the uvScene

Who’s up for some 4th of July Fireworks? Where are the best displays in the UV and the surrounding areas? What makes them the best?

Please post your favorites here, as well as any skinny yo have on the place to go this year for some oohs and aahs!

I’ve been painfully remiss and have felt guilt all month but the truth has been that writer’s block along with rainy day blues has made it hard to think of things to celebrate in my town. Every time an idea came up it would occur that the event was outside city limits. But upon further inspection, this is really one of the things I love about my city - it’s association with the Upper Valley community at large. I am not confined to my town, I am a part of a really neat collection of towns that all have their pieces of charm. However, this post is meant to focus on one town and so I will. A list of things I love about Lebanon: Read the rest of this entry »

We bought our very first BRAND NEW car this week, I finally feel like I’m on my way toward being a “grown up.”

So this week’s Friday Five is about cars, and other modes of transportation.

1) Do you have a car, and what kind? What were the factors that lead you to acquire your current vehicle? If no car, how the heck do you survive up here? (REALLY, I want to know!!)
2) If you had unlimited funds, is there a certain car (old or new) that you would buy, and why?
3) If you could design a vehicle, what would it be like? I don’t mean to limit the question just to cars… think big! Would it fly? Would it float? Would it mow the grass?
4) What is your favorite mode of non-motorized transportation?
5) Good mechanics are really hard to come by, do you have one? Or have you had a really bad experience with a dealership or mechanic?

Thanks everyone for the “food for thought” (groan) about last week’s column on grocery shopping in the UV.

We recently bought a used canoe (17′ fiberglass by Grumman). It’s maiden voyage was a jaunt on our local Canaan Street Lake in the brief spot of sunshine last Sunday. We are so excited to explore so many recreational boating options in the UV! Within a short drive we have the Canaan Street, Mascoma, and Crystal Lakes; Grafton and Goose Ponds; Mascoma and Connecticut Rivers! (And more, I am quite sure…)

Where do you all go for a quite day on the water? And help me out here… where do you put in???

Even though it’s been a long time since I’ve been in school, I still enjoy the vicarious feeling of freedom I get once I know that school is out for the summer. So this week’s Friday Five is dedicated to school, and school vacation.

1) What was your favorite year in school, and why?
2) Did you have a favorite teacher? What made them awesome?
3) Did you have a least favorite teacher? What made them horrible?
4) What is your best summer vacation memory?
5) Summer book reports: yay or nay?

We’ve had a lot of Wednesday Where columns about going out to eat in the UV. I’d love to know where people get there groceries!

We regularly shop at the Lebanon Co-op. People have said the the Co-op is too expensive, but on the few occasions where I’ve shopped at one of the larger chain stores, I’ve ended up spending just as much if not more with nowhere near the quality, especially in meats, produce, and bulk bin items.

This summer we also have a half-share CSA from Autumn Harvest Farm (and we try to hit up our local Canaan, NH farmer’s market most weeks). We’re doing minimal growing on our own this season… hops, basil, mint, lettuce.

This weekend my brother and his girlfriend were visiting and marveled that we drive 30 miles round trip for our groceries!

So, where do you shop? Are you looking for price? Convenience? Is it important to you to support local farmers and businesses? Do you have somewhere to shop in your town or do you have to trek for groceries?