As February comes to an end, I was looking back at the weather roller coaster ride we have had. It seems that never has the weather fluctuated as much, with extreme highs and lows, coming very close together.

There have been sub zero days with 40 degree F. ( 4.44 C. ) weather the next day. There have been blizzards with extreme winds and white out conditions followed by sun the next day. We had a week of sub-zero weather followed by melting. And, sitting here typing, yesterday was supposed to be another severe storm, but it warmed up, and the ice is dripping onto the kitchen roof.

Most winters the weather settles down, and is cold, and stays cold, until there is a January thaw. The weather then plummets back below 0 F. ( -17.78 C. ) and stays there. And February is usually cold, with bright blue skies!

But, this year the weather had been so warm, ice did not form until February, when we got a week of sub-zero temperatures. Winter enthusiasts were thrilled!

ICE SAILING
Rockland, Maine

What is now being called the Blizzard of 2013, hit the eastern seaboard hard. We got 3 1/2 feet of snow on February 9th. The wind was high, with white-out conditions at times, snow blowing horizontally in from the east. When I got up that morning, to let Spot out, snow was piled high against the barn door- up to my knee. Spot took one look, and backed up! I grabbed a coat, and shovel, and went outside, to clear a path around the end of the barn to the bird feeders. After three feet had been shoveled, Spot came out, and made a tremendous jump from the path into the snow, and plowed his way down around the house- the snow was up to his chest.

As I rounded the end of the barn the wind hit hard. Being nearly zero it really took one’s breath away… I shoveled fast. But, even as I cleared a path, drifting snow filled it back in.

Heading back inside I enjoyed the idea that nothing would be happening that day. A day off, as it were… a time to catch one’s breath!

The snow kept piling up, the wind kept howling! I cleared the path three more times that day, but there was really no keeping up with the effects of the snow and wind.

The shop window with snow.

The storm finally passed on, eventually reaching England!
The next day, true to this winter’s pattern, it dawned clear.

Mourning Doves waiting on Breakfast

After shoveling a path to the bird feeders,
and then getting plowed out,
Spot and I headed out to see how things were.

Rockport Harbor was piled with snow.

There was a skim of ice in the inner harbor.

It was hard to take pictures
as the roads were filled with loaders and dump trucks clearing the snow.

In Camden Harbor the boats were fine.

Ducks nestled against the bank of the stream that flows into the harbor.

But, the Camden the streets were one lane only,
with cars buried in the snow.

The bakery would not be opening soon!

After a quick look around we headed back home, going through Union,
where I stopped to let Spot run around for a few minutes.
It was hard to believe the day before had been as wild as it had been.

Seven Tree Pond was very tranquil!

The weather pattern continued warm, and the snow melted.
But, a few days later another storm swept in.

Some trees hold some leaves through any weather!

The following day dawned clear.

Spot loves snow!
He dances in it if it is not too deep!
And while running in it he will bend his head to grab a mouthful.
He will also go out and just roll in it!

When I throw snow balls for him he leaps up to get them;
but, if he does not catch one his expression says…
Where did it go?

As we head into March, winter is definitely being left behind.
The sun is up early, and the ground is softening as the night temperatures warm.
Soon there will be crocuses and leaves on trees, and a sparkle on the water.
But, the joys of winter will return!

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The week following New Year’s had been cold. The weather was snowy, and then turned warm, creating crust and ice. On the first nice day, Spot and I headed down to the beach.

The road to the beach was snow filled. Walking carefully, as it was glazed with ice, we could hear the water booming. Crossing the short dunes, the wind was cold off the water. On the edge of the dunes we paused to view the beach. It was an extreme low tide!

PEMAQUID BEACH, MAINE
at extreme low tide

We started down the beach to the right, as is our wont.
Snow edged the dunes.

In places where the water had seeped into the sand and frozen,
the sand had expanded through the snow,
making odd swellings.

Spot explored the edge of the dunes.

The tide had swept the beach clean of anything
that the previous tide had brought in.
Only a pattern of small stones lay near the end of the beach.

Out beyond the point were exposed rocks that we had never seen before.

The tide had pulled out strongly,
leaving deeply sculpted tide pools
around the rocks at the end of the beach.

Carefully, due to snow and ice,
we went up and over the rocks
to the cove on the other side.

Water was just lapping the base of the pole furthest out from shore.

Spot started up the beach.

The cove at low tide was really interesting.
Though no shells were seen,
there were sand patterns from the tide draining out.

Spot continued his exploring along the snow line.
He is hard to see!

