Winter, it seems, has finally come to Maine. For now the rain is a thing of the past—may it stay that way until the end of March or the beginning of April—and cold weather has set in. We’ve also had some snow, very welcome not only for its beauty but also for its ability to insulate the plants from the extreme cold.
Here are some views from my windows.
First, the temperature a couple of days ago. Brisk, as Mainers would put it in their understated way.
With temps that cold we often get frost on some of our older windows.
And our backyard looks very wintry. Birds, in great numbers, are visiting the feeders. If you look closely, you can see a few juncos on the snow. The other day, Clif and Dee thought they might have seen a red-headed woodpecker, very rare for central Maine. I have never seen one and will be on the lookout.
Some people dread January and February, but I don’t. I find it cozy and restful, a time for popcorn and tea at 4 p.m. A time to watch movies and television series in the evening. I don’t mind the dark, and I don’t mind the cold. I suppose if I did, I wouldn’t live in Maine.
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Recovery is slow from the storms we had in December, which knocked out power to 750,000 customers and flooded rivers in inland Maine, and in January, which didn’t knock out so much power but caused terrible destruction along the coast. Some business owners are finding that their insurance doesn’t cover flooding and are at a loss as to what to do. I am hoping that communities and grants will help these businesses recover from the damage.
In Maine, as in many other places, communities were built up along the coast and inland rivers, which were used as watery highways before the industrial revolution and the internal combustion engine. In central Maine, where I live, our state capital is along the Kennebec River, which I have often featured on this blog. The picture below was taken last summer, when the river was quiet.
The same is true for other small cities, including Gardiner, Waterville (where I was born), and Skowhegan, which are all along the Kennebec. Through the years, the Kennebec has occasionally flooded, but never in December and seldom as bad. Usually, the water laps the parking lots but doesn’t destroy buildings.
This time was different, but it is likely that such storms will become more common in the years to come. So, here is the question: How close to rivers should communities be? How close to the ocean shoreline? I don’t have an answer, but it seems like it would be quite a job to relocate main streets that are close to rivers. I can’t even picture where they would go, but perhaps this is a failure of imagination on my part.
In the face of such challenges, it is easy to feel hopeless about climate change and the destruction it will wreak. Just in the nick of times comes this episode of Notes from America with Kai Wright: Doom. Denial. ‘Hopium.’ What About Climate Action? In this episode, Kai Wright interviews people who have made a difference in their communities and are working to stop things from getting worse. So inspiring and well worth the listen.
On a similar note, one of my blogging friends, Caroline of Susanne’s Mom’s Blog, shares inspiring articles from around the world about people who are making a difference. The focus isn’t always on climate change—although sometimes it is—but the pieces always illustrate the power of creativity and how people can band together to do good things. When they want to.
The time has come when we should all want to.
Notes From the Hinterland 
I have been wondering how you are all faring, Laurie. Summer is taking its time about spending more than a few days at a time with us. Doubtless we will be complaining about the heat before much longer! I find your photographs very interesting and hope you get to see the woodpecker too!
Thanks for your concern! Glad you like the winter photographs. Hope summer is not too hot for you this year and that you get some rain.
I too was wondering about you and other Mainers about this latest blast that has gripped much of the US in recent weeks. Love the way you approach it with a smile and a way of life. A tip of the cap to your attitude! 🙂 Enjoy 4 pm!
Many thanks! I really do like winter.
It IS a good thing you live in Maine! We have had some cold, gloomy, rainy days, and, today, the most fog I’ve ever seen here. I too enjoy the coziness of winter. But I’m afraid your long winters would get to me. If you can access it, the NY Times had a piece about enjoying January. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/09/style/januarys-secret-its-the-best-month.html?campaign_id=9&emc=edit_nn_20240120&instance_id=113029&nl=the-morning®i_id=65126155&segment_id=155843&te=1&user_id=5dd5cfd87157cafdf4315e8025d077b6
Yes, I am a woman of the north. 😉 My family has been here for many generations and winter is bred in my bones. Thanks for the link. I subscribe to the Times and will look up that piece.
I love the wintry photographs Laurie, the snow and frost flowers make me want to curl up with a good book by the stove. There have been so many storms this Winter. We’ve just had Storm Isha and now Storm Jocelyne is here. Hope you all continue to stay safe and cosy too 💜🙏
Yes, so many storms this winter and such a lot of damage in Maine. Very glad you like the winter photographs.
You ask an interesting question about how close to live to water with the climate change. I know Portsmouth is dealing with that right now, and Strawbery Banke elevated one of their historic buildings this year to deal with the rise in sea water. I’m also sitting here on water’s edge in SC. I certainly enjoy the beauty of it but have also seen the damage it does when a storm rolls through and the constant upkeep required. There are elevators that go to the ground floor so people can walk right on to the beach. I know you can imagine what happens to said elevators when the waters roll in. No answers here, but there sure are a lot of questions. Glad you are all well and warm. 🙂
Yes, lots of questions that I hope will lead to solutions. And I can certainly imagine what happens to the elevators when the waters roll.
Thanks for the update, Laurie. You do seem aptly suited for living in Maine, being so comfortable with hunkering-down and handling those “brisk” temperatures! Good questions to ponder about how where we settle might change over time as our climate changes. I do hope the experts are studying this.
I hope so, too! A big problem for those who live along rivers and the coast. On a happier note…like Shelties, I am well suited for winter. Even though I don’t have quite the coat that they do. 😉
I will be honest to say I don’t miss ‘proper’ winters, especially those gloomy days of January and February.
Hope you say cosy and warm.
Many thanks! A lot of people feel the way you do.
We’re supposed to get a bit of snow tomorrow and the rain for two days. I think this is officially our January thaw.
How I hate rain in winter! When I was young…
I know!
