Columbine of Maine A year ago, we hunkered down to weather a pandemic. The isolation, heartache and fear building with each day. We learned to wear masks, practice constant disinfection of our homes and hands as we avoided and washed away the virus that was unseen and not understood. Purchasing food now involved following arrows on the floor of the store to allow for 6 feet of distance from our neighbors and friends whom no longer recognized us as we donned masks and avoided all human contact. School, work, family events and social gatherings became remote affairs or not at all and we hunkered down more and more with each passing day.

A year later, Spring is upon us and our human nature is begging for an end to the dark days. With courage we will overcome and even thrive as we begin the season of hope, we always do. 

As we emerge from all the precautions that sheltered us during a pandemic, I hope it is with renewed appreciation for the sweetness of our "normal" everyday lives. Enjoy the beauty of the blossoming Spring flowers, a long-awaited hug from a grandchild, chatting with a neighbor, whatever may bring you joy......emerge and thrive with renewed appreciation.

4A6A8900-Edit I drive by this barn almost daily and every time the weathering of this structure calls out to me. You can see where the direction of the wind has taken its toll on the barn boards and the many times it has been patched here and there. The barn doors have been closed for a long time now, but I imagine busier times on this property when those doos swung open and closed constantly. Sometimes, I wish buildings could talk. I'm sure they would have a fascinating history to share. So, I finally stopped and took a photo of this barn which I drive by daily and took time to notice the ordinary and the expected. Something reassuring about that and hopeful, especially when a pandemic has left many of us not knowing what to expect and questioning hope. I say, never give up on hope and appreciate those thinks that ground us.
 

Setting tip-ups at dawn on Lake Morey, VT Ice fishing on Lake Morey, VT Tools of ice fishing Card games in the shanty Anglers smelt fising on Post pond, Lyme, NH  As the frigid temperatures descend upon the Connecticut River Valley area in New Hampshire and Vermont, anglers take to the plentiful lakes, rivers, and ponds to try their luck at ice fishing. As first light appears you will find anglers making their way onto the ice to drill holes in hopes of catching a fish that is worthy of bragging rights or at least makes for an interesting story.

There are also those fishermen that appear at the opposite end of the day as light is falling below the horizon to fish for pan fish such as smelt or perch. Which is an art in itself as the subtle flicker of the line requires quick reflexes to hook these small delights. 

While ice fishing dates back some 2000 years and was most likely a way of survival when the bodies of water froze over and having food in your belly required hunting, trapping or fishing to ensure your survival. It does not represent the same sense of urgency today, but still provides one with a meal of protein plus the socialization of fellow anglers and the passing on of a family tradition.

One's choice of shelter consists of a temporary structure ranging from tent-looking "pop-ups" and the highly engineered shanty or bob house. Both sheltering you from the cold and a far cry from the bucket my husband sat on exposed to the elements when he first began the sport.

While the pursuit of fishing is what brings you to your favorite body of water, there is the added delight of the smell of a hot breakfast of sausage and eggs filtering from shanty to shanty, endless games of cards and the immense hope of the the next tip-up being the "big one."