Ski Trails Down the Mountainside: Winter in New England
by Elisabeth Barrett
As you may recall, the last time Kim was kind enough to host me (as my debut novel, Deep Autumn Heat was released), I talked about what I loved most about New England. Today, I’d like to show you why New England is so amazing in wintertime, by highlighting some of the best parts about the season. Here are my favorite things to do in winter in New England:
· Go Ice Skating on a Frozen Pond – There is nothing quite like strapping on some skates and heading out to your favorite local pond during the dead of winter. You’re outside, the wind whips through your hair as you skate faster and faster, and the cracks in the ice at the far reaches of the pond just add to the thrill (who needs the safety of an ice skating rink?).
· Take A Walk in the Woods – In wintertime, all the leaves are long gone and the bare skeletons of the trees scrape the gray sky. If you step into a forest, the lack of foliage means your visibility is high. If you’re lucky, you can spy a small animal scurrying to its warm burrow in a tree stump, or a falcon circling above. The air is damp, and underfoot, freshly-fallen snow dots your path. If there’s been a recent snowstorm, the trees are cloaked with white. Except for the branches, intermittently groaning and quaking under the weight of the snow and ice, the woods are a serene place to take a morning walk.
· Ski Down a Mountainside – The excitement and danger of hurtling down a steep mountain, with only two long boards attached to your feet (and maybe holding onto some poles for balance) is a test of will, strength, endurance and how much your heart can handle. Me? I stick to the blue diamonds and after a few runs, save the rest of my energy for après ski at the lodge.
· Drink a Warm Mug of Cider or Cocoa – Those New Englanders know their hot beverages. Sometimes involving alcohol (hot toddy, anyone?), I personally prefer the PG versions…warm cider mulled with spices or well-made cocoa with a few sweet marshmallows floating on top. These taste great in front of a toasty fire, after ice skating, a walk in the woods, or skiing!
· Dream of a White Christmas – Where I grew up, first snowfall usually occurred right around Thanksgiving, so by the holiday season, the ground was mostly white. Sometimes we’d get lucky and have a fresh fall of snow right at the middle or end of December, adding to the festivities. Holiday lights look all the sweeter when you see them on an icy eave, or through a frosty window. And the pine trees, blanketed with snow, just cement what a beautiful season winter really is.
I’ve given you just a taste of what makes winter in New England incredible. Why don’t you tell me what makes winter so special where you live?
One commenter will be randomly selected to win a NetGalley preview of BLAZE OF WINTER. Contest ends September 17th at midnight (EDT).You’ll need a NetGalley account, and to comment on this post.
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| Hawaii offer snow atop Maua Kea (White Mountain) courtesy of Wikipedia |
About Blaze of Winter:
Winter heats up in this hot new Star Harbor romance, as another sexy Grayson brother, a wickedly handsome writer, plots his happily ever after with a sweet stranger.
Frustrated with her job in Boston, social worker Avery Newbridge welcomes the opportunity to reassess her life when family asks her to help manage the Star Harbor Inn. Trying to figure out her future is overwhelming enough, but she doesn’t count on distraction in the form of one Theo Grayson, the gorgeous, green-eyed author who she knows is trouble from the moment he saunters into the inn.
Not only does he have a talent for writing swashbuckling adventures, but Theo also has a soft spot for big-hearted damsels in distress, especially a woman who’s great at helping everyone—except herself. Avery’s demons challenge him, but for desire this hot, he isn’t backing down. With every kiss and heated whisper Theo promises her his heart . . . if only Avery is willing to open up and accept it.
View an excerpt of Blaze of Winter on Scribd: Click here.
Order Blaze of Winter: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or the iBookstore (Apple)!
About Elisabeth:
Raised in a sleepy little Connecticut town, Elisabeth draws on her upbringing to write small-town romances. Her summers spent living and working on Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard were the inspiration for the Star Harbor series, which kicked off with Deep Autumn Heat and continues with Blaze of Winter. Currently, Elisabeth lives in Northern California with her husband and three children. She’ll take snow skiing over water skiing any day.
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| Mauna Kea is home of international observatories courtesy of Wikipedia |
I love the large flakes that float down and cover all the world in white (as long as I'm snuggled up nice and warm inside lol).
ReplyDeleteAw, we don't have winter season, but when I was a kid, I prayed so hard that snow will visit our country even just for a while.
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy Hot Cocoa on those cold winter days and I love ice skating.
