Friday Funnies

This sign was seen in a the produce department of a local supermarket this week. Notice anything unusual ?

Artichokes, anyone?

Exactly — those tomatoes didn't look like what was advertised on the sign below. Maybe, we should have checked the tomato display for artichokes ?

To All: A heartfelt Thank You for your condolences on the passing of my friend, Solange. Your comments were very much appreciated by Patrick and myself.

Enjoy Your Weekend, Everyone

We're on a short road trip to celebrate the 28th anniversary of our 1st date.

We'll celebrate our August wedding anniversary with a much longer trip.

No Regrets & Update

Have you ever heard yourself or someone else say he/she wished they had been in contact with someone before it was too late?

This past weekend, Solange, my friend and Scrabble-playing partner, who resided here in the mill apartments, passed away. While her death was not totally unexpected because of health issues, it was still a shock. We had spoken a few days earlier to schedule our next game, she told me she was feeling too tired to play. As she often had these days in recent weeks, I told her I would call again in a day or two. She was a fierce Scrabble player who disliked losing and would always ask to play another game. We often split our wins and always shared a treat.

When her son phoned on Saturday, I instinctively knew that the call was not a good one.

Solange was 95 years young, born in Antwerp, Belgium and a Holocaust survivor. She was a registered nurse who later relocated to the US with her late artist husband and they lived in many cities in our home state of NJ. Coincidentally, their last NJ address was close to our last NJ address, although we had never met there. She relocated to NH after her husband's passing to be closer to her son who lived in the state.

Solange became a close friend of both myself and my husband. Patrick. We enjoyed food and conversations through shared dinners at our apartment homes. The most recent was at our home on Easter when she and another resident joined us for dinner. She insisted on bringing a homemade banana tart, which was delicious, even the leftovers.

Private services were held quickly in NJ early this week in keeping with her faith. We were unable to attend; however, I asked her son about holding a celebration of life here at a later date. Her family will be returning to clear out her residence.

This isn't the first time a family member or friend has passed and as sad as it's always been, my goal is to never have regrets about not having called, visited or written. Of course, we all have regrets for many things, but for myself keeping in touch means having a few less.

Thanks to fellow bloggers who asked about the status of my left knee injury, 

Here's an update following an orthopedics consultation and my first physical therapy session. The good news is that the orthopedic review showed the knee structure are intact with a mild degree of arthritis and a mild kneecap dislocation, without any significant tissue damage. Recovery (no pain) could take 6-8 weeks.

My nemesis: Elliptical 

The physical therapy appointment included an evaluation and balance testing and confirmation that my balance could be improved, the lack of which can be attributable to age. For the record, the knee injury wasn't caused by a fall, as I am always careful to avoid hazards as much as possible, particularly snow and ice. Instead, my injury was caused by exercise, specifically the use of an elliptical, stationary equipment in the Clocktower gym. 

As I've learned, repetitive motion on an elliptical can lead to overuse injuries, especially in the knees or hips. Also, the elliptical's motion has been labelled awkward or unnatural, potentially leading to improper form or discomfort. 

If not appropriately positioned using the elliptical, a user could strain their knees — as I did. Also, the low-impact design of this machine often leads to overuse injuries in the knee and hip as users tend not to realize they're doing more than they’re physically able — and that would describe my actions. And, when the orthopedic PA (physician's assistant) shared that she never uses this equipment, I thought, why did I ?

My PT assessment concluded that no brace or walking assistance (cane, walker) are needed. However, I received a set of at-home exercises to perform before the next appointment later this week. Yes, I've been doing them them as this will be the routine for up to 10 weeks

Which do you think results in death more often — hip fracture or cancer?

That's what the PT therapist asked me and, while I had not read any statistics beforehand, I knew that given my age the correct answer would be hip fracture.

While cancer is a leading cause of death at any age, hip fractures can have a higher mortality rate for older adults in the short-term. Being cancer-free may not result in death, but breaking your hip could be fatal. 

Studies have indicated that the one-year mortality rate for older adults with a hip fracture can be over 20% and sometimes worse than those with various types of cancer. Also, the risk of death after a hip fracture can persist for up to 10 years after a fracture.

Why are hip fractures so deadly?

It's due to many factors including immobility-related complications, surgical risks and the overall impact on health and quality of life. One of the most serious risks is the increased likelihood of developing blood clots, leading to pulmonary embolisms or strokes. 

