Spring Is Here!

Wow! We have been having some really nice spring-like days recently. Even a few showers in between sunny periods last week. And best of all, warm temperatures without slipping below zero every night!

Along with spring often comes a renewal of sorts - we clean house, rearrange furniture, or otherwise upgrade our lives in a variety of ways. Spring always brings out lots of opportunities to buy or sell property, and the "For Sale" signs begin showing up - sometimes even here at Joe's Pond.

I received the following note from Thierry Guerlain and Julie Hendrickson this past week: 

 Dear friends and neighbors,

Julie and want to let you know that we are putting our Joe’s Pond camp at 263 Old Homestead Road on the market, “For Sale by Owner.”  We’ve totally enjoyed our many summers “at camp” but feel it’s time to trim back a bit.  Secretly, we’re hoping that camp doesn’t sell too soon, so that we can sneak in one more summer on the lake.

If you know of anyone who may be interested in purchasing our camp, please have them contact us directly.  Meanwhile, here are some details on the property.

Our single-story camp is 1050 sq.ft. with three bedrooms (one with bunks, ‘other two with double beds) and two bathrooms, each with a shower.  Living room with woodstove; “modern” kitchen renovated after we purchased the camp; large screened-in dining and napping porch right on the water.  Napping couch included.

The camp has a great "camp" feeling; authentic, right on the water.  Never a musty damp camp feeling ever! …as fresh air is constantly blowing through, under the camp, that sits on posts. We bought our camp in 2010 and over time have made numerous improvements, modification and additions, including recently a small addition that added a second bathroom and a new stacked washer, dryer.  Camp last summer also received a new shingled roof and a new Hearthstone wood stove.  

Separate single car garage with overhead door facing the lake, with a side shed for the lawn tractor.  Tractor, lawn mowers, tools, BBQ, lawn furniture, one weathervane, indoor furnishings, fixtures, appliances, docks, float mostly all included with sale of the camp (subject to terms).

The property has a fully permitted “modern” septic system with the septic tank by the house, away from the lake.  Septic “leachate” is automatically pumped across (under) the road to the permitted septic leach field across the road. Drilled fresh water well, something like 350’ deep.

Great sunshine, morning, all day long, evenings, right to the fantastic sunsets.  (Lakeside our camp faces exactly southwest; we have approximately 95’ of lakefront.)  Our property includes approximately 1-1/4 acres on the east side of Old Homestead Road.  Enough parking for 20+ visitors, a rarity at Joe’s Pond!  (The parking, not the visitors.)  Our 1-plus acres on the east side of Old Homestead Road extends through the woods all the way to and abuts the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail (LVRT).  Seems that there would be building opportunities across the street, but we’ve never investigated that possibility.

Our camp has a sandy-bottomed waterfront, with an easy hinged dock system and two sets of stairs down into the water.  Also a wheeled dock system, easily rolled in and out of the lake, spring and fall.  Offshore swimming float also included.  We think of our camp as having six different “microclimates,” various places to sit and relax, seven if you include laying in the sun, out on the float.  Great layout, great for entertaining, easy access to the deck and the sunporch, lots of parking.

We’re asking $995K for the camp.  Further details available to qualified buyers.  Please contact us directly if you or someone you know is interested.  And, please call if any questions or concerns.

Thanks…

Thierry Guerlain 802-343-6566   &   Julie Hendrickson 802-279-0079

tguerlain51@gmail.com.                       juliehendrickson4@gmail.com

 

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It always makes me sad when long-time Joe's Ponders decide it's time to leave, but I certainly understand. Comes a time when taking care of two or more homes is just too much effort. It's great when the decision is to stay year-around at Joe's Pond, but that takes courage, too. It isn't always handy to get out every day and it can be kind of dreary -- and shoveling snow isn't for everyone. We wish Thierry and Julie the best, and we will miss them.

  

We wished Diane Rossi "Happy Birthday" on Friday -  at Spoon Thawee Thai Cuisine in St. Johnsbury. It may also be called Kham's Thai Cuisine - I'm not certain. But the food was really good, and we had fun. Our server took pictures, and we enjoyed a great meal. Sherry couldn't be with us, but she ordered this delicious birthday cheesecake (photo right), complete with a candle in Diane's honor. So nice, but we missed Sherry. In the photo on the left, left to right, me, Cyndi, Dotty, and Diane. 

 I assume you all remembered to set your clocks ahead one hour last night. It takes a little time to get used to it. Although I got all of my clocks set ahead, my internal clock may take a little more time to adjust - I've been hungry at odd hours today, and I may not be quite ready to sleep when the clock indicates I should tonight. I try to remember that changing our clocks is another sign of spring, and that's a good thing! 

