changing seasons

It’s [officially] spring today. After a long bitter winter, everybody looks forward to spring. Who could blame them? Who could stand one more snow day? And who couldn’t wait to see the blooms again?

I love the sight of spring. It is still chilly but it is more manageable. Snow is still all over the place but not as much though. And the temperature is as unpredictable as ever but the sun is no longer evasive.

It’s the first day of spring and Mother Nature has proofs written all over her. The frozen lakes, ponds and rivers are thawing out slowly but surely. The leafless maple trees are showing tiny buds all over its twigs. And the still damp and soft grounds have exposed the grass growth.

It’s indeed spring now… and it is just so perfect!

Additional Information:
Spring and Summer in Maine
The Science of Spring

Isn’t it great? Don’t you like it? Do you think there could be more wonderful than… mud season ?

Oh yeah! This is the season where everything is starting to thaw out… melt… and drip. With only a few days to spring, I can clearly see patches of grassy land amidst white frosting. With only a few more days of waiting, spring will be here and there is no stopping. And with only a few more chance of dealing with bitter coldness, the most awaited change of season will be here.

Oh yeah! It’s mud season. It’s the prelude to springtime where our driveway is transformed into puddles and tiny shallow ponds and miniature lakes of dirty and murky snow water and drippings.

Oh yeah! It’s mud season. The constant comings and goings of our cars leave over-lapping tire marks on the driveway making it a huge mud pit too good to be a mud wrestling arena.

And Oh yeah! It’s mud season. The scenario brings out the best in everything from muddy footwear to mud-spotted car interiors to mud-stained floors to chocolate mud pie cravings. The later being the most favored of all the scenarios.

Isn’t it great when the temperature started to go up and the sun smiling down on the snow covered grounds one minute and rain pouring down the next? Isn’t it wonderful when the grass started to show up again and the herd of deer is back from migration grazing on the fields? Isn’t it sweet when you just had your car washed… sparkling… and spic and span…. and as you pulled over the driveway… you needed to have it washed again the next day?

Yes, it’s mud season in Maine and we cannot have springtime without going through this phase… once and for all.

Additional Information:
Maine Weather Summary

If there is anything I like about winter here in Maine… it’s ice-fishing season. Yup, it’s my favorite outdoor activity during winter because we do all those winter thingies that I enjoy like… snowshoeing, snowmobiling… camping… cook-out… binging and pigging out on [Chinese and Italian] sausages, deer meat, bacon, chicken, chips, and lots of food and drink.

Ice-fishing season is a huge event here in Maine. It is one of the most awaited winter outdoor events here in Maine. It is one of the sports events that is well-participated and well-anticipated by almost all Mainers and tourists alike.

One of the most awaited and most participated events during ice-fishing season is the Chevrolet Derby more popularly known as the Sabago Lake Derby. It is Maine’s largest and richest ice fishing derby in all of Maine. Sabago Lake being the second largest lake in Maine which covers about 45 square miles is a huge playground for both kids and kids at heart.

This year, the Sabago Lake Derby was held last February 21st and 22nd, 2009 and the statewide Derby will be held on March 7th and 8th, 2009.

And just like last year, Sabago Lake was as busy as ever. The lake was turned into a snowmobile and 4-wheeler highway. It was turned into a small plane runway. It was turned into a parking lot. And it was specked with thousand of fish traps.

People and dogs alike play carelessly on the lake. People are partying. Kids are enjoying the sled ride. Shacks, tents and lounge chairs provide comfort and warmth from the cold chill and from the long wait for the fish to bite.

And most importantly, the smell of sausages and meat grilling fills the cold air with a familiar scent known to a hungry stomach. Ice-fishing season on the hindsight… is a season for family and friends to bond… have fun… chillax [chill-out and relax] and enjoy the Maine winter outdoor despite the frigid climate. And I just love it not because I am trying to be a hardcore… I am trying to be a Mainer.

Additional Information:
The Maine Way
Ice Fishing Regulations
Maine Ice Anglers Association

Another fun activity that we do during winter time here in Maine is snowmobiling. I love riding snowmobile. The first time I rode our snowmobile was during a snow storm. Hubby and I drove the snowmobile in the deepest woods… in the middle of a blizzard… in the dead of the night… in search of a pizza. It was kinda scary for me because it was the very first time I ever ride such an extra ordinary and amazing means of transportation for winter season. It was fast and furious and loud too like an ordinary motorcycle.

