The photos Fred took of the flag and the ice today look very much the same as we've shown you earlier this week. In spite of rain most of the day, the pond looks just about the same.

Here is a slide show of some pictures Fred took yesterday on his way to Cabot to take tickets to Harry's Hardware. Keith Burtt was boiling, so you'll see shots of his sugar woods and the sugar house. Later in the day Fred took pictures of the Ice-Out flag and the pond so you can compare with those taken today. You'll see that even the road to Cabot, which is generally very muddy, is doing very well this spring. We have had virtually no mud season - so far. We really think the danger is over for this year, although, with temperatures in the 70's for a few days, things may change! Slides

There was evidence Homer and Margaret have been up to their camp recently. At the top of their driveway, which is also the road to the State Fishing Access, a happy chick is popping out of a lavender Easter egg. Homer's seasonal decorations are one of the more pleasant consistencies we enjoy here at Joe's Pond - like good friends. Locals look forward to the Jack-O'-Lantern lights in the fall, the flags in July and sometimes signs announcing an event such as a birthday. Homer has for years decorated his house and the sign at the top of the driveway and we always look forward to something new appearing.

Ticket sales are booming. Tomorrow is the last day. If you have ticket stubs you haven't sent in, be sure you get them in the mail tomorrow as the envelope MUST be postmarked APRIL 1st to be included in the contest. You still have time to print tickets from the web site and mail them tomorrow. Some of our outlets ran out of tickets again today, but we were able to restock them. I have only a few tickets left and expect they'll be needed tomorrow. I don't believe Diane has any left, and Don Walker brought a few extras he had over to us today, so they are becoming scarce as hen's teeth.

The printable tickets will be taken off the web site tomorrow evening. We will leave the page there even after post offices have closed here in case anyone in a different time zone wants some and makes a mad dash for the post office. Then, the 23rd annual Joe's Pond Ice-Out Contest will be officially closed and we'll wait for the clock to stop and give us a winner - or winners.

Of course, for those of us involved in the process of organizing the contest, there will still be plenty to do, and Carl, who logs in the information from each and every ticket, will be busy for several days since most of the 12,000+ tickets sold are getting to him these last few days. And there will be the phone calls from various reporters, anxious to get the scoop on whether the clock has stopped. We'll keep you all posted.

We're coming out from under a pretty rainy day. We haven't had a lot of rain - most of it has been in southern Vermont and New England, but we've had enough to cause streams to go over their banks in places. I had this message from JPA President, Tom Dente this morning:

Seven to ten inches of rain in our area of Connecticut reported by the weather folks. Lots of flooding and condemned buildings due to severe water damage. But warm the end of the week for Easter. Have a Happy Easter and see you soon.

This came from Steve and Bev Allen this morning:

We'll be on the Cape a few more days - Bev's Dad is having a great recovery so we're actually enjoying our stay down here in civilization! Luckily the Cape missed out on the floods that are devastating the rest of SE New England - we only had 2" of rain - 60 miles away in Providence 10" fell! We're keeping an eye on the JPA site and the blog for ice-out info - bet you got a flurry of early date guesses! Hi to everybody slogging through the mud!

Cheers,

Steve is right, lots of folks are watching closely to see what the weather is going to do to the ice. I talked to Don Walker a few minutes ago. Don is one of the founders of our Ice-Out contest, so he's seen a whole lot of strange springs and crazy weather affecting the contest. He told me he's looking for it to go out early, in fact he thought around the second weekend in April, which will put it about a week sooner than the earliest date it's ever gone out, the 16th of April. We agreed that if we get 70 degree weather (Don says it's likely to be more like 60 here at Joe's Pond!) that ice is just going to disappear like magic. There's already been a lot of wear and tear on it - warm weather, warm water rushing in from the hills, and sun beating down on it will take a toll. However, like we always, say, it's still anybody's guess!

Harvey's Lake went out Friday. Their contest, like ours, was supposed to close on April 1st, but Mother Nature fooled them this year. We don't know who the winner was yet - it'll take a while for their tickets to be logged in, even though they don't sell as many as we do.

