April Days

Do you suppose that this will be the last entry in the blog this spring with pictures of snow? As April is nearly at the half-way mark, perhaps it will be. However,  there is plenty of snow in today's photos. We got out of the house and took a ride to the camp. We were really disappointed that we couldn't get in because the snow was too deep. Here is what we saw:

Driving down the lake further, we could see that the ice was getting soft in this picture from the boat landing.

It does still look like winter out there! We had hoped to see some deer, but we only spotted a couple off in the distance on the way to Ashland.
The snow is finally melting, but the raised beds are still hidden. The snow is half-way down the fence now.

Our back yard has turned into a lake as the fields behind us melt.

And we found a waterfall today, as we could hear the water trickling down the garden steps.

The encouraging note is that the temperature was 52 this afternoon, one of the very few warm, sunny days we have seen. We still have a fire in the fireplace.
The tomatoes that we planted a few weeks ago have been transplanted into individual pots. Someday they will go in the garden!

And spring moves along, at a slow pace!

Visiting the Grandchildren

Finally we left Aroostook for a few days! We went to visit Emily, Bridget, and Alex at their homes. Despite the fact that it is almost April, we traveled both ways in constant snow.

This was the scene in Massachusetts on Saturday when we arrived. It snowed all the way home yesterday.
First we went to visit Jon, Erin, & Emily. She is cuter every time we see her! We enjoyed our visit!

Here are Grampy and Emily working away.

Just look at those curls!
On Saturday we moved on to Massachusetts to visit Bob, Gina, Bridget, and Alex.

Alex is looking very serious in this picture, but he is a happy, laughing little boy.

Bridget and Grammy did a little coloring, adding glitter to the final product.

Grampy and Bridget found something interesting to study at the restaurant.

Here are the two of them sharing a ride in a red wagon.
We had a good time getting away from the routine of a long winter, but we were a little disappointed that winter stayed with us the whole time. Is this the spring that will never come?

It Will Never End!!

This has been the most stubborn winter anyone has seen in years. Spring is a few days away and today we will share with you the depth of the snow and our weather. It was white when we woke up this morning, and it hasn't stopped snowing for a moment.

This picture, taken through the window, is looking across the street through the snow.

The driveway was blown out at lunch time, but you can see the depth of what is there.

This is looking over the fence at our neighbor's garage. The snow is almost to the top of the fence.

It is snowing so hard that the houses across the street are barely visible.

Gary has filled the bird feeders today, and entire flocks of birds have eaten half of what he put in already. They are just wild for some food.

 

When will this winter end?? We are sick of it! It is time to plant the tomatoes!

February

The Coles are housebound and have been for a couple of days. We do not have nearly the snow that people to the south have, but we have plenty!

The back of the house is getting the drifts, so Gary has headed out to snow blow. The wind is incredible as it blows the snow around in white outs. This has been some winter for sure! We had hopes of getting out of here and going south to visit the family this week, but their weather is worse than ours. It is certainly a winter to be remembered.

We have been chasing doctors and hospitals much of the winter as Louise tries to deal with a heart condition. Last week was spent in Bangor, and things are looking good at the moment.

We all seem to have one thing in common - a desire for this winter to be over.  Meanwhile we knit, cook, watch television, and dream of other places and times, such as these.

Won't it be great when the grass is green, the trees have leaves, the lawn needs mowing, and we're complaining that it is hot? Right now it is hard to imagine. More storms on the way.

January Musings

It is hard to believe how the time is flying despite some difficulties this winter. We started the new year with a trip south to visit Jon and Bob and their families. The kids are so cute! We shared Christmas presents and spent some quality time visiting with them.
Here we have Alex and Bridget enjoying some late Christmas gifts:

Here's Bridget in her new sweater and hat:

Bob is opening his annual sweater in this picture:

Not to be left out, Alex received a Wallaby sweater:

Emily also received a sweater, so this completes Louise's sweaters for the year - 13, instead of 14.

Emily danced for us, in costume:

Since our return from the family visits we have settled into a very cold winter. There have been so many nights below zero we have stopped counting them. Louise has had some health problems and has been in the hospital for a few days. Thursday we found sunshine, warmer weather, and no doctor appointments, so we went to visit camp and actually drove in with the truck.

It was the coldest place we have seen in a very long time, but we delivered the bedding that has been laundered and ready for a new season.

At the end of the lake the boat landing has been turned into a road so ice fisherman can drive out on the ice.

Ice fishing was active, despite the cold. Here you see some people enjoying a winter sport.

We took this picture of a pretty winter scene.

So winter continues. Gary has not taken up his painting yet this winter, and we hope that will happen. We are going to try to get this updated a little more often!

Looking Ahead to Winter

          The fall has come and gone. Winter arrived early with snow storms and cold weather. We have been kept busy this fall dealing with health issues, and getting ready for winter. This winter we are not going to Florida, so the blog will record an Aroostook winter. The firewood is stored in the cellar, and winter is well underway.
          Thanksgiving was not a celebration this year as we were ill with colds, and did not cook and celebrate. However, Bob, Gina, and the kids came to visit for a few days before Thanksgiving. We spent some time with grandchildren, but will not show pictures of Meghan having her hair done. Instead we have Jess, Alex, and Bridget just having a good time:

Bob made a brief visit to the camp and the lake, where winter ice was already visible.

 

We have had several snow storms already, and Gary is steadily shoveling snow.

This morning we went over snow-covered roads to Caribou to go swimming. The sun was shining and it looked like a lovely day. Before we came home a snow squall set in that lasted long enough to add more snow to the accumulation, and reduce visibility to nearly zero. Then the wind started to blow harder.

Here you can see the snow storm approaching.

Another picture with Caribou Lake and the gazebo in front of it.

Here we have a view of the Caribou Lake Road in its usual winter condition.

One lonely birch tree standing in the wind and snow.

The most comfortable place in the house is right by the fireplace. Louise has piles of yarn in partly-completed projects waiting to become Christmas gifts. In fact there are three more sweaters made, but they are Christmas gifts so the photos will come after Christmas. Stay tuned to the story of an Aroostook winter.

The Knitting Retreat

 

With Mt. Katahdin in the distance, about 40 knitters from at least three different countries gathered at the New England Outdoor Center for three days of knitting, talking, eating, and visiting. Most of the people attending had been in the same place last year. The conversations were loud, the fun was great, and the food was incredible. Louise was one of the attendees.

This is the cabin where Louise, Jackie Pribble, and Ann Bragg spent the weekend.
The highlight for each of them seemed to be the dying workshop they took. Each one dyed a skein of sock yarn in their own choices of color.

Here is Louise adding dye to the sock yarn she space dyed.

Here is the finished product after baking it in an oven for an hour, and allowing it to dry for about 24 hours. It is ready to be rolled into a ball and knit.

Knitters gathered in the main lodge for endless knitting and talk, only interrupted by meals.

On Saturday the weather cooperated so the knitting went outdoors. Here are Louise. Jackie, and Ann with another knitter getting some fresh air.

Even a campfire was built so some knitters could enjoy the smoke with the fresh air.
Vendors came from all over Maine to sell their wares from buttons to yarn to bags to alpaca socks.  A banquet was held on Saturday night with door prizes, laughter, and lots of fun.

When Sunday came, people left for home with three days of good memories and the plan to return again next year. Meanwhile they will knit up the yarn they bought and wear the items they make to next years event.