The Eastman Loppet for David's House will be a day-long, fun-filled event for the entire family, featuring groomed loops of various distances for classic or skate skiers, and a separate snowshoe course. Upon completion, there will be a party for everyone with food, drink, awards and music.

Participants choose to start anytime between 9 a.m. and noon, depending on the length of the trail or trails they choose. Although this is an untimed event, participants must be done by 4 p.m.

All finishers will receive their own official Loppet cowbell and a homemade “Trollhouse” cookie in addition to a great day on the trails, food, drink and music. The first 100 people to turn in a minimum of $250 in pledges for David's House will get a fabulous Skida fleece-lined, nordic hat.

All participants are asked to raise a minimum amount to participate: adults 18 and older, $75; kids 5-17, $25; families, $125; and kids younger than 5 are free with a participating adult. Each participant will be sent

a donation page for fundraising with their confirmation email.

For more information, including links to the tr

ail descriptions, estimated completion times, a list of FAQs, and a link to on-line registration, visit http://www.davids-house.org/loppet.

Eastman is a four-season, residential and recreational community. Eastman Golf Links, Eastman Cross Country Center and Bistro Nouveau at Eastman are all open to the public. For more information, visit our website or call 603-863-4240.

David's House provides a home-away-from-home and support for families with

children receiving treatment through Children's Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.

The skies cleared, the sun

shone, the lake warmed up.  The weather was perfect over the long weekend, but especially on Saturday, just in time for the 4^th of July festivities at Eastman.  The 4^th is a special time at Eastman, where the warm weather draws people outside and together with festivities that everyone enjoys.

It started with a concert by our own Eastmanaires – a very talented singing group comprised of vocalists who live here at Eastman.  Their concert was just terrific – staged so that you could come by land or water to enjoy the music.  I always look forward to that concert; I used to go with my mother every year.

After the concert, there was a chicken barbecue.  The setting was beautiful, with was picnic tables under the pavilion so we could look out over the lake.  It was a warm evening and a wonderful gathering.  I noticed many people greeting each other after a winter away from the snow and cold of New Hampshire.  There were families galore, the children all playing on the beach.  And as usual, the chefs from Bistro Nouveau outdid themselves.

Photo by Dan Geisser

On Monday, my husband and I paddled to the north end of the lake to see the two new loon chicks.  It was quite a sight!  The chicks were riding on the parents’ backs.  We were careful not to get too close to disturb them since they were just born.  A birth announcement was made later in the week as Eastman celebrated the news of this important event.

We stayed on Tuesday, lingering over one more day of good weather.  It was good to get to the beach and enjoy the warmer water temperatures.  Now if I could just find a way to bottle up that wonderful day and save it for January…