No snow today! Reasonable temperatures!
We stopped to talk with a couple of ice fishermen parked near Meadow Lane mid-afternoon on Christmas Eve. We inquired about the depth of ice on the pond, but it was their first time out this year and they hadn't a clue. One of them declared that it needed to be at least four inches thick or he wouldn't go out. They were going to drill some test holes close to shore. There had been some fishermen off the state fishing access on Rt. 2 that day, too, but they didn't stay out long. This morning we saw someone fishing in back of the big island (see photo), so we guess there is sufficient ice, in spite of the warmer weather and rain we had earlier in the week.

Fred was out this afternoon covering the last of his wood pile. You can see the layers of snow, and even though we had some rain, it sure didn't wash away much. It is compacted, though, and a bit crusty - good base for skiing. We've had a couple inches since the rain, and more is expected tomorrow.

The banks along West Shore Road have diminished some, but are still high enough so if you happen to slip off the road you probably won't land in a deep ditch. This picture is looking west, late this afternoon. Fred also took a picture of me, through the window, working at my computer. I had planned on going outside, but I wanted to finish a book I've been reading in between holiday activities. Once I'd come to the last page, I was sorry it had ended. I haven't met the author, Lucille (Maurice) Maistros except via e-mails, but I hope to if she returns to visit Joe's Pond next summer. I got in touch with Lucille when I was researching the story about the nuns who drowned here in 1961. Lucille spent time at Joe's Pond as a child and is related to some of the families who were here at the time of that tragic accident. Her book, Growing Up Cold: A memoir of growing up cold, but longing to be cool, in 1950s Vermont, is a charming, funny, totally engaging story about herself, a "chubby, klutzy, un-cool Catholic girl," growing up in "St. Froid" (St. Johnsbury). A quote from the book: "You would think that the first thing a Vermonter with a new driver's license would do is head south."

The book is sprinkled with wisdom, recipes for traditional French dishes, and rules to live by to get through a rugged Vermont winter, all presented with wit and the keen insight of having been there and done that. Lucille struggled through those years in the 50s but obviously looks back fondly on those "un-cool" days growing up cold. Her book is available at Boxcar and Caboose bookstore in St. Johnsbury, and on line at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com.

You'll find more about Lucille's book on our web site, www.joespondvermont.com, under "Links" and "Local Authors and Artists."