Sunday, 9:15 am: The temperature’s up, the humidity’s up and it’s snowing. There’s nothing on the agenda for today, with the possible exception of using our snowblower later. But that’s later and I hope it doesn’t involve too much work. My muscles are a bit stiff: I was busy the last two days clearing snow and ice off our porch roof. The most difficult part of the work was not sliding off the roof. I am not entirely graceful when, The Red-Haired Human Flying Machine plummets through the air. Those arms and legs are everywhere. I remain intact and unbroken.

Notwithstanding these adventures, rural life is generally quiet. It’s difficult to imagine spring is not too far off. Nine years ago we traded urban life in Phoenix for rural life in northern Maine. After a learning experience for the first few years we’ve adjusted well. I have to admit, television advertising reminds me daily of many wonderful places to eat, or with a quick telephone call pizza delivery is just minutes away. All of that is just wishful thinking up here in the far North Country. Out of necessity we’ve become very creative and enjoy our own cooking.

My wife bought a fruitcake last week. In previous years I thought fruitcakes were generally good for gagging, paperweights and doorstops, or sneaking bits to our dogs under the table – they really like it. Recently, though, fruitcake doesn’t taste too bad. I attribute it to the aging process and the activation of those taste receptors in my brain that were dormant for so long. Fruitcake; can you imagine that? Perhaps I misjudged it? As for weather, here ya’ go:

Current values from our wireless Davis Vantage-Pro weather station:

Temperature: 21.8° [F.]

Barometer: 29.674 & falling rapidly

Humidity: 81%

Wind: SE at 1mph – very light and variable

Visibility: < ½ mile – snowing

Skies: 100% low overcast

Precipitation: Currently snowing

Since midnight:

Low temperature: 12° [F.] at 12:12 am

High wind: 5 mph at 4:38 am