New Hampshire Home November-December 2021

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52 Country Living With a Timeless Twist

Bonin Architects reconstructed a Wilmot home dating back to 1912, ensuring that it will house future generations to come.

By Emily Heidt

Photography by John W. Hession

62 Building on Memories

Cargill Construction combined the old—elements from the original family home—with the new to create a unique house that blends past and present.

By Karen A. Jamrog

Photography by John W. Hession

74 Lake House Makeover

Designer Emily Shakra transformed a dark, cramped home into a welcoming, airy retreat where style and function exist in harmony.

By Lynne Snierson

Photography by John W. Hession

22 From the Editor

26 Favorite Finds

Gift ideas

By Amanda Andrews

34 Home Cooking

Time-saving holiday cookies

By Mary Ann Esposito

Photography by Kendal J. Bush

40 Garden Rx

Sensational Succulents

By Robin Sweetser

Photography by Kendal J. Bush

84 Master of Craft

Fred Puksta

By Bill Burke

Photography by Kendal J. Bush

92 Calendar

Festive events

96 At Home in New Hampshire

The Ritual of Ritual

By Dan Szczesny

Illustration by Carolyn Vibbert

residential commercial interior design

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§

Amanda Andrews is the associate editor for the New Hampshire Business Review, a McLean Communications publication, the parent company of New Hampshire Home.

Bill Burke is a contributing editor at New Hampshire Magazine and the managing editor of custom publications at McLean Communications. He is also the author of travel advice books on Walt Disney World, which happens to be one of his favorite places.

Kendal J. Bush is a contributing photographer for New Hampshire Magazine. Before settling in New Hampshire, she traveled the world as an editor and videographer for the National Geographic Channel and NBC. See more of her work at kendaljbush.com.

Mary Ann Esposito is the host of the public television series “Ciao Italia,” now in its 29th season, and the author of 13 cookbooks, including her most recent, “Ciao Italia: My Lifelong Food Adventures in Italy.” She lives in New Hampshire. Visit her website at ciaoitalia.com.

Emily Heidt is the associate editor at New Hampshire Magazine. A graduate of the University of New Hampshire, she now lives in Exeter.

John W. Hession is New Hampshire Home’s photo editor as well as a photographer and filmmaker specializing in architecture, design, food and advertising. He is currently working on a series of films for the New Hampshire Dance Collaborative. See his work at advanceddigitalphotography.com.

Karen A. Jamrog is a longtime freelancer who covers a wide variety of topics. She is a frequent contributor to New Hampshire Magazine, where she is also the regular Health Department writer.

Morgan Karanasios is New Hampshire Home’s photographer. While she was a student in Dijon, France, she took photographs throughout Europe and continues to develop her passion for photography.

Dan Szczesny is a journalist, author and speaker who’s written several books of travel memoir, poetry and essays. His newest book, which he wrote with his 6-year-old daughter Uma, is “NH Rocks That Rock: An Adventure Guide to Twenty-Five Famous Boulders of the Granite State.” Learn more at danszczesny.wordpress.com.

Lynne Snierson is an award-winning freelance writer and publicist who covers a wide range of topics with a special interest in sports, particularly Thoroughbred horse racing. She is also a regular contributor to New Hampshire Magazine, where she writes the Seniority Department.

Robin Sweetser writes on gardening for the Sunday Concord Monitor and is a contributor to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, among other publications. A former Seacoast resident, she now lives and gardens in Hillsborough.

Carolyn Vibbert is a Portsmouth illustrator whose work also appears on packaging for food and wine brands such as Barbara’s, Stone Cellars and Williams Sonoma.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021

VOL. 15 | NUMBER 6 nhhomemagazine.com

VICE PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER Ernesto Burden

EDITOR Erica Thoits

ART DIRECTOR John R. Goodwin

PHOTO EDITOR John W. Hession

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Kara Steere

PHOTOGRAPHER Morgan Karanasios

SENIOR DESIGNERS

Jodie Hall, Nicole Huot

CONTRIBUTORS

Amanda Andrews, Bill Burke, Kendal J. Bush, Mary Ann Esposito, Emily Heidt, Karen A. Jamrog, Dan Szczesny, Lynne Snierson, Robin Sweetser and Carolyn Vibbert

SALES DIRECTOR Jessica Schooley (603) 413-5143 • (603) 345-2752 jschooley@mcleancommunications.com

VP/CONSUMER MARKETING Brook Holmberg

VP/RETAIL SALES Sherin Pierce

BUSINESS MANAGER Mista McDonnell

EVENT & MARKETING MANAGER Emily Samatis

BUSINESS & SALES COORDINATOR Heather Rood

DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST Morgen Connor

EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE

Erica Thoits, editor New Hampshire Home 150 Dow Street; Manchester, NH 03101 (603) 736-8056 ethoits@nhmagazine.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Subscriptions, New Hampshire Home PO Box 37900, Boone, IA 50037-0900 call (877) 494-2036; subscribe online at nhhomemagazine.com; or email customerservice@nhhomemagazine.com

New Hampshire Home is published bimonthly by McLean Communications, Llc.; 150 Dow Street; Manchester, NH 03101; (603) 624-1442. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without the publisher’s written permission is prohibited. The publisher assumes no responsibility for any mistakes in advertisements or editorial. Statements and opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect or represent those of this publication or its officers. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, McLean Communications, Llc.: New Hampshire Home disclaims all responsibility for omissions and errors.

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Letters of Love

MOST KIDS WHO WRITE TO SANTA DON’T HEAR BACK. One year, I did. The letter came in a big envelope, which was absolutely smothered in silver glitter. It was addressed to Erica Thoits, Sligo Road, Yarmouth, Maine, USA. No street number, but this is Santa—obviously he knows where I live. He doesn’t need to bother with the details.

The reason for the big envelope was soon revealed. After all, you can’t really fold a letter that’s bordered with even more glitter. It was too pretty to crease. Here’s how it read.

“Merry Christmas, Erica!

Great to get your letter! What a wonderful letter it is— beautiful printing and spelling. Every year you get better and better. Reports tell me you are quite the reader too.

Good wish list! You and I like the same things. Elf #5 is working on your list this year. He is out back checking on everything right now.

So, you want to know how big an elf is. Well, they are about the same size as you are now that you are 7½. They smile and laugh all the time, and their hearts are as big as the sky. I couldn’t do Christmas without their help. I love every one of them.”

The letter goes on, but this is a good example of Santa’s clear personal interest in me. I don’t recall if this was the first one Santa sent, but they arrived a number of years in a row. All glitterfied, all filled with details of my life, all my North Pole questions answered.

Traditions are about more than going through the motions.

Eventually, Santa started asking for snacks outside of the typical milk and cookies. One year, he asked for egg rolls. Another year, he was in the mood for Italian, and only pasta would do.

Of course, Mom had to get right on this. We can’t disappoint my close friend Santa.

You probably see where this is going. “Santa” was our family friend Dottie. I appreciate a sense of humor that inspires you to play a prank on your friends in a “letter from Santa” to their kid. I’m sure my mom was thrilled to throw some pasta on the stove or go pick up takeout on Christmas Eve.

It’s creeping close to 20 years since Dottie passed away. I think about her more often than just around the holidays, but she— and her letters—never fail to come up as the season approaches.

It was Dan Szczesny’s “At Home in N.H.” essay about the deeper meanings behind holiday rituals (read it on page 96) that brought Dottie’s letters to mind once again.

“The point is the celebration, not the tree,” Dan writes. “The point is, on that evening when we darken the house lights and switch on the holiday lights, there will be a glorious, fleeting moment when nothing else matters; when the connection between our parents’ lives, our lives and the lives of the kids of our children to come are all on display.”

When Dottie first picked up her pen and silver glitter, I don’t know if she thought about anything beyond making me happy and sending Mom on an egg-roll hunt, but they’ve since come to mean much more.

Thankfully, my mom saved the letters. They still get glitter everywhere, and they still make me feel loved and special. Not because 7-year-old me thought Santa was my pen pal, but because a real person with a heart as big as the sky took the time to show she cared (and wanted to get one over on her friends).

I hope someday I’ll send a glitter bomb of a letter to a child in my life, connecting Dottie, me and a new generation. That’s what the best traditions do—they link us to one another, sending love from the past to the present and beyond into the future.

Make sure your project gets the recognition it deserves— New Hampshire Home will celebrate an array of design excellence at the Design Awards gala at LaBelle Winery in Derry on January 19, 2022.

and stay tuned for details. For a

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Add some elegance to your bar with these purple agate coasters, which also make a great gift for co-workers or friends. Melan Threads Designs • etsy.com/shop/melanthreadsdesigns

Sweeten up someone’s day with a basket of chocolates, gourmet popcorn and other delicious treats. Van Otis Chocolates in Manchester & Wolfeboro (603) 627-1611 • vanotis.com

Set the mood in any room with this moon light, sure to bring out the stargazer in you. Articture • articture.com

Host a beer-tasting event for friends this holiday season with this custom-made beer flight tray and charcuterie board. Miller Corp Woodworkng • etsy.com/shop/millercorpwoodwkng

Hosting a spirited party has never been easier, thanks to this holiday-inspired collection of cocktail complements. Stonewall Kitchen in Portsmouth, Nashua, Rochester and North Conway stonewallkitchen.com

Present flowers in this beach-inspired, glass-blown vase to your sweetheart or as a housewarming gift.

