I love when people share photos and fun stories for the blog.  I hear from someone almost every day with something interesting they have been doing or with a question about Vermont or Joe's Pond - you'd be surprised how far afield Joe's Pond appreciation goes.  Or perhaps you wouldn't.  Most of you who have visited or who live here know it's special, but it's always fun for me to learn that someone else thinks so, or that our summer-time residents basking in the sunshine in some warmer place still think about those of us who elect to hang out here at the pond through snow and rain and ice and freezing temperatures.

I heard from Homer and Margaret Fitts this morning - some of you will remember that last summer Homer requested a new "Happiness is Joe's Pond" bumper sticker.  It had been years since they were sold to members as a money-raiser for the Association, but President Tom Dente promptly produced some out of the depths of some storage closet or something - I never found out where - and presented one to Homer at one of our business meetings.  Being the faithful ambassador for Joe's Pond that he is, Homer immediately put it on his car.  Now, here's "the rest of the story."  Homer's message from Florida:

HI JANE,

    JUST HAVE TO TELL YOU, COMING OUT OF CHURCH THIS MORNING A COUPLE WERE LOOKING AT MY  "HAPPINESS IS JOE'S POND"  STICKER ON THE BACK  OF MY CAR.     THEY ARE FROM SPRINGFIELD AND HAVE SNOWMOBILED AT JOE'S POND OFTEN.    SAID THEY ARE HAPPY NOT TO BE THERE RIGHT NOW WITH THE WEATHER.

                                                            HOMER

I had to tell Homer in my response that that couple was missing some really good weather and snowmobile trails are about as good as it gets right now.  However, I'm sure they are enjoying the warm weather in Florida and perhaps they'll get to Joe's Pond before the end of our snow season.  After all, we still have the rest of February, then March and probably a good bit of April that will likely support winter sports.

Speaking of sports - I also had a message and photo from Don and Diane Sherwood, showing us how they are conditioning themselves with food and fun before preparing for the next . . . well, you

decide: 
 

Hi Jane!!!!! Fred too!!!!

We just wanted to reassure everyone back at Joe's Pond enjoying the lovely winter season, that we who have ventured further south to check out the weather are also experiencing the warmth and sunshine of Florida. We all met at the Fishermen's Wharf, had a wonderful meal and snapped this picture to show what we are suffering through. When the snow is gone, the ice is out and the grass is green we will all return to the Pond. Diane and Don Sherwood will however come back in March to ski the slopes at Burke Mountain, getting ready for the next Winter Olympics!!

Miss you all!!!!

Diane and Don

The happy folks in the photo are, from left to right, back row:  Ray and Cynthia Rouleau, Don and Diane Sherwood, Fred and Ellie Bertrand, Sandy and Bill Ricker, and in front, Charlie and Alice Aimi.  Thanks to Don and Diane for sending the picture.

The Cabot Town Report is here.  We got ours on Friday or Saturday.  I haven't had time to read it yet, but I'm pretty sure there will be some interesting stuff presented at Town Meeting in March.  That's a sure sign spring is not far off - when we begin preparing for Town Meeting.  I bet some of you didn't know that Diane Rossi, Sherry LaPrade and I were auditors for the Town of Cabot a few years ago.  It's nice to note they are still using the same format we designed for the report.  

Another sign of approaching spring is that Diane Rossi and I, along with our spouses, Henretta Splain, Larry Rossi and all the others who work on and support the Ice-Out Contest, are getting set for another big year.  With a couple feet of ice out there right now, and the snow and blizzard conditions we've seen lately, Ice-Out seems a long way off, but it is actually a year-around effort that really heats up right around the first of March when Larry will put the flag out.  We've already had a request for an interview, but we've asked to delay at least until early March.  We're still in winter mode here!