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Wednesday, December 31, 2014

A Winter Song


I hope you're enjoying the grand finale of 2014. It has been a year of strange weather: a cool summer, a summery October and a white Thanksgiving. I self-timed our family photo in our backyard after power returned to roast the turkey. Sadly the snow melted before Christmas, one of our warmest and wettest ever.

We had to drive a couple hours north to find snow at Sugarloaf Mountain. I teach the kids downhill and they coach me in cross-country skiing, our roles reversing. I learn so much from them. It was one degree Fahrenheit yesterday morning so we chose cross-country: treading uphill on skis is warmer than sitting on a chairlift!

On the drive home, we listened to a mix-CD of snow music that my daughter made for me. My favorite song was "Winter Song" by The Head and the Heart. In December we were lucky to see this fabulous indie folk band live in Portland, Maine. I love how my kids introduce me to new music. This one is gorgeous:




Book Watch: My Best Books of 2014 List

What I'm reading now: The Remedy for Love by Bill Roorbach
A Christmas present from my husband. Sixty pages in, I'm enjoying this 2014 novel by a Maine author. Roorbach captures small town Maine in winter with all its beauty and hints of menace.
Goodreads: They're calling it the "Storm of the Century," so Eric stops at the market for provisions on his way home from work. But when the unkempt and seemingly unstable young woman in front of him in line comes up short on cash, a kind of old-school charity takes hold of his heart-twenty bucks and a ride home is the least he can do, right? Trouble is, Danielle doesn't really have a home. She's squatting in a cabin deep in the woods, no electricity, no heat, nothing but the nearby river to sustain her. She'll need food, water, firewood, and that's just to get her through the storm: there's a whole Maine winter ahead. 

So he gets her set up, departs with relief, climbs to the road, but his car has been towed with his phone inside, and the snow is coming down with historic speed and violence. There's no choice but to return to the cabin. Danielle is terrified, then merely hostile-who is this guy with his big idea that it's she who needs rescuing? As the snow keeps mounting, they're forced to ride out the storm together. For better and for worse. 

Happy New Year!
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11 comments:

  1. khakiDecember 31, 2014 at 9:51 AM

    Beautiful. One degree. AAHHH Oh my. Beautiful back drop with the snow on the trees. Fun how they are teaching you and you them. My nieces are forever teaching me about new indie bands- some I like some not so much… Wishing you and yours a very happy New Year!

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  2. cynthiaDecember 31, 2014 at 8:13 PM

    Love the photo and LOVE The Head and the Heart--actually discovered them on another blog. Happy New Year, Sarah!

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  3. RoseJanuary 1, 2015 at 10:25 AM

    It's hard to believe after last year that we're both wishing for some snow, but a little--for awhile--would be nice. Wishing you a very Happy New Year, Sarah!

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  4. Amanda SummerJanuary 1, 2015 at 1:01 PM

    What a handsome family. Happy New Year and best of wishes to you all in 2015.

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  5. Petra PavlátkováJanuary 2, 2015 at 11:21 AM

    It's a great family photo, Sarah! Next Christmas I'd like to take a leaf from your book and also take a family photo outside. When we take it, it's always in front of the Christmas tree and a change would be desirable.

    I'm often amazed at how many great and interesting musicians and bands there are in the world but you can always hear the same ones on the radio. At least here... and I wish it changed. It's wonderful that thanks to the Internet we can access much more.

    Have a great year, you and your family!

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  6. BarrieJanuary 3, 2015 at 1:26 AM

    I'd never heard of this band...I enjoyed this song. And an interesting sounding book! Happy New Year, Sarah!

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  7. troutbirderJanuary 3, 2015 at 3:58 PM

    Storm of the Century. I might Nook that one with me if I can get to Florida next Tuesday before it hits here....

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  8. LesJanuary 4, 2015 at 10:30 AM

    We are fortunate on the music front as well. Our son's taste can often be similar to ours and he has introduced us to much new music, and he often burns CDs for us as gifts, though I question the sources of his downloads. I wish you and your family the happiest of new years!

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  9. Tricia J. O'BrienJanuary 5, 2015 at 2:19 PM

    I've been out of the loop, so I read through several of your recent posts and love all the book recommendations. Looks like I'll be adding to my TBR list. :)
    Visiting your blog always feels like I stopped in to see a friend. Happy 2015 to you, Sarah.

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  10. Elizabeth MusgraveJanuary 11, 2015 at 2:05 PM

    Intrigued by that book Sarah. I shall see if I can it for my kindle here in the UK. Lovely photo of your family too!

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  11. Sarah LaurenceJanuary 15, 2015 at 8:58 AM

    All, thank you!

    Tricia, it's nice to see you back to blogging. I have similar feelings about your blog. It's a virtual front porch.

    Elizabeth, on amazon.co.uk I found Roorbach's book in print and audio CD but not ebook yet. I wonder if that's coming later.

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