Goodbye November - Hello Winter!

November is going out with a bang - below zero temperatures last night made it colder'n a polar bear's butt in January - and even though the sun is out, bright and warm looking, it hasn't warmed up much.  Our thermometers are all showing between 10 and 16 above.  I took a picture early this morning to show the frost on all the trees and bushes, but the photo isn't as nice as the real thing.  It was beautiful - everything sparkled.

 
When I checked my e-mail, I found this beautiful photo that Tim Hebert took from his parent's home on Old Homestead Road.  This is looking south towards Barre Avenue and the state fishing access.  As you can see, the pond is solidly frozen.  Click on Tim's picture to see the glistening frost particles everywhere.

And so we end November - the year is nearly finished, can you believe it?  Time has whipped by this year.  Seems like only a few weeks ago we were watching the ice go out, and now we're seeing the pond frozen over again and there's a good chance we won't see open water again until sometime in April or even May.  We live in a beautiful part of the country, and no matter what the weather is, there's always something to love about living here year around.  Not everyone will agree, but cold or not, most will agree the scenery is beautiful.

Kingdom Animal Shelter Benefit

Helen Morrison asked me to remind folks that she is collecting returnable cans and bottles to benefit the Kingdom Animal Shelter.  If you have returnables, let her know - 563-2488, or e-mail her at: helendanamorr@yahoo.com

Also:

Holiday Bazaar

ATTTENTION CRAFTERS!  I'm planning a pre-Christmas book sale to benefit the Kingdom Animal Shelter at the Masonic Hall (the Food Share building) in Cabot, on either December 7th or 14th, and would like to organize a Holiday Bazaar for the same date. Crafters and others are invited to participate. I'm thinking also baked goods, jellies, homemade candy, wreaths, garlands, plants or any other holiday related items. If any local groups or Cabot School classes are fund raising, this would be an ideal way to reach customers. There is no charge for a table but I'm asking each vendor to donate a new, unwrapped toy or young adult present to the Faith in Action program. Please e-mail me at khigbeevt123@gmail.com or phone 563-2479 to reserve a table. Also, if you have any comments or suggestions, I'd like to hear from you. Kathleen Higbee, Cabot VT

I hope everyone made it safely and on time wherever they needed to be for Thanksgiving Day yesterday.  Our group came and went without mishap, and the day was lovely - a pretty traditional Thanksgiving, "over the river and through the woods."

We loved seeing our granddaughters, and wishing them well as they be leaving soon for Namibia with their parents.  We'll miss them at Christmas, but it's nice they will be with their Namibian  family for the holidays - it's been four years since Monika and Bill went there for Christmas and then brought Jo-Ann back with them.  This time, the girls will be seeing their grandmother, Floriana, and also their great grandmother, along with numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.  It will be quite a family reunion and I'm sure everyone will have a wonderful time.

Today has been really cold.  I don't think it got much above 12 degrees all day, even though the sun was out and it looked very pleasant outside.  I took this picture early this morning.  Notice the beginnings of a drift in the foreground?  The wind was ferocious yesterday. It died down last night and that allowed the broad pond to freeze over, finally.  There hasn't been much wind at all  today, and tonight there were ominous clouds as the sun was setting.  It was especially pretty, I thought, and worth a picture. 

We wonder if this will be the final freeze-over for the winter or if the pond will once again open up for a short time.  Once the water is completely frozen over, it is extraordinarily quiet by the pond, but if the cold weather continues, in a few weeks there will be a veritable village of ice shantys and fishermen out on the ice, with adults and kids laughing and shouting, dogs barking, snow machines racing up and down and even vehicles - cars and trucks - coming and going.  If this cold weather persists, this could be one of those years the ice gets to be 3 ft. thick, more or less - a real "old fashioned winter!".  

This morning, after I'd been outside to measure new snow depth (only a quarter of an inch) and check the gauge, I happened to look out the bedroom window and realized I forgot to put out the snow stake in the back yard before snow came.  A senior moment, I suppose.  I generally report snow depth by checking the stake using my binoculars from that bedroom window, and that's how I happened to realize it's not there.  If we lose some of our snow I may be able to find the hole in the ground where it goes, but I couldn't do it now without disturbing too much snow in the area and then the readings would be off all winter.   I re-did the numbers on the stake when I took it in last spring because they had faded during the winter, but for the moment I don't know where I stored it.  I'll look for it and be prepared if it warms up a tad and perhaps I can still get it out. 

Today I packaged up the leftover turkey.  There's some for the freezer, and some for a "rerun" of yesterday we'll have tonight - love those leftovers!  Then I made turkey soup with the carcass.  I love turkey, no matter how it's served, but by Christmas I'm ready for some beef.  Not that I'm a big meat eater generally, and hardly ever eat red meat, but comes a time, after just so many turkey, chicken and fish meals, I really need to sink my teeth into a steak.  So that has become a fairly firm tradition in our family for our Christmas Eve gathering.  

