News & Updates from Cards by Maggie
Despite all the rain and delay due to the lumber having to be special ordered, due to the length, the roof is in place.
Work can now start on the inside after a clearer assessment of damage.
We hope to be back in the house by mid July and then we will have to unpack again.
Our hopes for the garden are on hold although just after we moved in I ordered a lot of plants which have just arrived and we have to figure out where to put them which is difficult as there is a massive dumpster and storage container taking up a lot of space as well as making it difficult for us to move around.
The veggie garden will have to wait until next year though. Grass cutting next week and pulling up dandelions seem to be top of the never ending list of things to do.
Back in January my daughter, dog and myself moved to a new house in a very small New Hampshire town.
New is in inverted commas since the main part of the house was built in 1798.
It also has a name Old Little Croooked House We were slowly redecorating and planning what to do and whether or not my craft room should be in the attic or basement.A week ago I decided to make a quick, less than 1/2 hour, trip to the transfer station (dump) and when I got back the fire and police were at my house and the road blocked off.
It seems a 75 foot maple tree across the road from the house was blown over in a very strong wind gust and had gone straight through the roof and into the living room and mud room.
The house made the news stations down in Boston as well as here in New Hampshire. Fortunately my daughter had gone to work early and my dog was lying by the basement door waiting for my return.
Now we are staying in a hotel trying to decide on a construction company to come and demolish half the house and rebuild.
The insurance company was able to come and get the holes in the roof covered before the blizzard hit.
So my card making is on hold for a few more months instead of starting up again next week as I had planned, At least it wasnt a fire, no one was hurt and we are appreciating the response we have had from the people in this small town especially the fire and police department chiefs and a neighbour who we had not yet met until this happened.
The photo shows one of the holes in the roof.
I normally walk my dog Nero just before dawn every day as I am an early riser, too early some days.
However, on Tuesday I overslept and the sky was already lightening when we set out. On our return I saw the sun shining on my neighbours tree.
Fortunately I had my phone with me, I sometimes forget, and was able to take this vision of loveliness.
Our daughter lives and works in a small New Hampshire town called Goffstown. Two weekends ago they had their annual pumpkin festival which always culminates in the Pumpkin Regatta, something I had always wanted to see so I took advantage of Pam living and working there to go and watch.
Large pumpkins are hollowed out and used as boats. Local groups/business can enter one and they decorate their pumpkin one person dresses up and then they race it on the rive for about 100 yards.
Pam's boss's brother decided they should enter one and he would be the crew, he lives in Minneapolis by the way not locally, so he flew over for the weekend.
Their pumpkin was to be a shark and as befitting a florist shop it was also decorated with flowers. The banks of the river were crowded but I did manage to squeeze in.
What a fun event it was and surprisingly those pumpkins floated very well there was no capsizing at all. The local police department won the race, their paddler was dressed as Popeye. Unfortunately the shark came last but was voted the best decorated vessel. I am so looking forward to the event next year. The photo shows the shark and a few other entrants. Behind them is a waterfall.