Sometimes, recovery can be long and challenging and can also lead to less independence. Other potential health risks include pneumonia, heart failure or blood clots, any one of which can increase the risk of death. Female patients tended to have better post-fracture survival than men, but had a significantly higher risk for getting a fracture. Unfortunately, people over age 85 had the worst odds for survival.

It's important to note that statistics for hip fracture deaths do not apply are not a one-fits-all scenario. It's not just age that's a factor, but gender, pre-existing conditions like cardiac disease, dementia and chronic respiratory issues, plus the timeliness and quality of surgical treatment — all can impact mortality rates. While a 1-year mortality of about 21 to 22% has been cited in online sources for surgically-repaired hip fractures, this is only an average.

Just to be clear — Hip replacement does not result in as many deaths as hip fractures. While this surgery does have certain risks, it's usually much lower than the mortality rate associated with hip fractures, especially in the initial months after the fracture. Several people I know, including fellow bloggers, had successful operations and recovery from hip fractures.

Exercises to improve my balance

Balance decline in adults of (ahem) a certain age isn't uncommon, so I'm not alone. Lack of balance can lead to increased risk of falls and possible fractures. Aging brings a loss of muscle mass and strength, especially in the legs and core, making it harder to maintain balance. While I've been fortunate not to have a serious fall, not taking chances is my goal. 

The balance and strengthening exercise I've been assigned to do at home do not require specialized equipment. All that's needed is a chair and who doesn't have that equipment at home and resistance band provided by the PT therapist, but which can also be bought online. Since I'm not planning to become a statistic anytime soon, these are being done on a daily basis. 

Fall detection (not fall protection) is why I wear an Apple watch  as I often go walking alone. This device will automatically call emergency services if someone becomes immobile after a hard fall and send a message with the location to emergency contacts. Apple is not the only fitness tracker with fall detention, brands by Samsung, Garmin and Goggle also have this important feature.

If anyone is interested in more information, The National Institute on Aging website has helpful information here Older Adults and Balance Problems. 

Friday Funnies

Unlike many apartment buildings, the mill residence has an indoor parking garage, which isn't a free convenience but comes with a monthly fee. However, we consider it a useful expense, especially on snow days when the outside free parking lot needs to be plowed and cars must be moved very early. 

Most garage parking is pull in, however, some require parallel parking. This seemed to be a challenge for this driver who was not quite close to the barrier wall.

Far far away (from a parking space)

It's been raining many days in Nashua, NH, water seeps from the top lot into garage areas. As seen in the bottom right photo, this driver will be stepping out by a sizable puddle. 

Of course, letting my mind wander as it does, brought other thoughts of this word sequence, for example: Star Wars fans will recognize them as the opening sequence. Far Far Away is a 1970s song by British rock group Slade. Far far away is a phrase used in fairy tales and children's stories. It's the name of a fictional kingdom in the Shrek franchise

Just in time for this weekend's celebration of Mother's Day, other half, Patrick captured this outing of a proud mom parading her young family on the Nashua River this week. It was the first sighting of goslings this season and most likely won't be the last.

A welcome back to a Stevenson, a blogging friend who was far far away from blog-land for a long time. Perhaps, like myself, you have also left comments on a blogger's site in the hope that one day he/she would post again. His comment was a very nice surprise! 

That said, several bloggers are going through tough times with medical issues of their own or loved ones. While I won't list them, regulars of this blog may know them too and join me in sending best wishes to them. While a blogger may not reply, letting someone know he/she is in your thoughts could brighten their day — and even yours. Being kind takes little effort or time.

Enjoy Your Weekend, Everyone

Happy 💐 Mother's Day to blogger mothers

A(nother) ☔️ Friday & Saturday, possible 🌞 on Sunday

Gâteau 🍋 de Mamie

This post title refers to a wonderful lemon cake, which translates to Granny Cake. The reason for the name will be explained in this post.

It's been a while since a recipe has been posted. It's not for lack of home cooking, which we do most days, rather for not taking photos during meal prep and then posting. Years ago, we posted recipes far more often.

Last week, I needed to find a quick recipe to bring a treat to our Friday dominoes game meet-up. Then, remembered seeing a lemon cake recipe in one of the Barefoot Contessa (Ina Garten) cookbooks in my collection, The Barefoot Contessa at Home.

