Yesterday was a fine, brisk day. The sun was shining, but the air smelled cold and fresh, and if it weren’t for creaky knees, I would have been positively frisky. What can I say? I’m a Mainer, and for me the first touch of winter is always invigorating.
Even with creaky knees, I got a fair amount done. Up the road, where the winter berries grow, I clipped quite a few branches of these red beauties to use in a winter arrangement for the front deck.
On the way to get the Sunday paper, I stopped at Maranacook Lake to take a few pictures.
I found blue sky, blue water, and a beached boat
as well as golden and dried plants against the rippling lake.
When I got home, I raked the driveway, perhaps for the last time, but we shall see.
At the end of the short day, I was tucked on the couch with the orange cat on my lap and a cup of hot cocoa nearby. I am going back and forth between two books—A Manuel for Cleaning Women, a collection of sad, moving, short stories by Lucia Berlin; and Tyrant: Shakespeare on Politics by Stephen Greenblatt. Of the latter book, in brief, let’s just say that Shakespeare knew.
Notes From the Hinterland 
I can almost feel the rosy cheeks from such an outing! No more slow, meandering walks ’til spring. 😉
Until spring!
Loved the photographs though sorry about the creaky knees. Your reading sounds interesting.
Ah, well! Still get things done. 😉
The Shakespeare book sounds very interesting. I love this crisp weather. Fire in the wood stove, and briskly brisk outdoors.
The Shakespeare book, “Tyrant,” is very interesting. And it’s in Maine’s interlibrary loan system. That’s how I got it.
That certainly does look invigorating.
It is!
Yeeha for crisp and chilly days and long johns and wool sweaters and red cheeks and orange kitty cats and hot chocolate!
What a beautiful day! Sorry about the creaky knees; mine are creaky too 😦
They are quite literally a pain, but I still get things done. And fortunately, I have good upper body strength. All that gardening. 😉
Yes, gardening helps so much, doesn’t it? The cycling is good too, I should think, as long as you go carefully. I have a bike but am very nervous about riding it in case I fall off. I have rheumatoid and osteo-arthritis and feel your pain! 🙂
Oh, gosh! To have one is bad enough, but to have both…So sorry, Clare.
Thank you, Laurie.
Nice walk!
Thanks, Patty.
You have the most beautiful clear skies in Maine.. lovely to see. Enjoy your books…with your orange cat….winter is just the time for them….
In Maine, the light is beautiful in late fall and winter. Breathtaking, really. Of course with that beauty comes snow. And cold. No free lunches. 😉
Congrats on the gardening and the photographs
Thanks, Derrick!
No bike riding for a while, and I’m guessing you’ll need to trade that rake for a shovel. Then again, we have a neighbor who rakes snow. 🙂
Already did a bit of shoveling. More to come. 😉
You remind me that I need to rake the driveway, I hope for the last time! Nothing worse than trying to shovel snow *and* wet, sodden leaves! I’ve been out, trying to get really good photos of the snow geese to share–they won’t hold still!
That’s why I raked mine on Sunday. Hope to see some pictures of those snow geese. I’ve never actually seen one.
Oh what a finest of days! Beautiful images Laurie, I love the crisp blue and can feel the fresh air – what a blessing to have all this nearby 🤗💖 xxx
Sure is!
Hi Laurie. I take it that Shakespeare would not have been a fan of The Donald.
See you —
Neil
No, he would not. And it’s a little scary to think about how the tyrant’s nature remains unchanged for hundreds of years.
Lovely photos!🙂 I wish we had those blue skies with our cold weather, but the winter gray has arrived with the snow. I hope the fall cleanup is finally over and will soon be replaced with reading many great books (I added those books to my Want To Read list, which is getting out of control).🙂
In Maine, blue skies today, blue skies tomorrow, and then snow on Friday. Holy cats, we never know what we’re gong to get. Luckily, the weekend is supposed to be good. We have two shows we’re going to.
what a lovely day and the beautiful pictures prove it! May you have countless more! love Michele
Thanks, Michele! I think we might have slipped into winter today. Snow, snow, snow!
When it snows here, even a few inches, it is a holiday! I wish you beauty and warmth. love Michele
We Mainers are used to dealing with snow. Even after a foot or more, it’s back to business as usual the next day. 😉
oh gosh! Snow is so seldom here. I just love snow days. I have seen one white Christmas in all of my life-and that was scant! love Michele
Our daughter and son-in-law now live in North Carolina, and they are constantly amazed by the reaction to a little bit of snow. 😉 Well, what’s normal for Maine—lots of snow—is not normal for North Carolina. Your state just isn’t equipped to deal with snow the way our state is.
the farmers clear our road-that tells you a lot-still I love when we get snow!! love Michele
I only have one creaky knee, so do a lot of circular walks. 🙂
Tee-hee!