tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-163597512024-03-19T04:47:25.681-04:00 JOE'S POND REFLECTIONSJane Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17118626587041067876noreply@blogger.comBlogger5835125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16359751.post-58758841860702993122024-03-16T12:28:00.000-04:002024-03-16T12:28:11.478-04:00Today's Ice Report, March 16, 2024This may be one of the last ice reports we will be able to give to you. The weather is going to remain warm, so conditions are changing quickly on the pond and it may not be safe for my source to be out there. However, Bob Mackay is ice fishing this morning and he just reported to me that solid ice and snow have sort of merged and he drilled through 20 inches of "soft ice" to get to water this Jane Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17118626587041067876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16359751.post-19369068926236258212024-03-15T16:04:00.003-04:002024-03-15T16:04:35.684-04:00Ice Report In case you've wondered where I've been all week, I've been here at home, isolated with Covid. Yup, I finally got it! I must have gotten overconfident or something - I was out of the house only once last week, on Friday for lunch with son, Bob, and on Sunday I felt I was coming down with something. I tested negative then, but on Monday morning I felt worse and tested positive -- and it's Jane Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17118626587041067876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16359751.post-38689573451410893322024-03-10T14:10:00.002-04:002024-03-10T14:14:06.441-04:00Back to WinterWell, those of us who kept our fingers crossed that this storm wouldn't sock us with a lot of snow should have saved our effort. We awoke this morning to masses of heavy, wet snow on everything and it has snowed very steadily until about noon, and then began tapering off. Now it is settled into flurries, the temperature has risen from about 30 degrees to almost 40, so there is a little melting Jane Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17118626587041067876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16359751.post-71672290008493590452024-03-07T10:22:00.002-05:002024-03-07T10:29:21.819-05:00News ItemsI found out late yesterday that the Cabot Post Office has been closed indefinitely due to "structural damage." I spoke with Betty Ritter, our town clerk, this morning and she told me this happened on Monday and that mail will be handled out of Marshfield P.O. If she had more information, she did not share it with me. I will try to learn more. Our rural service will not change, but it will Jane Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17118626587041067876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16359751.post-13202529396172032952024-03-06T19:09:00.002-05:002024-03-06T19:24:18.502-05:00Is It Spring Yet? This is certainly unusual March weather - at least early March weather! The bare patches outnumber the snow patches around my house now, the road is wet and slimy (but thankfully no deep mud bogs like some years - thank you, Cabot road crew!), the pond is looking mighty watery, although a few days ago someone had their truck out there. That is living dangerously!Speaking of the pond and iceJane Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17118626587041067876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16359751.post-62099820090953564742024-02-28T17:13:00.001-05:002024-02-28T17:13:40.452-05:00The Block & Flag Are Out! Well, it's that time of year again - time for Ice-Out contestants to get serious. Some years the weather has been so miserably cold the flag didn't get put out until the first week in April, and that has puzzled some folks. Since entries in the contest need to be in on April 1st, it only seems fitting the flag should be up before then; but when it's bitterly cold and windy, with lots of iceJane Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17118626587041067876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16359751.post-42436203393452558932024-02-22T16:42:00.000-05:002024-02-22T16:42:39.094-05:00Sad NewsI'm so sorry to bring sad news to our Joe's Pond Community. Lisa Hebert (Clubhouse Circle) passed awaythis week. Lisa was Joe and Pam Hebert's daughter-in-law, married to their son, Chris. Chris and Lisa enjoyed their summer home here at Joe's Pond, and Lisa enthusiastically became part of the Joe's Pond community, working