Yule love it!

A look at the holiday indulgence that is the Yule log

Growing up in Québec, Nathalie Hirte of Litchfield doesn’t remember a Christmas when her mother, Agnès Boucher, didn’t make bûche de Noël, more commonly known here as a Yule log. The chocolate sponge cake, rolled with a jam or buttercream filling and decorated to look like the wood from an actual tree log, was the centerpiece of her family’s kitchen table at dessert.

“She would cut out the edges from the pan, and I remember I always looked forward to getting to eat those crunchy sides, because she wouldn’t use those to roll the log,” said Hirte, now the office manager of the Franco-American Centre in Manchester and the founder of “Franco Foods,” a virtual recipe swap she started earlier this year. “She always made meringue mushrooms to put on top of the cake, and she had this very small plastic Santa Claus on skis. She’d put it on with powdered sugar to make it look like he was skiing down the log.”

While Hirte’s mother most commonly used strawberry or raspberry jam as a Yule log filling, you can use everything from a chocolate or vanilla buttercream to a salted caramel or peanut butter mousse. The variations continue when it’s time to give your cake its own festive decorations.

The result may look fancy, but with the right baking ingredients and tools a Yule log may not be as daunting to make as you might think. Local restaurateurs and baking experts discuss some of their own tips and tricks for whipping up this classic holiday dessert.

Baked in tradition

The precise origin of baking a cake around the holidays to resemble a log is unclear, but Pembroke chef Debbie Burritt, owner of Sweet Crunch Bakeshop & Catering Co., said it may be linked to a long-standing custom in France and other European countries of burning a “Yule log,” or a large tree log, in one’s fireplace on Christmas Eve. Keeping the ashes from the burnt log was thought to bring good luck for the year ahead.

Baking your Yule log cake starts with a basic mixture of eggs, sugar, flour, melted butter, heated milk and baking powder, poured over a prepared sheet pan. Hirte said she likes to butter her pan and then line it with parchment paper before adding the batter. The exact baking time may vary depending on the oven, but it’s generally pretty quick — around 15 minutes, she said.

“You want to be careful not to overbake,” she said. “I’ve found that using a bigger pan … has cooked faster but also rolled better. … You can touch the middle of it and if it’s moist and bouncy then you know it’s ready.”

Because the cake itself is very light and airy, the trickiest part of the Yule log is in the rolling. Denise Nickerson of The Bakeshop on Kelley Street in Manchester said that it should be rolled warm as soon as it’s out of the oven to prevent it from cracking. You can use parchment paper or a small kitchen towel dusted with confectioner’s sugar to carefully roll it before letting it rest for several minutes.

“Once it’s cool, you can unroll it carefully and then spread your filling, because [the parchment paper or towel] kind of trains it to be easily rolled back up again,” she said.

Filled with variation

Whether you’re using a jelly or jam, or a buttercream icing or mousse, the filling flavor inside of your Yule log will be up to your own personal preference. Simply spread out your filling of choice across the cake while it’s laying flat, then gently roll it once again.

Burritt has filled all kinds of order requests in the past, from a chocolate Yule log with vanilla buttercream to pumpkin or peppermint-flavored Yule logs.

“You can start with any basic variation of a sponge cake and turn it into a Yule log by changing the buttercream inside, or the cake itself,” she said.

Hirte said she still likes to make hers the way her mother did, with a strawberry or raspberry jam, but she’s tried other fillings over the years, like a salted caramel mousse.

Popovers on the Square in Epping and Portsmouth also makes its Yule logs with a raspberry jam filling, general manager Matthew Clark said, while at Just Like Mom’s Pastries in Weare, owner and baker Karen Car will make a vanilla sponge cake filled with chocolate mousse on the inside.

In addition to those with chocolate, Nickerson has also taken orders for “birch” Yule logs, which feature vanilla buttercream inside a vanilla cake, made to look like a paper birch tree.

“When we roll ours up we like to leave the ends exposed rather than covering it with frosting, so you can see the swirl, which looks like the rings of the log,” she said.

In Henniker, pastry chef Aaron Mallory of The Grazing Room at the Colby Hill Inn has been serving Yule logs for two as a dessert option on its Christmas Cheer menu, with a hazelnut filling and a chocolate ganache covering.

Time to decorate

Once your Yule log is baked and rolled, the final step is to decorate it to your liking. It’s a good idea to let the rolled cake cool completely, Hirte said, even waiting until the next day if you can, to make sure it is firm and any icing you use as decorative tree bark will not melt.