Ina Garten Lemon Yogurt Cake, Barefoot Contessa at Home (recipe below)

The cookbook didn't provide any history, however, I learned that the recipe is the same as a popular French recipe — Gâteau de Mamie, which translates to Granny Cake or French Grandmother's Lemon Cake. According to online sources, French grandmothers (and others) added yogurt to cakes for added moisture. Ingredients were measured using a glass yogurt jar (unlike in the U.S., yogurt in France comes in small glass jars). The cake ingredients were measured using the glass yogurt jar, which was about a half cup.

Thanks to David G for noting my previous grammatical error, explaining that Gâteau de Mamie (singular) means Grannie Cake, Gâteaux de Mamie means Grannie Cakes (plural). He also added, maybe it’s good to have more than one. I agree which is why this recipe will be made again, this time in a bundt cake pan.

Not only was this recipe very easy, but the result was a delicious lemon loaf which contains no butter, doesn't require use of a mixer, and was made using ingredients already in our pantry and refrigerator. The only change was that the recipe included two lemons, I only had one, yet the cake turned out very lemony. So, if a single large lemon is used, it could be enough. Also, don't be tempted to substitute butter for the oil, which keeps the cake light yet moist.

Lemon Yogurt Cake (Gâteaux de Mamie)

• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt
• 1 1/3 cups sugar, divided
• 3 extra-large eggs
• 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest (2 lemons)
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil (olive oil also works)
• 1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

Glaze Topping

1 cup confectioners’ sugar

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 8½ x 4¼ x 2½-inch loaf pan. Line bottom with parchment paper. Grease and flour pan. (Alternately, you can use a 3-cup bundt pan or 6-8 inch round cake pan, cooking times will differ.)
2. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt into one bowl.  In another bowl, whisk together yogurt, 1 cup sugar, eggs, lemon zest and vanilla.  Slowly whisk dry ingredients into wet ingredients. With a rubber spatula, fold vegetable oil into batter, making sure it’s all incorporated, but do not overmix. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for about 50 minutes, or until cake tester placed in center of loaf comes out clean.
3. Meanwhile, cook 1/3 cup lemon juice and remaining 1/3 cup sugar in small pan until sugar dissolves. Set aside.
4. When cake is done, allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Carefully place on a baking rack over a sheet pan.  
5. Pour prepared glaze over cake while it's still warm allowing it to soak in.
6. Cool (if you can) before slicing and enjoying.

The glaze is optional, depending on personal preference. The cake is moist enough not to need anything else and traditionally is left unglazed. It can also be enjoyed with fresh berries and whipped cream.

Lemon Yogurt Cake from Barefoot Contessa at Home (Ina Garten)

This recipe is one that I will be making again very soon. That's because this one made last Friday morning was all gone by Saturday evening. There were no complaints from our Friday dominoes group or neighbors who enjoyed it. Grenville declared this recipe a keeper which you might well do too if you give it a try.

This past weekend, I attended a performance of Legally Blonde. by members of Actorsingers (not a typo), a community theater group started in 1955 in Nashua, NH. 

The performance was at the Keefe Auditorium (named for Edmund Keefe, longtime Nashua high school teacher, principal and superintendent of schools) is the largest auditorium in Nashua, NH, with double the seating capacity (1,500) than the downtown Nashua Center for the Arts. Built in 1936, it was part of Nashua High School. Later, when two new high schools opened, it became Elm Street Middle School, which closed in 2024. Maintaining and renovating this auditorium are central to any proposed redevelopment of the former school.

Edmund Keefe Auditorium Building, Nashua, NH

We are fortunate to be able to enjoy community theater and within walking distance. In addition to Actorsingers, there are two other community theater groups: The Nashua Theatre Guild and the Peacock Players, a youth theater group, both perform at the smaller Court Street Theater, a 150-seat venue, which originally housed a 1870 firehouse. 

If you ever have the opportunity to attend community theater performances, by all means, do go. While the performers are unpaid, it doesn't make them any less professional, which they certainly all were in last weekend's performance.

Friday Funnies

There are times, when walking around Nashua, that I've seen some unusual sights, for example, look at this one ↓ .

A misplaced take-out delivery?

What looks like a take-out lunch was placed on a row of hedges on a downtown side street. No one else was in the area, so after taking this photo, I walked on never learning the rest of the story. As always, please feel free to come up with a photo caption if so inclined.

