Blog Archives
the fiddle player
You might be one of the people who think an Irish fiddle group is out of place at a German restaurant. I would probably be with you on that, except that I saw/heard it for myself. And in context, it made perfect sense.
I played the violin in junior high; the only part of it I could do successfully was hold the bow. Playing notes and managing to have my fingers in the right places was completely beyond my capabilities. This fiddle player was so good and it amused me that her grasp of the bow was completely unorthodox, which diminishes my exceedingly modest violin accomplishment all the way down to nothing…
The Biergarten
Skowhegan, Maine
photographed 3.19.2026
equinox, with snow
It was snowing that night when we got back from dinner. My companions, all of whom live in New England, just went to their rooms. They’d seen snow and this was just one more normal night for them.
I stayed outside and watched the snow, took some pictures, and got really cold. (In case you were wondering what sort of dork I am.)
Skowhegan, Maine
photographed 3.20.2026
mud season
We went the entire winter here in my part of Texas without any real snow. And what we did get melted and was gone so fast it was practically like we never got any in the first place.
And then I went to Maine in the middle of March and there were piles of old snow pushed over into the corners of parking lots. Shady sides of things had snow. There was even new (soft, fluffy, beautiful) snow one day. But in general, it was the start of mud season, an aptly-named season if there ever was one.
near Arrowsic, Maine
photographed 3.17.2026
one way
It’s the end of the month, so I figure it’s time to move on from nighttime photos of Portland. I don’t know what I’ll post next. Maybe Portland in the daytime? Or Portland in the fog? Or Portland with daytime fog?
There are so very many possibilities.
Portland, Maine
photographed 3.16.2026
in my secret life
There’s just something about a nighttime view of a restaurant full of people…
Also, if you’re in Old Port and in need of a sweet treat, I can definitely vouch for the cookies from Standard Baking. On a cold day, a cookie and a coffee will turn a Regular Afternoon into an Exception Afternoon. Just like that.
Portland, Maine
photographed 3.15.2026