Lightly running the tip of a fork or a spatula through the frosting is an effective way to manipulate the texture, giving the cake some rough edges that look like tree bark, Nickerson said. You can also cut off a small sliver of the cake from one of the ends and place it against the side of the bigger piece to make it look like the smaller branch of a tree.

“You can dust it with confectioner’s sugar for snow,” Nickerson said. “We also have poinsettias we put on ours that are made out of gum paste.”

Other garnishes to give your Yule log a woodsy look involve adding meringue “mushrooms” dusted with cocoa powder, or holly leaves with sugared cranberries for added color.

Where to get Yule logs
While the deadline to order a Yule log for the holidays has passed for most bake shops in New Hampshire, there is still time to get one at one of these local eateries.
• The Bakeshop on Kelley Street (171 Kelley St., Manchester, 624-3500, thebakeshoponkelleystreet.com) will have a limited amount of Yule logs available for sale, on Thursday, Dec. 24, from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., owner Denise Nickerson said.
• Colby Hill Inn (33 The Oaks, Henniker, 428-3281, colbyhillinn.com) is serving Yule logs for two as a dessert option on its Christmas Cheer menu. According to chief innovation officer Jeff Brechbühl, the menu will continue to be available for a few days after Christmas, on Dec. 26, Dec. 27 and Dec. 30.
• Frederick’s Pastries (109 Route 101A, Amherst, 882-7725; 25 S. River Road, Bedford, 647-2253; pastry.net) offers a dark chocolate Yule log filled with a light chocolate orange mousse, available to order now through New Year’s.

Agnès Boucher’s bûche de Noël (Yule log)
Courtesy of Nathalie Hirte of the Franco-American Centre in Manchester

3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1¼ cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
¼ cup milk
1 tablespoon melted butter

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Prepare the baking pan by buttering its surface and adding wax paper or parchment paper. Butter the surface of the paper and dust with flour. Beat the eggs in a deep bowl. Add the sugar, ¼ cup at a time. Make sure it is incorporated into the batter before adding more. Add the vanilla. In a separate bowl, mix the flour and the baking powder. Heat the milk (do not let it boil), then add melted butter. Fold the dry ingredients into the egg mixture. Add the hot milk and stir gently, to not deflate the mixture, until the liquid is absorbed. Pour onto the prepared cookie sheet. Bake for about 15 minutes, until it is lightly golden (the cake should be baked throughout, but still moist).
While the cake is baking, prepare a clean towel for rolling. Sift some powdered sugar onto the towel, or use some parchment paper, to help ensure the cake does not stick to it. Take the cake out of the oven. While the cake is still hot, trim off the edges (they will be hard and crunchy). Turn out the cake onto the prepared towel. If it’s still on, remove the paper from the back. Roll the cake quickly with the towel and let it rest, towel and all, for 15 minutes.
Unroll and spread your choice of filling (jelly, jam, buttercream icing, etc.) and roll once again. It will look like a large Swiss roll. Let the rolled cake cool completely. Add any decorations of choice (optional: cutting off a piece to put on top of the cake can give it the look of a cut off tree branch). Cover everything with the icing, spreading it to make it look like bark. You can use a fork or a spatula to add texture. After decorating, display as the centerpiece of your Christmas dessert table.

Featured photo: Raspberry jam and dark chocolate mousse filled Yule log. Courtesy of Popovers on the Square in Epping and Portsmouth.

The Weekly Dish 20/12/24

News from the local food scene

• Concord winter market moves online: The Downtown Concord Winter Farmers Market has transitioned to an online-only ordering model until further notice, according to a press release. Each week you can pre-order your market items online at harvesttomarket.com and pick them up at 7 Eagle Square in Concord on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon. The online market for each pickup week is open until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesdays. Available products include fresh local produce, eggs, meats, baked goods, coffees, teas, soaps and more, and you can purchase items from multiple vendors all in one order. Cash, checks and debit or credit cards are all accepted. Follow the market on Facebook @downtownconcordwinterfarmersmarket.