Fred got in touch with the meteorologists at Fairbanks Museum yesterday with questions about our unusual weather. He got a very detailed and thorough reply from Chris Bouchard. You'll find it posted with other Ice-Out information in our "Ice Watch" section, or click here: Chris Bouchard, Meteorologist Report

A lot is happening at our house right now. Fortunately, I'm over my cold and feeling fine again, so no excuses. It's a good thing, because there is always a flurry of activity on the last day or two of the Ice-Out Contest - phone calls, sometimes interviews, emergency runs to supply outlets with tickets. Add to that getting the newsletter ready to publish as soon as we have a contest winner (reports and ads to coral), but then it's Easter - when traditionally we gather as a family for Sunday dinner. This year is special because our new granddaughter, Jo-Ann Ann, will be celebrating her birthday on Sunday! She will be 11, and we're looking forward to a lovely day with family and friends. I will be making the birthday cake - vanilla, with pink frosting. That'll be a switch! Birthday cakes for the three boys were usually chocolate on chocolate and in trimmed with a replica of Batman, a guitar, drums, a Chevvy or a Harley. Don't bother with candles, just make it BIG.

Our deer were back last night, and we'll be watching for them again tonight. The come out when it's too dark to get a good picture, unfortunately, and we don't like to frighten them off, so mostly we just watch from our windows.

Fred has gone to check the rope to the Ice- Out contraption and take some pictures, so I'll report later on ice and water conditions. I didn't get down to check the water level today, but tomorrow will be nicer, so I'll be sure to do it then.

Rainy day and more tomorrow. There will be flood warnings up, especially in southern Vermont and the other New England states. All the rain and the anticipated warm weather will no doubt end the maple season, but I think most producers would say they've had a good run!

I have a couple of things for you. In Saturday's Caledonian Record, there was notice that Steve Cobb's mother, Laura (Irwin) Cobb, 84, died in St. Johnsbury on Thursday, March 25. Many Joe's Ponders know Steve, who owns the Danville Inn and Restaurant. Our sympathy to Steve and his family.

In today's Caledonian, we saw that Ruth (Somers) Chandler, 99, passed away on Friday, March 26, in St. Johnsbury. Ruth and her husband, Sam, owned and operated Chandler's Greenhouses on Webster Street in St. Johnsbury for many years. Then their son, Harry and his wife, Judy, ran the business for a long time. They were my neighbors when I lived on Lynwood Terrace in St. Johnsbury. Their granddaughter is Crystal Prevost, who lives on Davidson Rd. Ruth was a lovely lady and will be missed.

You can read Mrs. Cobb's obituary by going to Caledonian Record.
Mrs. Chandler's had not been posted when I went there this evening, but should be there tomorrow.

Also, I heard from Steve and Bev Allen today. They saw the posting from Sam Lewis about the bald eagle. Here's what Steve wrote:

Jane & Fred,

As mentioned on today's blog, it's always exciting to spot an eagle! A young eagle was a frequent visitor to the Pond last summer - it's presence often signaled by the distress calls of the loons, as eagles are significant predators of young loons. Hearing the loons call we'd rush for the binoculars, knowing we could spy an eagle over Joe's Pond. When an osprey soars overhead, the loons are silent, not viewing the "fish hawk" as a threat...

Think Spring!

Steve Allen

Thank you to Steve - I remember that we had eagle sightings last summer. It's exciting that one, at least, is back.

This announcement came today:

Reminder Notice:

At the Cabot Public Library on

Tuesday, March 30th from 7 to 8:30 pm

Critical Thinking and Weird Things

Chip Taylor will attempt to do a “really accurate” horoscope for anyone present, show why multi-tasking (such as texting while driving) is actually impossible, test a counterfeit detecting pen against real and counterfeit money, and perhaps even demonstrate the effects of overdosing on homeopathic sleeping pills. (If he falls asleep he promises that there will be a video you can watch!)

All programs are free and open to the public.

This is how we looked a little earlier this morning. The ground was pretty much all white with snow, and the pond was a mix of snow and water on the ice. Really wet, spring-like weather such as we expect in April. I think we'll have rain most of the day and that will be the end of our snow, even in our back yard. It's getting more and more scarce, but there are still large patches where the sun hasn't hit. The snow is melting away rapidly now and water is beginning to run off the hillsides again.


We can hear a lot of birds this morning, among the calls I hear some geese from down by the pond. There are more song birds chirping away in our woods, too. This robin wasn't singing about the rain or anything else. I guess even robins get tired of too much water running down their backs.

