Last weekend was a weekend of extremes. On Saturday, the weather was sunny and clear, which meant we could head to Waterville for a movie (A Light Never Goes Out, a sweet film about loss) and then afterwards a trip to Buen Apetito for lunch with our friend Joel.
We were lucky enough get a seat on the glassed-in porch, and I was struck by how the sunlight hit Joel’s pomegranate margarita.
Clif and I ordered our favorite, potato flautases. We had read online that the menu at Buen Apetito would be changing soon, and we asked our server about potato flautuses. Would they still be there?
“Oh, don’t worry,” she assured us. “They are staying on the menu. Besides, they’re my favorite, too, and I would fight to keep them on.”
Nodding, we smiled and left her a very good tip.
Sunday was a stormy day. The original forecast was for a foot-and-a-half of snow, and that, my friends, is a lot of snow even for a Mainer. Fortunately, we only got about six or seven inches, well within our comfort zone for cleaning the driveway and paths.
Here are some snowy-day scenes.
Pushing through the snow to open the door.
A shovel, ready and waiting.
The view from the front deck.
Our little red Fit under the trees.
Clif with Sno-Joe, our electric snow-thrower.
Dee and I cleaned the cars and shoveled the walkways, and I’m pleased to report that even with creaky knees, I did just fine. Somehow, I remain unfazed by the prospect of shoveling snow. I suppose it’s because I’ve done so much of it.
Afterwards, we had soggy hats and gloves. In our dining room, we have a handy place to dry some of them. (The overflow goes on racks down cellar.)
Long-time readers friends will be happy to learn that there is plenty of snow for snow-gauge Clif to measure come March. In January, we weren’t so sure, but February has put that fear to rest.
Onward to the next storm!
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Listening
Northern Attitude: Noah Kahan with Hozier
Right about now, this song seems pretty appropriate. Noah Kahan is from Vermont, which, like Maine, knows a thing or two about winter and long dark days.
Notes From the Hinterland 
Thank goodness for the snow! I would really miss snow-gauge Clif! We’re supposed to have some sub-freezing nights ahead. But no snow or ice, I hope! We are just not equipped for it. Thanks for a cheery post!
Snow-Gauge Clif certainly has a fan base. 😉 I hope winter brings neither snow nor ice to you!
So you never got sleet or rain? Lucky you! 👍🏼
A little rain but not much. We are just enough farther north for it to be somewhat colder.
Did you get this weekend’s storm, which we’re still getting? It’s so windy that the snow and ice pellets are just blowing off the cars!
Yes, on Sunday. The pictures are from that storm.
Plenty of snow, Laurie! It is a beautiful coverlet over the land.
Nice music!
I was thinking of you when I posted the song!
We would all miss snow gauge Clif!
Right? He’s quite the little favorite.
Those potatoes look mighty delicious, and applause to Sno-Joe for doing such a good job. We’ve got a real feel of 5℉ right now and there are 3,000+ without power because of the wind. Fingers crossed ours stays on. You guys stay warm. Third time I’ve tried to leave a comment thanks to WordPress. I sure wish they’d get this fixed. I’m hoping the third time is the charm. 🙂
In Maine, there are also three thousand without power. The comment kerfuffle with WordPress is irritating. I always copy my comment before posting. That way I can paste if the first comment is rejected.
The dish you photographed at the restaurant looks great. It’s made me hungry!
Very tasty!
Lovely snow, We had some snow on last Friday and it was so lovely. Now all turned into hard ice.
Darn! Hard ice is no good.
Well, a lot of people were hoping for an old fashioned New England winter and they got their wish!
We had about 2 feet, and just barely got plowed out. The sky is blue though, and it looks quite pretty. Husband is digging out the front of the garage door so I can get my car out!
Yes, be careful what you wish for! You got a lot more snow than we did.
The fresh snow looks so beautiful Laurie and we’re all looking forward to the return of Snow-gauge Clif! 😀
Soon!
As a newbie here, I feel like I’ve really missed out on meeting Snow-gauge Clif! Can’t wait to remedy this 🙂
Great pick with Northern Attitude, it’s one of my favorites despite living in a *very different area of the country.
Hope your week is less whiplash-y.
Never fear, Snow-Gauge Clif will soon make an appearance. 😉
The need to have a gizmo like Sno-Jo is amazing to me. Here everything grinds to a halt at the slightest hint of snow and we get hugely overexcited at every teensy flurry-amongst-the-sleet. I’m looking forward to seeing Snow-Gauge Clif again, too
Understandable as cold weather and snow are not common for your area. For us, it is a fact of winter. Snow-Gauge Clif is gearing up for the 2025 season.
potato flautuses look yummy! I want to try them
They are delicious!
The snow blower looks like fun. I wish we had enough snow for me to get one.
Who knows? If the gulf stream fizzles out, you might get your wish. You are, after all, farther north than we are.
Have to send your beautiful snow photos to a dear photographer gf in Sweden – they are all complaining that global warming has virtually stopped their beautiful winter wonderland!
Thank you for the introduction to the music and for the photos. Yours are always so evocative: the deep snow, the cozy feeling from beautiful food!
My pleasure. Winter in Maine is very photogenic.
I often think that the weather ups and downs echo the extremes that seem to have taken hold of everything. It’s impossible to know what the “new normal” will be.
Stay warm!
You bet! What a time we are in.
😢
OHHHHH, a margarita! We were somewhere for dinner last week (we hardly ever eat out!) and they had a flight of 3 different flavors of margaritas and I was sooooo tempted, but I didn’t order it.