• New bakery opens in Manchester: A new bakery offering made-from-scratch gourmet doughnuts, cookies, custom cakes and other desserts and treats is now open in Manchester. Wild Orchid Bakery held its grand opening on Dec. 18 at 484 S. Main St. in the Queen City. Owner Shelly-Anne Storer, a self-taught baker who comes from Trinidad and Tobago, said many of the sweet and savory offerings available at the bakery are inspired by flavors of her homeland, from Trinidadian coconut rolls to saltfish buljol, or a salad dish of chopped fish, tomatoes and other veggies. She also has an ongoing partnership with Mike Brown of the Manchester-based Hometown Coffee Roasters, featuring his coffees brewed with a custom espresso machine Brown provided himself. On a table in the center of the bakery, Storer plans to regularly feature all types of locally made products for sale through partnerships with other area businesses. Visit wildorchidbakery.com.

• Pollution prevention grant: The state Department of Environmental Services’ Pollution Prevention Program was recently awarded a two-year federal grant to aid New Hampshire’s craft beverage industry in pollution prevention efforts, including those who produce beer, wine, mead, cider and hard seltzer, according to a press release. The Sustainable Craft Beverage programwill focus on improving the quality and volume of wastewater, implementing energy efficiency, conserving water and reducing waste. The program, which received the grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Energy, will partner with the New Hampshire Brewers Association, the New Hampshire Craft Spirits Association and UNH’s brewing program, as well as state electric and gas utility companies, to provide education and training programs. According to the release, the need for the grant funds is in response to the potential for increased environmental impacts as the craft beverage industry continues to grow in the state, such as the discharge of wastewater, increased energy use and water consumption.

Kiddie Pool 20/12/24

Family fun for the weekend

Just plane fun

The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road, Londonderry, 669-4820, aviationmuseumofnh.org) is hosting a Festival of Planes, a walk-through exhibit that includes aviation-themed toys, models and puzzles, plus vintage aircraft piloted by celebrities like Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse. According to a press release, the toys span the 20th century, from custom-made cast iron planes to today’s mass-produced Hello Kitty airplane toys. In addition, hundreds of collectible model aircrafts will be displayed on a new Wall of Planes in the museum’s learning center. The museum will be open during the holiday vacation week, on Saturday, Dec. 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 27, from 1 to 7 p.m., and Monday, Dec. 28, through Wednesday, Dec. 30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum will reopen Saturday, Jan. 2, and throughout January will be open Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 7 p.m. — later hours than normal to allow more families to see the Festival of Planes. The exhibit is included with museum admission of $10 per person; $5 for seniors 65+, veterans/active military and students under 13. Members and children under age 5 get in free.

Christmas Eve at the movies

Catch The Polar Express (G, 2004) Thursday, Dec. 24, at 10 a.m. at Cinemagic theaters (38 Cinemagic Way in Hooksett; 11 Executive Park Drive in Merrimack; 2454 Lafayette Road in Portsmouth; cinemagicmovies.com). Tickets cost $6.50.

Or watch Elf (PG, 2003), also playing Christmas Eve day, at 2 p.m. at the Flying Monkey (39 Main St., Plymouth, 536-2551, flyingmonkeynh.com). Tickets cost $10 for adults, $7 for seniors and students.

Last chance for lights

The Gift of Lights is open now through Jan. 3 at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway (1122 Route 106 North, Loudon). The drive-thru Christmas light park spans 2.5 miles and features 80 holiday scenes and 520 light displays. It’s open Sunday through Thursday from 4:30 to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 4:30 to 10 p.m. Purchase tickets online or at the gate. The cost is $25 per car. Visit nhms.com/events/gift-of-lights.

The Southern New Hampshire Tour of Lights will run through Dec. 27. A list of addresses featuring holiday light displays at homes throughout Amherst, Antrim, Fitzwilliam, Jaffrey, Merrimack, Milford, Peterborough and Rindge is available, so families can plan a driving tour to see as many of the houses as they’d like. Contact any of those towns’ rec departments for the master list of addresses.