Snowmobile is just like a motorized sleigh. There are thousand of miles of trails, forests and lakes all over the state of Maine where you can trek and ride snowmobiles with friends and families. There are places where they also hold competitions because snowmobiling is not just a recreation but also considered as a sports here in New England states.

This year, I have not tried riding our snowmobile again since winter came. Hubby and I are too busy lately that we can’t find the time to ride around. Hopefully, before the winter ends and the snow melts… we will be able to get pizza… the Maine way.

Additional Information:
Snowmobile Maine
SledMaine

We don’t have snowshoeing in the Philippines for the simple reason that it is a tropical country. Winter in the Philippines is just cold but not freezing cold. The coldest we could get there is just 60 degrees.

The Philippines has many mountains to hike and one of them is Mount Banahaw which is where my hometown is located. Hiking Mt. Banahaw is a tradition during Holy Week Season where a lot of devotees and religious would perform some means of sacrifices by climbing the sacred mountain as it is also called.

I am not much of a hiker like my friend Bechai of San Diego Backroads. I never really hike a lot when I was in the Philippines except for few occasions where my friends and I decided to check out the spring where our town’s drinking water is coming from. It was indeed a good hike.

Hiking is one of the fun activities that you can do in the Philippines. The most common and popular places to hike are the Sagada and Mt. Pulag of the Mountain Province, Mt. Apo, Mt. Makiling and the infamous Mt. Pinatubo. And though I know all these places, it doesn’t necessarily mean that I’ve been there. But now that I am married to an outdoor-loving guy, I bet when we go back there… hiking one of those mountains will be on top of our “to do” list.

Additional Information:
Travel-Philippine.com
Bundok Philippines

Winter in Maine is never dull. It may be cold or too cold but never dull. It can be messy especially after a snow storm or worse… ice storm but never dull. And it will never be dull because we never run out of activities during winter time.

One of the activities that I enjoyed during my first winter here in Maine is snowshoeing. Yes, it was really fun for me then because it was my very first winter. I thought then that the snow is one of the most amazing things that I’ve ever seen in my entire life. I love bundling up and walking on snowshoes, [a special kind of footwear made for walking on snow] in open fields.

Snowshoeing in Maine is one of the many winter activities that one can do during the long cold winter season. One needs a snowshoe to be able to walk on thick snow. School kids usually have snowshoeing day in school which is a good form of exercise for them. Walking in snowshoes is really a work out. It was hard but fun.

Snowshoeing in Maine is one of the best ways to experience the beauty of Maine on foot. We would hike the hills or trek the trail in the woods with our snowshoes and if we meet some critters along the way, it’s just a bonus. And if you find hiking and trekking too vigorous for you… backyard snowshoeing is indeed fun too.

Additional Information:
Maine Guides Online
Snowshoes

This is my second New Year here in Maine. This is my second New Year without the festivities that I was used to. And this is my second New Year without a bang. When I say without a bang… I mean just that.

New Year here in Maine is just an ordinary day for me. No special celebration… no fireworks… no feast. There is no celebration whatsoever. I don’t know in other places but here in our household that is how we celebrated New Year… No Big Deal!

And just like last year… we just had supper last night. We had burgers. We spent the rest of the night watching rerun shows on TV. I waited for the countdown at Times Square on TV and went to bed. Well, I heard some fireworks from our neighbor and it lasted for about 30 minutes but that’s all about it.

There are fireworks display last night but we still need to drive 30 miles just to get there. Fireworks display here are more organized and systematic unlike in the Philippines where everybody can have their own fireworks display. There are also some parties in some households where they celebrate with friends and booze and food. And there are some special activities in some parts of the state but still we don’t get to see them.

This morning we woke up to just yet another ordinary day. This is the start of my second year here in Maine. This is the start of a new beginning. I have a new work. I have a new car. And I have new hopes.

Happy New Year to All! May we all have a better year ahead.