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Get a personalized watercolor of your home, or as a gift for friends as a tangible memory of their house’s history.

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Stay warm this winter with handwoven, lightweight scarves, like this one made from a blend of locally spun wool and Tencel. Kate Kilgus Handwovens in Harrisville katekilgus.com

paulabarryceramics.com

See the delight on the face of a chef-in-the-making with this cooking gift box. Demdaco • demdaco.com

Keep warm this winter season with spiced rum featuring hints of vanilla and cinnamon, made right here in New Hampshire. Flag Hill Distillery & Winery Lee • (603) 659-2949 flaghill.com

Drain away the stress of the holiday season in this timeless clawfoot tub. Portsmouth Bath Company in Portsmouth • (603) 436-1401 • portsmouthbathco.com

Taste the best of Spain with a ready-to-serve tapas party in a box, perfect to give as a gift or host at your own abode. La Tienda • tienda.com

Spice up the kitchen of the cook in your life by gifting these glass jars with bamboo lids. The Bottle Shoppe in Manchester etsy.com/shop/thebottleshoppellc

Relax fireside in this Adirondack rocker with your favorite warm beverage. Grandin Road grandinroad.com

Give the Gift of Cookies

These time-saving treats still taste—and look—fantastic.

Breezing through the grocery aisles come fall, it becomes obvious that the serious holiday baking season begins before Halloween, as shelves are stocked with seasonal baking products, like candied fruits, marzipan, whole nuts and colorful sugars. Baking takes on new significance during the holidays when many of us want to give a homemade gift from the kitchen, and for a lot of people, cookies are at the top of the list.

We all have a gazillion things we want to accomplish, and we want to enjoy the holidays without spending hours in the kitchen. For cookie givers and lovers, why not choose cookies that can be made ahead of time, and either frozen or stored? Bar cookies and drop cookies are the easiest and fastest to make, but how about a basic biscotti cookie dough that can deliver four flavors? Now that’s a time saver in my book. Biscotti are durable, dry cookies that often accompany espresso or cappuccino, and they’re great travelers to send to family and friends.

Sliced-and-baked cookies, such as shortbread, are also great keepers, and tri-colored spumoni cookies are fun to make with the whole family.

To get the most out of the time and effort that goes into baking, here are a few tips:

• Use good-quality baking sheets, both rimmed and un-rimmed.

• Use parchment paper to line the baking sheets; this eliminates the

need to butter the sheets and makes removing the cookies effortless.

• After the cookies are baked, don’t be in a hurry to remove them from the baking sheets. Let them cool on the sheets for about 5 minutes, then transfer them to cooling racks.

• To freeze cookies, wrap them in groups of four or six, and place them

By Mary Ann Esposito | Photography by Kendal J. Bush

in freezer bags. This will allow you to take out what you need and keep the rest frozen.

Giving is the best part of making cookies; clear cellophane bags filled with cookies and tied with a pretty ribbon is my go-to presentation. And your reward for all this effort? You’ll know. NHH

Chocolate-y Coconut Bars

MAKES 3 DOZEN

Sinfully rich, these chewy chocolate and coconut bars are perfect for holiday giving.

Tuck some into a pretty tin or box along with the recipe for a really homey and appreciated gift.

2 cups crushed graham crackers

1½ cups whole shelled walnuts, divided

1/3 cup packed light-brown sugar

2/3 cup unsalted butter, melted

1 14-ounce package coconut

1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk

8 ounces dark chocolate, broken into pieces

8 ounces milk chocolate, broken into pieces

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place the graham cracker crumbs, ½ cup of the nuts and the brown sugar in a food processor, and process until the nuts are finely chopped. Add the butter through the feed tube, and pulse several times to combine the ingredients.

2. Press the mixture into a foil-lined 13-inch-by-9-inch-by-2-inch pan, leaving an overhang, and bake for 10 minutes.

3. Combine the coconut and condensed milk. Remove the crust from the oven, and spread the coconut mixture evenly over the crust. Coarsely chop the remaining walnuts and spread them over the coconut. Bake for 10 minutes.

4. Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl, and set it in a pan over simmering water. Allow the chocolate to melt. Stir in the vanilla.

5. Remove the pan from the oven. Spread the chocolate evenly over the top. Refrigerate for several hours.

Four in One Holiday Biscotti

Biscotti are all the rage right now, and they are a perfect long-keeping cookie to make ahead. In Italian, “biscotti” means “twice cooked” because the cookies are baked first as a loaf, then cut and baked again to harden. Using this one basic dough, you can get four distinct biscotti. Wrap some up in cellophane bags for your cookie-coffee or wine-dunking friends. Biscotti can be made a month ahead.

1. Cream the butter and sugar in a stand mixer or in a bowl with a handheld mixer until the mixture is smooth and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, on medium speed.

2. On a sheet of wax paper, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, and blend well on medium speed.

3. Transfer half the dough from the mixer to a bowl. Mix the vanilla into the remaining dough on low speed. Scoop half the vanilla-flavored dough onto a sheet of wax paper. Set aside.

4. To the dough remaining in the mixer bowl, mix in the dried fruit. Remove from the mixer bowl. With floured hands, form the dough into a log about 12–14 inches long and 1½ inches wide. Flatten the roll slightly, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 1 hour.

5. Return the remaining vanilla-flavored dough to the mixer bowl and mix in the nuts. Form, wrap and refrigerate as above.

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into bits

1¼ cups sugar

4 large eggs

3¼ cups unbleached all-purpose flour

3¼ teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

½ cup diced dried fruit, such as apricots, cherries, raisins or figs

½ cup slivered almonds or hazelnuts

1 tablespoon brandy

4 tablespoons baking cocoa

½ cup chopped white chocolate

½ cup diced candied orange peel

Optional Biscotti Glaze

½ cup of coarsely chopped white chocolate

1 tablespoon corn syrup

1. Bring 1½ cups of water to a simmer in a double boiler. Turn off the heat.

2. Place the white chocolate and corn syrup in a heatproof bowl, and place it in the top of the double boiler. Allow the chocolate to melt, then stir to blend and cool.

3. Dip the ends of biscotti in the chocolate, allowing the excess to drip off.

4. Allow the biscotti to dry thoroughly on a cooling rack, and then store the cookies in tightly sealed plastic or tin containers.

Note: Milk or dark chocolate can also be used for glazing.

6. Return the unflavored dough to the mixer, and on low speed, blend in the brandy and cocoa until the dough is a uniform chocolate color. Scoop half the dough onto a clean sheet of wax paper. To the dough remaining in the mixer bowl, add the white chocolate and mix well. Form, wrap and refrigerate as above.

7. Return the remaining chocolate dough to the mixer bowl and mix in the orange peel. Form, wrap and refrigerate as above. You now have four logs of flavored dough chilling.

8. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Unwrap and place two logs, spaced 3 inches apart, on each sheet.

9. Bake the logs for about 12–15 minutes or until they are firm to the touch. Allow them to cool for 10 minutes before slicing them crosswise on the diagonal into ½-inch-thick slices.

10.Place the biscotti back on the baking sheets and toast them in the oven for about 5 minutes, or until they are lightly brown and dry. Remove and cool.

Mom’s Date Nut Bars

For just about every holiday, we all have favorite family recipes that take center stage, and it just wouldn’t be Christmas in my house without my mom’s date nut bars. These can be frozen.

½ cup plus 1½ tablespoons all-purpose flour, divided

½ teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

½ cup sugar

3 tablespoons butter

2 large eggs at room temperature

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Zest 1 large orange

2 cups diced dates (10 ounces)

1 cup toasted, chopped walnuts

Powdered sugar

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter an 8-inch square pan and dust with additional flour; alternatively, line the pan with aluminum foil, and butter and flour it. Set aside.

2. In a bowl, sift together ½ cup of the flour, the baking powder and the salt.

3. In another bowl, beat together the sugar and butter until well blended. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, and blend well. Add the vanilla and orange zest. Fold in the flour mixture.

4. In another small bowl, toss the dates and nuts with the remaining 1½ tablespoons of the flour. This will prevent the dates and nuts from sinking to the bottom of the pan while baking.

5. Fold the date mixture into the batter.

6. Spread batter evenly in the pan. Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until golden brown on top and firm to the touch. Remove from the oven, and cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.

7. Cut into squares, and sprinkle the tops with powdered sugar.

Note: These can be made ahead and frozen without the powdered sugar for up to three months.

Recipe courtesy of Mary Ann Esposito

Spumoni Cookies MAKES ABOUT 5½ DOZEN

These fun-to-make spumoni cookies were given to me by a friend, and I could not eat just one. These are called “spumoni cookies” after the ice cream of the same name because of their pink, white and brown colors. Before baking, the dough is frozen and then cut into slices. Instead of food coloring, natural beet powder was substituted, and is available online or in health-food stores.

1. Line a 10½-inch-by-4-inch-by-2-inch loaf (or similar) pan with plastic wrap, allowing excess to overhang the sides by 2 inches. Set aside.

2. Use a hand mixer to beat the butter with the sugar until well combined and pale-yellow looking. Add the egg and vanilla extract, and beat in.

3. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. On low speed, beat the dry ingredients into the butter mixture until well blended.

4. Divide the dough into thirds. Add the almond extract and beet powder (or food coloring) to 1/3 of the dough, and mix well to evenly distribute the color. Spread the dough into the loaf pan. Add the coconut to 1/3 of the dough, mix well and, with a rubber spatula, spread the dough evenly over first layer. Add the chocolate syrup to the last 1/3 of the dough,

Snow

White Nut Balls MAKES 2½ DOZEN

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

1½ cups sugar

1 large egg, room temperature

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

2½ cups unbleached, all-purpose flour

1½ teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon almond extract

2 tablespoons sifted beet powder (or substitute 3–4 drops red food coloring)

½ cup sweetened, shredded coconut, finely chopped

1/4 cup chocolate syrup

blend it in evenly and spread it over the coconut layer. Cover with the overhanging plastic wrap, and freeze for 2–3 hours.

5. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Remove the pan, lift the dough out and place it on a cutting board. Remove the plastic wrap. With a sharp knife, cut the dough lengthwise in half. Then cut the dough crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Space the cookies 2 inches apart on parchmentlined baking sheets.

6. Bake until the edges are lightly browned, 12–14 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool.

These little, nutty nuggets melt like snow in your mouth and are a fun addition to a holiday cookie tray.

1 stick butter, softened

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup unbleached flour

1 cup finely ground walnuts, pecans or hazelnuts

1½ cups powdered sugar

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. With an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl. Beat in the vanilla. Gradually and on low power, beat in the flour. Stir in the nuts.

2. With lightly floured hands, break off small pieces of dough the size of a whole walnut and form balls. Place the balls on parchment-lined baking sheets, about ½ inch apart.

3. Bake for about 12–15 minutes or until lightly brown. Cool the cookies slightly.

4. Sift the powdered sugar into a medium bowl. Roll the cookies, a few at a time, in the sugar to coat them well. Let them cool completely.

5. Wrap the cookies in groups of four, and place them in freezer tins or plastic bags. Label and freeze for up to one month. When ready to use, simply defrost.

Sensational Succulents

These plants are perfect for those with not-so-green thumbs.

Art Scarpa of Atkinson has had a lifelong obsession with succulents. He says it all started when he was a young boy living in East Boston. “From the time I was a kid, I went to the Boston Flower Show,” he says. “One year, when I was about 10 years old, someone there was selling what he called a Curtain Plant—a leaf that would miraculously grow if you just pinned it to a curtain in a sunny window. Well, I had to have that! Turns out it was a Bryophyllum, a plant that has the almost-magical propensity to form baby plantlets along the edges of its leaves.” It would be hard to find a plant easier to care for than that. This oddity drew him to start collecting other types of succulents.

Lately, succulents have become the trendy plant to grow—and rightly so. They are unique-looking; many are inexpensive and readily available; and given the right growing conditions, they are very low maintenance. Like living sculptures, they come in a broad range of leaf forms, textures and colors. Some even blossom. If you are having

By Robin Sweetser

trouble keeping houseplants alive, give a succulent a try.

Succulents are a group of plants, native to arid regions around the world, that have the ability to store water for long periods of time. Not constrained to a single plant family, this trait is found in a wide variety of easy-care plants, including cacti, sedums, kalanchoes, aloes, agaves, euphorbias and others from 60 plant families. Some, like the aloes, store water in their fleshy leaves. Plants without leaves, such as cacti, store water in their thick stems. Others store water underground in their bulbous roots. Often called the camels of the plant world, succulents are resilient plants that thrive on neglect.

Scarpa says the secret to success with succulents is knowing the conditions

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in their native lands. He has traveled the globe, visiting habitats in remote areas of South America, Australia, South Africa, the Rockies and the U.S. Southwest desert. “It gives you great perspective on how to care for these plants,” he says.

He has seen them thriving in extremely harsh conditions. “Haworthia are really tough,” he says. “Indoors, we fuss over them, but I have seen them growing out of a crack in a boulder in South Africa where they only get an inch of rain a year.” On a trip to Namibia, he found plants growing and blooming in an area that had not had any rain in two years, winter fog being their only source of moisture. “Once you know where these plants come from, you’ll know how to take care of them,” he says.

Tips for growing succulents

As houseplants, more succulents die from overwatering than underwatering. “If in doubt, don’t water,” Scarpa says. Generally speaking, most only ask for a bright sunny spot on your windowsill and a bit of water—never more than weekly. Some are actually dormant in winter and need even less.

A fast-draining potting mix is a must. Use one formulated for cacti and succulents, or add coarse sand and perlite to a regular potting soil to lighten it up. “Look for one with very little peat,” Scarpa says. “It tends to hold too much moisture.” Never let them sit in water; soggy soil and wet roots mean certain death.

Many succulents have fibrous roots and do best in a shallow, clay pot.

For beginners, he says any succulent you find at your local nursery will be a good starter plant. “Even the ones at the big-box stores, if you can get them before the staff kills them,” he laughs.

Scarpa says not to be afraid of killing a few plants. “Sometimes you have

to learn from your mistakes. You’ll soon figure out which ones do best for you and which ones to avoid,” he says.

Some of Scarpa’s favorites are cacti, haworthia, euphorbias, lithops, small agaves and gasteria. “They are all really tough plants,” he says. “As long as you give them the right conditions, they are easy to grow. Small cacti, such as Mammillaria, are sure bloomers.”

A hobby that started with one plant has grown to fill a 16-foot-by-28-foot greenhouse. “I use every inch of it,” Scarpa says. “My mantra is anything worth doing is worth overdoing.” He estimates he has between 3,000 and 4,000 plants. “I love propagating them

from leaf or root cuttings, so a lot of them are tiny,” he explains. “One positive point is that some are dormant in the winter and others in the summer, making less to care for all at once.”

Many spend the summer outdoors, and not all his succulents need to be wintered inside. He also has a rock garden full of succulents that are winter hardy in New Hampshire.

Sharing the love

A founder of the Cactus and Succulent Society of Massachusetts, Scarpa says, “The best part of this hobby is sharing it with others.” Pre-pandemic, the club met monthly in Norfolk, Mas-

sachusetts, with members bringing in plants to show and ones to share. They raffled off donated plants, and usually everyone went home with a new plant or two.

“We encouraged kids to attend by giving them plants,” he says. One boy who started attending meetings at age 6 with his mom is now in college and had a summer apprenticeship with a world-renowned grower. “He retained his interest in plants,” Scarpa says. “It is a healthy habit!”

Since Covid-19 hit, the group has swapped in-person meetings for Zoom presentations given by succulent experts, but still have outdoor meetings and events, weather permitting. “Thanks to the club, I have a circle of friends from all over the U.S.,” he says.

Now that he is living in New Hampshire, he would love to see a local club. “Maybe a tri-state one for northern Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and southern Maine.” Scarpa is a certified show judge and popular speaker at garden clubs. He has given Zoom presentations as well.

Making a succulent dish garden for the holidays

Scarpa has led many a garden club through the steps of making of a dish garden. It is an easy project, fun for kids and adults. Succulents have long been considered as symbols of tenacity, perseverance, growth and enduring love, making the finished mini-garden a great gift for the special someone in your life. This year, give a gift that grows!

Here’s how:

• Choose a shallow container at least 4 inches deep that will fit on a windowsill. “Terra cotta is best because it allows the soil to dry, and a drainage hole is absolutely necessary,” he says.

WINDOWS AND DOORS

INSPIRED BY HOW YOU LIVE

WINDOWS AND DOORS

INSPIRED BY HOW YOU LIVE

• Choose plants that have similar needs. “Don’t mix winter and summer growers,” he says. For this project, he recommends winter growers from South Africa, including haworthia, mini aloe, crassula, gasteria and kalanchoe. “Rather than the big-box stores, go to a real nursery where the staff can help you find the appropriate plants. The folks at Lake Street Garden Center [in Salem] and Wentworth Greenhouses [in Rollinsford] are very knowledgeable and can guide you,” Scarpa says. Depending on the size of your dish, he recommends using an odd number of plants in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes to make it interesting.

• Cover the drainage hole with screening. Put a thin layer of pebbles or aquarium gravel on the bottom of the dish. Add soil specific to growing cacti and succulents.

• Before planting, try out different plant arrangements until you get a look you like. Then remove the plants from their pots, dig holes and plant them at the same depth they were previously growing at.

• Firm the soil around the plants, and add decorative pebbles if you wish to dress the garden up. Scarpa recommends letting it sit and settle for a few days before lightly watering.

• Place the garden in the sunniest window. Turn the dish regularly to keep plants from leaning toward the light.

• Keep soil on the dry side. Don’t overwater! NHH

RESOURCES

Cactus and Succulent Society of Massachusetts ccsma.org

Lake Street Garden Center (603) 893-5858 • lakestreet.com

Wentworth Greenhouses and Garden Center (603) 743-4919 • wentworthgreenhouses.com

This reconstructed Wilmot home was designed with both functionality and a sense of history in mind.

By

WHEN THIS NEW HAMPSHIRE COUPLE started thinking about renovating their multigenerational country home in Wilmot, two words kept coming to mind: accessibility and timelessness. “We wanted to make sure the home would continue the deep sense of history and country living embedded in its storied foundations, with an agelessness that would last through generations,” one homeowner says. “We knew we wanted it to serve as a multigenerational gathering place that would feed the human spirit.”

