February 25, 2024: Recycled Art

Starting with something different this week, we'll take a trip to the Museum of the White Mountains at Plymouth State University.  Their current exhibition is exploring the use of recycled items being reimagined into creative objects of art using everything from trash, to items found in yard sales, to pieces of prior artwork the artist had abandoned.  In one example, an artist has created sculptures from old photographic negatives.  There are many incredibly creative works on display, and having obtained permission to use photos of their work, I'll share some of my favorites with a nature theme.

Serenity  by Linn Stillwell

This beautiful night scene was created from used drier sheets, scraps of the artist's prior drawings and paintings, and is composed on cotton rag paper left over from another painting.  (We'll revisit that moon later in this post.)

Ascent to Freedom  by Linda Greenwood

Here, the artist reused wood, metal, paper, and a small tree branch.

Easy Kind of Feeling  by Devin Donohue

This medium is described as "wool needle felted on blanket," a technique that created intriguing textures.  I don't know how it's done, especially the coloring, but it's beautiful.

One more:

Les Fleurs Mysterieux  by Shela Cunningham

This creative transformation of trash into beauty fascinated me and I spent a long time just trying to identify each of the original items which include yogurt lids, wine bottle collars, old netting, even coffee bags.  You can find more information about all the art on display here. 

Did you notice all the artists are women?  That's part of the theme of the exhibition titled Reimagine which runs through March 23rd.  The museum is located on the PSU campus in downtown Plymouth and admission is free.  It's always a quiet, peaceful place to appreciate New Hampshire's culture, history, and creativity.  

Switching now to the wild nature, there was a lot activity around the lake this week.  First off, the local bobcat came by to visit the birdfeeder one afternoon, but finding nothing there to prey upon, it went on its way down to the lake and along the shoreline where I was able to catch a quick picture before it disappeared into the undergrowth.  

It sure looks nice and warm wearing its thick winter fur coat.

Then out on the lake I was attracted to a pair of tracks passing over the lake on a bee-line to a shore where I often see signs of otter activity.

A couple of otters in a fast dash to the restroom.

Following the tracks, sure enough, I came to a spot on the shore where they had scooted around a bit.

And where they have a latrine; I've seen this previously in that very spot. 

Otter scat

There's no mistaking otter scat.  Black and moist and full of fish scales, there's nothing else like it.  After their visit they continued onto land to cross over to another portion of the lake.

The moon was garnering a lot of attention this week, and perhaps the full moon was increasing animal as well as spacecraft activity.  The moon was so bright shining on the snow covered ground that it seemed like daytime in the middle of the night.  The sky was clear enough to see the moon glowing orange as it set in the morning.

The full Snow Moon sets this morning.

A couple of excursions to the mountains were in order considering the nice winter weather this week. 

Smooth trails and blue skies in the Belknap Range.

I saw not another soul on my hike up the back side of Gunstock Mountain, which made it really fun to broach the curve of the summit and find a bee-hive of activity at the top of the ski area. 

Cresting Gunstock summit from the west flank.

I was perfectly happy to take advantage of the deck and picnic tables at the Panorama Pub to enjoy my lunch with a beautiful view of Lake Winnipesaukee and the Ossipee Mountains.

There's an awful lot of blue in the big lake.

Continuing on to Belknap I saw again not another person, but on the top of Belknap I found the shiny new fire tower just erected this fall.

It provides views back to the west, including toward Lake Wicwas, Leavitt Mountain, and the hills on Chase Rd.  I was also pleased to see moose scat near the summit.  

Moose scat right in the trail.

Ah, late February, early March - my favorite time of winter - when the sun is high and warm and the days are getting longer.  Only 23 days until the vernal equinox!

Late Winter Skiing at Green Woodlands in Dorchester.

While you're up near the mountains for your visit to the museum, I hope you can get out to experience this enjoyable part of New Hampshire's winter season!

February 12, 2017

The February full moon is known as the Snow Moon, and this month it is being true to its name.  We seem to have escaped the ugly pattern of freezing rain after every storm, and have been getting storms with light, dry snow, ending with cold and windy weather. 

The Snow Moon rises over Lake Wicwas

One of the perks of a good winter is being able to explore areas that are simply out-of-bounds in the summer.  You may recall that the 2016 Lake Wicwas Paddle Regatta brought us to the beaver dam on Blake Brook, one of the two main tributaries that replenish Lake Wicwas. 

Blake Brook and the beaver dam in a slightly warmer season

Well, the cold temperatures have frozen Blake Brook sufficiently to brave traveling up the brook to the beaver dam, though I still kept away from the higher-current areas as water does flow out from the dam all winter.  But once at the dam I was able to climb up over the dam and explore the beaver pond impounded behind it, and found that I wasn't the only one enjoying the fresh snow:  there were otter tracks running all over the pond.

River Otter tracks on the Blake Brook beaver dam

The otters had run up and down the pathways between the rushes, bounding a step or two, then sliding along on their bellies.

These have to be the most playful, fun-loving creatures on the lake.  Did you happen to see the Smithsonian article about the prehistoric ancestors of our river otters?  They weren't quite as cute as our current version.

The squirrels also appear to be playing in the snow, but in reality they are searching diligently for food buried under the latest covering of snow.

Even though they tunnel under the snow in search of sustenance, they come up often to look out for danger.  And they better, as the bobcat was back again yesterday, lurking along beside the house, ready to ambush the squirrels at the bird feeder.  But this time it got spooked it before it nabbed its breakfast - and before I got a picture.

Of course a bobcat would be happy to catch a careless bird on the ground, or maybe this nice fat woodpecker on a feeder. 

A downy woodpecker with its feathers ruffled (by the wind)

I'm pretty sure a bobcat would have no trouble leaping up to a low feeder if a distracted bird didn't see it coming.

The humans were out enjoying the snow and the frozen lake too.  One group had quite a party down near the boat ramp last weekend, complete with music, bonfires, skating, and ATV-pulled sled rides for the kids.

And another family has built a pretty impressive fortress on the ice, including a sentry to watch guard over it while they are away.

Finally, I know I'm in a special place when I'm looking skywards (because I'm raking snow off the roof!) and a bald eagle flies through my line of sight, soaring majestically right over the house, it's white head and tail glowing golden yellow in the late afternoon sun, contrasted against an azure blue sky.  I bring a camera on most adventures, but not to shovel the roof, so you'll have to paint that picture in your mind.  It was one of those moments when I stop what I'm doing and just reflect on the world we've been given.

More snow is in the air today, perhaps the biggest storm yet this winter.  The Snow Moon is working it magic!