Collectively, it seemed that we New Englanders were a little down on this winter and the amount of snow we’d received this season… that is until this weekend’s blizzard happened. Then, of course, last night brought another round of heavy, wet snow. It’s been a doozy around here lately, but one of the biggest upsides to all of this snow – besides how pretty it is – is the unspoken bond it creates. Whether it’s through conversations with complete strangers in the line at the grocery store or friendly chats between neighbors shoveling their drives together, the snow, and winter in general, has this unique unifying quality. It’s just as beneficial to lament with others who share your disdain for shoveling as it is to swap tips on where to find the best snowshoeing trails.
Knowing in advance roughly how much snow a given storm will bring, is such a modern convenience I think I usually take for granted. Riding solo over the weekend while Michael was down in North Carolina wearing short sleeves and running outside in 70 degree weather (it had to be noted – I may still be a little bitter), I knew that I wanted to make the most of the hours in between the three storms, or else I’d go stir crazy from all of the time spent at home by myself. In between Thursday night’s and Friday night’s storms, I treated myself to a warming bowl of Dan Dan Noodles at The Honey Paw, before popping into the East End’s new bookshop, Print. I took my time getting home, picking up food for the weekend and then stopping by to browse the selection at the delightful shop, Home Remedies.
With the exception of a pre-blizzard swim on Sunday, I spent the weekend hunkered down at home. I read and watched way too much television, and made the ultimate (read: most unhealthy) comfort foods – chicken enchiladas and macaroni & cheese. I made a valiant effort to be a hearty New Englander, armed with my snow shovel, but by Monday night, when the winds died down and I was done with shoveling and roof raking for the day, I found myself shopping for snow blowers to make sure that nothing could prevent a Southern road trip getaway after the next winter storm.
Photos by Meredith Perdue for Map & Menu.