Winter chores

Still a few things left to do in the garden

Our gardens are put to bed for the winter: Veggie stalks are pulled and composted, perennials are cut back, weeds pulled, leaves raked. But I’m not done quite yet — and you might have a few chores left to do, too.
Young trees, especially young fruit trees, are often targeted by voles in winter. If they chew all the way around a tree, removing bark and the cambium layer beneath it, the tree will die. This is called girdling and happens most often in winters with deep snow because rodents live beneath the snow and are less likely to be caught by owls or other predators.
To prevent girdling, you need only surround young trees with a protective shield of “hardware cloth” made with quarter-inch wire mesh. It is sold at hardware stores and comes in rolls of various widths. I use 24-inch-wide hardware cloth and cut it with tin snips. It is too tough to cut with scissors. I cut pieces that will go around the trunk and overlap a little, and tie it with wire or string. I squeeze the top after encircling the trunk so that no ambitious mice can drop down from the opening.
Another rodent-related task is to protect my riding lawn mower from mice that want to spend the winter inside the air filter. They have done that in the past, causing problems. Now? I just put a few moth balls in a sock, lift the hood, and lay it inside. It keeps away the mice.
I have already winterized my mower. This means I added something to prevent the gas from going flat during the months of non-use. I use a product called Sta-Bil. Add it to the gas, then run the engine for five minutes. Come spring, my mower starts right up.
If your garden isn’t covered in two feet of snow, it might be useful to go outside with a clipboard and pencil to draw this year’s vegetable garden. Right now I still know where everything was. Come spring I might not remember exactly where the leeks or beans were.
I use wide raised beds for my veggies and leave them in place from year to year. It is good to pick a new spot each year to plant the regulars — tomatoes, potatoes, squash, etc. I like to rotate plantings so that insects and diseases are less likely to find their favorites. Rotation doesn’t stop diseases or pests, but it makes sense to minimize them by moving crops from year to year. In small gardens this is almost a futile effort and even in large gardens you will have tomato diseases each year no matter what you do.
I don’t believe in pampering my plants. They have to make it on their own, without too much fussing from me. So I have never been one to build shelters over shrubs to shelter them from cold winds or ice falling off the roof. I don’t plant shrubs beneath the drip line of the house.
This year I got a small cutleaf Japanese red maple and planted it about 10 feet from the dripline of my house. It was a perfect planting spot except for one thing: When the relatively flat roof of the house is shoveled after a foot or more of snow, the ice and snow could land on it — after a 30-foot drop. Yikes. I decided to build a simple shelter for it, as I had spent $125 on the tree and don’t want it broken.
Here is what I did: I got four five-foot-long wooden grade stakes and a piece of half-inch plywood. I had a scrap of plywood 60 inches by 40 inches, and cut it in half to create two pieces 30 by 40 inches. I painted the plywood to keep it from delaminating, and then screwed the plywood to the stakes. I left two inches of each stake clear at the top before attaching the plywood, and drilled holes sideways through them.
To set up the shelter, I pushed the bottom of the stakes into the soil at an angle, meeting in the middle over the small tree. Then I tied them together with a strand of copper wire going through the holes I had drilled in the stakes. It seems sturdy and strong enough to deflect any snow pushed off the roof.
I have a number of hand tools with wooden handles that are 50 to 75 years old, tools that my parents and grandfather used and that were passed on to me. I treasure them. To keep them in good condition, I clean and oil those wooden handles and recommend you do yours, too. First, I wipe off any soil from handles and blades. Blades get brushed with a wire brush if needed. Handles get a quick touch-up with fine steel wool or sandpaper if there are rough spots. Then everything gets wiped down with a rag moistened with boiled linseed oil. That oil is available at hardware stores. The oil on metal parts will minimize rusting. Motor oil would work, but I don’t want it going in the soil next spring.
An old saying goes, “A woman’s work is never done.” That’s true for gardeners regardless of gender. I’m sure I will find something else to do that is not on my list. Meanwhile, I can dream of finding time to read good books by the woodstove.
Email henry.homeyer@comcast.net.

Featured Photo: Wire the 2 sides of the A-frame together. Courtesy photo.

The Art Roundup 20/12/24

The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities

Holiday vignettes at Canterbury Shaker Village. Courtesy photo.

• Currier closed for now: The Currier Museum of Art in Manchester announced in a press release that it has temporarily closed in light of the recent spike in Covid-19 cases. It will evaluate in mid-January whether conditions are safe enough to reopen. “The Currier Museum is doing all it can to contain the spread of Covid-19 and avoid burdening local health resources,” the press release said. “Many museums in Massachusetts and Maine have also temporarily shut their doors as a precaution.” The museum will continue to offer virtual content and programming, including its popular “Noon Year’s Eve” family-friendly New Year’s Eve event, which will be held online on Dec. 31. Visit currier.org.