Update: My left knee injury has been diagnosed as a patellar sublaxation, which means that the knee cap has been displaced. After an orthopedic evaluation, physical therapy has been recommended with a follow-up evaluation in 6 weeks. The problem was in finding a PT facility that had appointments sooner than the June follow-up. The facility farthest away thankfully had early openings —Sucess! I was able to get an appointment for early next week, and the cortisone shot yesterday's has provided some relief.

Enjoy Your Weekend, Everyone

I'm attending a local theater group's production of Legally Blonde

Medieval Manhattan

San Gimignano – The Manhattan of the Middle Ages as viewed from afar

If the post title sounds unusual, it's because that's exactly the words most often used to describe the town of San Gimignano in Tuscany. The town has become one of the most popular tourist spots in Italy due to its amazing architecture, namely towers..Its unique architecture gives the town an unmatched skyline in the Tuscan countryside as seen in the above photo. We visited this hilltop locale on a day trip during our tour of the Tuscan region last fall. 

San Gimignano was named after St. Geminianus, the bishop of Modena, who according to local legend, saved the city from attack by Attila the Hun. This small walled medieval hill town is in the province of Siena, Tuscany, north-central Italy, some 25 miles from Florence and Siena. Its hilltop location overlooks the Tuscan countryside. The well-preserved buildings within its walls include notable examples of both Romanesque and Gothic architecture.

The town's fame and appeal derives from its well-preserved medieval architecture and iconic skyline of medieval towers, impressive in height and construction. Built using traditional Tuscan stone and brick, the towers were designed to withstand the test of time. While unique today, in the Middle ages, towered skylines were more commonplace. Some were built as a refuge against attackers, others were vacant, chimney-like structures built bolster the owner's egos. Feuding noblemen ran the hill towns, each had a private army that would often battle things out from the protection of its respective family towers.

San Gimignano (1923) by M.C. Escher: Internet source

The 1923 artwork, San Gimignano, created by Dutch graphic artists M.C. (Maurits Cornelis) Escher is a detailed representation of the medieval town characterized by its distinctive towers and architectural structures. The artwork is a black and white, woodcut is considered to be in the art movement known as Realism in the cityscape genre. Escher was a printmaker known for his use of scientific and mathematical concepts to create intricate optical illusions.

Some of the towers in San Gimignano

In 1990, San Gimignano was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This designates a location designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as possessing outstanding universal value to humanity. The sites can be cultural, natural or mixed and are inscribed on the World Heritage List to ensure protection for future generations.

In the Middle Ages and the Renaissance era, San Gimignano was a stopping point for Catholic pilgrims on their way to Rome and the Vatican, due to its location on the Via Francigena.

Via Francigena: Internet source

The Via Francigena, known also as the road that comes from France or Via Romea Francigena the road to Rome that comes from France, is an ancient road that goes from the English cathedral city of Canterbury through France and Switzerland, to Rome and then to Apulia, Italy, where there were ports of embarkation for the Holy Land. In medieval times, this was an important pilgrimage route for those who wanted to visit the Holy See. 

This unique architecture and its tower skyline dates to 12th and 13th centuries. That's when a conflict between two rival families, the Guelphs and the Ghibellines, erupted in San Gimignano. The building of towers became a competition of whoever built the tallest tower. 

The richest and most powerful families competed to outdo each other. Toward the end of the Medieval period, there were 72 tower house, the tallest up to 230 feet tall. The rivalry was curtailed in 1255 when the local council interceded and ruled that no tower was to be taller than that next to the Palazzo Comunale (Municipal Palace).

Many towers were torn down or destroyed during World War II. Currently, only 14 of the original towers remain standing. These are still enough to make San Gimignano the Italian town with the most towers. The tallest remaining tower (177 feet) is Torre Grossa (Thick Tower). It was built in 1310 to enrich the town and became its symbol while functioning as a military watchtower and a civil bell tower. Visitors (which did not include ourselves) can climb 218 steps to the top to enjoy panoramic views of the town and the Tuscan countryside.

Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta, exterior

After the towers, the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta is recognized as the most significant monument in San Gimignano. It's located in the Piazza del Duomo, which translates to cathedral square. But, while the name of the square implies that the Roman Catholic church was once a cathedral, it was not. The church is more commonly known as the Collegiata, a reference to the college of priests that originally managed it. The church was consecrated in November 1148 and was dedicated to St. Geminianus, the town's patron saint. Damaged in World War II, it underwent restoration in 1951 

Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta, interior

Situated in cathedral square since the 12th century, the interior of the church follows a traditional basilica plan, marked by 14 classic Tuscan stone columns. Its main attraction are frescoes lining the cathedral walls, which depict stories of the New and Old Testament and colorful decorations typical of the medieval period. 

