What I'd like to share about my life in Maine
”En Mai, fais ce qu’il te plait!”*
I hope this french say will be possible. I hope the weather will get warmer, I hope joy and happiness will be there, I hope we will all be healthier soon, I hope the hot season with its tourists will not affect our lives too much, I hope we will be able to travel soon… Lets hope!
Good morning!
*In May, do what you want”, referring to how to dress up, as compared to the unpredictable weather in April.
Ice is everywhere since several weeks.
Transparent, stopping the flow of water like it would stop the time;
Dangerous, as a slippery layer on a dark poach on the road, or hiding below the fresh and crunchy snow;
Glittering when the icy flakes fall like millions of white confettis;
Fairy, enchanting the road that I take twice daily to commute to school;
Frozen, cooling hands, feet and mind, slowing the stream of molecules in our brain and allowing us to reach that meditating state where we don’t remember anymore our last thought… saving us from a cold and depressive winter.
And I am again feeling so lucky to witness this magical world!
*refers to the song “Ice Ice Baby” from the group Vanilla Ice, which song is inspired from the bass line of “Under Pressure” written by Queen and David Bowie.
It has been a while since I made a long run, lets say, longer than 6 km. First I was injured, then quarantining, injured again… then winter came, the real winter, the one that makes you stay in the warm bed in the morning and that I didn’t experience, yet. With snow, ice, and storms. But today I was decided. Plus, the weather was planned to be warm – understand superior than 0 degree C!
I was not very sure in which shape I would find the roads though. I had a blast yesterday, hiking the closest mountain but the path was completely frozen and I even had to find other ways to access the summit. Thank you my special guardians to mark the path once again!
I was aware that the roads would have “dark frozen patches” this morning, so I went out with caution. After two cups of coffee and a glass of freshly squeezed lemon juice in water, I was ready. And it was gorgeous. I slipped on a couple of frozen puddles indeed and had to walk slowly for a short distance where the road was literally just ice – at this point I almost regret not to have my special micro-spikes for the occasion – but otherwise I had again this nice feeling of being tired of running, wanted to arrive and continue at the same time. It was fresh, sunny, bright, nobody or very few people, just great!
And after 14 km and a nice warm shower, I had a special big-brunch… I can’t wait for the next one!
Good morning!
Good morning to the lovers that wake up after Valentine’s night; good morning Phantom the cat who seems to be cosy today – strangely not bothering me for his breakfast; good morning frozen lake – hope you stay so until we receive our ice skates!; good morning Monday, please begin slowly…;
good morning in the house imprinted with the smell of the yesterday’s crepes party, the hot smoking coffee aroma trying to make its place.
Good morning sun, it is good to see you in this magic sky as a new week is coming ahead, full of surprises and adventures.
Evening walk. I thought I could climb again on top on that mountain. As I arrived at the beginning of the trail the snow was quite high and crusty, the sun was getting down, and the temperature was already very cold and decreasing… Walking was difficult, even helped by the prints of two pairs of ski that had obviously passed few hours before. But I thought it would be safer continuing towards the lakes instead.
And it was marvelous. Just amazing. The time I needed to reach the lake the sun was already down. Few huts had settled down on the frozen lake to ice-fish, and I could hear the voices of children from far away. I was alone though, under the purple of the sky, in the middle of an immense space, with a strong feeling of coldness and warmth simultaneously… I couldn’t say where I was, even if I recognized where I used to swim few months ago, I couldn’t feel the same, I was somewhere else. Kind of magical. I shall come tomorrow morning!
And I came, running this time. The sky was blue, the sun was bright, and despite the -14 degrees C, I felt warmth again. I had my magic gloves – mittens – , my running spikes, and thought it would be cool to run on the frozen lake. But I didn’t feel safe with my light outfit and heavy body, so I walked a bit and went back home, with two thoughts: (i) I should think about going ice-fishing soon with the children, and (ii) how can these Mainers run in shorts??
Despite the bad weather of this winter, I have tried to hike as often as possible, and I shall say my regular ascension to the top of the closest mountain has always been an experience: although I know the path almost by heart, the trail is each time so different that I am always excited to discover the next hike.
So it was no wonder that I had another nice feeling following the snow fall of this week. I had no time to climb during the week, and so the snow was two or three days old when I put the spikes in my backpack yesterday. As I arrived at the entrance of the trail I could see the footprints of one person and its dog. I entered the trail, and was surprised to have difficulties walking. A fine layer of ice was covering the 10 cm of snow and each of my steps asked me to pull my feet higher than usual. When stepping forward, my foot had to crush the ice and fall down on the bottom, the snow entering slowly in my shoes. My only rescue was to strictly follow the footprints.