We've been in the 50s today and lost a lot of our snow. There have been some flooding alerts along the Lamoille and the Winooski rivers. Because it is from melting snow, not from rain, it is fairly gradual and hopefully there won't be too much damage. We don't have rain in the immediate forecast, but we do have warm temperatures ahead, so the melting will continue. The back roads are sloppy, but no real mud holes - yet. Those will come, but it's still early in March and we will almost certainly have more snow and cold. It is a process.   

 

 

Still Time!

There is still time to voice your opinion about wake boats on Joe's Pond. We have until Friday to respond to let our legislators know Joe's Pond is too small for these large sports crafts. HERE you can send your comment - and then copy the link and send it to everyone you know and ask them to comment.

Apparently, there is a very powerful wake-boat support group and lobbyists concentrating on influencing Vermont legislators not to change the ruling that would keep wake boats off the state's smaller bodies of water. 

Even if you have sent a comment previously, please do it again. You are not limited in the number of times you can comment - and others who may not live here but are interested and understand how important it is to keep super-large boats from damaging our waterfront properties and churning up the lake bottom that damages the ecosystem and can spread invasives like Eurasian watermilfoil. 

One More Chance!

 The deadline to have comments in regarding changes to the wake boat rules on Vermont ponds and lakes has been extended to this Friday, the 28th, so there is still time for you to let the folks in Montpelier know how you feel about having wake boats on small bodies of water like Joe's Pond. Go to the Responsible Wakes for Vermont Lakes site (RWVL) where you will find instructions on how to comment. Even if you have commented previously, do it again, and have your friends and family do the same. Lawmakers need to know we how we feel about this. 

We know first hand here at Joe's Pond the damage and disruption the big boats can cause. Even when operating in the legal limits as set forth in present state rulings, the wakes are large and dangerous to smaller crafts, swimmers, and shorelines.They stir up and disrupt natural vegetation and will continue the spread of the dreaded milfoil we are trying to control. It will only take a few moments of your time - go to the page and send your comment.

Yesterday was a pretty nice day here while the southern part of the state and eastern coastline were being socked with a brutal storm. Our temperature was moderate, in the 20s, but during the night we dropped into the single numbers above zero again - and this morning there was nearly an inch of very light, dry snow covering everything, which I'm not complaining about, but was totally surprised to see. In addition, there was a really mean wind that sent the "feels like" temperature down to around 10 below zero. I hadn't expected the wind, either, but fortunately I dressed for the cold when I went outside to measure the snow around 9 a.m. - slapping a pair of furry earmuffs on and slipping into my cleated winter boots. When I opened the door, a gust of wind nearly whipped the storm door out of my grasp and swirling snow off the roof pelted my face. Within seconds, I felt the cold penetrating my unlined jeans and light gloves. I wasted no time clearing the snow from the deck and getting measurements so I could dash back inside. The sun is out and it looks deceivingly inviting - but the temperature is only 16 degrees at high noon! And the wind is still gusting to 10-15 mph, so it's not as pleasant as it looks. 

Yesterday I was corresponding with Cousin Ora and her family, many of whom are scattered along the New England seacoast from Rhode Island to Boston - but also in the NYC/Philadelphia area. Everyone is safe, but oh, the snow! One, fortunate enough to be in Florida, was worried about his northern family and also about freezing temperatures expected in Florida. Ora, in Rhode Island, wrote at 10 a.m. that the snow was almost two feet deep against her house and was sticking to the windows. Plows had been through the condo community where she lives, but the banks were already about 10 ft. high from a previous storm, so finding places to put the snow was becoming impossible. She sent a picture of a visiting turkey on her deck - poor thing, probably desperately looking for an easy lunch. Finding food with all the snow blanketing everything is difficult for wildlife. 

Another friend who is in Ventura, California, was enjoying 70 degree temperatures yesterday - pretty normal there, he said, and the reason he and his wife live there during winter time, but return to Vermont from May to late October. Good plan! Even Alaska has been warmer than Vermont most of this winter. They have had record low snow count this February. They usually have much more on the ground than they do this year, and have had much milder temperatures. 

Right now, a few miles northwest of us, Mt. Mansfield has 81 in. of snow - just under 7 ft. at the stake on top of the mountain; I'm guessing here at Joe's Pond we have at least half that amount - not record snow amounts for the mountain or for us, but I bet we have had more below-zero readings this year than most winters. I'm glad I'm not having to feed a wood stove to keep warm! 

Cheers to all - March will usher in spring! And maybe more storms. It can be a troublesome month, weather-wise. 

Checking In and Stages!