Palazzo Comunale (Municipal Palace) 

Other important buildings on the square include the Palazzo Comunale (shown above) and the Palazzo Podesta, the house of the mayor. 

Piazza della Cisterna (town square)

No Italian town would be complete without a central town square and here it's the Piazza della Cisterna built in the 13th century. Originally located at the crossroads between Via Francigena and the road connecting Pisa to Siena, the square also hosted markets, festivals and city tournaments.

Cistern at the center of Piazza della Cisterna

The Piazza della Cisterna named after the cistern built in 1287 was the main source of water for town residents who would get water from the well. The well is no longer in use, but has become a popular gathering spot for visitors who sit on its steps and children who explore the top (which is sealed off). The square is ringed with various restaurants, bars and shops for dining and shopping for traditional crafts, such as pottery, glassware, leather goods and handmade textiles.

Food products made from wild boar (cinghiale) are very popular in this region, especially when made into salumi, which is deeply rooted in Italian culinary traditions and techniques. It refers to any Italian cured meat, including sausages, hams, and other meats. We didn't sample any the day of our visit here. But, on a different day trip, Patrick enjoyed boar-stuffed ravioli, so much that he considered buying boar meat in the U.S. until he learned its cost.

The alleys are narrow and became quite very crowded during our visit. Shops lined the walkways and being in a hurry was not the best way to explore this town.

Although our visit to San Gimignano was a wonderful day trip, it was also somewhat hectic, especially at midday when many tourist buses leave off day visitors, as the center of San Gimignano is car-free. Despite the often walkways, we spent a great time navigating the town's narrow streets and exploring.

There was time to enjoy what became one of our favorite treats during our time here. One of the most interesting features about San Gimignano is the competition between two gelaterias located close to the town square and directly across from one another..

There were non-stop customer lines at both of these establishments, of course we joined in and enjoyed delicious gelatos. Now, I can't recall which place we tried.

Before leaving, we made sure to appreciate this wonderful view which was just before entering the town of San Gimignano.

We hope to return not only for the gelato — also for the history and the views.

Friday Funnies

It's been a while for a Friday Funnies with photos of recently seen vanity vehicle plates. Here's a random sampling of some spotted locally the past couple of months.

So a King, although the color on this ME plate (actual) seems more suited for the queen.

These two plates could belong to grandparents, happy to be at this stage of life.

And, these plates show the sports interest of their vehicle owners.

Here's a couple of fun plates, and wondered — Did the top one belong to an artist who doodles, and second to an owner of cats or lover of Kit Kat® candy?

Last (for this time) this vehicle plate was definitely selected for the business. 

And, an update on my ongoing knee issue, which, thankfully, is not a case of needing a knee replacement. This week an X-ray showed a moderate degree of lateral patella tilting and mild patellar lateral sublaxation which translated means a displaced/dislocated knee cap. An appointment has been made for an orthopedic evaluation next week and possible physical therapy. Meanwhile, activities are being curtailed until an assessment is done. (To answer a query about how this injury occurred, its suspected to be over-use of the elliptical at the gym.) 

I appreciate all your good wishes, but this setback will pass in time. My situation is very minor when compared to what some fellow bloggers have shared about difficult issues with their own health or that of loved ones. I encourage good thoughts and prayers for them. No links here out of respect for their privacy. You may recognize them from the sidebar list.

Enjoy Your Weekend, Everyone

My weekend will be R-I-C-E  (Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate) & reading

Easter at the Arts Center

During the Christmas season, which was celebrated at home in Nashua, NH, we attended several musical performances at the Nashua Center for the Arts. 

Since we were also home for Easter, we decided to do a repeat and, in the past couple of weeks, attended three performances. All of these were quite different featuring a vocal group, a humorist and a symphony orchestra. An added bonus is that the performing arts center is walkable from the mill apartments.

