Mud Season in Maine, or Will Winter Ever Be Over?
I live in far northern Maine as in about fifty miles from the norther most tip of the state. People who come to Maine in the summer think Bangor and Bar Harbor are in northern Maine, but they are actually in the southern part of the state. The largest city, Portland, might as well be in Virginia because winter weatherwise, it's a lot more closely related to Richmond than Madawaska.
Now, don't get me wrong, I love the change in the seasons here. I think you get a much better appreciation of the miracles of the planet when you experience nature's rebirth after a long cold winter. However, winter up here can start anywhere from October 1st to January 1st, neither of which is acceptable in my book. Christmas without snow ......well, it sucks. There truely is something magical about a white Christmas. I always wake about two in the morning just to see how many luminaries are still glowing in the snow. Really makes you stop and appreciate the hope of peace and good will for all. A lit bag on frozed brown grass, or worse yet RAIN, just doesn't cut it.
Even worse than Christmas with no snow you ask? Ahhh, try trick or treating in it! I'll never forget the year the snow came and stayed abround October 10th. I spend a weekend sewing a very elaborate "Belle" costume that was large enought to fit over an eight year old with a two piece snowsuit on. Needless to say, I had one very unhappy eight year old who didn't want to be caught dead looking like "Blubber Belle". And of course, Belle doesn't have blue arms. Huge faux pas there. We finally compromised with a tan turtleneck over the blue snowsuit and at that point she looked like "Super Blubber Belle" but hey, A MOM"S GOTTA DO WHAT A MOM'S GOTTA DO! Thank goodness "Batman" was too little to complain at the time. Listening to both of them whine at the same time would have made this mom need a drink or two before the festivities even began. Besides if you're still wearing a diaper you really don't care how chubby you look. When checking out her childhood scrapbooks, I can assure you the pictures do not bring back pleasant memories to our "Belle", but at least she didn't catch a cold.
Oh my, have I digressed! The winter season in Maine does tend to send many a folk off on a tangent. Must be due to the cabin fever. We are currently in what is known as the fifth season: Mud Season. Mud Season is met with both joy and dread, simultaneously. It causes lazy people who wouldn't consider shoveling snow to enthusiastically attack their decks, just to light the grill. Nevermind, that the steak will be stonecold before you get it to the table. It makes you say a pray of Thanksgiving every time you leave your driveway if you are lucky enought to have hot top. It makes you want to yell at the dog or the kids when they venture into the barren fields or the garden... and bounce right into the house with their shoes on , bringing half the field with them. Kids wade in any puddle of water they can find without a care that the water will probably overflow into their boots with 36 degree water, and the boots won't dry out for a week. Strep throat or plastic bags in your boots are a small price to pay for an early taste of summer. I guess I'm still a kid at heart because I dared to defy the advice of both grandmothers and bought each of my children a pair of boots made specifically to test the spring waters. I would have bought some for myself, but I didn't want to look like a total idiot. I'm a teacher, afterall. Mud season in Maine even has it's own scent. If it could be bottled, I'm sure it would sell like crazy in the middle of January. Yes, it stinks, but it is welcomed relief and a sure sign spring is really going to come. The long winters and smelly mud seasons do have one major redeeming virtue. They make you truely appreciate summer. I always think twice before complaining about how hot it is in the middle of July. It beats the hell out of 40 below.
Now, don't get me wrong, I love the change in the seasons here. I think you get a much better appreciation of the miracles of the planet when you experience nature's rebirth after a long cold winter. However, winter up here can start anywhere from October 1st to January 1st, neither of which is acceptable in my book. Christmas without snow ......well, it sucks. There truely is something magical about a white Christmas. I always wake about two in the morning just to see how many luminaries are still glowing in the snow. Really makes you stop and appreciate the hope of peace and good will for all. A lit bag on frozed brown grass, or worse yet RAIN, just doesn't cut it.
Even worse than Christmas with no snow you ask? Ahhh, try trick or treating in it! I'll never forget the year the snow came and stayed abround October 10th. I spend a weekend sewing a very elaborate "Belle" costume that was large enought to fit over an eight year old with a two piece snowsuit on. Needless to say, I had one very unhappy eight year old who didn't want to be caught dead looking like "Blubber Belle". And of course, Belle doesn't have blue arms. Huge faux pas there. We finally compromised with a tan turtleneck over the blue snowsuit and at that point she looked like "Super Blubber Belle" but hey, A MOM"S GOTTA DO WHAT A MOM'S GOTTA DO! Thank goodness "Batman" was too little to complain at the time. Listening to both of them whine at the same time would have made this mom need a drink or two before the festivities even began. Besides if you're still wearing a diaper you really don't care how chubby you look. When checking out her childhood scrapbooks, I can assure you the pictures do not bring back pleasant memories to our "Belle", but at least she didn't catch a cold.
Oh my, have I digressed! The winter season in Maine does tend to send many a folk off on a tangent. Must be due to the cabin fever. We are currently in what is known as the fifth season: Mud Season. Mud Season is met with both joy and dread, simultaneously. It causes lazy people who wouldn't consider shoveling snow to enthusiastically attack their decks, just to light the grill. Nevermind, that the steak will be stonecold before you get it to the table. It makes you say a pray of Thanksgiving every time you leave your driveway if you are lucky enought to have hot top. It makes you want to yell at the dog or the kids when they venture into the barren fields or the garden... and bounce right into the house with their shoes on , bringing half the field with them. Kids wade in any puddle of water they can find without a care that the water will probably overflow into their boots with 36 degree water, and the boots won't dry out for a week. Strep throat or plastic bags in your boots are a small price to pay for an early taste of summer. I guess I'm still a kid at heart because I dared to defy the advice of both grandmothers and bought each of my children a pair of boots made specifically to test the spring waters. I would have bought some for myself, but I didn't want to look like a total idiot. I'm a teacher, afterall. Mud season in Maine even has it's own scent. If it could be bottled, I'm sure it would sell like crazy in the middle of January. Yes, it stinks, but it is welcomed relief and a sure sign spring is really going to come. The long winters and smelly mud seasons do have one major redeeming virtue. They make you truely appreciate summer. I always think twice before complaining about how hot it is in the middle of July. It beats the hell out of 40 below.
posted by Hoity Toity Yankee Redneck Girl @ 3:07 PM
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