5 Signs of Spring....Maine Style...

Whether you're moving to Maine or already live in Vacationland, I'm sure you've noticed that spring is here!!!  Just yesterday I overheard a couple who is new to the area discussing the signs of spring that they've noticed lately.  I had to smile as they mentioned the daffodils peeking out of the ground...the birds building their nests...and the fact that the parking lots are 3 times larger now that the mountains of plowed snow have melted. I had to smile because while those are signs of spring, you can see those signs anywhere in the country.  Maine has it's own unique way of telling you that spring has arrived! My favorite signs are those that only someone who's weathered many a hard Maine winter can appreciate.  So what are my 5 favorite signs that spring... aka mud season...has arrived?  They are...

1. The Dairy Queen is open!  Yes, our Dairy Queen is seasonal. They put in some major hours in through the summer, and then take a nice, long, break through winter. Some of you might question my reasons for making this my #1 Sign, but those who know me understand.  I'm an admitted ice cream addict, and when I see the DQ light come on and the parking lot fill up....well...it's like Christmas to me!  Many of our lobster co-ops and seafood restaurants are also seasonal, so if you're planning a late winter trip to Maine you should call ahead and make sure the restaurant you want is open! 

2.  Everyone is wearing shorts!  And halters.  And bathing suits.  Want to advertise that you're not a Mainer? Wear a sweatshirt when the thermometer hits 50 degrees. You might as well be wearing a sign that says "I'm from away". Not that anyone will say something out-loud...but they will smile, shake their heads, and mutter something about having thin blood.  I made that mistake once.....once. Now I throw on my shorts, bring out the sandals, and carry a beach towel just for added emphasis. No one can tell I've still got my heat on.  Hey..my blood has "thickened", but I'm still a Georgia girl at heart. A word of advice...if you're coming to Maine, be sure to have a range of clothes in your suitcase. You'll need those feet pajamas at night...mornings and evenings can be chilly even during the summertime.  What...you don't wear feet pajamas?

3. The Osprey Return!  Another of my favorite signs is that the osprey have returned to their nests! Perched high on power poles, dead trees, and man-made towers, these birds are fun to watch. They arrive in the spring, have their young, and then leave the day after Labor Day.  I think they must have a contract with the Chamber of Commerce that requires them to stay through Labor Day.  Labor Day's over...hence summer is over...and they're outta here!

If you're in the MidCoast Area, make sure you eat at "The Taste of Maine" in Woolwich. They have an osprey nest right beside the restaurant, and they provide every table with a pair of binos to watch the activity. Just recently they installed a camera on the pole and a big screen TV inside, so you can watch the activity up close and personal!  But make sure you get there before Labor Day!

 4. Lobster Traps are on the move! The majority of fisherman pull their traps from the water during the wintertime. You'll see them stacked on the shore, covering small islands, and taking up the entire front yard of various houses. But once the weather warms, lobstermen kick into high gear! Ropes need to be measured, buoys need a fresh coat of paint, heads restrung, and tags added to the traps. Then the traps are moved to the dock. But how do you move 1000 traps?  Well, you grab a helper, pile them into the back of pick-up trucks, and make many trips!   Make sure you pile them about 10 high..and they have to hang out over the edges of the truck. Slap a rope around the middle and you're good!  (Picture the Grinch's Sleigh after he raided WhoVille)Yes, that's how it done. So if you see a truck coming that's loaded with teetering traps, give them plenty of room!  You'll thank them in June when you're eating fresh lobster!

5. You WILL find everything you've ever lost!  This is actually very magical....  Can't find that screwdriver? Or your left shoe? Or that old armchair that was in the attic?  Well, when spring arrives you will find it in your yard!  No Joke! It seems like all winter long, your yard is covered in a beautiful blanket of white.  But when spring arrives, the snow melts and reveals all your long lost items.  I don't care if you lost that earring while visiting your aunt in Bangor....you will find it in your yard once the snow melts.  I guarantee it.  Which is why you'll see everyone working in their yards one weekend and the very next weekend they're having a yard sale.  They're getting rid of all the stuff they found in their yard!

Well friends...those are my top 5 favorite signs of spring!  I'm sure that couple will come to appreciate those more the longer they live in our great state!  And if anyone has any to add....feel free to share!  If you'd like to watch spring arrive from your new home in Maine, contact The Hershey Home Team!