 I know lots of you are experiencing unusual weather recently, but here at Joe's Pond things are fairly normal. We have lots of snow and today lots of sunshine with quite normal temperatures of around 30 degrees. Last night we swooped down to 7 above zero - which seems to be the "normal" pattern this winter - cold nights with warmish days. We try not to complain, especially when there's sunshine. It's pretty - the trees are drooping under the weight of the snow, and everything is fresh and white - roads plowed and sanded, so no complaints, really. The ski resorts and snowmobilers are very happy, I'm sure. Somehow the road crews and the guys who plow driveways seem to be able to keep up with everything. The sun is getting higher in the sky and warmer every day, so we know spring will come.

Thinking of spring brings us to thoughts of summer. I received a note from Chelsea Hewill in Danville about the possible future of Danville's Farmers' Market. She sent a survey, and she hopes everyone who uses the farmers' market each summer will look at and hopefully, do the survey. Click HERE to see the survey.

 I also found a very short email from Liz Randall on Long Island, NY in my mailbox this morning. Long Island is in a direct path of the storm along the coast. Here is the alert Liz received early this morning.

That's a lot of snow and wind! I haven't had the news on yet this morning, but I think coastal areas and the southern counties of Vermont and New Hampshire were expected to get pelted with lots of snow today. We had about 6.5 inches yesterday, and only a trace after I measured at about 9 a.m. It is heavier than what we've been getting, and as I was coming home from a meeting in Cabot Village around noon yesterday, there was a bit of rain hitting us. It probably made some of the main highways a bit slick, but our roads were fine. I had to be careful around the Cabot Plain Cemetery area as snowmobile trails cross the road in a couple of spots and there is a short section where they have to run on the side of the road. They are cautious and respectful, but if you aren't familiar with sharing the space with snowmobiles, it can be a bit unnerving, especially if they are on the road with you. It must be a great year for snowmobiling - plenty of snow cover, and those folks dress for sub-zero weather and don't seem to mind the cold temperatures. 

Which reminds me - I found this photo in my collection recently. It's a truck with skis mounted on the front (rear wheel drive in those days --  early 1920s) that Glen Shute used to deliver mail and carry passengers  from Walden railroad station through Cabot to Marshfield and perhaps to Montpelier. I'm not sure what his route was. The contraption looks a little jimmy rigged to me, but I bet it was at least slightly 
more comfortable than riding in an open sleigh behind horses like the group in the other photo above, also operated by Mr. Shute.

Stay safe and warm, wherever you are! 

 

February Thaw!

We've had two really nice 30-degree days in a row! That said, I haven't noticed that our snow-pack has gone down much at all. We are expecting more snow beginning tomorrow and into the weekend, and then probably back to colder weather. This morning I had a low of 5 degrees above zero, but it warmed up remarkably quickly. I just went down for the mail and it's very nice, even though the sun was already behind the hill in back of my house. I should have gone sooner and enjoyed the sun, but I was waiting for an important phone call and had to delay. Still, the temperature is 30 degrees, and that feels like spring!

I was in St. Johnsbury yesterday and enjoyed being able to get my car washed - one of the very few times I've had it washed this winter. It seemed that whenever I was out with it, there was either 3-4 inches of slush on the roads or it was way below zero, so no point in having it washed. I'm sure it won't last - more snow and slush ahead, and then slush and mud. It's hard to keep cars shining and clean, especially when you live on a back road.

We are beginning to see signs of spring. The sun is warmer and the days are longer; our roads are ribbons of darkness between the snowbanks wherever the sun hits them, and there's water running in the streets in towns, and highways are mostly bare and dry. Ice-Out Contest ticket sales are beginning to increase as people enjoy the warmer weather and begin to think about spring. If you aren't in the area where you can pick up your tickets at one of our outlets, go to our Joe's Pond Vermont website and get them online. It's that easy!

I was doing a little research earlier this week and found that Vermont produces over 50% of United State's maple crop. That amounts to over 3 million gallons of syrup - from more than 8 million tree taps. Vermont is followed by New York and Maine in production. New York produces about 1/3 of what Vermont produces, and Maine a little less than New York. Our northern neighbor, Quebec, produces large amounts of maple products, as well. 

I found some old photos of sugaring in Cabot when nearly every farmer tapped at least a few trees and made some syrup and maple sugar. One of the larger sugaring operations was on the Walbridge farm (top photo), probably around 1920.  My family tapped trees on what was the Webster farm north of the Plains Cemetery for many years. 

In the picture here are my father, Aaron Bolton, Jr. standing and facing the camera, and sitting, back to camera is his brother, Jack, Bill, sister Mabel, and standing, back to camera, Bob. I'm not sure who the other person bending over and partially hidden was. It might have been a haired man or a neighbor. They were on their way home after a day gathering sap in the woods - my father tended the boiling process in our sugar house. We made mostly syrup, but there was always a tub of maple sugar on hand at our house. There was a small wood stove in the sugar house where my father would boil down syrup for at least one "sugar party" each spring - hot syrup was drizzled on snow where it became firm and we could pick it up with forks in big golden globs of candy. 

