Two weeks ago we lost our 32 year-old son and so I naturally turned to my extensive collection of books by and about Louisa. Her reflections on Elizabeth's death and especially "Our Angel in the House" have been so nourishing for me.

It might interest you to know that I was determined to raise my four children according to Louisa's principles (I have read EVERYTHING she has ever written, I think). I especially loved Little Men and An Old Fashioned Girl -- oh, just all of them. I even went so far as to name our house "Orchard House," which greatly amuses my children!

I hope to attend my 40th college reunion in New York state in 1999 and will certainly visit Orchard House then. In addition, my daughter, Meg, (yes, that's right) wants to visit Boston with me and see Orchard House Number 1.

Although I now live in La Jolla, CA, I am planning to subscribe to "The Concord Magazine" and to visit Concord as often as I can. Thank you again.
Sandra "Sandy" Foote Nichols, La Jolla, CA

Calling All Melvins
I am doing research on the Melvin family and put a request on the Concord Bulletin Board asking for relatives to contact me. This page is working for me--have had three replies to my post. I've been emailing with a fellow from Milton, MA who also is a Melvin!! I am having a blast with this!! Have more relatives out there than I can imagine!! Pretty neat!! Thanks for the use of your webpage--it has helped me a lot !!
Carol Caulkins, NH

Devouring the Concord Magazine / Fall Leaves
I love your magazine, and (similar to my National Geographic experience) I have to stop myself from devouring it all in one read. Especially because I am at work!

What good fun to read of Peter Waksmans tramps in Concord, Acton and Carlisle (starts here).

Well, I just sneeked another peek at the October issue and fell in love with the leaf peeping article. Here is my recipe for prolonging the spendor of the fall. I go outside every day, and pick the finest, most colorful leaves off the trees and ground. After they are thoroughly dry; I iron them between two pieces of wax paper, waxy side in. This desposits the wax onto the leaves; discard the paper after ironing. This makes a mess of your iron. Be sure not to use that iron on your favorite dress; or you will be sorry.

Then I string the leaves on regular sewing thread in long lines and hang them around the house, using either thumb tacks or scotch tape. I secure only the top of the thread, which allows the line of leaves to circle and twist in the breeze. This creates a beautiful mobile or "living wall paper"; which certainly livens up the old homestead over a long and colorless winter.

If any of your far-away readers yearn for supply of colorful, Concord leaves, I could probably be persuaded to iron them up a batch! I would be happy to share our bounty with those who are foliage-challenged.
Here's to you! - Anne Sterling, Leafpeeper98@yahoo.com

Even More Wild Orchids
Yes! Epipactis Helleborine is probably the most common orchid here in Denmark, where you'll find it in many wooded areas.

I guess you would find it more interesting if I had seen it around Concord, MA, though.
Ole Henriksen, Copenhagen, Denmark

We think it's grand you have it there. In fact, the sources we consulted say that this species is probably of European origin so it is not surprising it is common in your country.