Yesterday, March gave us one of its famous spring surprises—a wet, heavy snowstorm.
Here is yesterday’s view from the living room’s side window.
Being Mainers, we took the storm in stride. There are plenty of things to do inside, and the older we get, the longer it takes us to get them done. We always start the New Year with so many hopeful plans—decluttering, painting, patching—but we’re lucky if we get one-quarter of the projects done. Ditto for outside work when the weather warms up. We try not to let this bother us too much and to accept, with grace, the limits of our aging bodies. And mostly we do. But, darn, I would like to get a few more projects finished in any given season.
This morning, wearing boots and heavy coats, Clif and I headed outside for snow-gauge pictures.
As you can see, the snow is not gone as some readers thought it might be this week.
Not in the front yard,
and not in the backyard.
By Clif’s estimate—and I think he is right—the storm brought us five inches of snow. Because it is March, clean-up will be minimal: the front porch, most of the driveway, the cars. The snow on the front walkway and on the paths in the backyard will soon melt. No need to tend to them. That is the good thing about March in Maine. The snow never sticks around for very long.
And I do like the fetching bonnet the light in the front yard is wearing.
As I was taking pictures, I could hear the mighty chittering of the birds as they came to our backyard feeders. They can sense changes are coming, even if the ground is covered with snow once again.
“Trust the birds,” I said to myself.
After all, they know.
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Looking
Great Horned Owl by Barbara Chase
Thanks to you all for the many anniversary wishes. As several of you noted, next year will be a big one, and Clif and I are thinking about how to celebrate. It will most likely be in a simple way, because that’s how we roll, with a couple of special twists thrown in. Anyway, we have a year to plan,
In my last post, I mentioned that Dee bought some art at the Maine Evergreen Hotel in Augusta, Maine. On yesterday’s snowy Sunday, she hung them in her room, and here is a picture of one of them, a Great Horned Owl by Barbara Chase. (Next week, I’ll feature the other one she bought.)
Dee is not only keen on art but also on owls, and now she has one more for her collection.
Notes From the Hinterland 
Snow! It is beautiful. Yes, the critters do know what is coming. 🙂
I love the owl painting by Barbara Chase. Thank you for the introduction to her work, Laurie!
Animal wisdom! Their lives depend on it.
Glad to introduce you to Barbara Chase. Dee now had two of her owl paintings.
same here, girlfriend. Same here.
XXOO
Yup, you Mainers are tough. I’m doing a bit of Massachusetts Whining today about the freezing temps and dusting of snow!
Tee-hee! ‘Tis normal for Maine.
Cool owl. I’ve never seen an owl, although I know they’re around.
As we live on the edge of the woods, we hear them often. Occasionally, but not very often, we see them.
So lovely to see the cardinals in the snow Laurie and the great horned owl painting Dee brought back from Augusta is gorgeous! ❤️ xxx
Many thanks! Birds, birds, birds! We are crazy about them.
I like the lamp’s bonnet but I love the owl! Like you, we always achieve a small portion of our projects but I’m coming to terms with it.
Thank you, thank you! That is quite an owl.
Important to come to terms with slowing down, but I do, at times, think longingly of my younger years and all that I accomplished.
I admire your sangfroid. Five inches of snow would quite agitate me at any time of year.
Tee-hee! Sixty-eight years of living with snow, oftentimes into April, has taught me patience.
Snow Gauge Clif, again!! But the beautiful cardinal cheered me up (as did Clif’s smile. . . ) I’m also delighted you posted a photo of one of the works of art Dee purchased on the night you & Clif celebrated your 49th anniversary. It’s wonderful!
Thanks, Carol Ann. I expect Snow-Gauge Clif will be working into April. But we shall see!
What a beautiful owl painting! Do you know if it was done in acrylics?
Thanks, Mary! Yes, it was done in acrylics.
Good to know! Original artwork is the best.
It certainly is! And one of the nice things about the art at the Maine Evergreen Hotel is that there is a wide range of prices and styles. Really, something for everyone. Next week, I’ll be featuring the second picture that Dee bought. Quite different from the owl.