We got a bunch of snow last week and again this week. Caused havoc with lots of my plans…most of which got cancelled. I ended up not being able to attend my band directors Celebration of Life because of weather. It’s sad. But I have to say having all this pretty snow is better than the wet grey winters we’ve had lately. However, husband can no longer do shoveling or snowblowing…so a neighbor is plowing what he can of our driveway and I’m finishing it. My back aches. 🙂
We’re also finishing our basement and Wednesday they are putting spray foam in and we can’t be here. So…we were trying to think of stuff we can do and now you remind me we could go to a movie! And maybe even have a margarita!
Yes, snow has affected our plans, too. It’s that way in Maine from November through March. It can be very disappointing.
I’m very sorry that you weren’t able to attend your band director’s Celebration of Life. I know how much she meant to you.
At some point, we will have to hire someone to clean our driveway. Not sure what we’ll do about the shoveling if we aren’t up to it. Keep me posted with whatever solution you might come up with.
Hope you found a good movie and an equally good margarita.
That is a LOT of snow, Laurie. As beautiful as it looks, please don’t send it any our way. We had our first dump of snow this winter on Feb 1 and it had all just melted. I am hoping it stays that way. D
Not so much for us. 😉 After all, we are native Mainers, and to us winter means snow.
Your dish at the restaurant looks wonderful, and even though I generally don’t drink, I could be tempted by that lovely Margarita! Beyond that, your mention of drying your hats and gloves took me straight back to grade school. We’d come in from recess with our mittens and scarves covered in snow, thanks to the wool that kept it ‘balled up.’ We’d put them on the steam radiators to dry, and spend the next hour or two smelling that wet wool!
I know just what you mean about the smell of wet wool. I grew up in a house that had steam radiators, and we put our hats mittens on them to dry. The smell of winter! Love it.
I am happy that you managed to get out before the snow came.
Great snow pictures, dear Laurie.
Enjoy this real winter
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Many thanks! Winter is here.
Well done with the snow and the knees. I immediately thought of snow gauge Clif.
Thanks, Derrick! Snow-gauge Clif will soon be on the scene.
IT sounds like the resturante listens to it’s customers. the meal picutreed looks delicious. Clif’s Sno-Joe looks fun. A real man toy. As you know I love the snow, but looking at the amount you are gifted with … perhaps not that much.
Yes, listen to the customers! As for the snow…all in a day’s work. Remember, we were born and raised in Maine. We are used to snow.
You Mainers have a hardy spirit. After all, who else would praise only receiving 6 inches of snow. Stay warm up there with the current blast.
Six inches is child play for a native Mainer. 😉 We can easily handle anything up to foot. After that, it’s a challenge even for a Mainer.
We haven’t had quite as much snow here in Chicago, but it’s been super cold. I’m glad that you and your creaky knees were able to cope with the latest snowfall.
Thanks, Sue. No problems in our part of Maine. Northern Maine got hit harder, and some roads are still closed because of drifting.
You know, Laurie, I keep a snow shovel outdoors during winter months, too, so I can at least clear a path across the patio to the back yard for the Monk to go potty — without bringing all the snow back inside. Looking at all that snow you got reminds me of early January, when we amassed about a foot of it. That’s a LOT to shovel at one time. This has been a challenging winter — far too many gray days and far too frigid. (Of course, I’m a Southern gal at heart, so why wouldn’t I complain, ha?!)
Yes, Monkey needs his path. Some folks like winter; others don’t. At some point will you move to a warmer state?
Gee, that’s certainly a thought!
It is nice to read a newsy post about family members working and recreating together. The sun after a winter storm seems particularly bright and warm despite cold winds. And the days are getting longer!
Thanks, Beth! We can’t let Trump & Co.destroy our simple pleasures.
Your snow pics are beautiful, Laurie. What a difference a day makes! I’m glad you got out for a movie and yummy lunch before the storm. It’s good to know that snow-gauge Clif will be appearing on the blog at regular intervals.
Many thanks! Yes, so glad to report Snow-Gauge Clif isn’t out of a job. 😉
🙂
You picked the best day to go out for lunch. Snow is lovely to look at but doesn’t encourage outings. isn’t it a bother when a well love eatery changes the menu and takes off your favourite dish? So it’d great that you will still be able to eat potato flautases (whatever they are – I have never heard of them!). I am also pleased that you now have Dee to help with heavy chores like snow shoveling. Having younger people around certainly helps. Take care, stay warm and enjoy the view. I will look forward to snow guage Cliff reappearing.
Potato flautases are spiced mashed potatoes stuffed into a tortilla shell and then fried. As I am the great granddaughter of potato farmers, I have a love for all things potatoes.;)
We sure did pick the right day. And, yes, very nice to have a younger person around to help.
Those sound yummy! Fattening but yummy!
Yes, a treat, not to be eaten every day.
They sound delicious!
We love ’em!
Sounds good to me, Laurie. A day of sunshine to get out for a movie and food with friends, and they a day a fluffy stuff. I do enjoy a good snow if I get to stay home and play (or shovel). 🙂
So do I. I’m one who likes the quiet of winter.
I’m so glad to see you’re back to blogging!!! I wasn’t able to comment on a few previous posts and was glad to read about the wonderful birthday celebration and it does look like Clif makes the best pancakes. I’m following very closely what is going on in our country and cannot imagine this is happening even though all the voters were told it was going to happen. I’ll never understand them choosing this, but thankfully more and more people are speaking out and protesting. That margarita looks so good, along with your dinner. I’ve added your tv and movie recommendations and plan on listening to more from Noah Kahan.🙂
Many, many thanks! It really is beyond comprehension that Trump got in a second time, but here we are. Pancakes help and so do margaritas. Glad you like Noah Kahan. My kids introduced me to him.