This came from Sam and Judy Lewis on Sandy Beach Road:

On Sunday afternoon, we were treated to the sighting of a young bald eagle. It came down from the head of the pond and landed on a pine tree about 25 yards from our window. After a few minutes it was chased off the tree by several crows and it flew up to where the brook enters the pond and stood on the ice for about 10 minutes. It didn't seem to be feeding but was very alert and constantly looking around. The ducks and geese stayed out of sight for a while but then started coming back in. The eagle then flew down to the large pine on Pearls Island and stood sentry there for about 15 minutes and then moved on. The plumage and markings were similar to a 2 year old bird (picture from our field guide) and the feathers were quite bedraggled looking as if it was having a bad hair day.We have never seen a wild eagle this close and were awed by the size.

Thank you for sharing this with us, Sam and Judy. It must have been interesting to watch. I wonder if a pair might one day nest here? or maybe they need cliffs or something. The picture at the right is of the channel, or the "head of the pond," Sam mentioned. I took it just a few minutes ago. It's a wild and protected area, so the bald eagles might find it acceptable for nesting. This is also the general area of where the loons nest, too. Each summer we remind people to use caution when boating in this area as there is so much wild life there. It is a wonderful place to kayak or canoe in, with shallows along the deep channel where you'll find all sorts of living things to watch and photograph.

We're in the final days of our 23rd annual Ice-Out Contest. April 1st is the end, so get your tickets in. The last week is always a little wild, so Diane and I are bracing for it. We're organized, though, and Fred and Bill are standing by. We'll let you know as soon as we have all tickets logged in how many were sold - right now we don't have a clue. And we'll let you know here and on the web site when the flag is down and we have a winner.

This came this morning:

$20 Adults | $7 Kids 12 and under

A Taste Of West Africa

Music, Dinner & Dancing with:

Movement Of The People: The Fela Kuti Project

(13 piece Afrobeat Musical Experience)

Menu Highlights

Jollof Rice and Shrimp, Ground Nut Chicken Stew,

Lentil Kansiye, Assorted Flatbreads with Dips and Sauces

Cash Bar provided by The Black Door & Bistro.

PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE

OR BY CALLING 802.563.2289

Tickets available at the door by availability.

All proceeds support

The Cabot School Performing Arts Center

Very quiet day here. It's been partly sunny and not very warm - in the 40's, so not much melting going on. We still have snow patches on our hillside, but across the pond above Rt. 15, most of the snow is gone. I'm beginning to see tinges of green in the wet spots in back of our house and my vegetable garden spot is out from under all the snow, finally.

Here is a schedule for Easter services in Cabot:

Cabot United Church

Eastertide Schedule

Come celebrate with Pastor Laura Cadmus

Sunday, March 28, 10:30 AM PALM SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE

Thursday, April 1, 12:00 Midnight MAUNDY THURSDAY CABOT CHURCH & COMMUNITY VIGIL

The church is open to all from 12:00 midnight Thursday until 12:00 midnight Friday for personal reflection and prayer. Just come in and proceed to the sanctuary where others will be quietly reflecting.

Friday, April 2, GOOD FRIDAY

The personal prayer and reflection vigil continues until midnight .

Sunday, April 4, 6:00 AM , EASTER SUNDAY, SUNRISE SERVICE AT

CABOT PLAINS CEMETERY

Come join in this community celebration of resurrection, light, Joy, and music followed by Easter Breakfast at the church.

10:30 AM SPECIAL EASTER FAMILY SERVICE

Story, song and joy for all the family. Come share the great good news of Easter.

Today has been a little more brisk than some, but not bad over all. Last night was a cold one - about 9 above, close enough to the predicted zero mark for all of us. Just at dusk, we watched five lovely deer munching grass and apples on our lawn. They were enjoying the leftovers from the crab apple tree and found where young grass sprouts were in the wet spots below the house. Fred tried to get pictures, but it was too dark and we didn't want to use a flash to frighten them. Three were back early this morning and he was able to get a picture, but not very clear.

Woody wasn't anxious to stay out last night even before it grew so cold, and he stayed close to the house, going only between the garage and his door in the cellar. We suspect he saw the deer, too, and remembered being chased last spring by that big doe when he started to inspect her fawn.

Fred was in W. Danville today and picked up Ice-Out tickets from both stores. This was at Joe's Pond Country Store, and then at Hastings Store he got a cute shot of Alyssa.

We are getting really close to the end of this year's contest and urge anyone who hasn't sent in picks to do so before the April 1st deadline. At this stage of the game you'll need to use the on-line tickets. Click on www.joespondvermont.com/ticket
and fill as many as you want in and send them to us before April 1st. The address is on the tickets.

