Wet and windy tonight. It's been overcast all day, but not awfully cold. We're expecting high winds by early a.m., and a stormy day tomorrow. We've lost most of our snow, but I'm sure we'll be getting more, probably even this weekend.

The Christmas season is officially here. We got our first Christmas card in the mail today - from Homer and Margaret Fitts, of course! Homer's has been the first we've received every year for literally decades. When we lived at camp all those years, we not only looked forward to the card from Homer, but also the decorations across the water at his place. Not just at Christmas, but every holiday, Homer's was decorated.
We can't see his place from here, but we can see Gerry and Crystal Prevost's across the pond above Rt. 15. They have their decorations up - tonight was the first time I've noticed them, but they may have been up earlier.

There's a holiday auction going on Saturday at the Cabot School. We got a flier in the Cabot Chronicle today. Lots of interesting stuff to bid on, like museum passes, memberships, meals, ski passes, gift certificates and gift ideas, all for the benefit of the Cabot School Marine Biology class expedition to Belize in the spring. Things get going at 10:a.m., if you want to join the fun.

On Saturday evening there's a Memorial Tree Lighting and Annual Christmas Concert at the Cabot United Church. Tree lighting is at 6:30 p.m., concert a5 7:00. Refreshments following the concert. For more information, call 563-2278.S

There will be an "Elve's Workshop" at Cabot United Church from 3-5 p.m. on Dec. 12. Parents can drop off their youngsters age 3-middle school, or they can stay and make "surprise gifts" with the kids.

On Monday, Dec. 13, at 6 p.m. there will be a Land Use and Natural Resources work session which will lay the groundwork for Cabot's land use regulations and zoning ordinances that the Planning Commission has been working on. Let Gary Gulka at cabotplanning@gmail.com know if you plan to attend. Light refreshments.

There's Yoga at the Cabot Public Library on Dec. 14 and 21, and Jan. 4, 18, and 25, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.. $10 per session or $40 for all five. Alicia Feltus, 563-2721.

On Saturday, Dec. 18, there will be a Live Creche at the Rockwell Farm on Houston Hill Rd. in Cabot. Live animals, carols, everyone welcome. Call 563-2278 for more information.

There will be a Youth Holiday Market to buy, sell or trade your stuff that is still good. It's on Dec. 21st at the library at 3 p.m. The folks at the library will help with pricing and stickers - prices should be from 25 cents to $5.

On Wednesday, there's a School Concert at the Cabot School Performing Arts Center from 7 - 9 p.m. There is also a dinner in the dining hall at the gym to benefit the 8th grade trip in the spring. The dinner costs $6 per person or $20 for a family of four. For more information, call 563-3052 or 563-2727.

On Christmas Eve there will be the annual Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at the Cabot United Church, 7 p.m.

Now that's a lot going on in one small town, and I'm sure Danville and Walden have a lot planned, too. I don't have a schedule from either of the other towns, however.

Melvin Churchill and his family and farm are featured in the latest issue of Yankee Magazine. Lots of great pictures, I understand. I don't know if you knew this or not, but Melvin has a very nice singing voice. He's a great story-teller, too. The tourists at Fall Foliage time love going on the Nichols Ledge hike with him.

I guess all towns have their problems from time to time, but I've been reading about the woes Danville has as they prepare for a couple of years of "down time" while work is being done on Rt. 2 through town. The village green will be off limits, and that could mean a really big financial loss for everyone involved in the Danville Fair and Autumn on the Green festivities. I bet lots of folks wish they'd never heard of "route 2 improvements."

In Cabot, there's an on-going hassle about needing more parking space in town.
This has been going on for a long time and it's not likely to be settled any time soon. Some folks think the problem is only at the Willey building where the library and town offices are and that the town should just take back what is the Willey property and use it for parking; others think there should be off-street parking elsewhere in town (but where?); and still others believe there isn't a parking problem in town, just at the Willey building sometimes. The Hardwick Gazette has regular reports on select board meetings, some of which have apparently ended in shouting matches. I don't believe Cabot has a Board of Civil Authority, but sounds as if they could use one.

I guess lots of folks are on edge these days for one reason or another. Remember this song? (Turn on your speakers!) Don't Worry, Be Happy