with the Ice-Out Contest committee, and joining in social activitiesJane Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17118626587041067876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16359751.post-5587021585691128632024-02-19T12:39:00.001-05:002024-02-19T13:17:54.491-05:00Celebrating FebruaryThe temperature was in the single digits above zero for a few nights, and today the sun is out and there's a brisk wind that is tossing the new snow around with gusts of wind ranging here around 20mph. According to the weather folks on WCAX this morning, some places are getting gusts of twice that. It is still only 14 degrees, and that wind is biting, especially when it's whipping snow at you. Jane Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17118626587041067876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16359751.post-55909987296788028042024-02-14T17:42:00.002-05:002024-02-14T17:42:13.387-05:00Winter is Back Happy Valentine's Day, and I hope you are celebrating it with someone
you love and who loves you. That's the best there is. It's nice to take
one day in the year to recognize how much that means, but even better
if that appreciation lasts a lifetime!We have escaped all the snow that blanketed states south of us, but we haven't escaped the cold. I recorded a low of 8F last night and the Jane Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17118626587041067876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16359751.post-8098471587826908132024-02-10T13:25:00.004-05:002024-02-10T13:36:08.831-05:00Springtime and Winter MemoriesIt sure feels like spring out there this morning. And West Shore Road is showing signs of spring, too! There are some pretty slimy spots, one especially below my house about half way between my driveway and Chatot's. The sun hits there in the morning and it can get pretty greasy as the frost comes out of the top surface layers. It's passable, but you don't want to hit it at 35 or 40 mph or Jane Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17118626587041067876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16359751.post-12664564885073250342024-02-03T18:32:00.001-05:002024-02-03T18:32:12.090-05:00Memories of Peacham School Days We actually saw the sun for almost five minutes today! Yesterday I was working at my computer in my cozy office with the insulating blind down at the window my desk faces, and I suddenly realized there was an unfamiliar glow beyond my computer. The sun! I jumped up to raise the blind and before I could get it up, the sun disappeared behind a cloud again and didn't come out the rest of the Jane Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17118626587041067876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16359751.post-1539652667789059442024-01-30T10:26:00.003-05:002024-01-30T10:26:45.043-05:00Ice Fisher Rescued and Wake Boat Regulation Clarification An article from the Caledonian Record this morning: Ice Fisherman RescuedThe wake boat issue addressed by Rep. Henry Pearl in an email to me in response to my recent inquiry: Henry Pearl
Thanks
so much for reaching out. I've been following this issue closely
and similarly wish the ANR rule had been for 1000'. Kathrine Sims
introduced a bill that I support to allow any Jane Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17118626587041067876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16359751.post-30178245811206367392024-01-29T19:02:00.003-05:002024-01-29T19:02:35.054-05:00Ice Report - Not a Normal Year We have another inch and a half of new snow on top of a variety of crusty or icy conditions on roads and other flat surfaces. It's hard to know exactly what is underfoot, thank to the changeable weather we've had so far this winter. Today the temperature has remained in the 20s, closer to normal than it has been, but the forecast is for it to be in the mid to upper 30s later this weekJane Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17118626587041067876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16359751.post-34982531121486702502024-01-27T19:43:00.001-05:002024-01-27T19:43:17.892-05:00More on ANR Decision on Wake Boats I received this note from David Kidney (Cove Road): Jane,
Attached is the memo the DEC sent to Julie Moore, Secretary of the ANR.
You can see on the very first page that the DEC recommended 600', which
would have prohibited wake boats on Joe's Pond. The ANR, however, is
proposing a rule of only 500', which will
permit wake boats on our pond.
