On the day after Christmas, my family, cousins, and I were ice-skating on Maranacook Lake near the town we all grew up in. It was the first time I had ever used my new Sony a6000 (and to think I almost left it at home for fear of falling!). It felt like a bit of Maine winter magic: the ice-skating conditions were perfect, the surface was as smooth as glass in all directions, and the sun was just beginning to set. We skated from shore to shore as the sky changed and were on our way back to the boat launch when I looked behind me and saw the ice-fishing shack. This capture reminds me of my favorite things: home, family, and the promise of snowfall in the air.

Emily Harriman grew up in central Maine. She now lives and teaches in Portland. You can find her on the Nordic ski trails this winter or on Instagram @mainelyemily.

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