Yesterday on VPR (Vermont Public Radio) there was an interesting interview regarding the new Shoreland Protection Bill H.223.  Click the box that says "Listen."  Thanks to Helen Morrison for alerting us to this interview - it will help us understand how it may or may not impact land owners around lakes and ponds in Vermont.

 We are having a mild, but so far pretty sunless day.  The temperature is staying at about 40 degrees, and it went barely below freezing (28 degrees) last night, according to my thermometers.  (Yes, we have several, placed strategically around the outside of the house.)  People are generally surprised that we still have a foot of snow on the ground in some locations around the pond.  The west shore typically retains snow longer than the east shore.  

Here are some photos taken last night in our driveway - it was just at supper time and these five really fat turkeys showed up to feast on seeds and whatever they could find.  We watched them for 15-20 minutes (and so did our cat, Woody, who had apparently sensed something was in his yard before we knew).  As I came into the kitchen to start supper, he was anxiously waiting at the door into the garage, so I let him out, then went to the sink to start supper and that was when I saw the turkeys.  Woody was probably watching them through his little door,  or perhaps he had ventured out onto the driveway by then - we couldn't tell and didn't want to open the door again for fear of frightening them off.  We don't like to make them fly unnecessarily because it takes so much energy, and this time of the year they probably need all the fuel they can find just to keep healthy.  These birds looked very healthy - like ready for the Thanksgiving table.

Finally, they fell into formation and marched single file down the driveway, stopping short of the road when one of them ventured over the snowbank into our woods.  The other four followed, and later we could see them through the trees, drinking in the little brook that flows from a spring further up the hill.  Woody, by then, was sitting in the driveway, pleased with himself I suppose that he had protected his territory once again and the big birds were moving on.  At no time did the turkeys look the least bit frightened, and while they were way down on the driveway, a truck went by, and they were unimpressed by that, too.

We are expecting some rain later today.  That should reduce the snow pack some, and perhaps help bring the frost out of the roads.  Yesterday when we came back over West Shore Road, it was pretty greasy.  We had a hard time "riding the ridges."  Late in the afternoon, Cabot's grader came by and worked a long stretch of the road below our house.  We haven't been out to Route 2 today, so we don't know if they went all the way to the Danville town line or just did patches where it was really bad (there were plenty of them!)  The Danville end, just off the pavement going to Route 2, was really bad yesterday - very deep potholes that could tear off the undercarriage of your car if you hit them too fast.  About a week ago when I came home one day, the Danville grader was sitting just off the pavement right where those potholes were, apparently ready to go to work, but the next day when we went out, nothing had changed, and now they're worse than ever.  Something must have called the guy with the grader away so he never got to do that short stretch.  I'm sure they'll take care of it soon, though.  All the back roads everywhere are in bad shape, and this time of the year the road crews take a lot of heat, even though they do their best to keep up with the mud and ruts.  Spring is definitely here! 

And here's more proof:

HI FOLKS!  BELOW IS THE FIRST WORK UPDATE OF THE 2013 SEASON.  AS ALWAYS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME WITH QUESTIONS, CONCERNS OR COMPLAINTS. 

Danville Route 2 Project

Project:  Danville FEGC 028-3(32)

WEEK OF 4/8/13

Starting Monday, crews will work on installing drainage pipe along Route 2 (Village Green side) in the center of Town.  Two-way traffic will be maintained this week.

Utility crews will continue to work on removing poles and lines around the Green.

Contact Francine Perkins, Public Relations Officer, FRP Enterprises, LLC with any questions or concerns with regard to this project at 802-479-6994 or for a more up to date schedule visit www.roadworkupdates.com.