Near the end of the beach were rounded rocks,
covered with seaweed, that we had never seen before.
The tide had never been low enough.

Climbing up the end of the point
one could see the waves hitting barely covered reefs of rock.

From here one could see the pattern of light and dark sand
that covered the cove,

and beyond the cove across Pemaquid Beach.

Clambering down from the rocks,
Spot sighted a seagull on the sand.

The gulls intrigue him. First they are on the ground,
then in the water,

and then they take off.

When we had first crossed the cove, the tide was still ebbing.
But, going back, I suddenly realized there was no sound of waves on the sand.
And looking, there was very little movement were water reached the shore.
And then, there was a first gentle lap.
The tide had turned.

Walking along,
I suddenly realized that the last post was totally exposed…
we could go around the rocks!
This confused Spot,
as we have always gone over the rocks.

Spot always worries about the lapping water.
But, he likes to play a game of standing with his back to it,
and then moving out of the way.

He started down the beach.
When moving, he is the fastest dog I have ever seen run.
But, he stops to say- “Coming?”…

before continuing down the beach.

Just in the time it has taken to walk part way along the beach,
the waves have gained strength and momentum,
and are booming in to shore.
Out beyond the waves, the buffleheads ride the swells.

At the far end of the beach is foam
left from the tide.

The area near the stream that drains the salt marsh
had banks of washed up seaweed,

which Spot enjoyed snuffing through.

The stream itself had carved out a circular pool,

before heading across the harder sand.

At this end of the beach there were
bits of seaweed, pebbles, and small pieces of broken shell.
A mussel shell lay half buried in the sand.

From this end of the beach one could see
the water rolling in,

as well as the far point.

Heading back on the second leg of the walk
I went along the dune edge.
The channel from the salt marsh that had appeared two weeks ago,
when it had poured rain so hard, and the marsh over-flowed,
was gone.
Only a crater remained.

Further along
I found one of the small beach vignette I look for.
It is hard to believe that their arrangements are not staged.
This one had a delicate piece of white and pink seaweed,
a small smooth piece of driftwood,
set off by dried seaweed.

The wind is always in one’s face when walking down the right hand side of the beach.
My fingers were so cold,
it was hard to feel the camera button!
I was glad to reach the far end of the beach, which is sheltered from the high wind.

Spot, of course,
played his wave game!

Turning for our final part of the walk,
I headed up toward the salt marsh.

A few rose hips remained on the thorny canes
of the rugosa roses that border the edge of the marsh.

Just at the end of the walk I found
a shell with seaweed,
surrounded by gull foot prints.

As the wind rose, the sky changed.

Taking a last look, we left for home.

_____________________

January 1, 2013 dawned clear and cold. Spot and I headed for Rockland to see the town Christmas tree.

Rockland, Maine is the lobster capital of the world.
And every year they put up a tree in the park, on Main Street,
overlooking the harbor.

This is build of lobster traps,
swagged in greenery,
and decorated with lobster pots.
It is crowned with a lobster holding a star!

This always amuses me!

As the day was so beautiful I decided to go around the corner of the harbor to the break water.

The Rockland breakwater is impressive. It took 20 years to build- from 1881 to 1899. It is constructed of 700,000 tons of granite blocks. And runs 7/8 of a mile out into the harbor. At the end of it is a lighthouse.

The breakwater was built to protect Rockland and Rockland Harbor from storm damage. Without it, there would not be a working waterfront. The lighthouse was built after the breakwater, in 1902 to keep boats from hitting the breakwater.

THE ROCKLAND BREAKWATER and LIGHTHOUSE

I did not really expect to get around the hill to the breakwater.
But, a path had been trampled in the snow
along the fence at the top of the hill.
One step to the right off of the path and
one sank up to one’s knee.
Even Spot went slowly after the first miss step.

The temperature was mild starting out, with little wind.
There were small gentle ripples as the inner harbor water hit the beach.

As we neared the end of the path
Spot ran ahead,
and enjoyed a short run.

At the bottom of the hill, where the breakwater begins,
one can look out to the islands,

or back across the inner harbor to Rockland.

It was here that the full force of the wind hit.
What a change from the protected side of the hill!
Suddenly my eyes were watering from the cold,
and the wind was strong enough to blow Spot’s leash,
which I wear draped around my neck, off.

Spot wanted to go out along the breakwater,
but I called him back.
There was ice on the top of the blocks,
and the space between them is quite wide,
making it difficult to walk at the best of times.

Starting back, one could see the waves washing over the breakwater from the inner harbor,
as the wind rose.

After climbing back up the hill
I turned for one last look,
before heading for the car and home.