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| Maine isn't the only place with cold and snow. We get our fair share here in Maryland. |
I love being outdoors. Well, I love being outdoors in fair weather. Cold, not so much. But not everyone agrees with me. I watched America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston on PBS the other night, where he visited Maine, and the theme was embracing the cold. He spent time with people doing various things outside - all in the cold. Looked crazy to me, but everyone was happy. My sister lives in Maine and has not entirely embraced the cold, but her husband, who grew up there, has. And her kids. I remember what a novelty it seemed when I heard they did snowshoeing in PE. And my grandnephew was in an outdoor preschool where they spent most of the time outdoors, no matter what the weather was. I guess it's all what you're used to. As we're moving into cold weather, I am inspired to be like Mainers and spend more time outside in the cold (she says from the warmth of her home). I know that Ward will be a very willing participant. When we're out together, I say I'm freezing, and he says how invigorating it is with a happy smile. And if truth be told, I find that annoying sometimes (always.)
But it's good for us to spend time outdoors. You've probably heard reports on studies saying so. I recently read one by the Max Planck Institute that says spending time outdoors is not only good for your mood, but it is also good for your brain function. And it wouldn't hurt me to have a boost in both areas. :) But I'll start tomorrow. Today is cold and rainy. I think I will have to work up to it.
In the meantime, Ward and I walked at an Audubon Bird sanctuary a couple of days ago when the weather was beautiful. This is my favorite kind of outdoor activity. Here are a few pictures from our walk.
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The sanctuary encompasses 129 acres of various habitats
of woodlands, meadows, wetlands, and streams. |
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| It was a sunny, clear day. |
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| The sanctuary used to be an old farm, and the first trail we took was an old farm road. |
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| I'm always amazed that the redbud tree has such little flowers but such big seed pods. |
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| An old farm pond. |
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| More evidence of the farm. |
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| We couldn't figure out what kind of tree had this interesting trunk growth. |
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They had some pretty serious deterrents with the birdhouses
to keep out interlopers and predators. |
Next time, we need to take Aunt Martha, our local bird expert, with us. Our untrained eyes didn't see any birds, although we did hear some. But it was a pleasant outing, all the same. And I can already feel my brain working better. :)
Until next time...
I know I need to embrace the wet here. It doesn't get very cold, really, but wet, yeah its wet a lot and if I can't stay dry, I then get cold. I used to have fishermans' raingear, which actually keeps you dry, rather than today's breathable "moisture repellent" stuff, that ends up letting me be soaked quickly.
ReplyDeleteAnd by the way, love your post title!
DeleteI think cold and rainy is the hardest weather to be in. Not sure I'd adapt well to your climate.
DeleteMy husband is a fisheries biologist and he has some heavy duty rain gear for working on boats. I don't think it comes cheap, though.
Cold and wet is the worst. I need to get better rain gear because currently what I have is more for a dash somewhere than spend any extended time in the rain. So much to choose from these days in the rain gear department that I'll have to do some research before I start shopping.
DeleteYou found another fun place to visit!
ReplyDeleteI enjoy hiking the most when it's in the 50s and 60s. Not too hot or cold. I find that winter is easier to get through if I embrace the snow, but in recent years our snowfall has significantly dwindled. That makes it harder to do fun things like snowshoeing.
I have never been snowshoeing. While we do have snow here, sometimes a lot, it doesn't stay around for a long time. Not long enough that there is much snowshoeing going on. I hear it's harder than it looks and is a good workout. Does everyone in your family like to do it?
DeleteThe visit to the bird sanctuary sounds like a really nice way to spend a clear, sunny fall day. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, spending time outdoors is supposed to be good for one. But, being outdoors when it is cold is something else! I usually bundle up even when it is not that cold; I don't know if I'd survive in Maine!
That tree looks like a giant inchworm!
Between the bugs in the summer and the cold in the winter, I think I'd have a hard time adjusting to living in ME fulltime. However, when we visit, it is a beautiful place with a fun culture.
DeleteThe limb does look like a giant inch worm, doesn't it?