This week brought us Valentine’s Day. (To my way of thinking, a holiday devoted to chocolate should be celebrated by everyone, single folks as well as couples.) Even though I was fortunate enough to receive a box of See’s chocolates as an early Valentine’s present, I figured, why not guild the lily and go out to lunch, too? When it comes to having fun, I am not a minimalist. So off to Lucky Gardens we went, for their tasty buffet.
The week was warm, warm, warm, even making it up to 50°F on Thursday. After the cold weather we have had this winter, the air felt positively tropical. Grabbing my wee wonder of a camera, I headed into town to see how things looked by Marancook Lake.
The sky was an impossible blue, so deep, so vivid that it almost looked as though it had been computer generated.
Even though it was warm, and there was open water by the shores, there were still plenty of ice-fishing shacks on the mostly frozen lake.
On the road by the lake, there’s a little bridge, plain and nowhere near as lovely as you would find, say, in Scotland. But if you cross the road, stand on the bridge, and look toward town, you will see a pleasing tableau, a classic New England scene.
If you look closer, you will even see some ducks—mallards, I think—swimming in the open water.
We are over half-way through February, and the days are getting longer. Dusk doesn’t come until 5:30 now, a real bonus to Clif and me as we have gotten to the age where we don’t like driving when it’s dark.
I am always sorry to leave beautiful, snowy February behind. Ahead of us lies the dreary month of March, and I’ll try not to whine too much when it comes.
In the meantime…here’s to the rest of February!
Notes From the Hinterland 
I’m loving this ‘balmy’ winter weather – we deserve it!
I just heard that it’s supposed to be in the 60s next week. Holy guacamole!
OMG, I can hardly believe it! I want to just sit with my face in the sun. 🙂
I know! Balmy!
I did enjoy your photographs.
Thanks, Susan!
You live in a beautiful spot!! It’s late summer here and raining….
It looks beautiful with the blue of the sky, the sun and snow – what a blessing!☺💖🌞
Yes!
Beautiful photos, thanks for sharing.
Many thanks!
I am with you on driving in the dark. The longer days are most welcome.
You bet!
70F this week… Snow Saturday… 70F next week. Mud Season here. We did see the first crocuses blooming! The greenhouse it set up for planting. I’m splitting next year’s firewood. But, February is not over yet (the Norwegian in me). -Oscar
Holy guacamole! That is some weather you are having. But best to pay attention to your Norwegian side. 😉
The blues in your photos are just incredible, Laurie! Re: the ice fishing shacks – do people retrieve them, or do they just sink into the lake as the ice melts?
Oh, no. People retrieve them. Wouldn’t be good for the ecology of the lake to just let the shacks sink.
Well, that was my thought, but I didn’t want to judge. . . You never know what people’s practices are. : )
You had my attention when you said See’s chocolates. Oh, years ago, I certainly helped to keep them in business. 🙂 And, I may need a t-shirt made up with ‘When it comes to having fun, I am not a minimalist.’ 🙂
Tee-hee! Now you have put that in my mind.
I love your snowy tree up against the blue skies….and the classic New England photo….looks like a scene from one of the chocolate boxes my mother used to buy and give as gifts!
It does look like a scene from a chocolate box. And right in my own little town.
Your Chinese meal was a good idea, and looks good. Your usual lovely photographs. You’ll be out on that patio soon
Thanks, Derrick! As for the patio…well, the snow will have to go down a bit before we can bring the tables out. 😉
The bend in the river is just lovely. Your enthusiasm is infectious. It helps up to appreciate our own blessings.
Thanks, Beth!
Beautiful photos. I am very jealous that you are so close to good Chinese food. We have good Thai in Damariscotta, but no decent Chinese . Good to know that Lucky Garden has good food!
March does tend to be a muddy month. Even in Chicago, there aren’t many Chinese restaurants anymore. Where did they all go? We have no shortage of Thai, Indian, Mexican, etc.
We have more Thai restaurants here, as well. Interesting.
Love the blue skies and open water!🙂 We have rain and 60 degrees in the forecast this week and while we won’t have blue skies, we may finally have some open water.🙂
So do we! What the heck. It’s February. Time for that kind of weather in March. Plenty of time.
Looks like a good day. 🙂
A very good day in the neighborhood!
Spring is coming! 🙂
It is, and while I’m looking forward to it, I do love winter.
🙂
Yes, dreary March ahead. As we all know this leads to mud season, roads with deep ruts, and squishy ground going to and from all the outbuildings. You know it’s March in Maine when you start to see wooden planks laid on the ground…gangplanks to get you safely down a path without sinking into the mud!
So true! We have our wooden planks leading from the woodpile to the cellar. Oh, March!
Beautiful photos.
Many thanks!
That blue sky is gorgeous! Wonderful photos as ever, Laurie!
Thanks, Clare!
March always gets me down, too . . . I expect it to be the beginning of something wonderful but it’s aways so gray and muddy and dirty. Still, I don’t mind seeing February come to an end!
Well, we shall get through March. We always do.