These days of below normal temperatures have lessened the flow of water coming into the pond and going over the dam. It looks downright placid compared to a few days ago. We haven't been down to check the water level, but may do that tomorrow. If I feel like it. Right now I've got a spring cold and given that cold air always makes my nose run anyway, going outside and increasing the flow doesn't make much sense. Besides that, my treatment for colds is to drink all the water I possibly can, so the "ins" and "outs" of that keep me pretty busy. I'm getting better each day, though and since it's been several years since I've had a cold, I really can't complain - much.

Fred checked the flag and the clock, and everything is operational, ready for duty, thanks to Ray Richer. The ice on the pond looks pretty solid, (see picture below) but we're sure those really warm days took a toll and although temperatures will have frozen surface water, underneath the ice there is a lot movement due to the runoff in the brooks, and that will work on the ice to slowly wear it away. Another factor is that we didn't have as much ice as normal this year.

I noticed in the Hardwick Gazette this week that our neighbor, Caspian Lake in Greensboro, has an Ice-Out Fundraiser setup just like ours. They're raising funds for Lakeview Union School's playground fund. There wasn't much more information, so this may be their first year.

It's about supper time. You know what they say, "feed a cold, starve a fever." I like that prescription. We'll have beans 'n franks, traditional fare for Saturday nights in both our families. My mother usually made brown bread to go with it. We'll be missing the brown bread - a salad will take the place of that - but every now and then I wonder if I made it now would it taste the same as I remember? All that rich molasses fragrance when it was steaming away and real butter slathered on while it was still warm - nothing quite like it. I noticed a while back that B&M (the baked bean company) has brown bread in a can. Of course, the bread I remember was made in a can, too - a two-pound coffee can. I don't remember how long it had to steam, but it must have been hours. I probably have a recipe in some of my old recipe books. Maybe I'll see if I can find it and try to make one. I'm sure there are recipes on the internet, but I think I'll search for my Grandmother Bolton's that was the one my mother made. Now I'm really hungry!

Begin your day right!

Join a morning Strength and Cardio Boot Camp for adults and students in 7^th-12^th Grade.

In the Cabot gym Monday, Wednesday & Friday mornings from 6:30 to 7:30 am during March & April

Led by NFPT Certified Personal Trainer

Michelle Delaney

$5 per class, but your first class is free!

Get a Herbalife shake mix or homemade meal replacement bar for $2.00 on your way out the door

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day!

Please call 563-2427 or e-mail mpsoccer2@aol.com to sign up

NEW CABOT RECYCLING CENTER AND TRASH DROP

WILL OPEN SATURDAY, MARCH 27

Users can sort and separate recyclables on site.

Cabot is now a member of the Northeast Kingdom Waste Management District, which provides free recycling service. The NEW RECYCLING CENTER will be housed in the gray barn at the WASTEWATER PLANT in LOWER CABOT. Turn off Route 215 South at SAW MILL ROAD, cross the bridge, and take the left at the second driveway. Hours will be the same: SATURDAYS FROM 9:00 AM TO NOON. There will be no further collection at the Creamery site.

John Cookson will collect trash at the new site for the same per bag fee (generally $3.50 for a 30 gallon bag) and manage the recycling center as well. Recyclables must be separated. You can sort them at home or at the center, and John will be on hand to help you get the hang of it. It's not hard, and it's free!

Materials accepted for recycling will be:

MIXED PAPER : newspapers, magazines and catalogues, paperback books, colored,white and wrapping paper and junk mail.

CARDBOARD, BROWN PAPER BAGS AND BOXBOARD : but, please, no wax-coated cardboard, egg cartons or (shudder!) Styrofoam. Remove excess tape, leave the staples, but no strings, handles or bags with plastic layers.

TIN CANS : We'll have a magnet on hand. If your can sticks to it, it's tin. Please rinse, but don't worry about flattening or labels. Just remember: This isn't scrap metal, so no pots, pans, chicken wire, old lawn mowers or fire pokers. You get the picture.

ALUMINUM CANS, FOIL AND FOOD TRAYS : If it doesn't stick to the magnet, it's aluminum. Rinse. Snack bags and candy wrappers are not foil, so please omit.

GLASS (ALL COLORS IN SAME BARREL) : Yes to bottles, jars, mirrors, plate and window glass, ceramic (toilets without hardware and broken up), Pyrex and drinking gasses. No to crystal, lids, metal or wood, light bulbs and fluorescent bulbs. Please remove the metal collars from wine bottles.

