potentially hidden origins.

Four Corners Farm, Carlisle, MA

Lisa — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 18:43:13 +0000

As you can see in today’s passage, Concord and Boston are to your left. On many of the original roadways in New England stand granite markers. Before GPS and before Michelin Maps, there were clear, concise postings consisting of an arrow and the destination where the arrow would take you. They dot the landscape of roads that were once travelled on horseback or in carriage. This was a time where Yankee or perhaps Puritan sensibilities were still dominant and signs either on rock or post were purposeful and brief. If the road led from Carlisle into Concord it was named Concord Road. If it was in Carlisle heading toward Acton, it was named Acton Road…where this photo was taken. Adjective-driven names were not preferred in early New England. Patch Meadow Lane and Oak Knoll Road were for a later time.