The picture on the right is how our side lawn looked this morning. Thin sunshine! Barely made shadows, but the temperature stayed in the 20s and that felt good, and no new snow overnight.

We are happy to announce the arrival of our granddaughter, Jo-Ann, all the way from Namibia. We picked the family up at the airport in Burlington this afternoon and it was great fun meeting Jo-Ann for the first time - she's 10 years old and a sweetheart.

We left here at about 11 o'clock and went the "back" way through Morrisville because we wanted to do an errand along the way. We were hungry when we got to Morrisville, so stopped at McDonald's for a quick lunch. We arrived at the airport just as the plane from D.C. landed, so we were headed back home in no time.

When we left the airport, it was the first blast of cold air they'd experienced since leaving Africa and Jo-Ann was totally surprised. She hadn't expected anything like the cold wind that whipped across the walkway from the parking garage. The temperature was actually not awfully cold, but coming from outside temperatures of 80+ and the warmth of the airplane and terminal, she just wasn't prepared and told us her face was freezing. We rushed to the car and she cuddled under my parka between Fred and me. We were glad that she could sort of ease into the cold weather since it actually had warmed up a lot from what it had been. She'll adjust quickly with a little time and some nice warm winter clothes and be ready when it gets REALLY cold again.

Bill and Monika took a little time here at our house to let Jo-Ann get acquainted with our cat, Woody, who, seemed as charmed by her as we are. We had come home through Cabot Village so Bill could show her the cheese plant, the schools I went to as a youngster, our farm, etc., and we tried to explain Joe's Pond as we looked out our living room window. I realized how much we take for granted when I tried to explain the difference in the white areas - explaining the frozen lake, the channel that feeds the pond, and the hills and highway beyond that were all just white areas to her. When she first got out of the car at our house, she put her hand deep into the soft snow - her first experience with with the white stuff. She's curious and interested in everything, and a joy to know.

She liked the notes, stuffed animals and the copy of Charlotte's Web that Pam and Joe Hebert's grand children gave her as a "welcome to Joe's Pond" gift. She also liked her new grandmother's molasses crinkle cookies! She's even looking forward to getting started in her new school in Waterford. We've only known her for a few hours, but already she's captured our hearts. I think we're going to like being grandparents!!

They are happy to be home, and we're very glad they're back. Here's the slide show: Meeting Jo-Ann