Nashua Center for the Arts in downtown Nashua, NH

Opened in April 2023, the Nashua Center for the Arts is located on Main St in downtown Nashua on the site of an old apartment building and the former location of a well known shoe store, which relocated to a larger Nashua location. The remake-and-repurpose of 201 Main Street came with a price tag of $25 million. Bank of America, which has a downtown location donated half a million dollars; unsurprisingly, the theater has its name.

The center seats 750 and providing an intimate audience experience. The audience chamber orchestra level has a 430-seat telescopic seating system that can be retracted to create a flat floor venue for general admissions for up to 1000 people or a banquet set up for 270 people.

Voctave is an 11-member a cappella group from Central FL

Our first show was a performance by the a cappella group. Voctave with 11 members. This is twice the number of vocalists as in another well known a cappella group, Pentatonix, which has 5 members. Our orchestra tickets were complimentary thanks to the Nashua Public Library which offers residents discounted or free passes to many popular cultural institutions, including museums, symphony concerts, nature experiences and historical monuments. Free tickets to some venues, like the arts center, are available on a first-come basis. Funding is provided by the Friends of the Nashua Public Library of which we are members.

A cappella performances rely on vocalists' ability to create musical textures, rhythms, and harmonies entirely with their voices without instrumental accompaniment. This sets it apart from music where vocal parts are supported by instruments. The Italian term translates to "in the chapel" or "in the choir" highlighting its historical association with religious music.

Admittedly, we knew little about FL-based, Voctave, before this concert, but we're now fans of these multi-talented vocalists. The members of Voctave have diverse backgrounds in musical theater, contemporary Christian music, pop, barbershop and choral music. All have been part of the Voices of Liberty, a popular a cappella group that traditionally performs at Disney's Epcot Center, Orlando. The group also has performed globally.

Voctave was formed in 2015 by producer and arranger Jamey Ray and has become renowned for intricate and captivating vocal arrangements. The group brings together a rich tapestry of musical backgrounds and members have performed globally and contributed to numerous recordings, showcasing their versatility. 

American humorist Garrison Keillor at Nashua Center for the Arts

Yes, he's still performing! Our next show was a one-man performance by American humorist Garrison Keillor, who wore his signature red sneakers and sported very tousled (like just rolled out of bed) hair. Keillor is perhaps best known for his public radio programs. His style has been described as witty, observational, even satirical finding humor in everyday situations and human experience. At 83 years of age, Keillor is still performing and touring with scheduled appearances of his one-man show throughout 2025. 

From 1974 to 2016, Keillor created and hosted the radio show A Prairie Home Companion on Minnesota Public Radio (MPR). It featured the fictional Midwestern town of Lake Woebegon with its quirky inhabitants and fictional product ads for Powdermilk Biscuits, The American Duct Tape Council, Catsup Advisory Board, Beebop-a-reebop Rhubarb Pie. The show provided the backdrop for much of Keillor's humor through The Lives of the Cowboys (Lefty and Dusty and Guy Noir, Private Eye. He's also authored numerous books, including novels and short story collections.

We were long-time fans of A Prairie Home Companion, listening to the show every Saturday night when we lived in VA. Fellow listeners may also recall the tagline that ended the show: Lake Woebegon, where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking and all the children are above-average. 

Keillor and audience sing-along during intermission

The 90-minute performance we attended featured storytelling, poetry, and several audience sing-alongs even during intermission. Unlike most performers who leave the stage at this time, Keillor remained and encouraged the audience to stand and sing, which of course many did, including ourselves. 

Symphony NH at Nashua Center for the Arts

Our final show consisted entirely of music performed by Symphony NH, titled It's All Overtures which featured nine popular and well-known overtures including: The Marriage of Figaro (Mozart) Overture to William Tell ( Gioachino Rossini), Overture to Treemonishato (Scott Joplin), Academic Festival Overture (Johannes Brahms) Overture to Nabuccoto (Guiseppe Verdi) and  West Side Story (Leonard Bernstein).

Symphony NH was established in 1923, and holds the distinction of being the longest-running professional orchestra in NH with a particular tie to the City of Nashua. It began as a group of musicians from Nashua that performed two concerts each season here. At one time also called the Nashua Symphony Orchestra, the organization changed its name in June 2012 to Symphony NH to reflect its expanded mission to inspire and enlighten through exceptional live music serving the state, not just in the City of Nashua.

Today, the symphony consists of top musicians from all over New England with concerts performed not only in Nashua, but throughout Southern New Hampshire. The symphony has been acclaimed for memorable performances, including premieres and its wide-ranging repertoire from Bach to Bernstein to the Beatles and more.