ReplyDeleteWinter is not my favorite time of year -- I hate driving in the snow and ice. But I do like how pretty it looks outside when the snow is falling! LOL
ReplyDeleteWinter is not my favorite season. I hate the snow, cold, and especially driving. I live in the country in iowa and have a ton of snow. I stay because all the other seasons are great. The only thing I like is being able to curl up under a blanket, with hot tea and a good book. I love watching the snow fall and how beautiful the snow looks. Then melting a few hours later. Lol
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway.
Christinebails@yahoo.com
All right, I admit it! Growing up, I didn't think that winter was so wonderful...especially when I had to walk to the bus stop in the icy cold...but as I grew older, I learned to love the season. Especially when I didn't have to wait at the bus stop! Or spend hours outside in the freezing cold. Some might say that winter in New England is best admired from inside, in front of a toasty fire with a warm mug of tea or cocoa in your hand.
ReplyDeleteAs a fellow person who grew up in Connecticut....I loved it!! But the winters would kill me. I now live happily in N.C. I have spent the last week and a half spending a couple days in Ct., Maine, and am now in the Adirondack's!! Elizabeth, you are so right! Once a New Englander, always a New Englander.
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed Blaze of Winter and all the Grayson brothers. I'm especially read to fall in love with Cole!!!
Oh, by the way, Elisabeth, I'm sitting on a deck over looking Long Lake, N.Y. With a cup of Pumpkin Spice coffee, and watching a Loon!! love it!!!!
I miss the seasons living here in southern Florida. However, I did live in Ohio for 8 years, and always loved the first snow. But, after snowing constantly for 6 months, I was really fed up with it.
ReplyDeleteI only like to see snow at Christmas. I don't miss the cold weather at all.
I'm not a big fan of winter but I do love sitting inside, in front of the fireplace,looking out the window at the snow, drinking hot cocoa and reading a great book.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway.
e.balinski(at)att(dot)net
I like to look at the snow on the trees and on the grass. It's so pretty! I don't like it on the roads! lol
ReplyDeleteI love winter where I live ---not a lot of snow and ice.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes winter special where I live is that there is no winter. :D I live in Central Florida where it doesn't really get all that cold. Everyone freaks out if the weather is predicted to hit below freezing at night, because it kills all our tropical plants. But I like it because I can actually wear a nice sweater and get cozy on the couch with a blanket, instead of being hot all the time.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the "no winter" winter, but I do like a little cold. Just as long as I can get warm, fast! And I *love* the seasons.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a big fan of the snowy, cold winters,so the best thing about winter where I live (North Central Texas) is that the cold isn't freezing cold and if we get snow, it doesn't last. And it isn't all that long, either.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't snow in the winter here.
ReplyDeleteHi Kim and Elisabeth -
ReplyDeleteI must admit there are several things I love about living in New England myself, mainly our lake a block away and the ocean beach two miles away.
Unfortunately winter - not so much! I grew up in up-state New York where it doesn't just snow but instead SNOWS continually! I still have picture my father took of me shoveling snow - when I was 3 years old! Needless to say after 61 years of shoveling snow I've had it in fact this winter will make it 62 years because another birthday it fast approaching.
No give me sunshine because the only snow I want to see is on the front cover of a book! I love reading about sun, skiing, sledding and skiing - all those things I did in my youth. Shoveling, not so much.
Instead give me a warm fire to read a story about winter in front of and please let me win a lottery so I can live in Hawaii and be a neighbor of Kim's!
Love having different seasons, and snow is gorgeous. Wouldn´t mind more summer, though. =/ I´m in Sweden, btw.
ReplyDeleteLove this and can´t wait for a chance to read it.
best wishes, Linda
fr_larsson at hotmail dot com
Gosh, the New England beaches! Yes, I miss those. So many are rocky, but there's nothing like walking on the beach in wintertime, the gray sky and the blue water almost blending into one. Just gorgeous. Alas, I must content myself with California beaches now. Cry me a river, right?
ReplyDeleteI grew up in the mid west. Cold snowy winters. I would love to be able to see snow on Christmas day, Christmas eve. But besides that, I adore my desert weather now. The summers are a little trying. But overall, I love that I can go see snow very easily if I want in the winter. And thats close enough for me.
ReplyDeleteI do remember all the feelings of winter. How it is to breath and drive and get into cold sheets. haha
I cant wait to see how Theos story connects with the winter. I do not read excerpts. I have to wait for the whole story. :-)