PLASTICS #1 THROUGH #7 : All in one bin, including rigid plastic, lids (yes, lids!), tubs, automotive product containers (provided they are completely drained). Leave the labels, crush large containers like milk jugs and please rinse everything. Do not bring vinyl siding, Styrofoam (anudder shudder!), syringes or medical devices.

PLASTIC BAGS : That's right, those plastic bags they give you at the supermarket if you aren't fast enough to ask for paper, but no black plastic bags.

More materials may be added in future. We'll keep you informed

REDEEMABLE CANS AND BOTTLES CAN STILL BE LEFT FOR SCHOOL GROUPS!

This just came in:

Cabot Maple Festival

Saturday, March 27
Cabot School Dining Hall & Gym

8 a.m.-11 a.m. Pancake Breakfast
9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sugar on Snow, Maple Cotton Candy,
Family Activities, Bounce House, and Silent Auction

Join us Saturday to celebrate maple syrup, community volunteers who are
making a difference in the lives of youth and your hometown newspaper,
The Cabot Chronicle!

Call 563-3338 for more information.

We have a crisp and sunny day with a much cooler temperature - 20 degrees now. Last night we had a low of about 17. Tonight - get out the hot water bottle - around zero!!! I guess we'll make some ice tonight! If this trend keeps up, the sugaring season will be prolonged nicely. However, I just read Burr Morse's newsletter and he says the sugar content of this year's maple sap is lower than usual. Normally it takes 40 gallons of sap to make a gallon of maple syrup; this year it is taking 60 gallons. That's a big difference. Burr says the quality is excellent, though. The good news is that maple syrup isn't syrup until it's boiled to the right consistence and the sugar content will be the same, no matter how much sap has to be boiled away to get there.

The above picture is of the Prevost home on the left and Cynthia Donlon's on the right, both on Davidson Rd. off of Rt. 15. It's the hillside we look at from our living room window.

We haven't had any of this year's maple syrup yet - we're still working on a half gallon we got at Hastings Store back in the winter. We don't eat a lot of syrup, but there is a recent study out showing it has lots of antioxidants, so if you want to satisfy your sweet tooth in a beneficial way, Vermont maple syrup is the way to go. Here's a link to information on that study: www.sciencedaily.com

There were a couple of fishermen out on the ice by Island Drive this morning. They usually go closer to the islands, but today they seem to be staying closer to the shore. Click on the picture to enlarge it.

Woody went hunting early this morning. He doesn't seem to mind the snow. Last night he came in drenched from the rain we had before it turned to snow sometime around midnight. He likes getting dried off and rubbed down and will often go right back outside and come in wet all over again a few minutes later. It's a game he plays. Nobody wants a wet cat in their lap, so he always gets the rub down.

Fred and Bill Rossi have gone to St. Johnsbury to pick up Ice-Out tickets and leave off more for any outlet that needs them. We anticipate next week will be a big one and want to be sure there are enough tickets to go around. I sent the last of what I have with Fred - if anyone runs out they will just have to tell people to go on line to get into the game. This has been an unusual year and it's going to be really difficult to figure out when the ice might go out - even for those people who will wait until the very last minute. In spite of the warm weather last week and our worrying that the ice could go out early, all that has changed and the guesses people got in early are just as good as these later ones.

This is really neat! Matt Randall (presently at UVM) sent this:

Jane,

In my curiosity while reading the blog, I went back in your archives and found this post from almost exactly a year ago. We seem to be missing 14" of ice at this point!

Matt Randall

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Another cold day. I'm sure lots of you who have Ice-Out Contest tickets are wondering how the ice is doing, especially when every day I tell you what the temperatures are here at the pond. I asked year around Joe's Ponder Kevin Johnson, and here's his report:
I fished this past weekend and the ice is still almost 3 feet thick - I would say about 32 inches on average. The narrows are open and it's starting to open up a little where the brooks come into the pond but we still have a long way to go!

There you have it. Thank you, Kevin.

For those of you who are waiting until the last moment to fill in your tickets, this may give you something to work with. We are expecting much warmer weather in another day or so, and if that storm out of the mid-west does what forcasters say it will, we may get some rain, but apparently not a lot.

*****

So today I'm saying, "Thank you, Matt! You've saved me a bunch of time looking at back entries - which I meant to do yesterday, but time got away.

Today is another warm melting day; but according to the forecast, we're in for some below average temperatures later on and into next week. So be it. That will give the maple growers/makers an extension on the season. The reports are that it's already been a great maple syrup season and they've made some really good quality stuff and the season started earlier than normal so it's been a good year. At least for those who were tapped and ready when the warm weather sneaked up on us.

