Another dreary day. It isn't awfully cold - about 18 degrees and falling gradually - but there's no sunshine. It's hard to tell if there's snow in the air or if the wind is sifting snow off the trees, but according to my snow board there was only a trace of snow over night, and looks as if there won't be much more right away. The trees are pretty well covered with snow here at the pond, but in Danville and St. Johnsbury, the trees are clear of snow, but the hills in the distance are capped in white. I took this shot at a slightly different angle so you could see the hills in Walden, too. Even without the sunshine, it's still beautiful. Wintery, but beautiful . . .

We have another sad announcement. Edicta Cozzi, Klaire Martin's mother, passed away on Monday. She was 95. She enjoyed being at Joe's Pond and had many good friends here over the years. The comlete obituary is here: Edicta Cozzi
We extend sincere condolences to Klaire and Doug Martin and their family. The Martins have a cottage on Edgewood Ave., and live in Ridgefield, Connecticut.

I had a note from Homer Fitts today. Homer and his bride, Margaret, will be heading for Venice, Florida in mid-February and will be back before the end of March, he said, in time to man the Ice-Out Clock watch station. Homer says:

AM ENJOYING BEING IN BARRE FOR THE WINTER BUT I DO MISS JOE'S POND ALSO. WE DO KEEP ACTIVE WITH COUPLES, DINNERS ETC. I ALSO ENJOY COFFEE HOURS WITH THE GUYS EVERY MORNING.

I SEE LARRY ROSSI OFTEN AT STAG SUPPERS AT THE MUTUO.

DOUG AND BILLY HAMILTON COME TO MOST OF THEM ALSO.

WE USUALLY STOP TO SAY " HI " TO GAREY ON SUNDAYS THAT WE GO TO CHURCH IN PEACHAM.

We are glad Homer and Margaret are able to keep in touch with people here and it's always good to hear from them.

We had an e-mail from Bill and Monika today telling us they are going to Cape Town for a few days until it's time to take their flight on the 13th. They were going to try to get on stand-by, but since that can be a hassle sometimes and communications can be uncertain when they're sight-seeing, they decided to make the best of the time they have left and see more of Africa. Now that all of Jo-Ann's paperwork is in order, they can relax a bit more and enjoy doing things together. They will go back to Johannesburg to make their flight home, and we expect to pick them up on the 14th of January. You can bet Fred will have his camera!

Woody finally found his new sky-walk and enjoyed exploring this morning. He isn't quite as graceful as some cats, so I may need to move some things around on top of the cupboards so he doesn't knock anything off. The thing is, he doesn't realize he's too big to get behind or between some things, and other times he purposely swipes things off with his paw just for his own amusement.

We got this shot of Alyssa and her daddy at the store when we picked up the mail this morning. She is walking pretty well now, without holding onto things, for the most part, so life is going to get a whole lot more interesting at the store now. She and Woody may have something in common, being curious and brushing things onto the floor. She was intent on rearranging the shelves when we were there. That's her daddy, James, with her. Mom was just out of camera range.