Frost in Franconia

Thursday, July 6

Revered New England poet Robert Frost was born in California. Who knew. His father died when Frost was 11, and his mother took their 2 children back to New England where her family was. Today we drove to Franconia to visit The Frost Place, a small farmhouse on 50 acres where Frost and his wife & kids lived during WWI. Over the years, he lived several places in NE, but this farm was apparently his favorite.

“The Frost Place is a nonprofit educational center for poetry and the arts based at Robert Frost’s old homestead, which is owned by the town of Franconia, New Hampshire… Since 1977, The Frost Place has awarded a fellowship each summer to an emerging American poet, including a cash stipend and the opportunity to live and write in the house for several months.” (frostplace.org) We watched a video on Frost’s life and walked the poetry trail, knowing that we were likely literally walking in his footsteps. 

Frost lived here 5 years, and returned
every summer for 19 more.

Tranquil Poetry Trail

(pea & crumbs are the incompletes)

Greg getting literary.

Back at the campground, we also spent some time walking a local river trail. Aside from a multitude of mosquitoes (not as dangerous as ticks, but way more annoying), it was a pleasant stroll. 

Androscoggin River

"Two roads diverged in a (green) wood..."

Both oil & gas flow under here.

Lone berry? No, just a tangled fishing float.

BlogThoughts... When I was reading the poem above, I thought about the really serious gardeners among my friends. I enjoy gardening, too, but it's definitely a casual, hit-or-miss hobby. Hats off to the Lorrie Melsons, Andy Heads, and Uwe Arendts of the world. 😃)