Additional Information:
Maine New Year’s Eve Celebration

This is my second New Year away from home. This is my second New Year that I celebrated by just reliving the many New Years I had with my family in my memory. And this is my second New Year that the familiar noise and happy celebration that I was used to was celebrated only in my mind.

New Year is always a happy occasion in the Philippines. It is celebrated on the 31st of December [which is New Year’s Eve] till passed midnight [which is already January 1st]. It is always celebrated with a big bang, literally and figuratively. New Year will never be complete without 3 important things… family… food… and fireworks. And New Year will always be a noisy, rowdy and dangerous to some extent due to accidents and mishaps associated with fireworks.

New Year in the Philippines is always bright. Houses are well-lit either from the Christmas lights decorations which are usually still intact till the first week of January or the bright lights created by the different fireworks that can be bought almost everywhere. The night sky is always a magnificent canvas for live… dancing… flickering… and brilliant showcase of pyrotechnics.

New Year is about making noises too. Kids of all ages are making noise from cellophane wrapped horns to earsplitting fireworks. This is the only time of the year that mommies are more lenient and tolerant of kids’ noises and messes. This is the only time of the year where kids are allowed to stay up pass their bedtime. And this is the time of the year where some superstitious beliefs [like the 12 fruits collection] are well-played and followed religiously hoping that the year ahead will be a prosperous one.

New Year in the Philippines is always one of the most awaited celebrations by family and loved ones because this is the time fo the year that family members try their best to be together and make it sure that they are complete. This is the time of the year where family greet the start of the year with new hope… new inspiration… new faith for the year ahead.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Additional Information:
New Year Customs in the Philippines

We have accumulated over 10 inches of snow already before it was officially declared winter season here in Maine. And before the first day of winter season, we had ice storm and a couple of snow storms that caused a lot of damage to people and properties.

Winter season officially started on the 21st of December, a Sunday… a week after that ice storm that caused massive statewide power outages that left more than half of a million Maine households in the dark and bitter cold weather.

Winter season used to be my favorite season of all because it is beautiful. Coming from a tropical country, I have dreamt of White Christmas since I was a kid. I had my first White Christmas in 2007 and it was awesome. Last Christmas was also white but it was not that awesome anymore. It was still beautiful and picture-perfect because of the snow. But since I had that car accident last December 17, the week before Christmas, I officially announce that I hate winter.

The black ice, sleet, and slush which are synonymous with winter season made it a non-favorable season. I am still in shocked up to now knowing that I almost missed Christmas due to the accident. But I am still so grateful that God gave me a second lease on life.

Winter season is just another season for me now. The changing seasons of Maine are still amazing as far as I could tell. The changing seasons of Maine will always be a part of my life because this is my home now. And the changing seasons in Maine will still be a process and a transition that I will still look forward to because after all, Maine is beautiful in all other aspect.

Additional Information:
Ice Storm

 It is not officially winter yet. That is according to the calendar. And according to the calendar, the first day of winter falls on the 21st of December. It is not officially winter yet and we already accumulated about a foot of snow in the mountains and half a foot in other places in the state.

When I came here in Maine, my idea about winter is just snow. My idea of living in the United States is having White Christmases. And my idea of snow is just everything white… nice landscapes… picture-perfect sceneries… reindeer… and hot cocoa with miniature marshmallows in front of a warm fireplace.

But now that I am here and experiencing all the changing seasons… I can tell that winter is not that cool at all. I mean figuratively. It is indeed cold. It is fierce. And it has “no-mercy”.

Now that I am here in Maine, there are two color codes that I hate… Black Friday… and Black Ice.

Black Ice is scary. And since I just started driving I know I have to be very careful on the road. It’s indeed not officially winter yet but a lot of vehicular accidents are reported on TV almost everyday due to snow, sleet, and black ice.

It is not officially winter yet and I just had my first “ice storm”. We had snow the whole day yesterday and freezing rain the whole night.

This morning when I woke up… the place is icy. The trees and the grounds are all covered with ice and icicles are hanging from the rims of the roof. We have no power and we don’t know until when. The entire place is crappy with broken tree branches and slippery grounds. I only went out to take some photos and I stayed home to keep warm.

Additional Information:
Ice Storm News in Maine
WGME 13
Portland Press Herald