New Hampshire…Kayaking Adventures

My post is inspired by a Blog written by Caron Mosey which is all about kayaking in Michigan . So I thought I love kayaking…I love New Hampshire so why not write about kayaking in New Hampshire.

Did you know that New Hampshire has numerous scenic lakes, rivers, estuaries and ocean harbors to explore by kayak?

Ideal flat water and wilderness kayaking, adventurous white water kayaking or rafting plus our famous Golden Pond …Squam Lake made famous by the Jane Fonda and her father in a little movie called On Golden Pond.

New Hampshire  is home to a very popular lake called Lake Winnipesaukee  which boasts 72 square miles with 253 islands all within 182 miles of shoreline.  Imagine the kayaking you can do there.

Jay and I love kayaking and have explored many of our lakes and harbors…our favorite is Witches Creak…in Rye NH.    

Squam Lake kayaking in the fall is absolutely gorgeous…the colors as you can see are vivid. We kayaked with a large group from a kayaking club be belong to.

We may look funny when we’re all dressed “up” for kayaking but we take our safety seriously…the right gear can save your life!  This is a shot of me…in a full  wet suit, spary skirt and PFD…like I said we take it seriously.

Photos by Jay and Monika McGillicuddy

We know that you don’t care what we know ….until you know that we care!
Jay and Monika McGillicuddy

Prudential Verani Realty

Hampstead NH

603-548-7728

Hampstead New Hampshire Tid Bits

Liv’n Out Loud. The clothing. The lifestyle ….I just Love it when I hear of a local success story. But not only is this a local success story but check out the celebrities who also agree that these ladies have something special to offer. So take a few minutes and cruise their website not only is this a great story about two ladies named Kristine Fichera and Alyson Bruu shown here with New Hampshire’s Governor John Lynch but the product line is awesome and will make some truly special holiday gifts.

So special that the Sundance Film Festival has selected their clothing to be featured in the Celebrity Swag Bags!!! Pretty Cool!

Tis the season and Hampstead New Hampshire is already on the bandwagon gearing up for a fun filled community holiday season.

Plans are already in place for the Fire Departments annual Holiday Christmas Parade. The whole town rallies around this event and it is a “Not to Miss” part of the holiday season in Hampstead.

Check out Hampstead Library web site and the upcoming events page for tons of library information.

Hampstead Historical Society has a neat CD they are selling called Hampstead: Then and Now which is a documentary review of the life and times of Hampstead with amazing photos and commentary.

Hampstead Mothers club annual Breakfast with Santa will be held on Dec 2…this is a not to miss event!

Prudential Verani Realty’s 5^th Annual Coat Drive

Prudential Verani Realty is holding our 5^th Annual Coat Drive from November 1-30^th. Our goal is to collect over 6,000 coats, hats, mittens and scarves to donate to those in need. All of the very generous donations we receive will be given to local shelters, charitable organizations and to those less fortunate. Call or e-mail me to donate.

Happy Holidays to you all!

Market Up-Date Hampstead New Hampshire

Inventory is increasing in Hampstead…compared to the average on the market totals of about 28-32 homes last year at this time! That is great news if you’re looking for your dream home.

Currently Hampstead has a high of 61 residential homes and condos on the market ranging in price from 159,900 to high of 649,900.

Now is definitely the time to buy in Hampstead…search for Hampstead homes here .

Hampstead is a popular community with a traditionally strong re-sale value.

Ideally located near the Massachusetts border makes living in Hampstead strongly desired.

Current market stats show five (5) pending sales ranging in price from $139,900 to $309,900

Closed Sales year to date (Jan 01 06- Nov 18-06) show sixty six (66) sold properties ranging from a low of $113,900 to $1,440,000.

It’s not too late to donate a coat for the needy!!!

Prudential Verani Realty is holding our 5^th Annual Coat Drive from November 1-30^th. Our goal is to collect over 6,000 coats, hats, mittens and scarves to donate to those in need. All of the very generous donations we receive will be given to local shelters, charitable organizations and to those less fortunate. Call or e-mail me to donate.

New Member Ethics Class

I taught the new member ethics orientation class for our state association on Oct 30. We hold this class once a month and have 2 sessions one in the morning and one in the afternoon . Interesting that the member numbers are way down this month. Usually we have about 100 + new members come through the class but this time both sessions came in under 50!

I also teach orientation at my local board and at our last class the numbers were also way down. We had scheduled a class, thinking we would need one for October based on last years figures but ended up cancelling it. Hmm…I ‘m thinking that it reflects the changing market and the realization that maybe easy money is not to be made in real estate sales anymore.

Over the past 22 years that I’ve been in real estate sales, I’ve seen this cycle before…the lure of easy money will be replaced with the understanding that this is a job that requires hard work. I think we’ll see a weeding out of agents and only those committed to continued training and giving quality service will be left standing in the end.

I don’t think this is such a bad thing at all. Never fear change…but look forward to experiencing the newness of change and the growth that comes along with it.

New Hampshire’s Old Man!

Let me tell you about my old man… He was a very old man indeed…. some say he was born an estimated 2,000 plus years ago during the post-glacial period.

Even though he was so very old his passing was deeply mourned by New Hampshire residents as well as those of its sister New England States.

The Old Man in the Mountain.  What a sight he was…so majestic…so proud.  He sat boldly on the shoulder of Profile Mountain, which juts out into space, some 1200 feet above Profile Lake.

His profile was not to be missed by anyone visiting New Hampshire’s Majestic White Mountains.

I can’t tell you how many times we’ve pulled off the highway to stop at the viewing station simply so we could look at him, take pictures and just marvel that he was there.

A natural phenomenon…not created by man, but cherished by mankind. The joy never wore off…never became a yeah so what…been there done that type of attraction.

One day when we least expected it he was gone…simply gone. We didn’t have a chance to say good bye, take one last photo.

We knew he was ailing a little bit and had heard about tentative gentle repairs being done and minor mending needed but no one expected this… I am talking, of course, about The Old Man of the Mountain, whose stony countenance simply vanished overnight and was discovered missing on May 3, 2003.

May 3 2003 is a day many New Hampshire ites will never forget…like remembering where you were when JFK or Bobby got shot…9-11 and Martin Luther King…of course while nowhere near the same tragic scale and magnitude those events where, but a day we’ll not forget anytime soon.

I’m sorry if you never got to see him in real life…my shots don’t do him justice but I’ve included many links that have great photos of New Hampshire’s Old Man in The Mountain for your viewing pleasure.

Former New Hampshire governor Craig Benson can sum it up much better than I can …so I’ll leave you with his words.

“From its mountainous perch, the Old Man has stood for centuries as a testament to the steadfastness of New Hampshire’s Yankee character and the resolve of its people. This rugged yet beautiful monument fit the character of the pioneers who founded this state, the immigrants who built it, and the spirit of those who live here today. It was the ultimate symbol of those who would “Live Free or Die.” And while that symbol may have fallen, that spirit still remains.”

– Governor Craig Benson

Interested in learning more about the great state of New Hampshire… check out my friend Ann Cummings blog

and find out why so many of us love our state!

We know that you don’t care what we know ….until you know that we care!

Jay and Monika McGillicuddy

Prudential Verani Realty

Hampstead NH

603-548-7728