More Snow Falls Over Skylands

February 18, 2017

Skylands, my home in Maine, is covered with more than five-feet of snow.

Despite its beauty, all this snow makes the clean-up quite difficult. My Skylands crew has been very busy plowing the carriage roads, shoveling the walkways and terraces, and clearing any areas that may be subject to leaking or flooding because of the heavy accumulation - it's a tedious, time-consuming, but very necessary task.

Nonetheless, it's hard not to love a gorgeous snow-covered landscape. In between shoveling sessions yesterday, Cheryl Dulong took more beautiful winter photos. Here are some of them - enjoy.

: This is the driveway leading to the back porch entrance. Skylands is beautiful in every season, but under winter’s glistening snow, it is even more magical.

: Despite all the beauty, it’s a lot of snow to shovel around the house – these steps run from the back porch to the front circle and driveway.

: 62-inches of snow has fallen in the last 10-days here – clearing paths and stairwells is a big chore.

: Off the property, this is a view from the town dock toward Seal Harbor beach. The area is pretty desolate now, but in a few months, this will be crowded with beachgoers once again.

: The Maine Coast Exchange is a quaint little consignment shop I enjoy visiting in Seal Harbor. Look how high the snow is – the view of the shop is nearly completely blocked.

: This is the road leading back to Skylands – the plow has done a good job here.

: The main roads are clear, and allow for two cars to pass each other – all this snow makes traveling even short distances very difficult.

: Look at all the snow surrounding the trees. It is hard to tell the true snow accumulation from the drifts – there is just so much.

: The trees are laden with snow in the woodland. I hope all the creatures are nestled in their dens.

: The tree branches are so weighed down – it’s hard to see the green of the foliage.

: Even the tree trunks are covered with white.

: It appears nothing wants to melt or fall or blow away.

: This leaded window is down the back stairwell to the basement – here, you can see how much snow has fallen and drifted on this side of the house.

: This “pub” window is nearly all walled in with white – there is so much shoveling to do.

: If you recall, I showed this same view last week – in the distance is a small pool where the grandchildren love looking for frogs in summer. You can barely make out the ledge and “Rockefeller teeth” above the pool.

: I promise, she is still in there – Aristide Maillol’s ‘La Riviere’ is all tucked away for the winter.

: This is a view of the main terrace – the “cracked ice” is completely covered.

: Here is the same view through the leaded window.

: Snow even builds on top of the pergola above my West Terrace – these kiwi vines, which are original to the house, have been through many snowfalls.

: This is Terrace One looking out over Seal Harbor – such a stunning winter view.

: This photo is taken from Bedroom Three also overlooking the harbor.

: This photo from Terrace One shows the icicles that have formed from the roof.

: The icicles range from about a foot to several feet long. Here is a view of the harbor from Bedroom Three.

: Icicles are so pretty. They form on surfaces which might have a smooth and straight, or irregular construction – this influences the shape of an icicle.

: Some icicles need to be knocked down – they are so long. Icicles elongate by the growth of ice as a tube and the right mixture of air temperature, wind speed and the water feeding it.