We've had a busy day picking up all the tickets from each of our outlets - there are a lot of people who have them available for us now, so it takes some time to get to all of them. Every one of them has done a great job of selling tickets this year, and we are very appreciative.

We awoke to a winter wonderland this morning. We had at least a couple inches of snow on the ground and all the trees were covered - and when the sun came up, it was lovely, but within a very few minutes, the snow was melting off the tree limbs and some spots on the ground. The pond, however, stayed frozen most of the day. Fred had checked early in the morning, and when we came back from St. Johnsbury around 1 p.m., we stopped by to see if there was any change in the pallet, but everything looked solidly frozen in.

Actually, it didn't look that much different from the picture Fred took early in the morning. The main difference was that early this morning there wasn't much wind, but by the time we got back around 1 o'clock, the wind was whipping down the pond and it was bitterly cold. We didn't linger, I can tell you.

This picture was taken in the morning, and the one below at 1 o'clock. The once-open water was still frozen solidly, and except for the snow being off the trees and the deck (probably blown off by the wind!), it would be hard to tell which picture was taken in the morning and which was taken five hours later.

The other two ponds are nearly completely free of ice - the first pond only has ice around the dock area at Point Comfort, but the middle pond is completely clear. Not so in the big pond. There's still a lot of ice there.

It's pretty cold again tonight, and there's not going to be much change in the weather for the next few days. After such an unusually warm stretch a couple weeks ago, this prolonged winter is becoming a bit tiresome.

Evelyn Richer told me this morning that the loons are officially back. Jack and Sue LaGue had told us earlier they thought they'd seen the loons, but they weren't sure if it was our nesting pair or some immature ones that had come back early.

Before we could leave this morning, we had to wait for some men to come and cut a hole through the cement wall into our basement for the new direct-vent boiler we're installing. That is all part of our switching the gas stove out. We have another hole at the front of the house that was for the gas vent, and that will need to be taken out. We're glad this will all be finished long before winter sets in again, and hope the efficiency of the new arrangement will be worth all the time, trouble and money. These men got the job done in no time at all - neat and efficient. They are both veterans, and work for Vermont Concrete Cutting Company out of Barre. John Hammer will come next week to install the new boiler, and if we can find a good used wood stove for backup if the power goes out, we'll be all set.

While in St. Johnsbury, we stopped to see son Bill, and Monika and baby Tangeni were there. Tangeni had just had a shot and was a little quieter than usual. She is almost 9 months old, and has changed every time we see her. Her mom let her sit on Dad's Harley in the showroom (at Thurston and Dimick Auto Sales). Later her mom and dad gaver her some medicine the doctor had prescribed, and by the time we left, she seemed ready for some lunch and a nap. It had been a big day for such a little girl.

Barb and Ernie Thurston were there, too, and pleased to see Tangeni. They came home from Florida this week and are at home in St. Johnsbury, but they had driven up to their camp to see how things were. Both said they were very glad to be back. George and Judy Anderson are also back. They arrived yesterday. George told me yesterday that although they were back a little early this year, he was gratified there is no snow at all around his place (that changed over night!), and he said most years he has to shovel their way in.

More folks will begin arriving now. Our season begins a little earlier these days - perhaps at least partially due to weather change, but also because many people here at the pond have upgraded their summer homes to be very comfortable in early spring or late fall, so arrive back earlier and stay later in the fall. Others have winterized their cottages or rebuilt so they could stay all winter comfortably if they chose to.

However, there are a number of places for sale around the pond. We heard about another one that's new to the market, the Corley's log home on Channel Drive. This was a surprise as the Corley family have spent a lot of time at the cottage, during all seasons. There is a splendid view down the pond, and there is a large open lot. As far as I know it isn't listed with a realtor yet, but we received a flyer last week saying they are selling.

The economy has not improved enough to stimulate much activity, and some of the cottages have been listed for many months. On the other hand, there have been several instances where cottage owners have upgraded and winterized their cottages into year around homes. After spending a winter or two here at the pond, people either love it or hate it. Mostly, I think they find it a great place to be, and don't mind the commute to wherever they work. Others retire and make Joe's Pond their residence, leaving for only a few weeks in the winter; still others, just hang out all winter and take the weather, challenges and sometimes discomfort in stride.