The property had been in the family since 1912, with the original house having been converted from a schoolhouse to a modest, rustic cottage tucked in the mountains, where generations gathered among its familiar walls. The house was never winterized, which meant it was only useable from May to October. So when the current homeowners inherited it in 2000, they started thinking about deconstructing it to make it a permanent, year-round residence. They spent more than five years developing a vision that would give them a solid foundation

The new home, built on the same location as the old home, was designed to serve as a permanent, year-round residence and gathering place for an expanded family.

on which to build, and they worked with Bonin Architects in New London to bring that vision to life starting in the fall of 2018. Their plan: build a new, country-inspired home with reclaimed and repurposed materials from the old home that paid homage to their family history and the wonders of nature.

“Having a home that exudes warmth and hospitality is important to us,” a homeowner says. “We wanted to make sure that a variety of spaces was designed to support and foster quiet, alone time; intimate conversation; creative energy; and social gatherings for small and large groups, while also being able to easily enjoy the rolling landscape outside our windows. We wanted every space to be comfortable and convenient for all age ranges coming through our doors.”

Accessibility was important to the couple from the start. “From the outdoor landscaping to the indoor design process, we wanted to make sure that the indoors were in constant harmony with the outdoors,” principal architect Jeremy Bonin says. “An elevator, ramps and appropriate detailing were a few methods of creating an inclusive environment, while material selections— such as reduced VOCs (volatile organic chemicals)—in construction and finishes to give a healthier indoor environment. This level of intentionality throughout keeps the landscape and the homeowners happy and healthy.”

Project manager Jude Dallaire says the couple’s focus on continuing the traditions of the original home to be inclusive for all family members provided a strong starting point for the initial layout and form. “Salvaging the fieldstone

fireplace built by the first owner in the family, hand-hewn timber frame, windows, doors, barn board, cast-iron sinks and a claw-foot tub were vital to the building process,” Dallaire says. “Designing the main living space around the fireplace in roughly the original location helped the homeowners include the decisions of past generations into the new home. With the new home being composed partially of salvaged material, it was natural for us to be able to continue in that spirit.”

Through the front door, visitors are welcomed by a natural entryway with warm,

wood tones for the flooring and a vintage area rug for an energized, yet cozy look. As you walk into the living room, you are greeted by sweeping views of the mountains and the salvaged fieldstone fireplace from the original home. “Spaces like the living room and dining room have large windows to create a comfortable axis from the front to the back of the house,” Dallaire says.

“This is where more formal functions occur as well as being the first impression when entering the house, and where most of the original components are preserved.”

That cozy, relaxed feel continues with the interior design. The plan—created by Melissa Hammond, of Hammond Design in Alton—was to balance the old with the new. She achieved this by taking inventory of the homeowners’ furnishings, artwork and treasured antiques to use as a starting point for each room.

“The reclaimed wood beams in the living room ceiling and gunstock posts in the hall helped set the soft tone for the design for the rest of the house,” Hammond says. “We were also able to use reupholstered or refinished furniture to bring a fresh look and life to each

space. We chose Benjamin Moore’s White Dove for the trim and painted cabinetry for the whole home for its warmth. Rich reds, deep blues and terracotta rounded out the color palette in the living and dining areas, and we carried that color palette into the kitchen, breakfast nook and sitting area in softer, lighter tones. We knew that the couple enjoyed cooking and entertaining, so we kept the overall kitchen and informal dining areas simple and inviting, letting each space speak for itself.”

The kitchen and surrounding spaces were created with features that gave the homeowners

Above: Existing furniture was repurposed, reupholstered, and refinished to give new life and a fresh look to the couple’s antiques and furnishings.

Beyond the

is a

a sense of ease when they are hosting. “The kitchen and its relationship to the adjacent spaces allows for large groups to congregate while meals are prepared,” Bonin says. “The kitchen is designed to meet these needs, providing ample storage and workspace, customized built-ins and seating for four at the island. The pantry

provides additional storage for bulk items and appliances, providing the kitchen with uncluttered space for a variety of entertaining needs. We were also able to use reupholstered or refinished furniture to bring a fresh look and life to each space.”

Making good use of space by using unique furnishings and architectural details was a big part of the vision, and was even more important in the bathroom, bedroom and master bedroom designs.

“The principal master bedroom suite features all antique and repurposed furnishings from their previous homes,” Hammond says. “We used a grandmother’s framed, embroidered art piece as our jumping-off point for the color palette in this space, and were able to carry the taupe, gray/brown, green, blue and mauve from the living room upstairs, but in a softer, pastel tone. We used a mix of metals in bronze and pewter tones for lighting and plumbing fixtures to bring a balance of texture to the bathroom, and we chose Imperial Danby marble from Vermont for the countertops as a local and sustainable resource. When it came time to design

the other bedrooms, we used fun patterns on window treatments and bedding to keep things fresh, and we picked rugs for each room for the starting point for the color palette.”

While the rugs and furnishings bring a sense of balance to each space, it’s the repurposed seasonal Currier & Ives frames that anchor each

room. “We thought it would be fun to name each guest room for each of the four seasons,” says one homeowner. “Then, we uncovered the prints, packed up the furnishings from the old house and knew it was meant to be! We put each framed print on the door to the room for the corresponding season, and it’s so much fun to

Above: The homeowners’ vision was to establish the presence of the home upon approach to reflect the history of the site in both scale and style.

have our family come and hear them claim the ‘winter room’ or ‘fall room’ for their stay.”

Attention to detail can be seen everywhere in the home—from the neutral, earthy tile patterns used in iterations for the floors, to bright and vibrant shades to emphasize the energy that the lower level possesses for games, crafting and exercising. Each space seamlessly transitions into the next, allowing for an even greater sense of ease blending the interior in with the exterior.

The exterior landscape features similar styling as the interior—a low-slope roof, low-slung seating, a low-set patio and screen porch maintain

unobstructed views. Ramps leading to the terrace, hot tub and screen porch keep everything accessible to the entire family.

“There is a nice honesty of structure built into the outside of the house and land surrounding it,” landscape architect Greg Rusnica says. “It was built with durability and functionality in mind based on the extreme conditions of the site. For example, patio and walkway surfaces are pavers, retaining walls are New Hampshire fieldstone, stone steps are solid bluestone and the garden fencing we used is rot-resistant cedar.”

The couple’s commitment to sustainability

is further reflected in the green-roofed potting shed. They also wanted an active landscape that supported their hobbies, like gardening. “We made sure we included elements like the green-roofed potting shed and fenced vegetable garden,” Rusnica says. “The plantings are heavy with perennial flowers, many of which are great for arrangements to be brought into the home. Blooms stagger throughout the summer so the landscape is always colorful and ever-changing.”

One thing the country retreat has proven: Rebuilding and transforming a home doesn’t mean you have to lose the original home’s unique charm along the way. “It’s important to have a team around you who can bring their own unique skills and talents to the project, from the planning to designing,” says the homeowner. “We are grateful to have a finished home that will evolve as our family does, changing as we do. We look forward to continuing to welcome family and friends into our home to relax and enjoy its whimsical character, deep history and modern comforts for years to come.” NHH

RESOURCES

Bonin Architects • (603) 526-6200 • boninarchitects.com

Hammond Design • hammonddesign.net

Landforms Ltd. • (603) 228-2858 • landformsltd.com

Old Hampshire Designs, Inc. • (603) 526-6945

oldhampshiredesignsnh.com

Forget

“out with the old; in with the new.”

For Lonnie and Dave Schorer, preserving beloved memories and integrating family history in their new lakeside home was a top priority—so much so, that during the design phase of the building process, parts of the house were resized to ensure old furnishings would fit.

The retired couple, who relocated to Moultonborough from Virginia, set their new home on what was previously the site of a lake house built by Dave’s family in 1947. The old family gathering place had fallen into disrepair over the years but held countless memories for the Schorers. “The lake house was a meeting place for our family,” Lonnie says, “a place of joy.”

In addition, Dave’s career in the State Department had taken the couple on worldwide travels, enabling them to amass a collection of unique furniture and décor. Through careful planning and with the help of Cargill Construction in Campton, the Schorers accomplished their goal of incorporating elements of the original family lake house, their Virginia house and their prized international furnishings into a new, welcoming home. Cargill interior designer Pam Greene, CMKBD, “is a genius at repurposing what we already had,” Lonnie says. “[She] advised but never tried to influence our decisions.”

Lonnie, a former architect, put her skills to good use during the project. Designing the nearly 4,000-square-foot house was “great fun,” she says. “We worked to personalize our own house. The beauty of working with Cargill is, they are absolute professionals and allowed us to do that.”

Trying to pin a label on the style of the home is difficult, if not impossible. “I think shingle house and a modified Adirondack, but also a lake-house post and beam,” Greene says. Finally, she gives up. “The style,” she says, “is ‘Lonnie and Dave.’”

Outside the home, a terraced yard full of native plantings leads to the Lake Winnipesaukee shore. Stephens Landscaping

and floors, plus in the form of post and beams—creates warmth.

Professionals “made it look like a park,” Lonnie says. “It’s beautiful.”

