With this winter’s weather I am beginning to understand why Alaskans have over 50 different words for ice and snow. More varieties of snow have fallen before my eyes since December than ever before, or maybe because I am retired I have more time to watch. My favorite snow was one of our early ones when the flakes were so big and falling so slowly that I could actually see their design.

Monday night’s snow, ice, and rain left another kind of surface on our porch and driveway. First you sweep off the snow crystals and then you use the other end of the broom to pound the thin layer of ice crystals so that you can shovel the pieces off the porch and to the side of the drive. The snow lying in the meadow is pockmarked from the icy rain. Schools are delayed two hours. Our roads appear thawed but slushy due to the diligence of our road crew once again. Thanks guys. All part of the challenge of living in Maine in the winter.

And what do we do for vacation? We go to Stowe, Vermont, to enjoy a week in our time-share unit at Trapp Family Lodge. Thus Maureen Kinsey will be writing the column next week. Please send her news at maureenkinsey10@gmail.com, call 350-1134, or drop a note in the envelope at the Island Store.

A new address for Kathy Barter now at the Brighton Campus of Maine Medical Center. She is in Room 202 A, 335 Brighton Avenue, Portland, Maine 04102. Last week she celebrated her birthday there. Please keep those cards coming.

Also welcoming your thoughts and prayers is summer resident Ron Sheay, who will be having surgery this Thursday.

With all our wintry weather you may find joy in looking forward to summer. The Southport Yacht Club sailing program fills up very quickly with sign up beginning Jan. 1 of each year. The club extends a special invitation to all Southport kids this summer to come learn to sail.

The sailing program is for beginners, intermediate, and advanced sailors. Even if you have never sailed before the program has a class for you! Scholarships are available just for Southport kids! The program runs from the end of June thru August. Go to www.southportyachtclub.org to sign up or call or email Will Jacobs at 914-275-3066, dwjacobs@verizon.net

Another water-related bit of news that those of us here see everyday, but those of you reading from afar may not know, is that our Southport Bridge sports a sign at both ends saying “Bridge Tenders Wanted.” If you are interested in being a tender on the Southport Bridge or know someone who might be, the number to call is 624-8200. Would be hard to find a job with a better view!