Oh cool! Can’t wait. It’s so great that she supports artists in that most important way. 👏🏼
She is crazy about art. One of her obsessions. There are worse ones to have. 😉
Five inches, oh my! Luckily, it does melt soon enough in March – next week will be April, omigosh!
Dee’s picked a beauty, excellent work.
Not unusual for March in Maine. 😉
That is quite an owl. Perfect for her owl collection, two of which are photos taken by the Curious Introvert. Sigh. How I miss her. It’s amazing how close you can get to blogging friends, even ones you’ve never met.
I know, I think about her often. Yesterday, I saw a photo of a Yorkie with glasses on and it gave me a pang. 😦 I wonder how Harper and Rick are doing. Tough moving on with life afterwards.
For sure! I bet they miss her so much. Harper was her baby. And I miss seeing Harper in various outfits. Such a patient dog!
Nice owl. Not so keen on the snow. Clif is doing a great job!
Thanks, Quercus!
Like MaryG, I am curious about the medium used in the owl art. It’s hard to tell from the photo.
Barbara Chase used acrylics to paint the owl picture.
That is a really beautiful – and dramatic – picture of an owl. I love the way you take such snow storms in your stride. I can also empathise with how much longer it takes to get projects done as we grow older 🙂
Yes, very dramatic picture of an owl.
Having lived in Maine for most of my life, I am not bothered by snow in March. 😉
Snow gauge Clif again! That much snow would (now) bother me but you are more used to it than me.
I expect Snow-Gauge Clif will have work well into April. But we shall see. A couple of heavy rains could change this. No, the snow does not bother me. Such storms are normal for Maine. However, I have friends who are not as philosophical about it. 😉
I always thought late snows were the best. Inevitably, they were pretty, and there was comfort in knowing they wouldn’t last particularly long. And you’re right that the birds know what’s right around the corner. Every day now, just before sunrise, my local cardinal begins singing; it’s immensely cheering.
They are pretty, and unless we get a lot of snow, these storms don’t bother me at all. However, I have friends who are a little more impatient and are ready for Spring. But Spring comes when she will. Love, love, love the song of the cardinal. Did you know that cardinals are a relative newcomer to Maine? When I was young, there were none, and my mother died without ever seeing one.
Looks like Clif will be ’employed’ for a while yet 🙂
Winter likes to stick around in Maine.
Thank you for this lovely post, Laurie. I love reading about your life in the woods. The owl is stunning! More cat photos, please.
Righto! More cat photos coming.
Xo
For the birds, it’s spring. I can hear it in their chatter.
I agree with your conclusion that the birds know. Now to learn from them.
We would do well to pay more attention to them.
Love that artwork of the owl! One of my favourite artists is Charles Tunicliffe, who often focused on birds.
Thanks, Jacqui. I looked up Charles Tunicliffe. Wonderful work!
Maybe the last of the snow
We shall see. Fingers crossed!
The snow bonnet on the lamp is lovely! As is the painting Dee bought.
Thanks so much! On my post today, I’ll be featuring a picture that is the complete opposite.
Wow! March sure is unpredictable.
I think we should be way beyond snow measuring season by now. But I understand you live in Maine after all. And that even here in Michigan we usually get one last snow in April. Today it was in the 20’s. We had a day last week in the 70s. I am so ready for spring! Love the owl!
The snow is going fast! But in Maine we don’t expect spring to come until April.
Hope you had fun for your anniversary, Laurie. Good wishes to both of you.
Yes, trust the birds. We don’t have this much snow but it’s cold, windy and wet.
Which I found even more difficult to cope with after my three weeks in India.
We had a wonderful day. Thanks!
Beautiful snowy pictures, Laurie. I loved them all!
Thanks so much!
That snow looks lovely…when viewed from the other side of the Atlantic. Brrrr!
Love that owl picture. My mum loved owls too (don’t know quite why, but she sure did) so she would have thrilled by that picture, and would have demanded that I source one for her too!
We shall see about the snow. Owls are so elegant and beautiful. No wonder your mom loved them.