A few days ago we had an email come to our webmaster address from a member of the U. S. Geological Survey located in Maine, requesting permission to use the Ice-Out dates we've posted. Here's what Luther Schalk wrote:

My colleagues and I at the US Geological Survey (Augusta, ME) are working on a network of lakes throughout New England with long-term ice-out date records. This is a piece of a larger effort toward a climate-response network, whereby we hope to monitor how hydrologic variables (including lake ice-out date, snowpack density, peak streamflow, and others) respond to changing climatic variables (temperature and precipitation). We have good coverage in Maine, but we're looking to fill geographic gaps elsewhere in New England. We currently have no data for Vermont.

I thought this was a great way to add another dimension to our contest: not only are we helping relieve the symptoms of cabin fever after a long winter and raising a fair amount of money for the Joe's Pond Association, now we will be part of a worthwhile effort to discover possible climate changes here in the north country that may indicate global trends.

Fred will link to the U.S. Geological Survey site on our website, and if you are interested, here it is: http://me.water.usgs.gov/iceout.html

I had dates kept by my father from 1968, but because his dates were when there was no more ice visible - and our Ice-Out contest is measured by when the clock stops and it's generally a day or so later all the ice is gone - plus it is expected our contest will continue over the years ahead, the survey will only include the information from 1988 on. I know Jules and the "gang" were keeping track at least a few years previous to the contest going "public," but I do not have any record of those dates. If someone does, I'm sure Mr. Schalk and his associates would be very happy to have them.

We went to Bill and Monika's last night for dinner - a farewell dinner for Floriana who begins her journey back to Namibia today. It was joyous and sad at the same time. She is such a happy person the evening was upbeat in spite of an under current of sadness. She has been part of the family for two months, and we have all come to love and respect her. Last night she went with Jo-Ann and me to sample the apples on two trees at their house. One had very sweet apples, the other very tart ones - neither are fully ripe. Floriana was excited by the apples and had picked and eaten most of the lower hanging sweet ones. When I told her I preferred the tart ones, she tried one again, but exclaimed at how sour it was. In her country, hardly anything grows well - it's mostly sand and patches of dry, course grass. She was thrilled with how green and lush everything is here, and whenever we had anything from our garden, it was exciting for her. One thing she particularly liked (and Monika does, too) was rhubarb sauce. I made it for them until my rhubarb refused to regenerate after that really hot stretch of weather. We are giving Bill a clump to plant so Monika and Jo-Ann can make their own next spring.

Jo-Ann told me last night her grandmother Floriana had never tasted apple pie. I was so sorry I hadn't known that, because I would have brought apple pie to the dinner. As it was, I took them carrots and broccoli from our garden with curry dip, and for dessert I made a syrupy blueberry topping for ice cream with some of the blueberries Fred got at Gilbert's on Tuesday. Floriana definitely likes things sweet, so ice cream with blueberries was a hit with her.

Baby Tangeni has changed in just the week or so since we last saw her. She hasn't lost any of her silky dark hair, in fact we're sure it's grown considerably. And I'm sure she's put on several ounces and is gaining strength all the time, managing to follow the activity going on around her with obvious interest. She seemed to focus on Fred and me when we first got there - she realized she was looking at someone other than her mom, dad, sister and grandma Floriana.

She tolerated being held by me for a while, but then let it be known she needed more familiar cuddling. Her big sister came to her rescue and she immediately quieted. Later on, she was very content to be on her daddy's lap after dinner. She's already six weeks old.

Monika took videos of everything and everyone so her mom would have it back in Namibia. We will be waiting to hear that Floriana has arrived without mishap back in Windhauk. Her daughter, also named Tangeni, lives and works there, so she will meet her. Floriana will stay with Tangeni for several days before the long drive home to Oshakati.

While Floriana was here, her daughter Tangeni graduated from nursing school and another daughter had a baby. The family, especially Floriana's mother, who is in her 90's, will be very happy to have her back home. We will miss her here.