(Just call me Tundra Woman.)

It was the coldest, snowiest winter in recent memory. The bathroom tiles were icy on my bare feet that morning. Oh how I wished we’d sprung for fixing that wall heater. Seconds later, the naive assumption the toilet lid was up didn’t improve my mood.

Misery Loves Company by Allie Taylor

My feet froze all morning. (Why oh why didn’t I order those battery socks I saw in The Vermont Country Store catalog?)

Scanning the headlines at lunch, I absently reached for a sip.

Not my water bottle, the Windex. Sigh. (And ugh.)

I slipped on the only boots I could scrounge up by the side door (size 12 clodhoppers) and clumped on out to check for mail. None yet.

And grrr….someone had forgotten to close the mailbox. Again.

Later, we gathered the piano books and ventured out for his afternoon lesson. The wind howled. We shivered. I cleared off the side and back windows with the snow brush. It took an eternity and a day for the car heater to kick in. The windshield wipers were stuck in an icy frozen arc. The defroster eventually did the trick. Finally, we were on our way.

We made it to the lesson without incident. Exhale. The lesson now over, we bundled back up for the freezing ride home. It was only five o’clock, but it might as well’ve been midnight. It was pitch black. I clicked the dome light so he could see to buckle up. Only it wasn’t the dome light. The crusty remains of last night’s snowstorm dumped onto my head, shoulders and passenger seat as the sunroof slowly slid open. My collar was full. My lap was full. The console was full. I shuddered violently. Silence.

Then an angry little voice filtered up from the inky Black Hole behind me. “It’s not MY fault!”

On God’s green earth, did ANYONE say that it was?

Misery Loves Company. Move to New England. Today.

You might never leave.

Or you might.

The post Misery Loves Company… appeared first on Through Her Looking Glass.

Seriously, I must’ve had my head in the sand. (Or snow bank?) True confession: until this season, I’d never heard of Christmas Prelude in Kennebunkport, Maine. But it’s quite a to-do here in New England, so you should know about it too. Christmas Prelude has happened every Christmas season in Kennebunkport since 1982, and just concluded its 33rd magical season. The Christmas Prelude celebration includes tree lighting ceremonies, arts and crafts shows, Historical Society programs and over a dozen musical programs celebrating Christmas.

“Christmas Prelude is all about recreating and sharing the spirit and joy of the Christmas season, while doing so in true New England fashion. Kennebunkport is the quintessential New England town.”   -Kennebunkport Business Association

Traditionally, Christmas Prelude spans the first two weekends in December. Festivities begin on the first weekend with tree lightings.

                                                                                      Photo Credit: Jen Parks

The Lobster Trap Tree is a beautiful New England sight in Cape Porpoise Square. There are parades, strolls and pancake breakfasts. A highlight of the season is caroling on shore as Santa and his lobster elves arrive by lobster boat at David’s KPT/The Boathouse.

The second weekend opens with fireworks. On Saturday, join Walk to Bethlehem, a candlelight procession that follows Mary and Joseph as they seek shelter at three historic inns only to be turned away and finally shown to a manger. There are hymns, carols and scripture readings followed by refreshments.

A list of fun regularly scheduled Christmas Prelude events:

• Dog parade
• Concerts
• Ice sculptures
• Lobster Buoy workshops
• Christmas Tree Tours
• Gingerbread House workshops
• Art shows
• Walk to Bethlehem
• Historic Kennebunkport tours
• Candlelight tours
• Holiday cookie tours
• Wine tasting
• Pony rides
• Christmas parties
• Seashore Trolley holiday rides
• Santa Dash 5K/10K run (sounds chilly to me!!)

Christmas Prelude in Kennebunkport, Maine has concluded for 2014. But consider marking it on next year’s Christmas calendar. More information about Christmas Prelude, a small town New England Christmas experience in Kennebunkport: www.christmasprelude.com

Photo Credit: Jen Parks

Locks of Love on the Kennebunk River Bridge. You and your beloved fasten a lock to the bridge. (And throw away the key!) Share the love in Kennebunkport…

The post Christmas Prelude: Kennebunkport appeared first on Through Her Looking Glass.