Inside, the entry features a boldly patterned floor using tile that is a dead ringer for wood. A small bench, grandfather clock and lamp with a cork-filled base help create a friendly introduction to the house, while a mix of traditional aquatic décor and contemporary lighting set the tone for a home that defies categorization. Close by, a casually elegant powder room boasts a vanity fashioned from a bureau that belonged to Lonnie and Dave’s daughter.

In the main living area, water views take center stage while an abundance of wood—on the ceilings, walls and floors, and in the form of posts and beams—imbues the house with warmth. A window seat stretches across the width of the living room, and a Capital Lighting chandelier with graceful, tapered curves punctuated by crystal cubes provides a counterpoint to the room’s sturdy ceiling beams. A fireplace with a quartzite surround and

a glass-topped coffee table help anchor the room’s soaring space, and above the fireplace is an old table from Peru that has been converted into a mirror. The mantel is a salvaged piece that Lonnie says dates to the late 1700s or early 1800s, and a library ladder brought up from Virginia is nearby.

Just beyond the ladder, a sliding barn door separates the living room from an office, where Cargill carpenters created a built-in work surface and installed desk legs made from an old lake-house post. Light filters into the space through an interior decorative window. “Light is very important to Lonnie,” Greene says. “Lighting and mirrors are used to enhance light and generate oomph. She’s pretty clever about doing things like that. Even though it might seem random, it’s not.”

Here and throughout the house, the Schorers chose quiet paint colors for the walls, often sticking with Sherwin-Williams’s Malabar to help provide continuity from room to room—

the house,

Schorers used quiet paint colors on the walls, usually staying with Sherwin-Williams’s Malabar, to help provide continuity. This was an important decision in an open-concept design like this one, where you can stand in one place and see into a number of other rooms.

a factor that is particularly important in an open-concept design such as this one. “You can stand in one space and see the others,” Lonnie says, “so it becomes one huge space.”

Down a short hallway from the living room and office are the primary bedroom and bath. The bedroom features a fireplace tiled in a subtle wavelike pattern, and a table from an Italian monastery sits nearby. A simple treatment adorns windows over the bed, and a slider opens to a balcony and fresh lake air.

In the primary bath, the shower includes a skylight, remote-controlled blinds that offer an optional view of the lake, and a “painting” made of tile that the Schorers loved but considered a budget buster unless sparingly used. An oversized vessel sink sits atop what used to be the Schorers’ entry table in Virginia, now painted and with artificial greenery below. Near the sink hangs a gold-and-white chandelier by Kichler with tulip-shaped glass—a style that matches wall sconces in the primary bedroom. Framing the sink’s gold-edged mirror, two brass wall lights by WAC Lighting inject a modern feel. Closer to the

shower, storage is behind an antique door—which previously had glass panes that have been swapped out for mirrors.

Toward the other end of the house is the dining area, where a simple but lovely pine table is juxtaposed with an ornate chandelier the Schorers purchased in Norway and brought with them from Virginia. A rug under the table is one of the home’s several Kharma rugs from Green Mountain Furniture in Ossipee, and a nearby pine hutch is an old family piece. On the lakeside wall, a slider leads to a balcony

The dining room opens to the kitchen, featuring an impressive assortment of homey copper cookware. Blue-gray Cartorio soapstone counters and darker blue-gray cabinets impart the “simplicity and calm” that Lonnie wanted. “The sky is blue, water is blue—it’s a calming

color,” she says. There are also smaller cabinets with semi-opaque fronts—a look that’s similar to what the Schorers encountered in their travels—with doors that lift upward and lighted glass shelves inside.

Over the kitchen sink, a pendant light by Beautifulhalo in polished metal lends an industrial feel, as do three factor y-style salvaged pendants above the peninsula. A checkerboard pattern, which repeats throughout the house, frames the hood of the Viking range. From a perch high above the fridge, the archangel Gabriel keeps watch, shimmering with reflected light. “It’s a huge Christmas decoration,” Lonnie explains, “and we had no place to put it.”

Stepping between the kitchen’s peninsula and the dining room leads to a fully enclosed porch, a must-have

in the design of the new house, Lonnie says. In the old lake house, “we lived on the porch—ate there, played games,” she says. A new rattan sofa and chair offer seating in front of an expansive view of the lake. In the room’s center, a bright-red table and chairs with vibrant accent colors—painted by Dave, his mother and his brother in 1949—also command attention.

Other decorative elements abound on the porch, including a Hoosier cabinet that Lonnie hand-painted. A board and batten-style wall painted in Sherwin-Williams’s Snowbound continues a “folky look that ties in with the table and chairs,” Greene says.

As in the kitchen, lighting on the porch provides an industrial accent and contributes to the mix of opposing design styles found throughout the house, as antiques and old family

treasures mingle with more hard-edged and modern pieces.

The home’s lower level can be accessed by a staircase that features generous window space, glass panels under the handrails, and a show-stopping, contemporary pendant by Kuzco Lighting with chrome cylinders and bubbleencased crystals that dangle at varying lengths. Alongside the staircase, a recess in a side wall provides space for an American flag display that calls to mind Dave’s years of government service.

Downstairs, an arched doorway opens to all-encompassing guest quarters, with a kitchenette imported from the family’s old lake house. Nearby, a bathroom the Schorers dubbed “the bosun’s locker” repeats the nautical theme found elsewhere in the home.

Across from the kitchenette, a sliding barn door opens to a bathroom, which like the home’s entry, has tile flooring that could easily be mistaken for wood. An array of cubbies—remnants from the old lake house—provides space for each guest to store toiletries and related items, and vessel sinks rest on top of a live-edge wood countertop coated with Waterlox, which Greene says acts “like a ship’s lacquer.”

Bordering the kitchenette, a family room features a fireplace with New England fieldstone and a thick granite slab. A player piano is ready for fun. Additional character and whimsy come from a hand-painted cabinet similar to the porch’s table and chairs, along with a coffee table fashioned from an old sled.

Steps away from the family room, a bookcase that’s actually a secret door reveals a bunkroom. There, each bunk is outfitted with a durable wall-mounted maritime light equipped with a toggle switch for individual operation, while a ceiling light provides a cooling fan option. The fixture’s metal casing helps safeguard it during pillow fights and other forms of roughhousing.

Salvaged posts add heft and bookend the bunkbeds.

Next door, a bedroom sports a classic pineapple-post bed and an appealing blue-and-white theme that ties in with the bunkroom’s colors. Old sails serve as curtains, a form of window dressing that Lonnie used in several spots in the house. A third bedroom on this floor stands somewhat in contrast to the others, as it is filled with dramatic black and white. A black cannonball-post bed, imported from the old lake house, is covered with black-and-white bedding. Underfoot, two floor coverings are also black and white: one with stripes, one with a checkerboard design. Wall lights—which somehow feel contemporary and historical at the same time—are mounted to either side of

RESOURCES

Baron's Major Brands • (877) 974-1159 baronsmajorbrands.com

Belletetes • (603) 593-3509 • belletetes.com

Cargill Construction • (603) 726-3939 cargillconstruction.com

Green Mountain Furniture • (603) 539-2236 greenmountainfurniture.com

the bed. The lights catch the eye with black circles that, when seen straight-on, appear to float in front of candle-style lights. On one of the nightstands, a dainty antique lamp with brass, beads and a checkerboard-patterned shade displays a different style than the wall lights yet fits perfectly in the room.

The black-and-white bedroom— like the home overall—has an eclectic, unique style that reflects the people who live there and their experiences, which is precisely what the Schorers had hoped for. “We love the quality of the construction, the attention to detail, the care of the workers [who built the house],” Lonnie says. “There is not one thing we would change. The house is beyond our expectations, beyond our dreams.” NHH

Just Lights • (603) 578-9482 • justlights.com Rumford Stone • (603) 410-6731 • rumfordstone.com

Stephens Landscaping Professionals • (603) 707-0630 stephenslandscaping.com

Winnipesaukee Forge • (603) 279-5492 irontable.com

MID-CENTURY LAKE HOUSE MAKEOVER

A thoughtful renovation rekindles the love for a large family’s Winnipesaukee lakeside retreat.

By Lynne

Never let a good crisis go to waste.

Physicians Michelle and James Flynn of Bedford had owned the midcentury modern, split-level house in Wentworth Cove on the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee in Gilford since 2005, but it took a disaster for them to turn the house into the seasonal home of their dreams.

“It was a massive crisis. We had a devastating flood in February 2019, right before the COVID-19 pandemic. We were going to use the house for the week of February vacation for a family ski trip. Then the day before, somebody told me there was water gushing from the inside of the house to the outside. I have no idea how long it had been going on, but I found 5-foot-long icicles hanging in my screen porch and 6 inches of ice encasing the objects,” Michelle says. “Our furnace failed. Pipes burst. Our house flooded and was completely destroyed on the inside.”

The catastrophe proved to be the catalyst for a complete restoration and renovation of the fourbedroom, three-bathroom house the Flynns bought for its lot and the proximity to the Big Lake rather than for aesthetic appeal.

“Frankly, I found the house ugly on the inside, but I had so many little children that my priority was making sure they were safe around the water,” says the mother of nine, now ranging from ages 29 to 10. “It wasn’t until the last few years when my littlest

was safer in the water that I looked around and said, ‘This isn’t a pretty house.’ It was a useful house. I didn’t take the time to decorate it or make it look lovely.”

