Winter in Maine

This has been quite the winter here in Maine this year.  If anyone has been here long enough, they know that this can be a pretty typical winter.  I think we have been pretty spoiled the last few winders with mild temperatures, little snow, and a quick spring.  This year we have been having to pull out our hardy Maine selves and face old man winter!  Although I have not enjoyed the many indoor recess days, I have enjoyed the outdoor ones.  I have loved watching students create their own winter worlds and games.  Also, it has been refreshing to see the excitement in their faces when the snow is sticky enough to build huge snowballs, or their has been enough snow to sled down hills on their bottoms, or just having them dig mega holes into the walls of snow.  Although I would be more then happy to see those 50+ degree days arrive, while they are not here I am trying to enjoy the winter activities that I can do now.  So, I encourage you to try to make the most out of the last weeks (I hope) of winter.  There are great things to see and enjoy out their with your kids, who may I say have a joy for the outdoors and winter fun!  Here are some pictures of our playground winter fun!!

Here is a great site for kids and winter activity ideashttp://www.mainethingstodo.com/maine/30-be-a-winterkid/

Climbing the banks is a new found love for everyone

Some soccer and in the background climbing!

Woods in Winter

By: Longfellow

Woods in Winter

When winter winds are piercing chill,
  And through the hawthorn blows the gale,
With solemn feet I tread the hill,
  That overbrows the lonely vale.

O'er the bare upland, and away
  Through the long reach of desert woods,
The embracing sunbeams chastely play,
  And gladden these deep solitudes.

Where, twisted round the barren oak,
  The summer vine in beauty clung,
And summer winds the stillness broke,
  The crystal icicle is hung.

Where, from their frozen urns, mute springs
  Pour out the river's gradual tide,
Shrilly the skater's iron rings,
  And voices fill the woodland side.

Alas! how changed from the fair scene,
  When birds sang out their mellow lay,
And winds were soft, and woods were green,
  And the song ceased not with the day!

But still wild music is abroad,
  Pale, desert woods! within your crowd;
And gathering winds, in hoarse accord,
  Amid the vocal reeds pipe loud.

Chill airs and wintry winds! my ear
  Has grown familiar with your song;
I hear it in the opening year,
  I listen, and it cheers me long.