• Santa books: During the pandemic, New Hampshire Writers’ Project member Yvonne Vissing created The Santa Series, which includes five books about Santa Claus. The Santa Spirit is a children’s picture book that provides a history of Santa Claus and explains how to share the “Santa Spirit” of happiness and generosity with everyone. Reimagine Santa: The social construction and transformation of Santa Claus yesterday, today and tomorrow is a comprehensive look at the social, psychological and political aspects of Santa Claus as a symbol for adults. The ABCs of the Santa Spirit for Adults is an A-to-Z book to help adults rediscover the joy and kindness of Santa Claus and share it with the children around them. The Legend of the Santa Stocking is a family-focused fiction book that tells the story of a family in financial struggle that replaces store-bought gifts with stockings full of reminders about why they are special to each other. A Santa Spirit Advent Calendar Book: COVID Edition includes 24 days of fun activities and readings for families to do together leading up to Christmas. “Re-imagining Santa to be a spirit of loving-kindness that anyone, and everyone, can deliver to each other takes away pressures of spending money and refocuses our attention on what matters most — having positive relationships with others and feeling we matter,” Vissing said in a press release. Books in The Santa Series are available through local independent bookstores as well as Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Walmart and other retail stores.

• Shaker Christmas: Canterbury Shaker Village (228 Shaker Road, Canterbury) will continue its Magic Journey through the North Shop Barn from Sunday, Dec. 27, through Wednesday, Dec. 30, daily from 1 to 5 p.m. The North Shop Barn, which has been transformed into a winter wonderland, features art vignettes like a Shaker Christmas, a dollhouse, a skating panorama and snowy forest scenes; a Find-the-Elf treasure hunt; hot cocoa and cider; and shopping at the Village Store. Admission costs $10 for adults and is free for youth. Visit shakers.org or call 783-9511.

• Postcard poetry: Write an original poem on a postcard and mail it to Peterborough Poetry Project, P.O. Box 247, Peterborough, NH 03458 before Dec. 31. The poem does not have to be related to the imagery on the accompanying postcard and can be any length as long as it fits on the postcard and is legible. Entrants can submit up to two postcards. Several dozen poems will be selected for publication in the anthology, and cash prizes will be awarded to the three top poems. The Peterborough Poetry Project is also looking for short personal essays under 200 words about people’s experiences with postcards for inclusion in its spring anthology about postcard poetry. Visit peterboroughpoetryproject.org/contests.

Art

Exhibits

• “SMALL WORKS – BIG IMPACT” Creative Ventures Gallery’s annual holiday exhibit featuring small works of art in various media, priced affordably for gift buying. Virtual. On display now through Dec. 31. Visit creativeventuresfineart.com or call 672-2500.

• “THE VIEW THROUGH MY EYES” The New Hampshire Art Association presents works by pastel artist Chris Reid. Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce Gallery, 49 S. Main St., Concord. On display now through March 18. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

Fairs and markets

• HOLIDAZE BIZAARE Alternative craft fair features art, apparel, jewelry, ceramics, stuffies, candles, candy and more by dozens of emerging local artists. Wrong Brain (55 Third St., Dover). Now through Dec. 30, with fair hours Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 7 p.m. Virtual shopping with curbside pickup will also be available. Call 834-9454 or visit wrongbrain.net.

Theater

Shows

• A CHRISTMAS CAROL A one-man adaptation performed by Christopher Savage. Virtually. Available starting Dec. 11. Tickets cost $24 for adults, $20 for students and seniors and $15 for kids under age 12. Visit playersring.org or call 436-8123.

• THE NUTCRACKER Safe Haven Ballet presents. Sat., Jan. 2, 2 and 6 p.m., and Sun., Jan. 3, 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. The Music Hall Historic Theater, 28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth. Tickets cost $50 for adults and $45 for seniors and children. Visit themusichall.org.

Will paint for smiles

Nashua students create uplifting art for the community

Nashua high school students are using art to spread messages of hope and positivity amid the pandemic.

A new public art exhibition, “Brave New World: Resilience in the Time of Covid,” features paintings by about 80 student artists and is attached to the chain link fence at Amherst Street Elementary School. It will remain up through Feb. 14.

“Brave New World” is a collaboration between three Nashua public high schools, organized by art teachers Stephanie Sewhuk-Thomas of Brentwood Academy, Robin Peringer of Nashua High School South and Rodney Coffin of Nashua High School North.

The students started on the project in the fall in various art classes and programs that were utilizing “Choose Love,” a social-emotional curriculum developed by Scarlett Lewis, whose son was killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. The curriculum teaches strategies for turning negative thoughts into positive ones through courage, gratitude, forgiveness and compassion.