Did I mention yesterday, Homer and Margaret are home. They'll be out at camp off and on and Homer will be monitoring the clock.

When we were in the village Tuesday, this is what Joe's Brook coming out of the pond over the dam looked like. There were pieces of slush/ice flowing in the rush of water and with the dam open at full capacity, the water was spectacular falling down into the ravine. Those folks I read about a few years ago who crave adventure kayaking on Joe's Brook will be itching to get out there. I think it would be a wild and dangerous ride, for sure.

Our inch or so of new snow is going to go quickly today, and will take a lot of the old with it, I expect. Perhaps later in the day Fred and I will take another measurement at Walter Ruf's to see where the water level is - not that much can be done about it at this point. The dam is open as wide or flat as it can go.

Marcia Moran sent this message and link this morning:

This is a fun website about an Ice out in Alaska..BIG money:)

http://www.nenanaakiceclassic.com/TicketsBrochures.html

That IS big money, but costs more than ours to get in, too. The odds of winning are better with ours, too.

Okay! Winter's back!! Well, at least normal March weather seems to be here, finally. We awoke to about an inch of snow this morning and temperature in the high 20's - and we've been experiencing snow showers all morning with a brisk northwest (I think) wind. It's hard to tell which direction the wind is coming from here sometimes as it seems to have a backlash over the hill in back of our house. But the flag and the snow blowing around seem to indicate west or northwest.

We're confident this will slow melting and runoff considerably and will give let the dam catch up. Here's the message our president, Tom Dente, received from Charlie Pughe at the power company yesterday:

We are running the unit at full and the bag was deflated - Dave
Tetreault is on site watching things. We always lag the incoming water
to the big pond - there is very little we can do about this and still
maintain our operational permit with the state. We will be continuing
to monitor - it is flooding everywhere in Vermont today - the Winooski
is way up along the interstate. --Charlie Pughe

I heard from Homer this morning and he and Margaret are at home in Barre. I wish I'd known yesterday - I would have had him come over to the pond to talk with the Fox TV (Channel 44) reporter, Mitch Pittman. We had hoped to have Don Walker, but he was out when I talked with Audrey and there was only about an hour before the interview, so I guess he couldn't make it. We got it done, though.

Mitch talked to a bunch of people, but we saw the clip last night on the 10 o'clock news and again this morning, and he used only a few. That's what usually happens, we've found. Sometimes what you want to tell people doesn't get put on, but any publicity is good, so we keep doing it. It was cold out there and Fred and I were glad to get home to the wood stove and a hot supper.

While we were at Hastings Store, Garey talked with Everett Drew who fishes all winter on the ice. Everett had been fishing yesterday and told Garey the ice is still 18 inches thick. The most ice I've heard all winter was 24 inches. I don't know if having 18 inches now is about the same as normal or not. Maybe I mentioned it here on the blog last year. I'll check back and try to locate something.

Right now, it's time for lunch and I'm hungry. There may be something blogsworthy later in the day . . .

Fred and I just came back from meeting with Channel 44 Fox TV out of Burlington. They interviewed a number of people (and me) about Ice-Out and the piece will be on Channel 44 tonight at 10, right after American Idol. I'll post pictures later. Right now, Fred and I are cold and hungry . . .

Steady rain - I think it rained all night. I had almost 1.5 inches of rain in my gauge this morning. The temperature seems to be holding at around 38-40 degrees, but this may turn to snow this evening. Either way, it's precipitation and it's raising the level of water in the pond and also getting rid of a lot of ice and snow. We took these pictures this morning at about 9:30 of the brook between the Hamilton and Dimick camps on West Shore Road. The brook is really full - the culvert not really able to handle all the water coming through. Further up the pond on Sandy Beach Road, the culvert there has washed out part of the road. I've let the road crew in Cabot know about the washout. They had a truck out on W. Shore Road to repair something there, I was told, so I think it will be taken care of quickly.

We checked the water level at Walter Ruf's retaining wall and it's over the top by about 1/4 inch - and rising. I've let the power company know and I'm expect they have the dam fully open to let water out, but with the rain still coming down, that may not be enough for at least a few hours.

We stopped in West Danville - the mail box was filled with ticket returns (that's good!!) and the store was pretty much filled with people. Everyone was busy, but Garey told us Deb Stresing (Joe's Pond Craft Shop) is celebrating a birthday today. He gave us a number, but I'm sure she isn't that old, and anyway I wouldn't tell even if I knew for sure. That's Deb in the dark jacket, talking to Diane Jejer, and Marsha Moran in the gray jacket.

