We awoke to snow-covered everything (so what else is new?) and moderate temperatures today and there has been no wind to sweep the snow off the trees so it's still Christmas card pretty. We went into town to do last-minute errands and to visit our friends, Inda and Millie, who reside at the St. Johnsbury Health and Rehab. Their room was nicely decorated, and they seemed content. Both are in the 9th decade of their lives, and for all of having not known each other until Inda was assigned to be Millie's roommate late last summer, they seem to get along very well together, and because both are still very sharp even though one cannot hear well and the other doesn't see well, it is great fun to visit them. The snow was up to the sill of the windows of their ground level room, and Millie commented that it seemed to her the convalescent center was quite a bit warmer than it had been last year when we didn't have any snow until mid-January. That launched some discussion of how, back on the farm (I think they each grew up on farms, Inda in Danville and Millie perhaps in New Hampshire), they always piled snow against the house to keep it warm.

Speaking of piles of snow, when we got home Fred delivered a package the mailman had left with us for our neighbor, Henretta. A few days ago Henretta had Rod Sholan (see his card under "services" on the home page) shovel the roofs of her garage and house. As if that wasn't big enough job, he then had to come back and make a path to get to the bottled gas tank at the back of her house. He didn't know the tank was in back of the house. What a heck of a lot of work!

When he finished, this is what it looked like. Fred couldn't resist taking pictures, so came back to the house for the camera. I think the gas truck made the delivery just fine - but we all know what's going to happen the first time the wind blows. When the banks get just a little higher, Rod may just put a few boards across and let it be a tunnel.

On our way out this morning, this is what West Shore Road looked like. That's Diane Rossi just coming out of a driveway with her snow blower. She was kind enough to cut the stream of snow as we passed. Already it's difficult to find a place to blow the snow that won't be in the way of someone else. Banks are getting high enough so the town came with the grader a couple days ago and winged back the banks ready for more snow. In West Danville, Garey called in the heavy equipment to tackle the snow around the store that was blocking their garage and made parking and walking difficult.

In the spirit of the season, I thought you'd get a kick out of this.
Just turn on your speakers and click.
Merry Christmas Sing-Along


I had an e-mail from Bryce Montgomery today. He's watching the blog and feeling lucky, I think. Here's what he says:

Spent last Monday with Rob Denny in Key West for a tour. We were on a cruise when you got all your snow. Looks pretty but I don't miss it and all the service calls. When my phone rings at night I don't cringe. Have a great Holiday Season. A Very Merry Christmas and the best to you in the New Year. Bryce

Merry Christmas to you, too, Bryce!