This is what we look like this morning. Yesterday and last night we had .80 in. of rain that washed away a whole lot of our snow. I'm seeing 4.5 in. of snow at my stake in the back yard, but when I look across at the hills above Rte. 15, there are bare spots. However, the good news (for some) is that there are a few snowflakes in the air this morning. The temperature hasn't started to drop much yet, I'm reading 35 degrees, but it's going to plummet late this afternoon and get really cold.

Those of you who know a little of the recent history here at the pond know that every year, right after the Christmas holidays, Don and Diane Sherwood come to go skiing. And every year, almost without exception, we have rain. I wasn't sure when they were arriving this year - except the snow showers we had yesterday turned to rain late in the afternoon, and guess what? The Sherwoods had arrived. Maybe Mother Nature is trying to override their effect this year sending us new snow and near-zero temperatures. We'll wait and see how this turns out.

The pond is like glass again, but I think some of it may not be frozen yet, and with light snow falling, the surface will become rough and not so good for skating. The roads have all been sanded and seem to be fine as long as one doesn't drive too fast.

Here is a recent news release from the library in Marshfield -
For Immediate release:
December 26, 2011
Contact: Susan Green
802-426-3581 or 426-3717

Mondays at 10 a.m. Story time. Join Sylvia Smith for story time, for children birth to age six and their grown-ups.At the Jaquith Public Library in Marshfield: 426-3581 or jaquithpubliclibrary@gmail.com.

Wednesdays from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Playgroup following the school year schedule. Join our community for playgroup, including stories, arts, songs, nature activities, and cooperative games.At the Jaquith Public Library in Marshfield: 426-3581 or jaquithpubliclibrary@gmail.com.

Fourth Mondays at 7 p.m. Monthly Book Group

The monthly book group continues in 2012 with the book: Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese for January. The Heretic’s Daughter by Kathleen Kent is February’s pick, and The Girl Who Fell from the Sky by Heidi W. Durrow is on deck for March. The group meets the fourth Monday of every month. At the Jaquith Public Library in Marshfield: 426-3581 or jaquithpubliclibrary@gmail.com.

Wednesday, January 4 at 7 p.m. Classic (1941), directed by Preston Sturges, and starring Joel McCrea and Veronica Lake. This classic commentary on Hollywood tells the story of a disillusioned director who decides he needs to know more about the common man in order to perfect his craft. At the Jaquith Public Library in Marshfield: 426-3581 or jaquithpubliclibrary@gmail.com.

Wednesday, January 11 at 7 p.m. Potential Health Concerns of Wireless Devices. With Ray Pealer, an East Calais resident and one of the state’s foremost experts on the subject of wireless technology. At the Jaquith Public Library in Marshfield: 426-3581 or jaquithpubliclibrary@gmail.com.

Wednesday, January 18 at 7 p.m. Local author reads from his book: Lanthan Mire: Impending Consequence of Doom by Paul Luciano. Paul Luciano (AKA Lucian Harke) is a Vermont-based fiction writer and musician. The book, featuring fictional character Lanthan Mire, is an adventure story about an other-worldly being sent to a lost planet and the inspirational powers of sound. In support of the book and CD, Paul performs a type of musical theatre. He shows a space/nature-orientated silent movie while playing tracks that range from slow broody surf to all out thrash and recites passages from the story (in character). Despite the dark facade, the story is a positive one and incites readers to follow their inspiration to great heights and never lose hope. At the Jaquith Public Library in Marshfield: 426-3581 or jaquithpubliclibrary@gmail.com.

Wednesday, January 25 at 7 p.m. Acupuncture for Winter Health with Pamela Brady. We will talk about illnesses that typically present during the winter months and the different acupuncture treatments to address them. There will be a presentation and demonstration. At the Jaquith Public Library in Marshfield: 426-3581 or jaquithpubliclibrary@gmail.com.

Friday, January 27 at 7 p.m. Film Program: Rick Winston presents Alfred Hitchcock’s Art of Suspense. Hitchcock famously said, "Some films are slices of life, mine are slices of cake." His career spanned forty years and many film eras. There will be twelve film clips, starting with the silent “The Lodger” (1925), through his British films like "The Lady Vanishes," then on to Hollywood, with favorites such as "Notorious" and "Rear Window." Rick will discuss the evolution of Hitchcock’s craft; how he worked with his favorite collaborators; his wry sense of humor no matter how grisly the subject matter; and explore some of his favorite themes. Note: this presentation is rated G, with all gruesome acts taking place off screen! At the Jaquith Public Library in Marshfield: 426-3581 or jaquithpubliclibrary@gmail.com.

Saturday, January 28, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friends Annual Book Sale. Start out the New Year by cleaning out those bookshelves and getting some new reads. Bargain books on all subjects from cooking to biographies to history and novels. All books $2 or less, with children's books as little as 25 cents. Prices will be further discounted toward the end of the sale. From 12 to 1:30 all books are free. Everything is a bargain, and your purchases help support the library. At the Jaquith Public Library in Marshfield: 426-3581 or jaquithpubliclibrary@gmail.com.