After a few hundred meters I entered the forest towards the mountain. My neighbor and its dog had turned right at that point back to the village. As I would be entering a white virgin path, I decided to put the spikes. Luckily the ice on top of the snow became a bit softer, and it was like walking on a cupcake: I was crunching this thin layer of soft but strong ice to land in a sweet, smooth and floppy blanket.
The next part was tricky: not many people had passed and a third layer at the bottom was very icy and slippery, especially on the “stairs”. But the view was again worth the challenge!
Today I went back hiking. The top icy layer was stronger and I could half of the time stay on top of the snow… the other half of my steps consisted of a hard bump as the ice finally cracked under my weight – and I surely have spent twice as many calories for the same walk!! But we had a storm advisory for the afternoon, so I wished to enjoy the nice morning as long as I could be safe, as my next workout may well be inside!
There was a big storm yesterday.
It was like a dance in 4 acts: first the snow was falling slowly, but surely, accumulating in a soft white powder and shaping a creamy landscape in the garden. As the day went by and the night fall, the wind entered into the dance beginning with a slow motion on a high pitch music, and turning around in a crescendo that woke me up several times during my sleep. In the morning, the snow had fallen enough to block the doors, and the dance reached a point where icing rain took the first role. Wind and rain made an intense duo. It was as if the two elements were showing off their different just alike two gangsters supported by their groups – a Maine-side story at the summit of the battle. The fight ended up with no winners, and the last act finally came as the night fall again on this long white and grey day, leaving the path to a sloggy, watery but surely soon icy field around. At that time I shoveled a bit more the path to the main entrance, so that I could move around the next day.
Today school resumes, for sure the children will have fun during their breaks!
Happy 2021!
How strange: it must have been the most expected new year, yet the least celebrated. Restaurant closed, lockdowns and social distancing have been killing the joyfulness and fun of this festive season. Meanwhile, we, 3 humans and a cat, try to find our rhythm in Maine. Still missing our dad and husband in our cocoon, so we have been new-year-zooming like many other families these days.
As the new members of the house just arrived in the country, we all had to quarantine. Right before welcoming them, I made the biggest groceries since more than a year. Veggies, bread but also meat, I renounced consciously to my vegan oriented diet so that I would be sure my children would get enough of everything. I even bought a chest freezer. I was ready!
Quarantine in the US is “recommended”… buying groceries during that time is OK, and we should report to no-one anyways – the opposite to my Singaporean quarantine. But well, we played the game as much as we could, and so we went only once in the town to buy winter proof-shoes and refill the refrigerator. We have got a COVID test… still pending 5 days later – it must be negative or so I hope!
The good thing: the park is there and no dears will ask our COVID-free pass!! So despite the warmth of the house with the fire place and the comfortable sofa in this not-to last-long-vacation-time-homework-free atmosphere we have been hiking every day.
*”Guten Rutsch” in German means literally “good jump” or “good slide” and refers to the transition from one year to another.
In short, the house is alive.
Two teens and a cat have moved in Maine with me 10 days before 2021. I was busy enjoying each of the next minutes with them, but have already tons of pictures to share here soon.
I hope they will adapt well the new environment. For now everything is new, great, exciting, from the snow that fall on them for the first time to the silence of the night. Making fire in the fire place is still a little challenge, and they rediscover the softness of blankets. Cider is ok, Maine’s cheese excellent, and people say hello when you pass them – how strange!
We finished to decorate the trees in the drive way, and rearranged the bedrooms. Everyone has to find its place in the house, and feel comfortable. We daily revise lists of things to buy, discuss our new responsibilities and schedule of the week, and make menus. I am glad I’ve found some messy life again around me – lots of laugh, discussion, and excitement!
I woke up this morning with a fine and delicate layer of snow flakes on the deck. The atmosphere is fresh and clear, and I take time to breath, feel the day and take a snapshot of the wonder with my phone. I can’t believe it is already Christmas time, where has this year been?
I am so lucky: my morning wake up consists of checking from my bed how will the day be: clear and sunny sky lighting up, and I am already full of motivation and positive energy; grey and invisible trees, and I will take ages to stand up!
I checked the news, just to be sure there has not been any new catastrophe, but to learn that the first American, a nurse, has been vaccinated. I am glad to read that this race against the clock has been possible only with a collaboration of people’s ideas, a common willingness of fighting together, above money – or so I‘d like to believe today.
In my world, the sun has greeted me, I am ready for the day!
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