Opportunity had knocked, but Michelle was so overwhelmed by the extent of the damage that now she was frozen. So she called Emily Shakra, the owner of Emily Shakra Design of Bedford.

“I had worked with Emily on my house in Bedford, and we all know she is a genius. I told her just call me when it’s finished, even though we didn’t do that,” says Michelle, who is also the pet parent of two dogs, five chickens, five ducks and a guinea pig. “The funny thing was, when Emily came to the house, she loved it as if it were her own. This wasn’t a job; it was her passion project.”

Passion was only part of the plan. “The critical ingredient in a successful project is to assemble a team from the onset that comprises an architect, a designer and a builder,” Shakra says. “This will merge many creative minds, and bring the project to a process that blends the homeowner’s vision, our experience and craftsmanship.” Other elements necessary for

success are finding the right materials, furniture, artwork and accessories, Shakra adds.

The house needed to be gutted down to the studs, and all the electrical, plumbing and heating systems needed to be replaced. So the first hire was Dan Hughes, the co-owner of Capital Kitchen and Bath in Concord, as the general contractor.

A top priority was to marry function with beauty. What had been just a utilitarian space was to be transformed into a welcoming and familyfriendly place. Most importantly, it had to be a home that now would function for this household of uncommon size.

“The main things Michelle wanted were a more efficient mud entry and foyer, a revamped laundry room, a repurposed and re-created fireplace, and an updated kitchen that was much more functional,” Shakra says. “We changed the footprint of the home, but not much. We wanted balance, style and efficiency, while making it aesthetically beautiful and suitable for a large family.”

At the same time, it was important to keep the natural beauty of the lake and the lot at the front and center.

The dark brown exterior of the home was repainted with Benjamin Moore’s Creekside Green to blend with the

woodsy landscape that frames the long driveway. A naval blue color was chosen for the front door.

After these changes, the interior was still dark and dreary, and felt confining. To make it open, airy and bright, Shakra suggested they take a risk and paint all the interior woodwork and ceilings white.

Michelle was aghast. “I felt that the home should keep its traditional elements of the stained wood and the original redwood so that [idea] was a shock,” she says. “You don’t paint the stained wood. But it ended up being the best thing we could have done to lighten up the space, and make the house look totally new and fresh. Now it’s a joy to walk into this light space because it was so dark before.”

Next came the choice of color that would serve as the home’s unifying theme. Blue is Michelle’s favorite color, so the team decided on the

calming, tranquil tone of Stunning by Benjamin Moore. Shakra, who is assisted by Carol Colella, sprinkles this shade throughout every room in the home, starting with the revamped front entry.

“The foyer was closed in and so small that you couldn’t get more than one person in there at a time,” Shakra says.

The space also had an oldfashioned, tiny sliding-door closet and an unattractive, wooden staircase railing.

Drawing on an idea Michelle found at an Aspen, Colorado, hotel, Shakra reimagined the space with an asymmetric wall unit, storage bench and wire railings. “The unit was custom-made by Dan Hughes to my specifications with a bench for seating, and storage and hooks all along the wall. When nobody is there, it looks so clean and open. Because it’s a seasonal home, a lot of the spaces can be used but then they become

beautiful when there aren’t 11 people there. It’s not just a small, closed closet, and that’s the key. It’s become a beautiful space,” Michelle says.

The foyer leads straight up the steps into the new upper level and its open-concept kitchen, family room and dining room.

“The kitchen was designed to marry balance, style and

efficiency for a large family,” Shakra says. “Light maple cabinets on the bottom and hickory wood floors bring warmth to the white kitchen.” On the lower level where there’s more wear and tear, vinyl flooring mimics the hickory wood floors used upstairs.

“We bathed the lakeside kitchen island in Benjamin

Moore Wedgwood and used the nautical colors throughout the entire home,” Shakra says. “We took inspiration from the undulating waves of the lake, and layered color in different patterns and textures.”

She chose rattan—which is trending because it’s lightweight with lean and exciting designs—for the dining room chairs and island bar stools, and had J Rivers make the dining table to match the kitchen cabinet bottoms. On the other side of the kitchen, Shakra added a custom piece with

pop-up cabinets to double as a morning coffee bar and evening dry bar.

The hearth has always been the center of a home, so the living-room fireplace redesign was essential. It’s no longer a tired, old red-brick. Shakra added white shiplap, and had shelving installed on either side with a grasscloth back to give more texture, warmth and interest to the spaces. Once Fireplace Village ran a propane line and the glass doors came off, the result is an open, gas log fireplace.

Each of the four bedrooms

has its own name—loon, owl, mushroom, and canoe— and themed design with customized furnishings, bedding, artwork and accessories to match. To create the illusion of larger space in each bathroom, Shakra had mirrors extended to the ceilings at the wall angle and light fixtures installed directly into them.

The fireplaced, lower-level family, TV and game room— with its live-edge wet bar custom made by Chic and Antique in Meredith—can be pressed into service as an overflow bedroom.

On the lower level, where there’s more wear and tear, vinyl flooring mimics the hickory wood floors used upstairs. The bedding, pillows and carpet are all from Company C.

Michelle says her family is overjoyed with the renovation, which took more than a year to complete. The new, lakeside mudroom and laundry room are her favorites.

“Before, the laundry room was small and dysfunctional. It was not useful at all for a large family. It didn’t even have a sink. There were just cabinets. After the flood, we changed the house’s heating system: the units go outside. We carved out some more space from one of the downstairs bedrooms, and it works beautifully,” she says.

The room is unique thanks to the blue sink Michelle requested and—what may be

RESOURCES

one of the most intriguing pieces of all—a map of Lake Winnipesaukee that covers an entire wall and was custom-made by Sullivan Framing in Bedford. The location of the Flynn home is marked with a heart.

“For me, the mudroom and laundry room are the best things that happened. I cannot express how wonderful the change in this space is. A lot of women like a beautiful kitchen, but I’m a mudroom girl. That was a triumph for me. This is the most useful part of the house,” Michelle says. “It’s the heart of the house.” NHH

Apotheca Flowers • (603) 497-4940 • apothecaflowershoppe.com

Capital Kitchen & Bath • (603) 225-8300 • capitalkitchenandbath.com

Chic and Antique • (603) 937-4485 • chicantiquellc.com

Company C • (603) 226-4460 • companyc.com

Emily Shakra Design • (603) 661-4969 • emilyshakra@aol.com

Fireplace Village • (603) 472-5626• fireplacevillage.net

J&R Langley Co. • (603) 622-9653 • jrlangley.com

J Rivers Custom Furniture • (802) 272-6636 • jriversfurniture.com

Mavrikis Upholstering & Furniture Designs • (603) 883-6868

Sullivan Framing • (603) 471-1888 • sullivanframing.com

The Lighting Showroom • (603) 471-3299 • thelightingshowroom.us

Working at the Intersection of Art and Industrial Design

Artist/product designer Fred Puksta traces his career back to childhood.

Askilled craftsman can leave an enduring impression on a client, a structure or a town. And with the right circumstances, that work can even mark an historical event. Fred Puksta has accomplished each of these tasks.

The product designer for Crown Point Cabinetry in Claremont and a member of the New Hampshire Furniture Masters, this artist, artisan and product designer’s story begins in Claremont, where the Puksta family has created a lasting legacy.

The Puksta family owned a neighborhood grocery store. Fred Puksta’s father, Charles, served as mayor of the town for 16 years and on the city council for 26 years, and they owned 27 apartments throughout town. Dependability and durability are just part of Puksta’s—and his family’s—work.

“We lived on the Sugar River, which would erode our land,” Puksta says. “So, for 15 years, we built one stone wall by hand. If you go into that old neighborhood now, all the old buildings are gone. The only thing still standing is that stone wall my family built way back then.”

It’s no surprise, then, that his work also carries a sense of permanence. Included in Puksta’s diverse portfolio are an 8-foot-tall clock on permanent display in the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord and playing a role in helping to create the 500,000th commemorative Steinway piano.

He spends his days designing new product lines and new looks, and supporting colleagues who help sell

Crown Point creations through its unique approach.

“It’s all highly custom, but we do it all from this location in Claremont,” he says. “Oftentimes, our clientele is very discerning and they want certain things—custom pieces of furniture. Right now, I’m assisting in the design of an entire library, floor-to-ceiling millwork, cabinetry and mantle. I

By Bill Burke | Photography by Kendal J. Bush

design the custom pieces that aren’t necessarily the typical cabinetry. Pieces like tables, chairs and items like that— free-standing pieces.”

It’s at that intersection of art and industrial design that Puksta is most comfortable.

New HampsHire Home [NHH]: Tell us about your time at Wendell Castle School of Design. Fred puksta [Fp]: Most artisans in the

higher echelon work in a particular style. What attracted me to Wendell was that he had a career in high-end artwork and industrial design. He not only did one-of-a-kind pieces with price tags in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, but he also did work for commercial companies—Knoll International and others. And at the same time, he’d do public art commissions. Those three aspects of his career are things I wanted to emulate: personal work, public art

and commercial design. Those are the things that attracted me to Wendell. This man could do all three. Few artists and designers in history did that.

