Another summer day at "Lake Joebegan." The snow is nearly gone even on our north facing hillside. There will be some in the wooded areas for a while longer, but mostly it's melted. There have been warnings about being extra careful not to start fires because everything is so dry. There have been brush and grass fires, but not in our immediate vicinity.

Fred went early to recycle in Wolcott this morning, hoping the road would perhaps be a little frozen. If it was, it wasn't much, and Brickett's Crossing Road was pretty bad, so when he came home, he went around to West Danville and then came up w. Shore Road. There are some messy spots on this end, but nothing too bad - yet.










The ice in the pond is holding pretty well so far. Above, there was some water on the ice leading out from the fishing access. This is where the snow had been plowed off so trucks and cars could drive onto the ice during fishing season. on the right you will see the pallet and not much sign of melting when Fred got these pictures this morning at around 8:30.

Even though the narrows are open, there is not open water connecting any of the three ponds (picture at top of page). Usually there is an opening all the way down the shore by the beach, and then the middle pond will break out. None of that has happened yet, and Molly's pond, which usually goes out just about a week before Joe's does, is still solid. The forecast is for temperatures again in the high 60's and possibly 70's tomorrow and Wednesday, and then cooling a bit towards the weekend. We might even have some freezing temperatures at night. In the meantime, the big pond is very solid (see above right).

Unfortunately, some of our maple sugar makers in the southern part of the state
have given up for this year. Around here, some have only had their taps in for a week or so. I guess the warm weather took some by surprise and they just weren't ready to get going. Some others did pretty well, having tapped back in February.

The winter took a toll on the fence at Ned and Carolyn Hamilton's tennis court this year. The Hamiltons have been here for a week or so and have made good progress taking down the old fence. Right now it looks pretty bare, but the new fence will be up soon, and if this weather keeps up, it will soon be back in use.

Bob Dimick has been selling Ice-Out tickets like hotcakes this year. He brought another 125 or so to us tonight and picked up another 50. He said he and Theresa decided to walk around their neighborhood in St. Johnsbury just to see if some might want tickets, and they ran out before they'd knocked on every door. Bob said the neighbors loved getting the tickets and he and Theresa really enjoyed chatting with neighbors they usually only see to wave to as they pass on the street.

It's pretty cool that a one-dollar ticket can be such a prize for people. I gave some to some workmen we had here a while back, and they seemed really pleased, took them home and made them out with their kids, and it was great fun for them. I now have a pretty red "PAID" stamp I use on those I buy to give away, and that somehow makes it even nicer. I've stamped literally hundreds this year for some of our regulars who buy large quantities each year to give away.

Jane Larrabee was on WCAX news talking about Ice-Out tonight. (Click WCAX to see video.)I was expecting to see Homer, but instead it was Jane. Homer probably pointed the TV crew to Hastings Store since he hasn't been here at the pond as much this year. He's busy flitting about with his new bride, Margaret - you saw the happy couple in the slide show about the Maple Fest I put on the blog Saturday. As the video continues, you'll see another neighbor, Glen Goodrich, talking about the maple sugar season.