Endings and Beginnings

Well, in theory, it is the beginning of spring. Really, it is pretty hard to imagine spring, given how much snow there is on the ground still.

(not going to torture you with more snow photos, there really have been enough, I think)

But, Giffords opened, and that must be some sort of a sign of spring. In the fall, we ate A LOT of Giffords. An embarrassing amount. But it was so fun. So many flavors to choose from, all so good. It was exciting to see that they were going to open, and I quickly pulled over to take a picture. But, in truth, I don’t quite feel like it is ice-cream eating season yet.

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Today was pretty much the end of the ski season for us. It was the last day at Titcomb, and Alden and I had a perfectly wonderful few hours skiing, while Milo was home napping and Ray was stuck at home (okay, home being the responsible adult for Milo, but, in truth, it was all planned as it was because Ray is on call at work, and is therefore tethered to his phone and computer, not really able to leave the immediate vicinity of the house.).

Titcomb was actually supposed to close last weekend, but, they stayed opened one more Saturday, because the conditions have been so good. We are quite sad that they are closed and that we have to be done with the winter fun that we have been having there. But, I guess it is a good thing that we had so much fun there in the first place. Only nine more months until they open again.

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In other juxtapositions, there’s the indoor woodpile, with all the wood we’ll still need to burn, because it is still pretty damn cold.

And, there’s some seriously good late afternoon light – picture taken at about 6:00, or even a bit later.

Seven Days

Only in Maine. Only in Farmington. Only at Titcomb.

Alden and I, just for fun, set ourselves a goal, a challenge, really: ski every day for seven days (in a row, that is).

We did it (concessions, confessions, and more details below.)

It began on Saturday February 23rd.

Saturday: weekend, family skiing (which means the juggling - one parent with Milo, staying home at first and then heading to Titcomb, the other at Titcomb with Alden skiing. Lunch together as a family, parent switch, one person goes back home with Milo for the nap, the other gets to ski.)

[picture is of the "apparatus" at the top of the T-bar. I know it just looks like some strange contraption, which I suppose it is.]

Sunday: repeat of Saturday..

Monday: I pick up Alden from school, we head over for a few runs before going to get Milo.

Tuesday: Alden has his after school ski program. I go over during that, ski by myself for a bit, then he and I ski together after his program ends.

Wednesday: we have our x-c program this day. All season, Alden has been wanting to ski alpine after finishing with x-c. Today, we do it - switching skis at 5:20 or so, and heading up the T-bar for a little under the lights/in the snow skiing.

Thursday: repeat of Tuesday, though Alden skis after the program with Ray, while I manage Milo.

Friday: Annual Winter Fun Day for Alden's elementary school. They spend the day at Titcomb - you guessed it - skiing... Like I said at the beginning - only in Farmington...

That's seven days.

Concessions: I actually only managed 6 days. Alden and I would have needed to ski together after school on Friday for me to get seven. He was so wiped out by his full day of skiing that by then that he didn't want to ski more.

Confessions: Thursday, annual potluck for Alden's Alpine Snow Kids program. Milo ate really well (there were about 6 kinds of mac and cheese on offer. Toddler culinary paradise.) Alden was so busy skiing with Ray, and then playing outside with friends, he never even came in for the supper part. So, cake for supper when we got home. It was carrot cake, though, so, doesn't that make it sort of reasonable??)

more details: Alden went on to ski Saturday - on x-c skis, but hiking up and then skiing down a downhill trail; and then on Sunday we skied at Mt Abram - his first real "big" ski mountain experience.