“The lessons talk about how, for the average person, 60 to 80 percent of the singular thoughts they have in a day are negative, and because most of our thoughts are repetitive, there’s a lot of power in changing even one negative thought to a positive thought,” Sewhuk-Thomas said. “We really zeroed in on that.”

With “Choose Love” as the basis for the project, the students also learned about the history and style of street art and techniques for using color, design and typography to create impactful images with a message.

Then, the students and teachers worked together to compile a list of short uplifting phrases to incorporate into their artwork, either literally with text or symbolically with imagery. “You are loved,” “Apart, but still together,” “Be someone’s reason to smile,” “Only good vibes” and “Be the best version of yourself” are some of the phrases they came up with, Sewhuk-Thomas said.

“The objective was simply to give someone passing by a positive thought for their day,” she said.

“I think the installation will be a lovely addition to Nashua, as a reminder that togetherness and a sense of community is possible even in separation and isolation,” added student artist Sarah Hinds, a senior at Nashua High School South.

Sewhuk-Thomas said the project has been just as uplifting for the students themselves.

“It’s been really important for them to be able to do something to make a positive difference, especially on a community level like this, at a time when their contact with other people is so limited,” she said.

“[It’s] been a wonderful opportunity for young artists … to really showcase their talents while spreading positivity in a time where most people could really use a reminder that things will be OK,” added student artist Ben Almeida, a senior at Nashua High School North.

“Brave New World” is dedicated to the memory of Tyler Almeida, a senior at Nashua High School North and student artist for the exhibit who died in November.

“Brave New World: Resilience in the Time of Covid”
Where: Chain link fence outside Amherst Street Elementary School, 71 Amherst St., Nashua
When: Now through Feb. 14
More info: sites.google.com/nsd42.net/bravenewworld

Artists & their “Brave New World” creations

Mariah Rodriguez Costa, junior at Nashua High School South
“I wanted my artwork to be simple, bold and easy to understand. I wrote ‘Save Our Planet’ on a plain black background to really highlight the words. The most important, and personally my favorite, part of the piece was my handprint overlapping the Earth. I thought that this tied the piece together and it shows that we have to do whatever we can to save our home. During these hard times, it is crucial that we take care of ourselves, our loved ones, and our planet. … I want people to look at my art and want to make a change to how they treat our planet, whether it be recycling, going zero waste or even picking up trash on the ground. … I truly believe that we can save our planet and provide a better future for the next generation.”

Andre Dabney, freshman at Brentwood Academy High School
“I used the classic smiley face emoji as my inspiration [and] as the focal point of [the] piece and decided to add rays coming from the sun. I used a cloudy sky as the backdrop and wanted to make it [so] that the sun was clearing away the clouds. I added goggles to show that he was having fun and his tongue sticking out to represent that he was silly. … In the times that we are all facing in today’s world, it’s important that we all keep each other smiling and laughing together through this pandemic.”

Ben Almeida, senior at Nashua High School North
“My piece features my demon character Smudge next to the words ‘You Are Loved’ in big rainbow letters. My inspiration was from some of my personal struggles with feeling loved. I find that on my darkest days some of the simplest things can really make me feel better, and being reminded that you are loved … can lift one’s mood. [Smudge] is a symbol of positivity for me. … I’ve had a lot of people tell me that they find him to be very cute so I thought he would be a pleasant addition to my positive message. When people see my piece I want them to smile … [and know] that no matter how dark things may be in their life currently there is someone out there rooting for them now and always.”

Sarah Hinds, senior at Nashua High School South
“My inspiration for the piece was my reconnection with nature during the Covid-19 pandemic. I have been so focused on school and work before quarantine, but as soon as I was forced to isolate myself, I felt an urge to go out and rediscover nature. I started hiking and just tried to spend more time outside, and my increased immersion in nature allowed me to finally feel at peace again. … The hand extending from the [top] right corner was inspired by ‘The Creation of Adam’ by Michelangelo, but instead of the arm of God extending from the opposite corner, I included a bunch of wildflowers. This was meant to represent Mother Nature, and to encourage the audience themselves to reconnect with nature and immerse themselves in it as I had done.”

Featured photo: Mariah Rodriguez Costa, junior at Nashua High School South

Stay in the loop!

Get FREE weekly briefs on local food, music,

arts, and more across southern New Hampshire!