The latest from the Gang ... 

Ten members of the North Mystery Group enjoyed a lovely autumn day at the Canterbury Shaker Village in Concord, New Hampshire. Our guide, Lois, painted a vivid picture of the life of the Shakers. They were originally Quakers, but because of their love of ecstatic dancing they became known as Shakers! They were celibate, believed in gender equality and “pursued perfection in every aspect of their lives.”
We toured several buildings, including the meeting house, the church, and the laundry! Shakers were known for their inventiveness and creativity, as displayed in the laundry. Afterwards some of us enjoyed lunch at Uno’s, while others hurried to Dawn and Joe’s for cribbage!

Linda and Paul McH

Dori C, David R, Jan G, Carol B & Jane P

An overcast sky greeted our group as we met at Garden in the Woods in Framingham. We joined a garden club group for a guided tour with a very knowledgeable volunteer who has been doing these tours for many years. We learned the history of the Garden area and how native plants can be used in home gardens and yards. Various flowering plants were identified along with an explanation of the type of soil in which they grow. 

We saw a number of turtles on logs in the vernal pool including a tiny baby turtle.  A sense of playfulness was exhibited in the play area with sculptures and butterfly paintings. 

Although the sky remained gray, it was an interesting and informative walk through the gardens and woods followed by some of the group having lunch at a local restaurant. 

Submitted Jan G 

Marco A, Elsie L, Chuck H, Maggi and Joe C, Ines A, Joan S.
Missing on the photo Sue H.

Seven members of the HUB Mystery Group met in Arlington for an informative tour of the Cyrus Dallin Museum, followed by lunch nearby with an enjoyable, wide-ranging conversation. Attendees were:  Nancy B, Ruth G, Barbara H, Cathleen R, Jan U, Merle W, Merle's guest Scott M from Cincinnati, father of her granddaughter's betrothed, and new member Jeanine YM.

Cyrus Dallin was an interesting American sculptor, originally from Utah. He lived in Arlington from 1900 until his death in 1944. He studied sculpture in Boston and Paris, and was a member of the faculty of the Massachusetts College of Art. He is especially well known for his work, "Appeal to the Great Spirit," installed in 1912 in front of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts on Huntington Avenue. 

Submitted by Ruth G

The storms held off and 38 Gang members were able to sail out of Portsmouth Harbor on a recreation of a traditional coastal New England work-boat, called a gundalow. There was enough breeze to fill the sails and we could enjoy the peace and quiet and perhaps put ourselves back imaginatively to earlier days. This was helped by an interesting talk about the development of the gundalow in colonial times, and how it became like a minivan for farms, families, and businesses along the Gulf of Maine.  

Portsmouth Harbor is an active industrial port, so scenic beauty was not a highlight of the trip, but Portsmouth itself is an atmospheric and tourist-friendly town, and many members enjoyed a pre- or post-sail stroll. Especially noteworthy were the gorgeous gardens adjacent to the gundalow's dock.

 Submitted by Susan L

Jeanine YM, Nancy B, Peg T, Judith D, Barbara H , Merle W, Janice U.  
Cathleen R took the photo, Jackie A had already left.

Nine Members met at Demos in Watertown renewing friendships, planning mysteries for the year and enjoying a yummy Greek lunch.  It’s been a year since we met so much sharing and laughter.  My guest , Jeanine, was very well received and immediately joined the Gang and Mystery group.  We have events planned for some of the year but need more volunteers.    Hear ye, hear ye!

Submitted by Cathleen R

Steve, Larry, Sandy  and Hyman

Four of us paddled the Pocasset River in Bourne on Cape Cod on August 25.  It was an extremely hot and humid day.  First we paddled the Pocasset River, then turned around and paddled in Buzzards Bay.  There we went swimming to cool off.  The water was absolutely refreshing and delightful. 
Hyman and I had paddled this river before to check it out ahead of time but found Buzzards Bay then a little choppy.  This time, the water was calm and inviting.  What a difference!

Sandy

Joan, Linda, Linda K, Betty, Shirley, Maureen, Walter,Joe, Linda McN, Maggi, Joan.

Eleven members  of the “Gang” enjoyed taking a “trip down memory lane” with Hy-Line Cruise Viking ship. The weather was definitely a #10 and we enjoyed a cool breeze with the narrator giving us a fascinating history and points of interest along the Canal. Points of interest included the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Vertical Lift Railroad Bridge (that takes all the trash from the Cape to Rochester, MA for disposal). One beautiful home along the canal had 25 bedrooms and one bath and is hardly ever used. Many descriptions of the various islands in the canal with their history. It was also mentioned that in approximately 5 years both the Sagamore and Bourne Bridges are going to be taken down to build new bridges  to accommodate the increase of traffic flow.

Following our relaxing one-and one half hour cruise, we enjoyed seafood at the Lobster Pot Restaurant on Cranberry Highway.

Wendy, Jan, Meredith, Jane, Dori, Carol, Ines, Chris and Kathy. (Mary McG took the photo.)

Nine TOHG members visited the New England Quilt Museum in Lowell, MA to see the special Japanese Quilt Exhibit. We were given a wonderful tour by museum docent, Mary McG, one of our TOHG members.

The quilts were magnificent, many of them totally hand-stitched. They were all very different in design and colors. Afterwards, we all went to the Athenian Corner Greek Restaurant with Mary and Karen, another TOHG member who works at the museum but who had an extra long dental appointment at the time of our tour. Everyone enjoyed the tour, the lunch, and seeing each other again.

Karen, Mary, Chris, Carol, Meredith, Wendy, Dori, Kathy, Jan, and Ines (Jane took the photo.)

 This month we had eleven members attending a visit to the RISD Museum in Providence, RI. The museum has many displays including Decorative Arts, Modern & Contemporary, Ancient Egyptian. and many more. A few of us had visited before and found many interesting changes and a few areas were undergoing renovations.

After our visit we all had a lunch at Gregg’s Restaurant and enjoyed being together again. 

Susan & Chuck H