I had pretty much adjusted to what seemed to be our winter. My personal thermostat was set with steps taken to accept the inevitable.

Steps like extra layers of insulation to protect me from the bone chilling winds and deep freezing temperatures. I dug out some well used industrial strength heavy duty polar test mittens and over garments left to me by old Coast Guard friend Joe Bernath, who had served an icebreaker tour or two. These items helped me when sitting for long stretches atop my Kabota open cockpit tractor while clearing roads at home; roads I have come to realize from a multitude of tracks, used by deer, squirrels, rabbits, coyotes, porcupine (my personal nemesis) and fox, to more easily access our hemlock trees, shrubs and general winter grub. For the most part, these critters work at night, making their destruction of what’s left of our plantings, impossible to monitor, or control.

Just as I had accepted and somewhat adjusted to the negative windchill temperatures, they went away! From subzero to 50 degrees and rain, practically overnight. I was wearing a T-shirt stacking wood. Talk about a strange experience — sweating like it was summer, in the dead of winter!

Then it all went away. Bam. Just like that. One day, 40 degrees at wake up, 20 degrees at noon and by bedtime, creeping under 10. What’s a mother to do?

Out of pure frustration, I recorded the attached image during the cold, going to warm, going to cold, because I realized that within 24 hours it might change, again. Besides, it is one of my favorite views off Boothbay Shores looking up the Damariscotta River toward South Bristol. And that, I know, will not change no matter how cold or warm it gets!