When we bought our house in Maine, it was a true Maine camp having had a series of haphazard additions in the previous decades that left it with little charm other than the backyard which had lake frontage and gorgeous views. Sadly, those views were obstructed by an enclosed porch that circled the back and side of the house. But, it had an abundance of knotty pine and one good viewing spot in the kitchen.
One other thing it did have that we hadn’t expected was heat. It was usable year round. Our original thought had been to only spend summers in Maine but since there was heat we started making the trek up on weekends in the winter.
What I remember most about those days was the gentle, reassuring routine of our winter trips. The girls were little and our youngest was still in diapers the year we bought the house. We closed on the house in October right after 9/11 and after the flurry of setting up the camp and scouring second-hand stores to set up the house a peaceful rhythm developed.
On Friday nights, after my husband would get home from work, we’d pack up the car and head to Maine. We’d either bring snacks for the road or hit the all too convenient Wendy’s drive-through before getting on the highway. The two and half hour trip was the perfect amount of time. The girls would play with the toys and games brought to entertain them on the ride and as we got closer they would start to drift off and almost always were asleep by the time we pulled into the driveway.
We’d crank up the kerosene heater to warm the chilly house, unload the car and then carry the girls to their shared bedroom at the top of the stairs. Once settled in, I’d turn on the fireplace, grab a glass of wine and unwind with a movie. The rest of the weekend unfolded in an equally quite, relaxed pace. Well, as relaxed as having two toddlers would allow. I loved those winter weekends.
Summer in Maine is amazing. There are so many things to see and do, but sometimes in an effort to get the most from our all to short summers, it can feel like you are always on the go. Winter in Maine forces you to slow down. It is quiet and reflective.
Now we live here year round and our camp has long since been renovated into a home but I still enjoy the quiet of winter. It’s mother’s natures way of giving you some down time.
What do you like most about winter?
I’m participating in a Blogging A-Z Challenge for April 2018. I will be posting new content every day this month except most Sundays. Each post is associated with a letter of the alphabet, starting with A and ending with Z. My theme for the challenge is Winters in Maine. To read more of my A to Z posts, click HERE.
Weekends in Maine 
My favorite part of winter is the shimmery sound of really dry snowflakes hitting a pile of really dry snowflakes. That is the quietest sound I can imagine, and to me it is peace.
Melanie’s Stories
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It’s not only quiet but beautiful too.
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I think what I like most about winter is that it doesn’t last all year. Seriously, I moved south so I wouldn’t have to deal with it.
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Many people do and maybe someday that’s how I’ll feel too but for now I really love winter.
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I would love to sit by the fire and read while the snow fell outside. I would not like to have to clear those steps of the snow.
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Shoveling is less fun than curling up by the firing but at least we get our exercise in.
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This sounds like my idea of how to spend a winter. Here we just get rain and wind, not so much snow, definitely not as charming a scene.
https://iainkellywriting.com/2018/04/19/q-is-for-quimper-france/
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It is a great way to spend a cold winter day.
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My favorite part of winter is watching the snowfall from inside our prow front full 2-story window….looks like we are in a reverse snow globe!
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I love the idea of a reverse snow globe. We have a large window in our kitchen and it’s great for watching the snow fall. Those are the best spots.
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Winter = using up all my canned/preserved garden goodness 🙂
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That is another bonus in winter. Comfort food! How wonderful that you can and preserve your own.
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Your home sounds wonderful. It’s been more than several years since we’ve had cold, wet winters that mean staying indoors, nice and cozy, reading, watching movies, and simply hibernating with the season.
The View from the Top of the Ladder
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I love all the seasons but it’s nice that winter gives us an excuse to hunker down from time to time.
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Maine is a beautiful area and I love that you truly have the seasons. Where I live in Brisbane, Australia, we live in a temperate climate so it doesn’t get too cold in Winter. It does get hot is Summer but the rest of the year there isn’t much definite change in each season. Photos are lovely.
Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond
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I really enjoy having four distinct seasons although some would say spring is often not as distinct. Certainly, this year, it’s been more like winter than spring.
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Maine sounds beautiful, but long snowbound winters would get tough for me. wishing you a speedy spring.
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It’s been a slow start to spring, but it will get here eventually.
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Winters in India are sans the snow so except for some respite from the scorching heat, there isn’t much. I was in Switzerland last year and the year before during winters and how I loved sitting by the window and watch in awe as the entire landscape changed and all I could see was snow, snow and snow.
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Switzerland is a great place to go to enjoy the quiet of the snow.
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What I love about winter is the cozy factor. I am an indoors kind of person anyway, and if it’s cold outside I don’t have to feel guilty about it. Fresh fallen, white snow has something magical to it – not that we get a lot of it, though, especially not for Christmas.
https://thethreegerbers.blogspot.ch/2018/04/q-is-for-quebec-city.html
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It does take away the guilt of staying inside. We’re 50-50 on a white Christmas. Sometimes the bulk of our snow comes after Christmas but this year we had snow so that was fun.
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My favorite part about winter is when it’s over! 🙂
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