We had a cold night last night. It got below zero by a few degrees, but there was a pretty constant wind that shot the chill factor well below zero. There was a little snow in the air from time to time, but nothing to brag about - yet.

We had to call the ambulance for one of our neighbors last night, and since she was here at our house, lots of people thought it was for me. I had no idea how many people monitor scanners, just as I do, only probably more so. I'm glad to report all is well - my neighbor got checked out quickly by a very competent Cabot ambulance crew and was transported to NVRH in St. Johnsbury for further testing. She was dehydrated and had a slight infection, and we had her back home by around midnight. We are grateful for those quick responders. David Covell lives on Bricketts Crossing Road and was here in no time at all, and the ambulance very shortly after. We've had to call the ambulance a number of times over the years and we're always impressed with how efficient, capable and dedicated these volunteers are.

She was also impressed with the emergency people at NVRH. She said they were very caring and efficient and couldn't have been nicer to her. I've had that experience at NVRH, too - and I marvel that there are such dedicated people to take care of us. We are fortunate, indeed.

I just realized town meeting is coming up really soon - March 6 this year, I believe, being the first Tuesday in March. I expect we'll get our town reports soon, but so far I haven't heard about anything disturbing on the agenda. I expect with all the flood expense from last spring taxes will increase. Roads have to be repaired and bills have to be paid one way or another, and I'm not sure how much money our town has realized or can expect from either the state or federal government to help. That should be explained in the report.

Throughout the old papers I've been dealing with are various tax lists. One, in 1797, was a tax to "repair the new road to Peacham." There were 56 names listed, and at that early date that would have been every family in town. The amounts each owed vary greatly, and I don't know whether taxes were assessed according to ability to pay, i.e., value of a person's property, by the location in proximity to the road, or some other measure. Payment could be by money, goods or labor. Roads were crude and I expect men willing to wield an ax or use a shovel were about all that was needed - and possibly an occasional team of oxen.

Our temperature has finally crawled to five above. I think we'll make some ice today.