ahyup, it is beautiful............and cold........and wintry..........and, well, long...
My second winter here in Maine is a bit more of a reality check than last year's very mild dose, with an early and splendid spring. Partly, the novelty has worn off. And partly, it's just been, well, a lot more wintry. And it is still only February 6.
Granted, the groundhog predicted an early spring, and that would be welcome. Although my idea of early would be........next week. Or OK, next month would be fine. I like using my woodstove more. The splitting firewood (until my chopping block disappeared under the snow this past week) hauling wood (until the 4 foot drift forced me to dig out the woodpile), and stoking the fire (I'm getting really good at that!) I don't relish the shoveling, especially when I have nowhere to throw the snow but up on a four to five foot pile on all sides of my driveway and walkways.
But there are little perks along the way. The other day I found a great glider deck chair at one of my thrift store stops. And of course as my shed is also drifted in, i didn't really have a good place to put it until springtime. My mud room is full to the gills with all season stuff.....and I realized it would somehow have to go in there. but not before it just parked outside in the sun on a small patch of cleared decking. Whoa! kind of zen! I parked for a while to soak up the intense sun shining and bouncing off the snowbanks (which incidentally also blocked the wind). Nice! Ok, so I had mittens and scarf and hat on......but it felt wonderful on my face! Hmmm, maybe I'll try this with a cup of tea.....even better!
I find it ineteresting that such a high percentage of the classic New England houses are white. Decorated with twinkling white lights against banks of snow, and peopled with, well, mostly very white people. It always strikes me funny when people asking directions to my house say, "What color is your house?" to which I always reply, "White, but so is every other house on my street." There are of course a few notable exceptions. The little nearby town of Thomaston is lovely, and has a Main St lined with beautiful 19th century homes - all white. Until you get to a lovely victorian that is carefully painted in a trio or quartet of colors -forrest green, soft yellow, brick red.....and if I was standing in Thomaston I would probably see another color thrown in the mix. And because of color, it looks like it was relocated from somewhere else - San Fransisco, or Charleston perhaps. or maybe somewhere in the Victorian midwest. It's refreshing, as is the story I heard about it from a coworker who lives in one of the lovely white houses across the street. Apparently it was bought, restored, painted, and decorated by a rather high profile gay couple - who reportedly eventually moved on because the taxes were too high. But they were rather famous for their parties - especially Halloween, and the Titanic party. Looking up the history, I see that historic event - and no doubt the party- was in April. I thought the hitting an iceberg might fit better with February here - and hope that by April the frustration of winter and ice will be past. Anyway, it's a good metaphor.....and no doubt reason for a party.
Anyway, I digress. Somehow, I figure you have to find a way to add color to this winter landscape. Maybe that's why people knit........or quilt.......or felt......or paint. Maybe i'll get around to something like that.......next witner. Meanwhile, I've booked a plane ticket to Savannah. Where hopefully there will be SOMEthing blooming.
Savannah College of Art and Design, founded in the 1970's, was also responsible for saving many beautiful buildings. The student artists and art is visible throughout the historic district, adding a nice layer of culture and color. 