Jane Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17118626587041067876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16359751.post-7708952111344493162024-01-23T18:38:00.002-05:002024-01-23T18:38:49.823-05:00This and That in Late JanuaryThere are some interesting comments from other states on Vermont's struggle with wake-boat regulation. Once again, Vermont is taking the lead on an important issue and other states are keeping an eye on the outcome, hoping it will help them in solving their own wake boat problems.I had to dig a short path to my outdoor bird feeders today and found that the ground is not frozen under almost two Jane Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17118626587041067876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16359751.post-12802572025415887452024-01-21T19:07:00.002-05:002024-01-21T19:07:48.001-05:00Sad NewsThe West Danville community is saddened by the death of Garey Larrabee - long-time West Danville resident and proprietor of Hastings Store. Garey was a presence in the store, rising early every morning to "make the doughnuts" and other bakery items that were so popular with customers, or filling special orders for customers, including many in the Joe"s Pond summer community.. He was the go-to guyJane Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17118626587041067876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16359751.post-67624013276319529172024-01-17T12:45:00.002-05:002024-01-17T12:45:33.793-05:00Weather, News, History There isn't much to report this morning, but I guess I'm feeling it has been so long between posts that someone is going to get worried if I'm ok. I am fine. I'm relieved that yesterday's snowfall was light and fluffy, due to the darned cold temperatures. I don't think it got out of the single digits above all day. Today is a bit warmer - I'm seeing 18.9F right now, but the sunshine Jane Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17118626587041067876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16359751.post-37401134097900963102024-01-09T18:47:00.000-05:002024-01-09T18:47:03.999-05:00Followup Re. ANR Wake Boat DecisionOne of my readers shared my post about Agency Of Natural Resource's wake boat decision with John Widness who is organizer for Responsible Wakes for Vermont Lakes and lives in Wilmington, VT. Here is his response, with some interesting information:Jack Widness, Jan 7, 2024, 1:41 PM (2 days ago) <!--[if gte mso 9]>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>
Normal
0
false
false
Jane Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17118626587041067876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16359751.post-48154740490304218482024-01-08T10:53:00.000-05:002024-01-08T10:53:20.360-05:00Another Snowy DayThe storm that socked much of the nation finally got to us yesterday, and while we weren't impacted as seriously as other areas, we got a solid 14 inches of snow over the past two days. Today it's hard to tell if it's snowing or if the snow in the air is from the wind. There's a pretty stiff wind that seems to change from NW to SW and it is taking snow off trees and roofs, piling it into soft Jane Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17118626587041067876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16359751.post-29469706105008781162024-01-06T18:57:00.002-05:002024-01-06T18:57:45.131-05:00Weather, Ice, and News We have winter, more or less, at least here at Joe's Pond. Much of the surrounding areas such as St. Johnsbury, Plainfield, Barre, etc., are pretty much snowless tonight, but West Danville, Cabot, and Walden have at least a little snow on the ground so we are white, not brown. Still, it's not a "normal" winter.The best news is that the Cabot road crew was able to hone West Shore Road on Jane Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17118626587041067876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16359751.post-82050895723085726322023-12-31T18:47:00.000-05:002023-12-31T18:47:02.954-05:00New Year Greetings! We are closing 2023 with a dusting of snow on the ground - finally! We have had lots of rain this final month of the year and aside from flooding earlier, the consistently drizzly days with absolutely no sunshine except on an occasional day for a few minutes just to tease us, has left everything very soggy, especially back roads. There are potholes, mud bogs, puddles and very soft shouldersJane Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17118626587041067876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16359751.post-6840150633816518272023-12-28T13:10:00.002-05:002023-12-28T13:10:36.291-05:00So Much SadnessDecember is noted for being a joyous time of celebration - Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa - but in spite of the uplifting spirit of these special days, our lives can spiral out of control in unexpected ways. I mentioned here several days ago that a long-time friend, Ferguson McKay had passed away. Exactly two weeks to the day after he died, his dear wife, Jane followed. Jane had celebratedJane Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17118626587041067876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16359751.post-39740913980699896972023-12-25T09:33:00.004-05:002023-12-25T09:46:06.913-05:00Greetings!Our landscape in 2023 is much the same as 17 years ago. No White Christmas, but the Spirit of Christmas is alive and well at Joe's Pond and Santa had no problem landing his sleigh last night. I'm told he has emergency wheels for no-snow landings! Jane Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17118626587041067876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16359751.post-19628242728868081192023-12-21T12:31:00.003-05:002023-12-21T12:33:59.951-05:00A Special MessageIt is wonderful to see bright sunshine for more than a couple hours! Today is very bright, but also very cold. The temperature is only 19F, but there is a brisk NW wind that sends the "feels-like" temperature into the single digits. I made a quick trip to put some last-minute cards into the mailbox and although I enjoyed the sunshine, I was really glad I had my furry earmuffs on and didn't lingerJane Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17118626587041067876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16359751.post-70212161149148178762023-12-20T17:18:00.001-05:002023-12-20T17:30:44.445-05:00Weather Report Our weather turns on a dime lately. I left home yesterday around noon with the temperature at 35 degrees. We had sunshine early in the morning, but when I left it had clouded over and I could see what looked like fog north of here in the area of Walden Heights. As I approached the schoolhouse turn on Cabot Plains Road, I realized it wasn't fog I was seeing - it was snow. My car was Jane Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17118626587041067876noreply@blogger.com0