Symphony NH musical director Roger Kalia

Conducting Symphony NH was American conductor Roger Kalia who has been acclaimed for bringing a fresh view to classical music for the unique energy he brings to the podium. It had been previously stated that this performance would be one of his final concerts here. 

That's because, in 2023, Kalia announced his decision to step down as Symphony NH Music Director after six seasons at the end of the 2024-25 season. Kalia will assume the role of Artistic Director of the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra during the 2025-26 season. We are glad to have attended this wonderful performance that showcased not only his conducting skills but the talents of the Symphony NH musicians.

We hope that your Easter holiday was enjoyable. Aside from attending the performances, we shared dinner with two residents, who like ourselves, remained home for the holiday.

All photos in this post were taken during the attended performances and were not prohibited. In a pre-show announcement, photos were encouraged to share on social media. The sole stipulation being that no audio recordings, videos or flash photography was permitted.

Celebrating Easter

The most important Christian celebration will be celebrated this weekend. (In the U.S. Thanksgiving and Christmas remain among the most popular holidays.)

Easter Sunday, the day which marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ, is the most widely celebrated Christian holiday worldwide per most online sources. 

Its date is much later this year because, unlike Christmas always celebrated on December 25, Easter is one of the religious holidays without a fixed calendar date and called a “movable feast.” Simply stated that means it doesn't fall on the same calendar date year to year. Thanksgiving, while not a religious event, is the same type of holiday

Why? In the Gregorian calendar, Easter is always observed on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25. In the Northern Hemisphere, it's celebrated on the Sunday after the first ecclesiastical full moon following the spring equinox. The Catholic Church uses March 21 to mark the spring equinox to calculate this date, but the equinox can fall between March 19-21.

The Bible doesn't make mention of a bunny decorated eggs, or chocolate candy, yet all of these have become prominently associated with Christianity’s most important holiday.

There are various stories, including that the Easter bunny came to in America in the 1700s when German immigrants, who settled in Pennsylvania, transported the tradition of an egg-laying hare, “Osterhase” or “Oschter Haws.” According to the story, good children received gifts of colored eggs in the nests that they made in their caps and bonnets before Easter.

The custom spread across the U.S. and the storied rabbit’s Easter morning deliveries expanded to include chocolate and other types of candy and toys and decorated baskets replaced nests. Additionally, children often left out carrots for the bunny in case he got hungry.

There are other stories in which the association of a bunny with Easter originates from pagan and Christian traditions, with rabbits symbolizing fertility and renewal, and eggs representing new life and the resurrection of Jesus.  

The Easter egg is believed to have its roots in pagan practices celebrating spring and rebirth.The egg, an ancient symbol of new life, has been associated with pagan festivals celebrating spring. Christian tradition later adopted the practice, associating eggs with the resurrection of Christ.

Egg decorating is a tradition that dates back to at least the 13th century. One explanation for this custom is that in some regions eating eggs was not allowed by church leaders during the weeks leading up to Easter. Eggs laid that week were saved and later decorated to mark the end of penance and fasting. These were then eaten in celebration on Easter and also given to children as gifts. 

We looked as colorful as the eggs did afterwards

For years, we decorated hardboiled eggs with the grandchildren, who are older now with other interests. But, that family tradition hasn't gone away. Today, we continued it and colored a dozen eggs, none of which will be gifts, some will result in egg salad if not eaten Easter a.m.

Easter is the second best-selling candy holiday in America after Halloween. Chocolate bunnies and eggs remain the most popular choices. The most popular non-chocolate Easter candies are jelly beans and the sugary, pastel marshmallow confection, Peeps. In the past few years, Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs have risen in popularity even beating Peeps sales in some cities.

My childhood favorite was chocolate marshmallow eggs, which even came in their own carton; Patrick favored peanut butter ones. We both agree on our enjoyment of seasonal Cadbury Creme Eggs.

Do you have any favorites — then or now?

Easter Sunday won't be celebrated this late in April again until 5 years from now, but it will be celebrated in late March within 2 years. Here's when Easter Sunday will be celebrated for the next five years 2026 (April 5), 2027 (March 28), 2028 (April 16), 2029 (April 1), 2030 (April 21). 

Enjoy Your Holiday Celebration

We're dining at home and have invited two residents to join us.