NHH: How did your time there influence your work?

FP: At the time, he was the best in the world at what they called “art furniture.” It’s highly sculptural yet highly functional. I walked into Wendell’s studio to take a tour, and it was a Friday

afternoon. Craftsmen from around the world who were making these unique projects were there, and I got to talk to these craftsmen about how they did things. I said to myself, ‘Not only do I want to go to this school, I want to work for Wendell.’ I worked for two years and put together a portfolio to show Wendell so I could get the job, and I did. It was some of the best times of my life doing that work. One of the projects was the Steinway project. We

all worked on that project and signed it where you can’t see, because Wendell was the primary artist. The piano had its world premiere at Carnegie Hall. I joke that I never made the Olympic team, but when we worked at Wendell’s studio, I had made the Olympic team of woodworkers. (An accomplished athlete and rower, Fred was the captain of the University of New Hampshire crew team, helped win the Head of the Charles and trained at Dartmouth College.)

NHH: Tell us about the 500,000th commemorative Steinway piano.

FP: It was really interesting because there were only three commemorative Steinways ever made. One at 100,000 that’s in the Smithsonian. Another one at 300,000 that’s in the White House— the one you see on TV with eagles holding it up. And the one Wendell designed and made. It’s very angular and contemporary. The interesting thing about the project is that Wendell de-

signed the casework, which is what we built, and Steinway picked out the best harp for the inside. Part of the casework had a ribbon striping and an alternative veneer of two colors. In those ribbon stripes were signatures of 832 artists who played and endorsed Steinway pianos. It’s everyone from Van Cliburn to Vladimir Horowitz to Elton John. Steinway would send their master tuner, who, at the time, was assigned to Vladimir Horowitz, to our studio to make sure we were building in such a way that we would not harm the sound of the piano. He’d come up every month or so, and check the integrity of the sound. He commented one time that the way we built the legs, which is how the harp transmits music to the stage, was innovative in a way even Steinway hadn’t done. He liked that. The piano was a really prestigious project, and we all worked on it and then all went to Carnegie Hall for the piano’s world debut.

NHH: You created the “One Moment in Time” clock on permanent display at the McAuliffeShepard Discovery Center in Concord. How did that project come about?

FP: I applied for the project, which was a grant from National Endowment for the Arts attached to the planetarium construction. My project was not selected for various reasons—they wanted to distribute the funds as much as possible—but they did like the project. I saw the director of the planetarium at the time and presented the idea that I would raise the money for the project, if they would accept it. The fellow thought it was an interesting request. It took me two years of fundraising personally, approaching individuals and companies within the state to donate the money earmarked for this clock project, which took me another year to build and install.

It was a great project. One of the nicest benefits of it is when my children were small and they would take field

trips to the planetarium, as they often did, they’d ask me to come along to stand with their classmates in front of the clock, where they could say, “My dad built this clock.”

NHH: What did that project mean to you?

FP: The McAuliffe piece is extremely personal to me. As a young boy, I always wanted to become an astronaut. The walls of my room were covered in pictures of astronauts and rockets. I had one teacher—she was actually a substitute teacher in grammar school—Mrs. Hamilton was her name, and she was really into space. If you asked her a question about it, that blew away the curriculum for rest of day. She’d talk about space for hours. I invited her to my home when I was a child. I brought her down to our grocery store, walked her in and showed her my room. She saw how I was into space. So, the idea that Christa McAuliffe got the chance to be a civilian astronaut for first time

was amazing. It’s a lot of people’s dream to go into space, and [McAuliffe] was the first one who wasn’t an astronaut or a test pilot to get the opportunity. She was a teacher, and that always pulled me back to Mrs. Hamilton and the teacher/astronaut connection.

When I built the clock, my theory was to make something very large, knowing that little children would look up at it and it would look very tall. The symbolism started as a large sculptural spaceship in one sense, but in the other sense, the top is leaving the body of the clock. The body, to me, symbolized Earth, and the top symbolized Christa McAuliffe and when she left us and went to a better place. At the interface of where the top piece leaves the clock, there is 23-carat gold leaf. It’s the most precious material symbolizing her spirit shared with all of us.”

NHH: What do you like best about the relationship between art and industrial design?

FP: I like the fact that they’re essentially often the same thing. Sometimes we have career days at Crown Point, and high schoolers will come in. I tell them that if you think about it, everything you touch in your life has been designed by an industrial designer—your mouse, your phone, the car you drive, your refrigerator. And it all starts with artwork. It starts with sketches, which often turn into commercial products.

I tell students that when I was their age, teachers would tell you about different career paths, but industrial design was never brought up. I tell them about the aspect of having to do the artwork first, and then figure out how to mechanically make it. I draw on the furniture experience I have as an artisan and apply it to commercial design. NHH

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Events for November and December

Ready or not, here come the holidays! Looking for that perfect locally made gift? Want to immerse yourself in festive décor? Craving a dose of your favorite Christmas music? The next couple of months feature everything from an inspiring showhouse and beautifully decorated trees to pops concerts and artisan fairs.

Editor’s note: As of press time in late September, the following events were still going forward as planned. However, due to evolving information about Covid-19, it’s possible some were canceled or postponed after this issue was published. Please confirm events are happening before heading out. No matter what, we hope you enjoy a wonderful (and safe) holiday season!

NOVEMBER 6-14

Christmas at The Fells Decorator Showhouse

In need of holiday décor inspiration? Tour the main house at The Fells to see how professional interior designers, floral artists, decorators and talented volunteers use their personal sense of style and interpretation of Christmas cheer to transform the gorgeous historic home. On weekends, tour-goers can enjoy lunch in the dining room café. Also open is the holiday gift boutique, where you can find items created by regional artisans. The showhouse begins with the preview gala on November 5 from 5-7 p.m., which includes music, appetizers and a chance to meet the designers. Gala tickets are $100 and reservations are required. The price includes one return ticket per person. Weekdays, 1-3 p.m.; weekends, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Admission is $25 for adults, $8 for children and free for children under 5.

John Hay Estate at The Fells • 456 Route 103A, Newbury • (603) 763-4789 • thefells.org

NOVEMBER 4

The Distiller’s Showcase of Premium Spirits

Call it gift-giving research. This annual event and benefit for the New Hampshire Food Bank offers the chance to taste hundreds of spirits. In addition to more than 130 tables of premium and ultra-premium spirits available for sampling, you’ll also have the opportunity to meet distillers from around the world while enjoying bites from

the state’s top restaurants. The showcase is the culmination of Distiller’s Week, which is filled with seminars, tastings, celebrity panels and more. Distiller’s Week details will be posted at distillersshowcase.com, so check back often for new and exciting events. Distiller’s Showcase of Premium Spirits, 6-8:30 p.m. Tickets are $60. DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown 700 Elm St., Manchester • distillersshowcase.com

NOVEMBER 6-7

Holiday Open House and Kitty Angels Weekend

Now celebrating 31 years, this pet- and kidfriendly event offers special sales of vintage Christmas and holiday décor, plus a number of activities and entertainment. The two-day event includes raffles, music, horse and pony rides, demonstrations by artists, food vendors, a petting zoo and more. Kitty Angels will be offering information on the organization, adoptions and donations. Representatives from the Amherst Animal Hospital, who have worked alongside Kitty Angels for decades, will also be on hand. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Treasures Antiques, Collectables & More • 106 Ponemah Rd., Amherst • (603) 672-2535 • treasuresnh.com

NOVEMBER 14

Bedford Handmade

The Bedford High School Handmade Fair is a celebration of local artists and artisans. Get your start on the shopping season and support local businesses. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The fair will benefit all of the class student council accounts and the Manchester Animal Shelter.

Bedford High School • 47 Nashua Rd., Bedford facebook.com/bedfordhandmade

NOVEMBER 19-20

Farm Fare

Keep your holiday celebration local by shopping for everything you need to make a delicious feast and more at Farm Fare at Stonewall Farm in Keene. You’ll find items from area farms and specialty food producers who will be selling locally raised meats, produce, bread and stuffing mixes, berries, appetizers, wine and beer, desserts, condiments, rubs and herbs. Farm Fare will also feature crafts and other handmade goods perfect for gift-giving.

Stonewall Farm • 242 Chesterfield Rd., Keene (603) 357-7278 • stonewallfarm.org

NOVEMBER 20

The Great New England Craft & Artisans Show

In addition to the more than 100 juried artisans, craftspeople and specialty food vendors, the fair also includes activities, live holiday music, food samples, demonstrations, door prizes and a café. Handmade items for sale range from apparel and jewelry to wood products and metal art. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Entry is $5.

The Rim Sports Complex • 311 Winnacunnet Rd. Hampton • gnecraftartisanshows.com

NOVEMBER 20-28

Bektash Feztival of Trees

This year the Bektash Shriners of New Hampshire are planning both in-person and virtual experiences. What remains the same are the beautifully decorated artificial trees, which are available for purchase, and the chance to win raffle prizes.