So, time to begin planning for Christmas.  Here's a note for a new tradition starting in Cabot:

       First Cabot Community 
          Christmas Dinner

     Begun as a vision of Fred and Shirley Ducharme to share their sense of good fortune and love of the community, the idea of coming together as an extended

family has grown as neighbors hear about it.

     Many people don’t have a lot of family nearby, and some cooks just don’t enjoy preparing a special meal just for themselves or only a couple of people.  This is an opportunity to enjoy companionship, a free shared meal of home cooked food, and appreciate the benefits of living in a small, close community, regardless of religious affiliation.  All are welcome.

     The idea is blossoming, as people hear of it and sign up to help. The Lay-Sleepers have offered to help coordinate.  Transportation may be available for seniors who have challenges getting around.  People have offered to assist with the cooking.

     Help with meal components is still sought – turkeys, stuffing, vegetables, cranberries, desserts are all needed.

    Please call the Ducharmes (563-2102) or the Lay-Sleepers (563-2016) to make your reservation, offer help or let us know that you need assistance with transportation.  The more that come, the more fun it will be.  Please make the call.  We look forward to hearing from you and welcoming you on December 25.

 

Thanksgiving Day, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!  Outside it looks more like Christmas - the trees are laden with snow, and it's only 14 degrees as I write this.  There is a little sun from time to time, but clouds above and snow showers seem to be the recipe for today.  These are our trees by our driveway this morning.

I went on the webcam a few minutes ago and the broad part of the pond is still open due to the wind today.  It seems to be coming straight down the pond, and even as cold as it was last night, the wind blew all night, I think, and  kept the water from freezing.  The coves behind the islands at the north end of the pond seem to be frozen over again, though. 
 
Yesterday was entirely different.  We had pretty heavy rain during the morning.  Fred and I went to the Danville Health Center for our flu shots, and when we stopped in West Danville for the mail, Fred took these pictures.  In the afternoon, the temperature began to drop, and the wind picked up.  Everything froze tight.  My anemometer is stuck, frozen in time, pointing dead north, but nothing is turning, so I have no idea how strong the winds were last night.  I took in the flag before the rain came - I don't like to see it wrapped around the flag pole, either drenching wet or frozen. 
 
Fred has been out clearing the driveway so our guests will be able to get here this evening, but it was a cold job.  He just got an L. L. Bean "Mad Bomber" hat, and I couldn't resist getting this picture as he came in this morning.  His glasses fogged up, so he looks like some alien.  Sometimes he's pretty much covered with snow when he comes in, but today it is so cold out there, and the snow is so dry, it didn't stick to him.  I guess winter is here, but Fred is prepared.

By the way, I've decided we should get rid of that tallest tree in the picture above.  I estimate it is about 20' tall, and it's really a pretty tree.  If you know anyone who can use it, have them get in touch with me.  It would be perfect for an outside Christmas tree or for any room with a high ceiling.  I pruned it for the first few years, so it's very full and has a pretty uniform shape.  It's getting too large for the space, and lovely as it is, it has to go, either now or in the spring.

Before I go back to the kitchen and preparations for our Thanksgiving meal tonight, I want to share with you this essay by Joe's Ponder, Andy Rudin. 
 

Pleasant Debt

by Andrew Rudin

Thanksgiving, 1999

Honorable mention in a National Public Radio Essay Contest

Nearing November, as the air becomes cool, my heart warms with the anticipation of Thanksgiving.  I feel no pressure of giving or receiving gifts, no pressure from advertisers, no Santa or Minora, no music dedicated to the occasion.  Just the occasion itself creates my anticipation.

Eventually, I will sit around a table with family and friends to enjoy one of the most special meals of the year, one that takes the longest time and care to prepare.  As that time nears, the colors of fall, the crispness of the air begin to coach me about humility. I feel the power of seasons and the frailty of people.

My earliest memory of Thanksgiving was at my grandmother’s home in Rutland, Vermont.  Her kitchen was the center of the universe, the source of the smells of fresh Swedish bread, of stuffing and turkey.  There was a glow from the kitchen, not only from the light, the warmth of the wood stove, but also from the laughter.  Grandma’s huge grey cat would make the rounds from lap to lap and hand to hand, making sure that everyone felt the warmth.

In my heart, giving thanks transcends everything.  I know that some of us may not profess a belief in god, but each of us is nonetheless overwhelmed by the moonlight and shadows, the glory of a waterfall, the brilliance of a flower or the love shared with friends.  These gifts come without cost or inconvenience.  They are merely here for all of us to enjoy.  How can I thank for a flower?

We get ready now.  We all have made some kind of harvest in the lush summer, but we sense the change of seasons.  We gather together.  Some may try to say thanks, some may not.  However it happens, for this special time, deep inside we acknowledge a blessing, a gift that can only be received, an acceptance of a mysterious debt that needs no payment other than enjoyment.

Whatever it is, wherever it comes from, and with whatever value each of us grants it, I give so much thanks for Thanksgiving.

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I hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving Day.