Years ago, the syrup was almost always boiled down until it crystalized into sugar that was easier to keep and to transport than the syrup. It was a staple in every household, used in cooking and baking. Beans baked with maple sugar were common. During WWII we used a lot of maple sugar because white 
cane sugar was scarce and rationed. I remember my father never liked maple sugar to sweeten his coffee. We used maple syrup or sugar for lots of other things - my mother adapted recipes and often used it in place of white sugar.

I like maple walnut ice cream, especially with a little real maple syrup drizzled over it. I like maple syrup on my oatmeal or on vanilla ice cream, too. My mother used to make maple candy at Christmas - it was a long process to get it stirred down to the right consistency. Chocolate fudge was a frequent treat, too. We didn't have thermometers to tell us when it was at "candy stage." Instead, we watched how it dripped off a ladle or a spoon and then the final test was to drop a little into a glass of cold water. If it balled up, it was ready. 

The things we remember! Have a pleasant day with wonderful memories shared with friends.

 

 

 

It Was Only A Matter of Time . . . !

 This cartoon appeared in the local paper, "The Bridge" published in Montpelier, Vermont.

Those "Ice Out" signs in Minneapolis and other cities across our nation reminded me of our Joe's Pond Ice-Out contest every time I saw them in the news. Thanks, Eliza - nicely done!

Is it Spring Yet?

Our weather has warmed up considerably, but it doesn't seem to want to stop snowing. I have no idea how much snow we've gained today, but it's at least another 4-5 inches, I expect. It seems like we can't get a break - it's either cold, snow, or both. I got a report on the thickness of our ice today - 27 inches. I thought it would be more like 48 inches, it's been so cold. However, Bob, my fisherman friend, said it's at 27 and isn't solid, blue ice, but a softer, white ice. This means it will melt quicker once warm weather comes. Old-time ice cutters always looked for clear, "blue" ice that was at least 12 inches thick, as that would last longer in the ice houses. When you are calculating the date on your Ice-Out tickets, this may be important to know. 

When I came into my blog space this afternoon, I discovered the entry I made almost a week ago had not been sent. I'm not sure why - but it is posted now, and you will find it just below this one. It is important, as it has information from Barry Cahoon about the recent meeting he attended at Fish & Wildlife.

And here we are - almost Valentine's Day and then Town Meeting Day, the first Tuesday in March. Spring IS almost here - and maple sugaring season, then mud season, the end of our Ice-Out Contest, and finally, open water at Joe's Pond once again! Can't wait.

Here is something special being offered in Cabot - a Valentine's Day turkey pie supper! So good! Here is the notice:

When: Feb 14, 2026, 5 to 6:30 PM
Where: United Church of Cabot, Common Rd, Cabot, VT

Valentines Day Vermont Turkey Pie Supper ~~~ Feb. 14, 5 - 6:30 pm
Dine-in or Take-out, By Donation
Cabot United Church. 426-3783 

The church always puts on a super-good dinner using turkeys from the Bothfeld farm, and all the trimmings. They do turkey dinners to perfection. I'm always impressed - and always stuffed. Turkey pie is going to be just as delicious, I'm sure.

 Speaking of meals - middle son, Bob, and I did our "First Thursday" lunch last week at the Village Restaurant in Hardwick. Bob had mac 'n cheese with bacon, chicken, and seems like one other ingredient I wouldn't have expected. He said it was exceptionally good. Lots of calories (and cholesterol!), but definitely worth the risk. It was one of their "special" items that day, apparently a trial by their chef. Bob hopes they keep it on the menu. I had a hot turkey sandwich - and it was really good, too, served with lots of gravy and mashed potato. 

We had a riverside table and watched as workers secured suspension cables from an enormous crane to the long footbridge that crosses the river nearby. The bridge has been deemed unsafe due to erosion of the supports for it on each side of the river. I'm amazed that it has lasted as long as it has with the river flooding frequently, ice jams, and general erosion over time. There is a temporary bridge for the workers, but not for the public, we were told by our waitress. The old footbridge was removed the day after we were there, I learned from the Hardwick Gazette. The new bridge and repairs to the supports are expected to be completed by November.

If you intend to vote by absentee ballot, you need to contact your town clerk now to have one sent to you, if you haven't already received yours. Our mail is pretty sketchy lately - some days we don't have any delivery - so allow extra time. I've asked for mine to be sent to me. Also, Cabot Town Reports used to be sent to everyone, but that became too expensive, I guess, so now they are available at the Town Offices and the stores. 

Stay warm and safe - don't drive in this messy weather if you don't have to! Think Spring!