At Home & Good News

At Home refers to where we've been the past few weeks in Nashua, NH, catching up and watching views like this from our apt LR window. The Good News is at the end of this post. 

From time to time, it's necessary to do a post like this to update things that have been posted about before to finish the story. Also, to show what's been happening at our home, even if small things. This is a catch-up post on several older ones and recent photos too.

Several recent posts focused on the week spent in Maine for Grenville's birthday including visits to the Penobscot Narrows Bridge Observatory, Fort Knox, the L.L. Bean bootmobile and, our introduction to Maine's official soft drink, Moxie, which we've been enjoying at home. There's more to post from that visit, including a story of two famous boats, but that's later.

Like other places, there was a couple weeks of very hot weather. Temps in the mid 90s for a couple of weeks is so not New England summer. That said, the heat wave provided several colorful sunset skies like this one. Sometimes, sunsets are bland and without much detail. Other times, they are nothing short of spectacular and we marvel at views like this one.

Our 5th floor apt window faces the Nashua River, the highest view in the mill apts

We've stayed home since late July, but this coming weekend we're off on a short NH getaway for a special celebration—our 22nd 🥂 wedding anniversary. Some folks may recall that in 2020, we'd booked a Canadian rail trip with Rocky Mountaineer for our 20th. That excursion was scrapped due to you-know-what. It took forever, as in a very long time, to get the $3,100 trip deposit refunded. RM wouldn't issue a refund, only credit for future travel. The travel agency was no help, finally got the refund after filing a complaint and supporting information with the credit card company. Needless to say, there's no plans for a future RM trip or using that agency.

Both of these views are towards downtown Nashua, NH, from our apt

Despite the amazing views through our apt windows, we still like to getaway and with major travel plans on hold now, staying close to home is the plan. And, why not, since there's so much to see and do in New England. Fall colors are on the way, great for weekday escapes. 

There's no shortage of blog post topics, and I've actually have a backlog for a couple of reasons: not blogging daily plus spending more time to learn more about topics that interest me—maybe you as well. As readers of this blog know, I enjoy sharing lots of details.

Thanks for your comments on so many of my posts. While I don't reply in the blog, know that all comments are read and appreciated, even those who have taken me to task for errors.

Kayakers on the Nashua River as viewed from a 5th floor window

Speaking of window views, this past weekend, the second people-powered lighted boat parade of the summer season was held on the Nashua River. A lot of folks gathered river side as we did for a previous event in June. This time, the view from our 5th floor windows provided a better overall view of the estimated 50 boaters. As I no longer own any long-zoom digital camera equipment, these photos were taken with the 10X zoom of my now-older cell phone.

The boat parade started before dusk and ended an hour or so later

Boaters circled each of the two river fountains twice and then paddled under the Main Street bridge before turning around and heading back. The turnaround is because a hydroelectric facility and Jackson Mills dam just beyond the bridge prevent ny further river travel. 

The Dept. of Public Works maintains the plantings on Main Street in Nashua, NH

An earlier July post showed some of the seasonal plantings around downtown Nashua. This collage shows more of the plantings along Main Street. The top left photo shows Nashua City Hall.

Two of our fellow 5th floor residents handle the care of this pocket park garden

Flowers continue to thrive in the French Park (formal name Le Parc de Notre Renaissance Francaise), a pocket park along the Nashua River walk. We take this route regularly on after-dinner walks, temporarily suspended in the wake of oppressively hot weather. Following cooler temps that came in the past week, we've resumed these walks. The Canada goose families posted about in June have finally left the area and walkways are clearer now 😉

Just one of several community gardens in Nashua, NH

Nashua has several urban community gardens in eight neighborhoods throughout the city. This garden is downtown near the post office. Priority is given to Nashua families without sufficient access to fresh foods or a place to grow them. The gardens are in neighborhoods that qualify as food deserts (no fresh produce stores within walking distance). Participation is free. Vegetables are grown in raised beds Grow Nashua provides seeds, water, nutrients and planting education throughout the growing season. 

More lass and siding have been installed since these photos were taken

Work continues to move along on the Nashua Center for the Arts described in this June post with completion set before year-end. This photo was taken a couple of weeks ago and, since then, windows and siding have been added. We're looking forward to attending performances in this venue, especially as it's within walking distance of the mill apartments, so no parking issues.

Finally, there's a good great for us update. It's about taxes or rather getting money back from taxes paid.

Earlier posts (April and late June) explained lamented that, like a lot of others, we were still waiting an income tax refund—on our 2020 filing. After many calls, in June we finally met with an IRS (Internal Revenue Service) agent, who reviewed the file. We were told to expect resolution within 12 weeks, towards the end of September and advised not re-contact IRS before then.

No follow-up is needed because late last week, Grenville received an email that our $3,300 refund had been processed and (ready) the check was in the mail. Interest is expected for the delay. The Catch-22 is that we'll get a 1099 form requiring it to be reported for 2022 tax filing.

That's it folks, a post with a lot of catching up and news of good things coming as well.

Looney Tunes©

FYI The origin of the phrase, that's all folks, comes from the Warner Brothers Looney Tunes cartoon series popular in the 1930s-1940s that featured cartoon characters such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, and Elmer Fudd. Although it was usually Porky Pig who brought the Looney Tunes films to a close by stuttering the memorable phrase, Th-th-th-that's all folks! 

Bugs Bunny later replaced Porky Pig by bursting through a drum too, but munching on a carrot and saying, in a Bronx/Brooklyn accent, And Dat's De End!