My theme reveal should have be titled “No Clue” as until yesterday I wasn’t even sure I was going to participate in this year’s blogging challenge. I love the creativity of the A to Z Challenge and it always pushes me to expand and grow my blog but having recently changed jobs in real life has left things a bit hectic for me.
Once I thought about it a little more, I realized that was a poor excuse. Who doesn’t have a lot to juggle? Life is hectic for everyone and that’s not a good reason to skip the challenge. So, I’m diving in. A little less prepared than in years previous, but ready to jump in to make it as fun and creative as possible.
I began to brainstorm theme ideas as I sat in my kitchen table looking out my window at the snow covered lake, and two thoughts popped into my head. The first is that we’ve had a long winter full of extremes most recently marked by two back to back nor’easters. The second is that winter in Maine is especially peaceful and beautiful. I had my theme: Winter in Maine.
Weekends in Maine is about optimizing life in Maine. That means living each season to the fullest and enjoying the adventures they bring your way. When we moved back to Maine I made a choice to embrace winter and I have really grown to love it. My favorite time to hike is in the winter and hunkering down by the fire during a snowstorm is amazingly calm and relaxing. Winter offers a lot of wonderful experiences and beautiful views.
I may need to simplify my posts a bit. For now, I am planning to focus each one on a picture or two with a short description or story that shows the beauty of Maine in the winter. I reserve the right to switch it up a bit as I get going since I’m still in the early planning stages. We’re also reaching the end of winter and getting ready to move into spring so I’m running out of time to get all the pictures I want for my posts and may need to throw in a few spring transition pictures to balance things out. I may be the only person in Maine wishing for one more snowstorm.
Please visit my blog again in April to see all my official A to Z challenge posts. I’m looking forward to seeing what other people are going to do with their A to Z challenge too. One of the best parts of the challenge is virtually meeting other bloggers.
What is your theme? Have you seen any other themes posted this year that you’re especially excited to visit during the A to Z challenge?
I think that’s a great theme – I’ll be looking forward to it.
I don’t think I’ll be doing it this year, even though it was the impetus for the daily Howliday posts. I guess I am always doing the A to Z Challenge!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, where you already post so regularly you don’t need the A to Z Challenge. You’re already super motivated!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds great! I’m looking forward to your pictures and info about Maine. I’m posting a haiku and a photo a Day, this year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
How fun. I’m looking forward to checking out your posts during the challenge too.
LikeLike
Great theme! And particularly suitable for this year, which has been so unseasonally cold even her here Italy.
Can’t wait to read your posts 🙂
JazzFeathers Theme Reveal
Weimar Germany
https://theoldshelter.com/
LikeLiked by 1 person
It has been a crazy winter that’s for sure. I’ll be checking out your A to Z challenge posts too.
LikeLike
Last year was my first year and I came to the challenge at the last minute. Lots of scrambling, so I blogged about what I knew—writing. This year I’ve had time to think about it and prepare. I’m writing a series of short stories set in a retirement community in Arizona. Strange and unexplained things occur. So my theme? Twilight, Arizona, where reality meets the unexplained.
As a ex-pat of Michigan, I look forward to experiencing winter through your Maine eyes. Much warmer electronically…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, sometimes winter is best experienced virtually. I’ll be sure to check out your posts. Sounds like a fun setting for your short stories. Having time to prepare does make a huge difference. I’m a little nervous as I’m generally more prepared by now, but I’ll work through it I’m sure.
LikeLike
I’m so excited to find another Mainer to the A-Z challenge! I look forward to your posts. Maybe I’ll learn something!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love meeting other Maine bloggers. Good luck with your A to Z posts. I’ll be sure to check them out.
LikeLike
Yay! Glad you’re participating…
Donna B McNicol
Romance & Mystery…writing my life
A-Z Flash Fiction Tales: http://dbmcnicol.blogspot.com
A-Z of Goldendoodles: http://ourprimeyears.blogspot.com
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now that I’ve committed I’m getting excited to participate again. Glad you are doing it as well. I’ll be sure to check out your posts.
