Welcome to Bear Tales
| E-mail your favorite Island (any island) story or memory to beartales@bearislandoutfitters.com We'll publish snippets here for everyone to enjoy. |
Early in the summer of 2005 this sign appeared in the wooded grove next to St. John's-on-the-Lake church. It reads"
"This village provides fairies with cottages during their visits to
the island. You are invited to visit the village and admire the
creativity of the builders, use your own imagination to expand
the village, or provide needed maintenance to existing
cottages. 1) Fairy Houses should look so natural they are
almost hidden. 2) Use only natural materials but nothing living.
Dry grasses, leaves, sticks, pebbles, and pine cones are okay.
Ferns, mosses, and lichen are not. Fairies do not like to disturb
or destroy anything that is growing in nature. 3) The best
materials are found in the landscape of the village itself. If you
choose to bring in natural materials, please return with those
that you don't use. Thank you for treating our island with care
and respect. This helps keep the fairies coming back."
the island. You are invited to visit the village and admire the
creativity of the builders, use your own imagination to expand
the village, or provide needed maintenance to existing
cottages. 1) Fairy Houses should look so natural they are
almost hidden. 2) Use only natural materials but nothing living.
Dry grasses, leaves, sticks, pebbles, and pine cones are okay.
Ferns, mosses, and lichen are not. Fairies do not like to disturb
or destroy anything that is growing in nature. 3) The best
materials are found in the landscape of the village itself. If you
choose to bring in natural materials, please return with those
that you don't use. Thank you for treating our island with care
and respect. This helps keep the fairies coming back."
I took a few photos of some of these fairy houses and posted them on the Info page. When I last visited the village I counted
over 60 houses! If anyone has any thoughts about the Fairy Village please send them along to Bear Tales....Tom
over 60 houses! If anyone has any thoughts about the Fairy Village please send them along to Bear Tales....Tom
My name is Elizabeth Braman, also known as "Beth Bounty" to some Island Residents. My husband and I bought a camp on Bear
in 2000, just one down from my Grandparents camp, which they built in 1930. My parents bought the one next door to my
Grandparent's the year I was born. Unfortunately, I was away for 20 years, with the exception of a few visits to my Grandparents
camp, since my Mother had to sell our place in 1980 after the passing of my Father. Each summer for me from 1980-2000 was
one left with a huge void, missing the Lake and Bear Island.
When I came back to Bear with my husband and two daughters my ultimate dream came true. To be able to watch my daughters
experience the childhood summers on the Island just as I did, has been a true blessing. We love it so much, that last summer we
never went back home to San Diego, and relocated to Gilford last fall! I actually commuted my girls from the Island to school each
day the whole month of September, while my husband was back in S.D. selling our house. I was very grateful to have our camp
while we waited for our house in Gilford to close.
Elizabeth Braman
Notes: My thanks to Elizabeth for the inspiration for the Bear Tales page....Tom
in 2000, just one down from my Grandparents camp, which they built in 1930. My parents bought the one next door to my
Grandparent's the year I was born. Unfortunately, I was away for 20 years, with the exception of a few visits to my Grandparents
camp, since my Mother had to sell our place in 1980 after the passing of my Father. Each summer for me from 1980-2000 was
one left with a huge void, missing the Lake and Bear Island.
When I came back to Bear with my husband and two daughters my ultimate dream came true. To be able to watch my daughters
experience the childhood summers on the Island just as I did, has been a true blessing. We love it so much, that last summer we
never went back home to San Diego, and relocated to Gilford last fall! I actually commuted my girls from the Island to school each
day the whole month of September, while my husband was back in S.D. selling our house. I was very grateful to have our camp
while we waited for our house in Gilford to close.
Elizabeth Braman
Notes: My thanks to Elizabeth for the inspiration for the Bear Tales page....Tom
From the Fall, 2005 Home Page
Nearly 50 years ago I spent my first summer on an island on Lake Winnipesaukee. It’s easy to understand how it was the
greatest adventure a 5 year-old ever had. But even after all these years island life is still an adventure for me. Maybe it’s that whole
boat thing. The romantics out there envy us on sunny days; but we go when it rains, too. Some of us even go when it snows. You
deal with it because, well, it’s the way home. Then when you’re there you have to decide if the reason you need to go back to town
is really all that important. Most times it isn't and you just stay put. Unless of course, it’s for an ice cream cone. An ice cream cone
is always worth a boat ride.
Tom
Nearly 50 years ago I spent my first summer on an island on Lake Winnipesaukee. It’s easy to understand how it was the
greatest adventure a 5 year-old ever had. But even after all these years island life is still an adventure for me. Maybe it’s that whole
boat thing. The romantics out there envy us on sunny days; but we go when it rains, too. Some of us even go when it snows. You
deal with it because, well, it’s the way home. Then when you’re there you have to decide if the reason you need to go back to town
is really all that important. Most times it isn't and you just stay put. Unless of course, it’s for an ice cream cone. An ice cream cone
is always worth a boat ride.
Tom
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