This is not a morning for sissies! It's still 10 below zero on the thermometer outside my window, and the wind is blowing so it feels like about 30 below out there. The sun is beautiful, but it's pretty "thin" coming through that cold air.

I just had a call from the Sears store in St. Johnsbury. They've been tracking our vacuum cleaner that we sent for servicing just before Christmas. It apparently got to the staging center at Colechester, but didn't get on the truck to come to St. J. so it will be at least another week. The manager here said he's promising us a new vac if ours doesn't show up on the delivery truck next Wednesday, and offered me a temporary replacement until then - but I told him we're doing fine with the old Electrolux and my trusty broom. He was relieved, I think, that I wasn't angry, and I didn't explain to him that after all the stuff we've been dealing with on a printer for my office, being without the vacuum has lost importance.

I had some pictures from Pat and George Parizo this morning. They've been out measuring the snowdrifts around their house on Sandy Beach Road. They wrote:

High praise is in order for all the State, City and Town road crews for their dictate work in keeping our highways and byways open for travel.

At right, the Cabot Town plow truck on Sandy Beach Rd. Monday

The lawn chair has some protection under the cedar trees, but I don't think either George or Pat will be out there enjoying the view of the pond for a few months, at least. Pretty darned cold and snowy. But Pat and George look as if they are prepared for the cold weather.

Thanks to the Parizos for sending the photos.