I wondered early on how it might go for Thanksgiving this year. In early October we were invited to spend Thanksgiving with extended family in Pennsylvania. We got excited about the possibility ’til one of the kids needed a major ACL surgery reconstruction that had to happen over Thanksgiving break. So we mentally re-grouped and readied to hunker down and make the best of it.

Wild and Wooly New England Thanksgiving 2014  by Allie Taylor

But something ominous happened exactly a week prior to Thanksgiving. It was Thursday night, Jon was gone at a meeting. I heard coughing from the baby monitor. Checking on my littlest guy, I discovered it wasn’t coughing. Worse. You know what it was: throwing up. Immediately, my mind flew to the worst case scenario.

We’ve got just a week. My first thought, “What if we all come down with the stomach flu over Thanksgiving? How long could it take to go through all six of us?”

And even worse, “What if the ACL surgery has to be cancelled?”

I know, I know. My mind can really get away from me rather ridiculously.

“You really must work on being more positive,” I said to myself.

I cleaned up the mess, hugged a sick little boy and carefully disinfected everything I could think of, including myself.  Unfortunately the same scenario repeated itself late into the night. Jon and I switched off on clean-up duty: several baths. So many sheets, blankets and pajamas.

By the next afternoon, the sickness had passed and no one else had succumbed. Thank goodness. Another day passed uneventfully. We were almost scot free. Almost. Then Saturday night arrived. Within the space of an hour, one by one, three more of the household dropped like flies. The stomach bug hit this next crew a lot harder and lot longer.

Just call me Florence Nightingale. (Minus the nursing pin.) They wung it without Jon at church the next morning. Things appeared to be reaching some semblance of normalcy by Sunday evening. There were two of us still standing strong, the other four improving.

Later Sunday night the next one succumbed. It wasn’t me, but our ACL surgery patient. Oh no. My worst nightmare was coming true.  Thankfully, he rallied the best of any of them and was even able to attend school the day before his surgery.

Tuesday evening, I realized that we might actually be able to eat Thanksgiving dinner. In faith, I joined the throngs of other last minute shoppers stocking up for the big day.

Guess who I parked next to? She cracked me up. I sure could use a little of her energy and humor about now, after taking care of sickies all week.

But the next storm cloud hovering on the horizon? Weather. Wednesday had a snowy forecast, and the amounts and severity of the storm predictions were increasing by the hour. Our patient made it to the surgery center very early. The snow started late morning and was even heavier than expected. I stayed home to cook for Thanksgiving and watch the littles while Jon was at the surgery center. Thankfully all went very well and they made it safely home in the heavy snow. Navigating the patient into the house in an ankle to groin immovable leg brace on crutches in snow and ice was challenging. But thankfully, it happened. Phew.

The patient got settled in on the sofa and several hours later the lights began to flicker. We hadn’t counted on that. We lost power for about an hour and then spied a line crew through the window. LET US REJOICE! Just in time for Thanksgiving dinner.

The power lasted briefly. Several hours later, we lost power for two days, until the Friday night following Thankgiving. A lot happened during those forty-eight hours. (And a lot didn’t!)

The alarm company called early Thanksgiving morning. The church security alarm had gone off. The police were too busy with weather related calls to respond. Jon fought his way there through snow carnage and tree limbs. It was a false alarm.  On the way back, he sighted this escapee, taking advantage of an early snowstorm in hopes of avoiding a certain death…

And on Thanksgiving morning no less.

I spent much of Thanksgiving afternoon rolling out and painting clay elephant Christmas ornaments by candlelight. I know. But what’s a girl to do in a house full of men, a sofa bound patient and a cold empty oven on Thanksgiving Day? (So I stayed very quiet, “busy” and out of the way.) Monopoly happened that afternoon. For Thankgiving dinner, we warmed up frozen pizza on a cast iron griddle on the gas top stove and threw in some raw carrots to the meal for a little color. It was a little anti-climactic of a Thanksgiving dinner. The lack of an oven really cramped my style. I opted for a protein shake instead.

I was glad I did, because later that night, when I got up to give narcotics to our patient at 2 a.m., I felt a little funny. But I wasn’t laughing. You guessed it. I’d been the last woman standing. But I was standing no more. The stomach bug hit me fast and hard. It was a long night. I was suddenly truly thankful for my lack of Thankgiving dinner. Best not to experience it twice.