I’m with you on the joys of winter, Laurie. The question about how close to build to shores and waterways is a truly serious one. Electing leaders who will seriously address emissions would help as well. “Drill baby, drill” isn’t an encouraging start! 😳
No it is not. Appalling, actually. I certainly hope he does not prevail.
I greatly appreciate the shoutout, Laurie. And yes, I love stories about how human ingenuity and concern for others can solve some of the stickiest problems. There are so many examples of how small efforts by numerous people add up.
My pleasure! I, too, love stories of creativity and generosity, two qualities that are what’s best of us a species.
I love our winter, but I’m not sure about yours! 😁
Thanks for giving us a few inspiring links re climate change, I’ll enjoy reading them. Some parts of our coastline have changed forever, this year.
Best wishes and stay snug!
My pleasure! Our winters are long and cold, but I love this season nonetheless.
I’m hoping that last year’s deluge is an anomaly and the rain backs off for a while, but I see that already this week has a ‘wintery mix’ in the forecast (sigh).
Fingers crossed for all of us!
After the Great Storm of 1900, Galveston built a seawall and raised the entire city from eight to seventeen feet. It was done more quickly than any such project could be done today, even though they lacked the sophisticated equipment we have. Sometimes, tools alone aren’t enough: imagination and dedication are needed, too.
I’m glad you got your insulation!
Absolutely!
I have been reading about the many storms on your side of the Atlantic and trying to stop complaining about our puny troubles here.
Your storms have been pretty bad, too. But we certainly got hit hard by these last three storms.
Some coastal cities have been heavily, heavily damaged in recent years. New Orleans is an obvious example.
Yes. Sigh.
Thank you for sharing your wintry scenes, Laurie. I also like it when winter weather gives us an excuse to stay indoors to watch the bird feeders and catch up on reading or other activities.
I hope the communities affected by your recent storms will receive the help they need.
My pleasure! Those communities have a long, long road ahead of them.
Brisk indeed
Sure is!
I feel distinctly unwell looking at your photo of the thermometer. Wrap up warm, stay indoors and if it all starts to get too much for you bake just another batch of those oatmeal bars with chocolate chips!
Normal temp for January in Maine. 😉 We will stay cozy and warm in our snug home.
The coldest we have seen so far was 19 degrees during our recent ice storm. We are back to 40s and low 50s now.
Enjoy winter’s time of rest and reflection, Laurie. Spring is not far off now, at least here. I have seen the redwing blackbirds at the feeder and the chorus frogs have returned, voicing their enthusiasm for the warmer weather and gentle rains
Thanks, Lavinia! To a Mainer, Redwing blackbirds and a chorus of frogs means spring, sometime in April.
RE: the read headed woodpecker – we have a Red Bellied woodpecker who has been a daily visitor for decades. And he has a very red head.
And popcorn and tea at 4:00 pm sounds like heaven. xo
Good point!
Woohoo! All that frost. Now, my question is, is Snow-Gauge Clif making an appearance this year?
I thinks so, but there really isn’t much snow. At least not so far.
Even bramble patches look nice in the snow so my garden tends to be at its most picturesque after a snowfall. You look to have had several inches – we only had a light covering. I hope it doesn’t hamper the clear up efforts in your neighbouring towns.
So far, the snow has been easy to deal with. It takes over a foot to give us trouble. 😉
You have gritters that take care of your road and a snow blower. I have neither! But of course a blower would sit in the shed all but a couple of days most years.
Without those trucks and the intrepid drivers, we wouldn’t be able to function in the winter. Same for the snow blower. Lots of snow and ice here.
eading blogs from different countries and seeinhg how different climates shape the lives of those who live there.
Ooo, that’s cold! No snow here, but thankfully we’re the other side of some windy storms. I was beginning to think the roof wasn’t going to hold on!
I’m glad the lovely part of winter and a red-headed woodpecker has arrived in your beautiful corner of the world!! After a week of rain and a somewhat nice day yesterday, I was just announcing to everyone that it’s spring and, of course, nobody is paying attention. Thankfully my ice road has finally turned to slush. Thank you for the podcast and blog recommendations, I plan on listening to Notes From America during my next walk on the treadmill. I saw another report on CNN the other morning about Maine and do believe we will eventually be forced to make hard decisions across the country concerning climate change. We have had issues in our state along Lake Michigan and for many it’s up to individual owners to find a solution and that’s if you’re lucky enough to have the money for those kind of solutions.
Snow looks good and there is light too. We are dealing with heavy rains and wind. Hope your heater is working good.
Your snow is beautiful. I don’t mind the cold and dark, either, as long as it brings real winter weather. We’re in the drearies with lots of rain and wind (gale warning today, I think). I might take a lesson from you and just enjoy the cold, gray, damp days by staying indoors with a good book and cup of tea. 🙂 Lots of questions being asked here about what the future will hold. Smith Island, south of us, is going to disappear with sea level rise and I can’t help but think that all the government money being poured into trying to save the island would be best spent relocating people (something you mentioned in a comment on my blog — and something I agree with).
I also like the cold and dark, Laurie. It’s a cozy, creative time for me. Nothing to do but write. Our little town is subject to flooding, usually in December or early January. The water is very high right now, but no heavy rains due for a few days. I know that some areas are putting in dikes and walls along rising rivers. It’s an expensive solution and not “airtight” since water can rise in other ways. We’re all going to need to figure this out or suffer the consequences of inaction. Stay warm and dry, my friend.
Phew! I hope the river doesn’t flood. Yes, there will be consequences.
I like the coziness of this time of year, for sure. Winter is especially fun now since I retired, and don’t have to drive in it. 😉 I loved your pic of the “Brisk” temperature. A true Maine explanation of temperature!