Last night, we got around five inches of snow, and as we Mainers would say, it looks like wintah again. Somehow this didn’t bother Clif and me in the least when we got up and gazed at the white beauty of the newly fallen snow. This is March, after all, and in northern New England, we frequently get snow in March.
Outside, everything looked soft and calm, soothing, even, in the face of what’s going on all around us.
I particularly like the tangle of snowy branches.
The temperature is supposed to be in the 50s today, which means the snow won’t last long. But while it does, we will treasure our winter wonderland. As my blogging friend Eliza observed, we northern New Englanders are half crazy, but in a good way.
Coronavirus News from Maine
From Maine CDC
Maine’s number of cases of the coronavirus: 118
From the Bangor Daily News
Only a week earlier, Maine had fewer than 20 confirmed cases, and health officials expect it to continue to spread.
The News from All Over
From CNN
Nearly 1 in 1,000 people in the greater metropolitan area [of New York City] have now contracted the virus, Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House’s coronavirus coordinator, said yesterday. That makes the “attack rate” — the percentage of the population with the disease — five times higher than the rest of the US…
From the New York Times
“Look at us today,” Governor Cuomo warned the rest of the country. “Where we are today, you will be in four weeks or five weeks or six weeks. We are your future.”
The latest numbers from CNN:
Global Cases: 387,382
Global Deaths: 16,767
From Mother Nature Nature: More Unsung Heroes
There’s no shortage of people facing extraordinary adversity to help us maintain some semblance of civilization in these pandemic times.
There are the usual suspects — doctors, nurses, firefighters — who make courage under fire seem so routine.
And then there are truckers.
Rain, shine or pandemic, the U.S. relies on about 3.5 million truck drivers to keep goods — the lifeblood of an economy — in circulation.
That includes canned foods and non-perishables like tuna and rice and beans, bound for small stores and shops in every nook of the country. And yes, there’s always a need for more toilet paper on Aisle 12.
My own take: When this horrible time is over, I hope we can respect all the workers who actually keep things running: The truckers, the cashiers, the clerks, the workers who stock shelves, the receptionists, and many others. And pay them a true living wage with benefits such as health care, sick days, and vacation time. Those at the top never fail to remind us how valuable they are and how much society needs them. Uh-huh. We know the truth now. And let’s not forget it.
Notes From the Hinterland 
Amen! Our workers deserve so much more!
Indeed they do!
Yesterday and overnight before that, we got some nice hevay snow too here near Woodstock NY, maybe five inches that sank eventually and is now still covering everything but is loudly melting and dripping from rooves etc. It is still gorgeous though and not slippery to walk or drive in.
We went to the store today, I in a mask since my health is always cooties and I don’t want to give or get more, and folks seem to be trying their best. One store, the co-op, had new plastic shields at the checkout and no one could get cash back or pay with cash, and yet hannafords didn’t have those upgrades at all, and a bagger, a young healthy-looking kid, was really nervous about it. Someone said they’d get the plastic things ‘soon’ there, but good luck to the poor folks before and after that.
It bums me out to be in a crunchy area where tofu sells out as fast as toilet paper!
best wishes to all–
And best to you. May you stay well!
It looks beautiful Laurie and I believe more people are aware of all the amazing work that’s being done and will support the cause 💖 xxx
I sure hope so. In the U.S., the cashiers, clerks, and other service workers are not valued. Are looked down on. I am hoping this will change.
Absolutely agree with you Laurie, a living wage for the people who are doing the jobs we hardly even notice.
And in this country, we give them absolutely no respect, which is terrible, too.
Loved the photographs.
Thanks, Susan!
Lovely snow images and yes we need to thank so many people helping us staying safe.
Thanks, Rupali!
Looks like we’ll be seeing Snow-Guage-Clif again this week! 🙂
A very good chance of it!
Just curious about which is the crazy half? 🙂
Tee-hee! Perhaps loving a snowstorm in March? 😉
Very pertinent remarks at the end of your post.
Thanks, Tootlepedal!
The new snow looks beautiful and serene, Laurie!
I agree with your ending remarks, too.
Thanks, Lavinia!
I love that fairyland look when the snow clings. I imagine it’s mostly gone now. But what a treat.
The snow on the trees was gone by afternoon. Still, it was an enchanting morning.
Hear, Hear to your closing paragraph!
And it looks like Clif will be able to use his snow stick a little longer!
Many thanks! Yes, it does look as though there will be some snow on Friday for Snow-Gauge Clif to measure.
Stay warm! I also like your last paragraph. Let’s also not forget nurses and healthcare workers.
You bet!!! They are running toward danger when the rest of us are running away from it. Heroes.
Enjoy the snow while it lasts and stay warm.
We certainly have!
Totally agree – and no one seems to be mentioning the cleaners, who have to be on eof the most important too surely!
With 24 doctors dead in Italy and 5 in France – we need much more support and respect for isolation and those who are on the front line.
STAY AT HOME everyone!
Stay safe and well.
Thank you for your gorgeous snowy pictures – so soft and calm. ❤
Yes, the cleaners! So many unsung heroes. We, too, found the snow soft and calm. I hope you and yours stay safe and well.
Thank you Laurie.
Strangely enough, we had a light frost overnight.
Strange times all over.
Every time I see the virus numbers, I can only think, “Those are people who got tested.” The doctor for my daughter and the doctors for many, many others strongly believe certain patients have the virus. There are just too few tests to prove it.
Yes, indeed! It is probably widespread pretty much everywhere.
I looked at that snow and didn’t even flinch. We weren’t going anywhere so who cared. 🙂 I say a big DITTO to your last paragraph. When I was at the store this morning at 5:45 with fellow seniors, I thanked every employee I saw which was the least I could do.
Nice! Let’s hope we—as a society—can carry this attitude forward.
I like snow from afar, or for only one day. I also like the way you include your take on the news.
Many thanks! As Mainers, we are used to snow, and winters would seem very odd without it. Scary, even. 😉
Appreciate the updates, especially “My Own Take,” and as much as I love the beautiful winter scenes and photos, I hope they are the last until next year!
Many thanks!
I heartily second your take. A decent wage, affordable health care, sick leave and vacation leave. These should be the bare minimum for all workers. And they should have collective bargaining to defend and build upon that bare minimum.
Yes, yes. Let’s hope this damned virus brings about some positive change.
Well said, Laurie! Small businesses and self-employed people will be hit very hard as well as the workers you have mentioned. They will get no help or compensation for the time they have to take off work.