Bektash Shriners of New Hampshire • 189 Pembroke Rd., Concord • (603) 225-5372 • nhshriners.org

NOVEMBER 20-21

Portsmouth Holiday Arts Tour

Fair warning: It might be tough to pass up the many lovely items you’ll discover on this self-guided tour. Each year on the weekend before Thanksgiving, a number of artists open their homes and studios to the public in a celebration of art, community and the holidays. Admission is free. Portsmouth • portsmouthartstour.com

NOVEMBER 20-21, 26-28

Christmas at the Castle

Tour the Lucknow mansion at the Castle in the Clouds, festively dressed for the holidays by creative businesses and designers to reflect their take on holiday carols. Browse the artisan fair, and have fun making crafts. Tickets and times vary.

Castle in the Clouds • Route 171, 455 Old Mountain Rd. Moultonborough • (603) 476-5900 castleintheclouds.org

NOVEMBER 26-28

Littleton Festival of Trees

The Festival of Trees celebrates the season and community by gathering a collection of trees decorated by local businesses and putting them on display at the Littleton Opera House. All tree displays will be raffled off. The event is offered both virtually and in-person. Friday, 1-7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Admission to the Opera House is $5, online admission is by donation.

Littleton Opera House • 2 Union St., Littleton (603) 575-5324 • leadlittletonnh.com/festival-of-trees

NOVEMBER 26

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

The holiday rock concert is back in 2021 with its new winter tour “Christmas Eve and Other Stories.” 3:30 and 8 p.m.

SNHU Arena • 555 Elm St., Manchester snhuarena.com

Mark Your Calendar

NOVEMBER 26-DECEMBER 4

Southern New Hampshire Festival of Trees

This nine-day event is filled with food, fun, entertainment and, of course, decorated trees. This year, many of the trees will incorporate gift certificates in the décor. Enjoy baked goods and refreshments in the Candy Cane Café, and daily performances by local schools, dance studios, theatre and church groups. All trees will be raffled off at the close of the event. Nov. 26, 5-9 p.m.; Nov. 27, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Nov. 28, 12-5 p.m.; Nov. 29-Dec. 3, 5-9 p.m.; Dec. 4, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is $5 for ages 12 and over.

Pelham Municipal Building • 6 Village Green, Pelham snhfestivaloftrees.pelhamcommunityspirit.org

NOVEMBER 27

Keene Holiday Craft Show

Forget Black Friday and support small businesses at this annual fair held the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Shop for handmade goods from around New England, including pottery, artwork, glassware, floral arrangements and designs, jewelry, photography, food products, knitting and more. The Annual Keene Holiday Craft Show has been kicking off the holiday season for over a decade now, and organizers carefully curate the selection of vendors. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Keene High School • 43 Arch St., Keene keenecraftshow.com

DECEMBER 1

Arts in Reach Tablescapes

Arts In Reach (AIR) is partnering with Ethan Allen for the return of Tablescapes. This exciting event will showcase stunning holiday displays created by the Seacoast’s community of talented designers, artists and florists. The opening party will include a silent auction, light refreshments and award presentations. The tabletop designs also will be available for the public to view. All Proceeds benefit Arts In Reach, a Portsmouthbased nonprofit that empowers teenage girls through inclusive, creative community. Opening party, Dec. 1, 5-7 p.m. Additional viewing Dec. 2, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Suggested donation of $10.

Ethan Allen, 775 Lafayette Rd., Portsmouth (603) 433-4278 • artsinreach.org

DECEMBER

1-2

Exeter Festival of Trees

Enjoy the festive atmosphere, admire the beautifully decorated trees, and stop in for a bake sale treat. Raffle tree tickets will be sold for a chance to win a special committee tree filled with local business gift cards and certificates. All proceeds from the festival go to the Community Children’s Fund providing warm clothing and bedding vouchers to the Seacoast area children in need. Wednesday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Thursday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Exeter Town Hall • 10 Front St., Exeter (603) 772-2411 • exeterareacharitablefoundation.org

DECEMBER 4-5, 8 AND 11-12

Wolfeboro Festival of Trees

Organizers of the Festival of Trees are optimistically planning to celebrate the 22nd Wolfeboro Festival. This annual benefit features more than 65 trees, uniquely decorated by area businesses and organizations, and displayed on two levels at the Wright Museum. In addition to the trees, the exhibit features continuous entertainment and light refreshment. The preview gala cocktail reception takes place on December 2 from 6-8 p.m. Admission is $65.

The Wright Museum • 77 Center St., Wolfeboro (603) 569-2981 • wolfeborofestivaloftrees.com

DECEMBER 3

12th Annual Festival of Trees

The Festival of Trees will feature over 35 trees elaborately decorated by local businesses and organizations to be auctioned and raffled off.

4-8 p.m.

Rivermill at Dover Landing • 2 Washington St., Dover dovernh.org/festival-of-trees

DECEMBER 11-12

Symphony NH Holiday Pops

This annual holiday concert will feature selections from the “Nutcracker” and “Sleigh Ride” as well as singalongs. Saturday, 6:45 p.m.; Sunday, 2:15 p.m. Tickets are $60.

Keefe Center for the Arts (Saturday) • 117 Elm St., Nashua Concord City Auditorium (Sunday) • 2 Prince St., Concord (603) 595-9156 • symphonynh.org

Festival of Trees events are happening around the state in late November and December. They provide holiday cheer, decorating inspiration and the chance to bring home a tree already decked out for Christmas.

DECEMBER 11

Boston Pops Holiday Concert

Capturing the magic of the Holiday season and the winter charms of New England, the Boston Pops will perform their signature “Sleigh Ride,” as well as other holiday classics, and new arrangements of seasonal favorites. They are joined by the Metropolitan Chorale, known as one of Metro Boston’s premier choral ensembles. Santa Claus will make a guest appearance during the concert’s finale followed by the traditional Boston Pops holiday singalong to bring this special performance to a close. 7:30 p.m. SNUH Arena • 555 Elm St., Manchester • snhuarena.com

DECEMBER 18-19

Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra Holiday Pops

Join the PSO winter solstice weekend as we shift from darkness to light and celebrate the season with cheer and joy. A perennial family favorite, this year’s holiday pops program includes an international flavor that celebrates humanity during the holiday season. 3 and 7:30 p.m. Admission is $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and $15 for students and children.

Portsmouth High School • 50 Andrew Jarvis Dr. Portsmouth • (603) 686-8133 portsmouthsymphony.org

Submitting Events

New Hampshire Home is always on the lookout for events that may interest our readers. If you have one to submit for consideration, send details to ethoits@nhmagazine.com

Please note that calendar production occurs two months before each issue is published.

The Ritual of Ritual

Learning to be present this holiday season.

THE HOLIDAYS ARE A TIME TO TAKE ACCOUNT.

So, while the second year of the pandemic slides into the holiday season, shuffling and stumbling, and although we’re all just exhausted by now, this is a time to remember that we’re still together and moving forward in the best way we know how.

In the first year, our family did kindergarten from home, learning by getting our hands, feet and hair filthy in the wilds of the White Mountains; my 5-year-old daughter absorbing the knowledge of the insects and the wisdom of the rocks.

Now, in the second year, we’ll finally get to see my nephews for the first time since this all began, and we’ll try to make the holidays something real, a turning point, the moment when we reassert ourselves; the time of cranberry sauce and elves on the shelves and of gratefulness, of course.

First grade for Little Bean began with some amount of fanfare: a sidewalk wipeout that resulted in an ER visit to have pebbles picked out of her knee by a patient and kind doctor, for example. One of those pebbles, the largest, now sits on her memento shelf in a small jar. “A souvenir, Daddy,” she said as we drove home from the hospital.

But what is summer without glorious badges of honor? And a story to tell her brand new teacher, which she did nearly the moment they met.

On the surface, this is all how it should be, how normal feels. But now, we have a special place near the door for her face masks—she likes the kitty whiskers one the best, parents aren’t yet allowed into the school building and we’ll try to find an outdoor Santa for her to visit. And every day she’s in school, I wonder if the next day she’ll be back at home, learning from afar.

She tells her teachers and classmates other things as well, because my daughter is never shy. She tells her new friends about her cats, Lavendar and Luna; about growing her own pumpkins for Halloween; and about how “her” Santa does not eat cookies. Her Santa prefers vegetables.

And I wonder how long Santa will remain a part of her life. Given all the reality of the last couple of years, there’s far worse fictions than Santa to hold on to.

But we’ll be fine with that as well. We’ll be fine because her uncle will visit, and along with her grandparents, we’ll celebrate Dashain—the holiday of light over darkness from the Nepali side of her family. She’ll share a blessing with her grandfather—the oldest and youngest, the family bookends.

We’ll be fine because the whole point of this time of year is wonder and awe, and coming in close to what matters. The writer and comedian Larry Wilde once observed that the size of one’s Christmas tree doesn’t matter because to children every Christmas tree is 30 feet tall. The point is the celebration, not the tree. The point is, on that evening when we darken the house lights and switch on the holiday lights, there will be a glorious, fleeting moment when nothing else matters; when the connection between our parents’ lives, our lives and the lives of the kids of our children to come are all on display.

That’s what ritual does, it brings us into the present and makes us mindful. It’s a reminder of where we come from and a call to improve our future. And as she’s done these past couple of years, once the lights are on and the veggie plate is laid out for Santa, once the snow (hopefully) begins to fall, my December-born daughter will turn to me and say, “OK, Daddy, ready for my birthday now.”

And I’ll be ready as well. NHH

By Dan Szczesny | Illustration by Carolyn Vibbert