WINTERING WELL

My friend Gael telephoned from Vero Beach the other afternoon. As we chatted, I pictured her stretched out on a poolside chaise, slathered in Australian Gold, serenaded by palm fronds while watching ibises daintily mince their way across her lush lawn.

Me? I was sitting at my big new desk, swathed in woolens — Patagonia heavy-weight socks under thick leggings topped with a double-ply red tunic sweater. It was around 4 PM, the sun was sinking, temperature outside was 19 degrees. Winter normal in Maine.

“Val, what do you do there every day?” Gael asked. I heard more than curiosity in her voice. More like, Mother of God, what’s it like there on the forsaken tundra.

Forsaken we are not! And we no not spend our days huddled around steaming radiators or clutching hot water bottles to fend off the chilblains. Sometimes we long for warmer weather but, once outside and managing NOT to slip on black ice, a wonderful world of winter activities beckons.

Last week a local golf course sponsored a Frozen Fore Frostbite Challenge. Bundled-up participants participated in a long drive, hole-in-one and putting challenge — on frozen turf. Proceeds from this charity event went to a Fuel Assistance Program helping area families stay warm. I was sorry to have missed that.

I also missed the complimentary martinis and popcorn served at the FREE movie shown Thursday night at Graves Library in Kennebunkport. I also could have gone to the Saturday morning workshop sponsored by York County Audubon to learn about winter seabird migration strategies and food finding. But I didn’t.

I simply haven’t had time yet to go ice skating at the the Waterhouse Center on Main Street, Kennebunk. This al fresco ice rink is open daily from 8 AM to 8 PM, complete with a Zamboni that resurfaces the ice several times a day. 

Maybe when I have more time I’ll organize a bowling group and meet them at Garden Street Bowl in Kennebunk which has numerous lanes plus a popular restaurant that serves 27 craft beers. There’s even an adjoining game room with bocce, shuffleboard, arcade games and skeeball.

Then again, I might decide to make a quilt with the Evergreen quilting group. Or snowshoe Webhannet Golf Course. I could enjoy blueberry pancakes at the Knights of Columbus breakfast. Or execute “down dog” at the nearby Yoga studio. Perhaps I’ll paint my own wine glass at River Tree Arts. Or enroll in an oyster shucking class at the Kport Boathouse restaurant. If I find a minute, I can also take classes on yarn spinning or line dancing! 

No shortage of activities here along the Maine coast during the long winter months. Especially today, because I’m packing suitcases and golf clubs for a Florida vacation. And trust in this: Mr. Wonderful and I are leaving in plenty of time before the next “dumpin.”