The store has new maple syrup on hand and probably either Garey or Jenny made fresh raised doughnuts to go with it. Can't get mush better than that! For those of you who aren't familiar with the maple syrup and raised doughnuts custom, raised doughnuts aren't sweet like regular doughnuts, so they go really well with the very sweet maple syrup. Best if you warm the syrup and dip the doughnuts in it. Lots of times sour pickles are served at maple sugar parties to "cut the sweet" of the syrup, too. That's a contrast for your taste buds, for sure! The doughnuts and syrup are worth trying, though.

We checked out the Ice-Out flag and all is well there, just waiting. We saw a car swing into the fishing area to check it out, so people are already keeping tabs on the contest. It's hard to guess how much longer the ice will last, though. There is a lot of water showing under the bridge in West Danville, the first narrows going into the middle pond has a lot of water showing, and we took a picture of the narrows going into the big pond (below on the right). The ice looks pretty stable right now. We can see some dark spots, but nothing too threatening yet. However, I wouldn't go out on it for any amount of money at this point.

At the top of the road going down to the fishing access, the stop sign has been knocked over, perhaps by the plow or maybe someone skidded and hit it. A winter casualty.

I guess that's about all the news we have this morning. The rain will continue for a while, and our roads may show more signs of spring as the frost comes out and mud deepens, but so far it hasn't been a terrible mud season on any of the roads on the west shore of the pond. This morning our neighbor on Brickett's Crossing Road commented on how bad the roads are, but like I told her - this year has been a good year so far. She hasn't lived here long enough to have experienced a real mud season like we used to have. Those of us who have been around for a while remember some years when you just didn't go anywhere unless you walked, and that would last for a week or more. You wanted to be sure to get your car out to the main road on a morning when the road was well frozen, and take mud boots with you so you could leave your car and walk in at night. Back roads were a sea of mud that swallowed cars and trucks and discouraged more than a few from living a second year on a dirt road. Those were the "good old days?"

Oh, yes, we shouldn't forget to mention that we'll have a bakery in Danville soon. It's across from Sew 'n Love Fabrics and the shop for tots and furniture, etc. on Hill Street, where the hardware store used to be, just down from Diamond Hill Store. Fred will be one of the first to check that out, so stay tuned . . .

It's a drippy day here. The temperature has been in the 30's all day with a drizzly rain going on. So far no snow, but that could happen tonight. I took this picture just a few minutes ago. That's our lower lawn in the picture below. We've been watching for turkeys, deer or anything else out there, but so far we've seen only birds. More and more of our lawn is showing up, but nothing looks very green yet.

The rain will help bring things along and I wouldn't be surprised to see some new grass after this. Because we've had less snow than usual, we really need the rain to soak the ground and get things growing. Most of my flower beds are still under a foot or more of snow because they're close enough to the driveway and walks so they get an additional cover from shoveling and snow blowing, but I'm sure we'll see some early varieties poking through soon. My daffodils are coming along well, but I won't have any for Easter.

Ice-Out Ticket sales are revving up, and that's par for the course in the last couple of weeks before the contest closes. If you have been waiting to send in your picks, don't forget that April 1st is the deadline.

Plans for summer activities here at Joe's Pond are beginning to take shape. I've been communicating with Bo Keach and she is hoping some of you will volunteer to help out with Kids' Day on July 4th at the Recreation Area. It's planned to begin after our JPA meeting, at about noon. There will be games and other activities for children of all ages, a clown, and light refreshments. Bo will fill you in on details. We hope you will plan your Fourth of July activities to include that afternoon of fun designed for the children and their friends around the pond.

If you have ideas about activities or have something you'd like to do with the kids, like face painting, games, working with crafts, etc., get in touch with Bo. All ages are welcome to pitch in. Bo will not only need people to help plan and do activities, she will also need help with food, some strong backs for setting things up, people to work with little tots or oversee older kids' games, so all ages, from teens to grandparents will be needed. You can contact her by phone at 802-748-8404 or by e-mail: bokeach@aol.com I'm sure Bo will be very glad to have your ideas and support.

I heard from Jack LaGue today. He saw this picture in a slide show posted a couple days ago and said those steps facing the wrong way in the water aren't supposed to be there. They likely floated in during the period of high water we experienced last fall. Jack said they were not there when he closed camp in late November. If you recognize them, he says just retrieve them when it's convenient.

