winter

The days are getting longer resulting in a pleasant late afternoon and evening. Argy and I walk almost every day and have been taking advantage of the longer afternoons. Our view provides excellent sunrise views but the sun sets behind us on the other side of our ridge. When we walk we go up and over the hill getting a chance to see the late winter sunsets. Some of the sunsets lately have been spectacular, like this one.

This afternoon is the perfect winter day. Forty degrees Fahrenheit, warm for February. A little breeze out of the west and not a cloud in the sky! As you can see most of the snow is gone from the fields but there is there is still plenty in the woods.

This morning I went smelt fishing with Captain George Harris of Superfly Charters. Our party was made up of George, my son Noah and friend Don. It was a very cold morning here around 3 below zero at 6AM when I thought to check. Not as much wind as the last couple of days though.

The last few days have been warm for January, a pleasant thaw. The rain had settled and shrunken most of the snow and we enjoyed daytime temperatures in the thirties. Last night that all came to an abrupt halt. I looked out the window at about nine and it was snowing hard. In fact it was a very quick 3 inches of snow and the wind quickly came up. This morning’s temperature is 8 Fahrenheit and the predicted high for the day is in the teens. The nearly full moon shining through the trees and making it almost as bright as day.

Just in from a long walk around the neighborhood. It is cold today but not too, high of twenty degrees Fahrenheit. A breeze out of the North at about fifteen miles per hour and brilliant sunshine blocked by only a few wispy clouds. It has been a while since we have had fresh snow and the stories in the snow are really showing up!

The wind shifted with a bang a little after noon today and we had a not too cold but windy afternoon. The skies were crystal clear and very blue. I always write about the clear winter skies but this time I’ll let a picture tell the story.

The sun is at the far southern extreme of its seasonal swing and our view is perfect. Sunrise is now to the south of Pleasant Mountain in Rockport. From the office I look directly southeast down across the field so at this time of year I am treated to an excellent view of the sunrise. The sun also comes up after 7AM long after I am awake and working at my desk. Actually the coffee pot is usually empty by then.

Today is the day with the shortest period of daylight. Seems like only a short time ago we were at the longest day. Here in coastal Maine it is not light until around 7AM and pretty dark by 4PM so the short day is quite noticeable. By early next month the sun will begin to rise earlier and we will be headed back toward the long light filled days of summer.

After last weeks snowstorm we had strong winds out of the northwest for three days and cold temperatures. Last night the wind died down but the cold persisted. This morning when I went down the hill Seven Tree and Round Ponds were both ice covered. Clear hard ice that I am sure you could see through (if it would hold you) formed under perfectly still conditions and without snow to cloud it. I am sure that the wind and cold had really cooled the water on the surface of the ponds and that the ice came quickly as soon as the wind died down after sunset last night.

Today’s storm started slowly. In fact Argy and I went for a long walk this morning before it started to snow. We crested the ridge and you could see the snow falling in the distance. Not too far away maybe in Jefferson, in only a few minutes flakes were falling around us. By the time we returned home it was snowing pretty hard. After many phone calls and e-mails it was clear that my meetings for the day were cancelled. A found day in the office!