Cold... how it feels...

I've been thinking about the weather.  It's hard not to, there's been so much of it here in Mid Coast Maine, and it's been so intense.  We must have more than 35 inches of snow on the ground just from the last 2 weeks, and it's stayed cold, so many of the streets - other than the main roads - although plowed, still have a layer of snow on them.  

Right now, at 8:30 in the morning, it is a balmy 15 degrees.  Earlier when Ella and I went for our walk, it was 11 degrees, and I was surprised to discover that 11 degrees could feel pretty good.  That's in comparison to last night, when it was -4.  

So here's what I've learned so far about living with cold weather in Mid Coast Maine:

• Invest in companies that make wool socks;
• Invest in companies that make good creams for rough, cracked heels;
• Invest in companies that make cleat thingies that attach to the bottoms of shoes/boots for walking on ice;
• Be prepared to wear long Johns from the winter solstice until the ides of March;
• Be prepared to wear a fleece hat every single damn day; consider one with ear flaps for single digit days with wind, for below zero days and in the event of blizzards; 
• Have at least 3 pairs of warm fleece/wool gloves, maybe 4 - one for fall, one for normal winter, one that is waterproof for shoveling snow, and leather mittens lined with wool inserts for almost every day from December 21-February 28; 
• If the temperature is in double digits - from 10 degrees to 30 degrees - three layers on top - long sleeved shirt, fleece with hood and winter coat - and two on bottom - long Johns and pants - will be adequate; warm gloves should be enough (mittens not needed), and a scarf isn't really necessary, unless the wind is blowing; 
• If temperature is in single digits or if wind blowing, add scarf and mittens; 
• If below zero, add another top layer - think Michelin Man - and consider two pairs of long Johns, especially if below zero AND wind is blowing; 
• Anything over 30 degrees feels downright warm so don't over dress (okay to wear the long Johns when walking or working outside, otherwise leave them in the drawer);
• Don't forget to have your mud boots ready - we might slide right from -4 to 38 and Maine mud is deep, dark and dank!

That's what I've learned so far in my 2-1/2 winters in Mid Coast Maine.  We're expecting more snow this week - tomorrow, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday - a total of only another 12 - 15 inches, but spread out over several days, shouldn't be too bad.  At 3:00 am this morning, the City of Rockland decided it would be a good time to send the plows out to clear the sidewalks on our street, and this time, they sent along a big dump truck in which the snow they plowed up was thrown, presumably to be taken away somewhere and piled into a mountain (skiing or sledding anyone?).  I appreciate the thought, but really, 3:00 am?

I promised my grandson I would make him and his brother snow men after the recent snowfalls, but the first two big snows were too light, powdery (made shoveling easier!) and wouldn't stick together.  Then we got the latest 5-6 inches and it was heavier and wetter.  So, I made Snow Ninjas for the boys - red for Cello's favorite Ninjago ninja, Kai, and blue for Cachao's, whose name I forget right now.  But they were tired Ninjas, so I caught them resting in our Adirondack chairs:

Peace from sunny double-digit Mid Coast Maine.