Posts made by author 'Paige O. Roberts'
9
Yard Laws
Town Meeting Day happened recently, so I heard lots of chatter from folks in the town I reside in, work in, and the others that surround both of those places. I will admit—a bit sheepishly—that I was not well-informed on what was up for vote in my town, but I made a vow to prioritize being educated on it for next year. However, I heard from a friend of mine who lives in the town over that they were voting on some sort of zoning amendment regarding regulations around what could be left out and visible in landowners' yards.
I have to say, I was a bit surprised by this. In the land of Live Free or Die, I kind of just always figured you could keep whatever you wanted in your yard, within reason of course. I suppose the whole "within reason" part is why ord...
27
False Spring
The past few days, the sun was shining bright, and the temps climbed into the 50s, so I kept the door wide open at my store for the duration of my work days. The thermostat read the room at a comfortable 65 with the fresh air rolling in, and it was magical, to say the least. I saw so many local folks and their dogs out for walks, many of whom I hadn't seen for what felt like months, since the cold kept everyone from wanting to be outside for extended periods of time. We all collectively agreed that we're probably in the middle of False Spring, but I can't help myself—I've fallen right into its trap.
Something about days like this reminds me of being a teenager. This time of year, the high school ski team season was over, and spring sports hadn't started yet, so school...
5
Beyond The Trees
Winter is my favorite time of year. Without the bother of mosquitoes or ticks, winter is when I most often spend time outdoors, and that has been true for most of my life. Growing up at the base of a ski mountain in a family of skiers almost single-handedly defined my childhood, and that enmeshment in the culture of skiing continued on into my adult years, where I spent almost all of my 20s working in the world of ski racing.
In the last few years, I have pulled away from skiing, mostly by my own choice as I look to redefine how it fits into my life. My love for the sport began to fade, rather quickly, and as it did, I started to question what that meant for my relationship with the place I've called home my entire life. So much of our existence in the nort...
19
A Home For Hosting
My grandmother loved to host parties and could find any occasion to do so. It didn't matter what we were celebrating, she had specific decorations and menus. Sometimes she would let me help her create the hors d'oeuvres, other times she put me in charge of passing them out to her guests. She was never afraid to set a dress code, either, so all her friends would show up with a bit of dazzle and glam. I used to feel so special just to be around everyone, even though I didn't know them and was one of the only kids in the room.
I often think back on those parties, and how fun they were, but also how out of reach something like that feels for me. I have hosted small gatherings at my house, but nothing like the events my grandparents put on, an...
5
Surviving Winter In The Northeast
It's no secret that this winter has been a cold one here in the Northeast. Still, we saw that January thaw like we do every year, and now we will suffer the rest of the winter on the frost-heave-roads because of it. But as it always does, that random 50-degree day vanished as quickly as it arrived and was replaced by some seriously brutal temperatures. I have learned to hardly trust what the weather apps say, as I've lived here long enough to know that the prediction can change in a moment's time, or be completely wrong altogether. Still, they said it was going to be cold this past weekend, and it certainly was—though not as cold as they said it would be.
I don't know if it's me being a New England curmudgeo...