It’s March 2, 2023 and we’re getting another round of snow. That’s a picture of the exercise “studio” I built over the summer and fall, from a shed I had built and delivered. At 10′ x 20′, it’s a bit larger than the sauna (8′ x 16′). Both of these buildings have their electricity supplied by the six solar panels on the roof of this building, which drops to zero on a day like today. But the buildings can go 3-4 days without any sun, thanks to the 200 amp hours of battery that are part of that system.

Anyway, the snow… 

I normally make it to just about St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) before I hit “sick of winter”. I’m a good three weeks ahead of schedule this year, having reached the point where snowflakes make me just plain irritable, last week. I’m sick of plowing and shoveling, my back and hips are screaming from sitting in the tractor seat, and I’m tired of putting on and taking off boots, over and over and over. So, sorry for the whining and complaining, but the period from end of winter to end of mud season is the time of year when my beloved adopted state of Maine looks a bit less appealing that at other times of the year. 

I don’t think I’m alone in my feelings, and I think this feeling of winter blahs is hitting most people I know. I was loading things into my truck at Sam’s Club a few days ago when a lady in a vehicle parked nearby looked at me, looked up at the sky, and blurted out a “sick of winter” sentiment. It’s an epidemic.

Kate, who somehow escaped COVID for three years straight now (the only person I know who did so) is the only person I’ve spoken with who isn’t suffering from winter blahs. I remain amazed and impressed, and I guess that speaks well of having crafts to work on and good books to read. 

I’ll try to find other things to write about between now and May, when the snow should be gone and the roads should be dried up, and life can return to normal. Yes, there will be bugs. Yes, that brings a whole new season of different types of work. And yes, I might wish for a blast of cold air on a hot, muggy day in mid-summer. But right now, that’s sounding pretty good. Pretty, pretty good, people.