Winter in New England is like hell freezing over; you never know when it’s going to come, but when it does it hits hard and stays for what feels like eternity.

I had the pleasure of driving through New England during the winter solstice. The drive started with heavy snow spitting in Burlington. The conditions were awful, which reminded me why I have a Subaru: all-wheel drive, good visibility, traction control, and great gas mileage. All I could think about while driving is how much I hate winter; the slush, brushing off your car after a snow, being scared of other cars on the road, the dryness, and never being able to shake the chill. Silently fearing for my life, I entered the Waterbury Stowe area and let out a deep sigh when I noticed the snow subsiding after twenty minutes of holding my breath for what felt like ages.

When I got to the east side of Montpelier, miles away from the interstate, I finally got to appreciate the Vermont countryside. The powdery white rolling hills patchworked together with snow covered evergreens passed by me as I tried to focus on the winding road. I felt a sense of ease while traveling through the serene landscape; a wave of nostalgia and coziness washed over me as I spotted smoke swirling out of chimneys into the matching grey hazy sky.

With the weather clearing up I could focus on the beauty of Vermont and remember my love for snow and how it delicately falls on the tops of evergreen branches. This reminds me of walking through the Maine woods. Growing up in western Maine, with the forest in my backyard, I have taken many snowy strolls entranced by the snow covered firs and the elegantly draped Old Man’s Beard moss or its official name, Beard Lichen. Walking through that wood felt like traveling through a setting in a storybook.

While reminiscing on my childhood home I remembered that I was heading home. I get to be cozy in my parent’s house with everything that is familiar to me, my pets, my mother, her growing collection of antiques, and her abundant amount of blankets; this made the trip worth it.

The trip through Vermont was smooth and hoped that it would stay that way, but as soon as I got to New Hampshire it started snowing again. The road was gone and turned into a path of white and brown snow and slush. The entire trek through New Hampshire it was snowing. Visibility was so bad I wasn’t able to see my favorite view of the trip, Mt. Washington. Seeing that mountain during the trip always takes my breath away. It towers over the land and is always the first to become white with snow.

By the time I finally got to Maine it was dark, but thankfully I already know what Maine looks like during the winter.

From Vermont, to New Hampshire, to Maine, I got to appreciate the beauty of winter. So please join me in appreciating the beauty of winter from every corner of Maine through my film photos. From the coast of Maine near Boothbay, to the western mountains along Moosehead Lake, to the tippy top of Maine there is a sight to see.

I hope everyone has a beautiful holiday! -Abi ❤