It’s the unofficial start of summer! I’m freezing!

So here in Maine this weekend kicks off the unofficial start of summer.  Usually by now we’ve got tan marks from our flip-flops, have the kids red, white and blue outfits laid out for the Memorial Day parade, have the weekends barbecue menu all planned out and have sunscreen and Off!  on hand.  Because, SUMMER!  WHOOOOOOOOO!  I’m here to tell you it’s not happening this weekend.

This is what I woke up to this morning:

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It’s SO FRIGGING COLD.  My poor tomato plants are probably gonners, as well as my cucumbers.  You can cover them up all you want, but I’m guessing I’ve got some stunted plants and seedlings out there.

There are no fewer than 58 yard sale listings in this morning’s Bangor Daily News and I wanted to hit a good many of them this morning.  Mark didn’t have to leave for work until about 9:30, so when I rolled out of bed, I jumped into clothes (this is a lie, I left in what I slept in, but added sneakers and a jacket) and hit the road by 8.  After my first stop, my eyes were running, my nose was running, the wind was screaming and I couldn’t feel my face or fingers.  Memorial Day weekend in Maine.

Stop number two.  (I’m a glutton for punishment)  The house was on a narrow street that funneled the wind like a scene from Twister.  The lady having the yard sale was running all over the yard grabbing things that the wind was whipping away.  I didn’t stop.  I couldn’t.  My ears were still burning from the first place.

So I did what any reasonable person would do.  I stopped at the gas station for hot coffee and a donut and came home.  The kids are waking up slowly and I’m getting myself prepared for a proper yard sale attack in wintery weather.  I put on long fleece pants, a heavy long sleeved tee, laid out a down vest and dug out ear/headbands for everyone.  We’re going loaded for bear.  And if the sun warms it up at any point today we’ll all die of heatstroke, but at least we won’t be cold.

Speaking of yard sales, I went to the Clean Sweep yard sale up at UMO’s York Commons yesterday with my friend Donna.  Both her husband and daughter work there and so this sale was old hat for her, but I had never been.  At the end of the school year, do you know how much CRAP is left behind by students?  Furniture, clothes, dishes, bedding, posters, you name it and it’s there.  Office supplies, rugs, cleaning stuff, health and beauty stuff, OMG THERE WAS SO MUCH.  Yesterday there was a price list to follow, but today they’re marking down and want it all gone.  I got a memory foam mattress topper that looks brand new, a fish tank, 4 bars of Scentsy cubes, lunch box cooler packs, clothes, two new Dove deodorants, a bottle of $35 perfume from TJ Maxx, a sombrero (don’t ask), a Walking Dead poster, a big jar full of Sharpie markers, and a bunch of other bits and pieces for $10.50.  Yeah.  $10.50.  I want to go back up there and clean house today, but VERY crowded and Hallee wouldn’t do well, but I’m happy with what I got.

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Well hey, Rick…welcome home. You just hang there and look pretty.  And yes, I hung it in our family room.  I need a frame at the yard sales today!

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Photo courtesy of wikipedia.com

I hope that whatever you and yours are doing this weekend, that you stay safe (and warm) and remember to honor the many who gave so much to our country.

 

 

Allyson Sorenson

About Allyson Sorenson

Bangor mom. BDN blogger. Volvo lover. Coffee drinker.