LikeLike
I really like the idea of working with pictures. I’ve only been to Maine once in the summer, but it was beautiful. Winter, however, sounds bone-chilling and damp! Look forward to seeing your pictures. 😀
Calen~
Impromptu Promptlings
LikeLiked by 1 person
It can be bone-chilling that’s for sure, but it can also be incredibly beautiful although surprisingly hard to photograph sometimes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wish now I had chosen something easier like photos of our recent trip around Australia with matching stories. However I have gone too far with my DNA topic to back out and it had to be told for the sake of my descendants.
We have just had a very hot summer and autumn is not much cooler so I will enjoy your winter pictures as we approach our own (much warmer) winter.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It sounds like a really great topic. I’m sure it will have some interesting post. Looking forward to reading them.
LikeLike
My Aunt and Uncle live in Maine, and I remember going to visit them one Christmas. It was definitely a lot of fun with all the snow etc. Oh, and my uncle is a really good cook, so he and I made Christmas cookies, and I helped him cook a lot of cool stuff.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maine is a great place to spend Christmas especially when staying with someone who is a good cook.
LikeLike
I can’t believe that you’ve left it til the last minute to join in, but I’m glad you’re back. I really enjoyed your posts last year and will be back to see those beautiful winter photos – our Australian winters wouldn’t even qualify as winter for you so I’ll live it vicariously through your challenge. Meanwhile I’m doing the A to Z(en) of Life with kind regards to the Dalai Lama.
Leanne from http://www.crestingthehill.com.au
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know – I can’t believe I left it to the last minute either! I’m going have a busy few weeks prepping for April. Can’t wait to check out your posts again this year. Great theme!
LikeLike
I shall look forward to your posts!
My theme this year is The Music of David Bowie. I’ll be sharing not only a song each day, but info about the album from which the song came and some Bowie trivia just for fun.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! David Bowie is a great theme. I’m sure there is a lot of fun trivia out there to match up to his songs.
LikeLike
Ha, I guess you have to embrace winters if you live in Maine 🙂 I like that you are considering transitioning into spring, though.
Anyway, I look forward to checking out your posts, I remember you from last year 🙂
https://thethreegerbers.blogspot.ch/2018/03/2018-z-blogging-challenge-theme-reveal.html
LikeLiked by 1 person
You really do need to embrace winters when living in Maine. Fortunately, I actually do like winter.
LikeLike
Good for you! I love anything Maine, so this is all good for me.
Like you, I was hesitant, but I just love mixing and matching the two languages I speak every day for more than twenty years now. So I will, once again, offer a selection of French expressions and their equivalent in American English.
I am ready but didn’t stop by the A to Z Challenge blog to officially announce my participation. Looks like it’s time to jump in.
Good luck and hope to see you around during the month of April. I will certainly stop by.
Winter in Maine is gorgeous, even if it’s a little bit too much sometimes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Winter in Maine does have it’s ups and downs. So glad you’re going to do the challenge again this year. Looking forward to seeing what expressions you pick.
LikeLike
I must confess I don’t like winters much, lets see if you can make me fall in love with them. Good luck !
I am a co-challenger here from Second thoughts First
LikeLiked by 1 person
Winter is more challenging but it has a lot of charms too. Good luck with the challenge.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks !
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m intrigued! I too amy doing my 3rd year of the A to Z. I will checking your posts. A fellow winter “survivor” in Northern MI..we have our ways if making it enjoyable.
My blog is art based, my fiber art. Lots of process & pictures.
LINK
Enjoy the month! Spring should be here when we are done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We’re both on our third year of the A to Z. How fun! I love crafts. Can’t wait to see what creative things you’re doing with fiber arts.
LikeLike
I guess I found the answer to my question on whether you were participating this year lol. Glad to see you take the plunge😊 I have never been to Maine but I would love to visit. Look forward to reading on your winters. You guys have my admiration as you have to be pretty tough to take harsh weather like that. Hopefully you get just the snow you need (but no extra)
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is a sweet spot when it comes to how much snow you want to get in the winter.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I believe that!
LikeLiked by 1 person