Here is another link about the Lake Dunmore contest: Dunmore Contest

Our snowstorm has nearly stopped, but here is a picture of our lawn a few minutes ago, and I have about an inch of snow in my precipitation collector. It's been a while since I've been able to report anything except receding snow depth.

We spotted a couple of crows waiting out the storm in the top of a tamarack (or maybe a dead spruce, hard to tell with the snow coming down) a few minutes ago. They, and lots of other species, have been busy following the urges of spring for the past couple of weeks, so this may be a dismaying setback for them.

The snow is stopping now, and the "peeping tom" is reading 36 degrees. I don't know if the snow has or will change to rain here, but that's possible. At lower elevations I'm sure it was rain earlier.

Steve and Bev Allen sent this - Ice Out at Dunmore

As Steve said, so it begins!

We are feeling a little relieved that temperatures went below freezing last night and that will slow down the melting process a bit. We're in for a stretch of cooler weather for the next week. In the meantime, we checked the water level last night and it was up another 1/2 inch, but no flooding indicated so far. Much of the snow on the hillsides has melted, so unless we get a heavy rain, there won't be high water here. Our roads have been reasonably good, too - and freezing nights is good for that as well as continuing the maple sugaring season.

We have started our daily "Ice Watch" on home page at www.joespondvermont.com. Fred will keep close track of things there - and we hope you'll check out other pages, too - we've had some new "service" ads and we're expecting some new property for sale ads soon. You'll find our new authors' books on "Local Products," so remember to check those out. The Schedule of Events is up to date, too, so you can begin planning your summer schedule.

We have also posted news from the Town of Danville. You'll find that on the left menu on home page. Watch for new "Comments" - interesting things pop up there.

We went to House of Pizza in St. Johnsbury last night with Bill and Diane Rossi. The pizza there is very good. We were actually doing research - JPA members know about that from the recent poll regarding our end of the year meeting. Diane has done extensive research and we're very glad to help her out! We saw Ginny Hoar while there - she's looking well and anxious to get to the pond.

Fred just called in to me from the kitchen, "It's snowing!" I'm going to go and watch it with pleasure. This is more like it!! March instead of May weather!

Here's an update on the morning.

Someone asked what the "peeping tom" is, so here's a picture of the window in my office. Every time I come into the office I have the impression someone is out on the back deck peering in the window. Fred put the thermometer there for me during the winter so we'd have a good comparison of temperatures. He got a new cordless drill/screwdriver thing back in the winter and slapped together this arrangement and attached it to the deck rail one afternoon while I was doing something else and it really startled me when I came bopping in to check e-mail or something and there was that "thing" looking in at me. I'm pretty used to it now and it's handy to have, so I guess we'll leave it there.

I took a picture this morning of the head of the pond where the channel comes in. It's interesting to compare it to the same shot I posted a few days ago. While I was focusing to get that picture, Jay Chatot went by on his bike. Much better riding this year - so far not a lot of deep mud. A great day to get outside and do things.

I shoveled away some snow yesterday, but today I think I may wash windows and get screens in place. That will surely bring some cold weather - which will be good to slow things down and keep sugaring season going a while longer. I'll see what I can do . . .

I've had several messages I think you'll be interested in:

From Bryce Montgomery in Florida:
We finally made 73 degrees yesterday. First day for shorts since mid-December.Vermont has been running within 5 degrees of here. This winter reminds me of Summer last year at Joe's Pond.BRrrrrrrr. Hope this year is better.Somebody has turned the East Coast upside down.Hope our spring has finally sprung. Save some good weather for this summer. It is 60 degrees here at 9:45. Maybe we are in for a Beach Day. Sure hope so. Bryce


From Sam Lewis on Sandy Beach Road:
Yesterday the channel opening extended itself past our house. Within hours two Hooded Mergansers were fishing and paddling up and down the open water. By the end of the afternoon we saw mallards. After dark the honking of the Canadian Geese announced their presence. I suspect that the various species had been waiting up the channel in the marsh areas waiting for the ice to melt. This morning the geese are walking around on the ice investigating the surface. While we are certain to have more cold weather, Winter is fading!

Sam Lewis

Last night Fred sent me a couple of links, but I was watching the basketball game (UVM/Syracuse) and didn't want to work with them then. Here they are:

First, one about strange pals at a Vermont farm: Pals
Then, Fred Googled last year's Ice-Out Contest winner and came up with this:
Ash Desmond