The last casualty happened Friday morning. It was reported to me on my sick bed that apparently Hudson had eaten a clay trunk off an elephant ornament. He was fine. The elephant was not.

And by the time I got downstairs, the front legs had also mysteriously vanished. (!)

Earlier last week, I’d seen a friend’s e-mail signature. “Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” (LOVE!) As the stressful events piled on during the week, my thoughts repeatedly returned there. It was true. Gratitude turned what we had: a Wild and Wooly New England Thanksgiving, into enough. More than enough.

Four days later, we finally enjoyed our Thankgiving dinner. Best ever.

“Gratitude turns what have into enough.”  -Melody Beattie

I’ve already heard a few other wild and wooly 2014 Thanksgiving Tales. Not all were weather or flu related. So what’s your story? How did you celebrate your Thanksgiving? Please take a minute to comment in from around the country. We all want to hear about it!

The post Wild and Wooly New England Thanksgiving 2014 appeared first on Through Her Looking Glass.

A few girlfriends and I recently flew the coop for a little Vermont getaway. Flap flap flap, all the way to the Green Mountain state. The mountains were still green. But they won’t be for long. The first significant snowfall of the season is forecasted today. It’s not that I’m surprised. I was born in New England. I get it. It’s just that it was sixty-seven degrees yesterday. (Oh right. I live in New England.)

So we had a great trip. One of our “finds” was a lovely little “town on the green” in Chester, VT. Lovelier still, were the many artisan shops that surround it. We oohed and ahhed over handmade pottery, jewelry and other unique items. My favorite boutique was Sage Jewelry, with lots of artsy home decor items including beautiful, funky jewelry.  www.sagejewelryVT.com

We finally wrenched ourselves away from our delightful rainy shopping adventure for a late lunch at the Moon Dog Cafe in Chester. We found it completely by accident, a local shopkeeper put us onto it. Check out their blog, Moondogcafe.blogspot.com It’s a little out of date but gives you the flavor. You can also find Moon Dog Cafe on FaceBook.

We didn’t find the moon or a howling pooch inside, but definitely a feast for our senses. There were several dimly lit seating areas in the quaint café, and a cozy alcove with window seats and a Main Street view. The menu included creative sandwiches, wraps and homemade soups. I chose an apple and brie wrap with Vermont Maple Mustard. Divine. There were steaming drinks, coffees and lattes. Pumpkin latte and a “hot maple” were high on my “wanna try” list. I picked the “hot maple”. (More on that another day!)

The pie case was jammed with every imaginable sweet: enormous thin, homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies, Pumpkin and Ginger Scones, New York Crumb Cake, Moosewood Brownies, Pumpkin Cupcakes, Coconut Macaroons, Coconut Chocolate Chip Biscotti, Blondies, Blueberry Pie Bars, and Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars.

I quickly realized that the Moon Dog Cafe is a magical place to visit, but I could never live in Chester. Or even nearby. A few days of this and I’d be unable to waddle out the back door. (Which wouldn’t be all bad.) Far too many naughty temptations for such a sweet little café.

And last but not least, there was even more shopping at Moon Dog Cafe. Wonderful scents, lotions and soaps in abundance. I swooned at the Ginger & Lime Luxury Hand Cream, 20% shea butter by Naturally European. Made in England, the cream is rich and moisturizing, the scent clean and fresh. I also loved the Lemon Verbena.

Men, are you listening? This would make an A+ stocking stuffer next month. You can buy it at the Moon Dog Cafe in Chester, Vermont. But you can also get it on Amazon.com.

http://www.amazon.com/Naturally-European-GINGER-Luxury-Butter/dp/B004JEV2GE/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1416949776&sr=8-3&keywords=ginger+%26+lime+luxury+cream  

(While on Amazon I also discovered Ginger & Lime Luxury Foot Cream and Ginger & Lime Body Cream. Amazon: a dangerous place.)

Better yet, maybe you can find Ginger & Lime Luxury Hand Cream by Naturally European locally.

I did splurge on the Ginger & Lime Luxury Hand Cream. (And I’m not sorry!)

The post Spoiled @ Moon Dog Cafe, Chester VT appeared first on Through Her Looking Glass.