It's raining lightly tonight, but everybody should get out their galoshes - snow tomorrow!  And the next day, and the next, etc., etc., mixed with rain except in the higher elevations - we know the drill.  Most folks around here have their snow tires on and things are battened down ready for winter, but there will be plenty of folks out on the road without snow tires and driving too fast for the conditions.  It happens every year.  No matter how many winters you've seen, when the first snow covers the highway it's a tad scary for a lot of us - I call it "white knuckle driving," and tend to slow down, provoking the more daring drivers.  I don't mind getting honked at - I just consider I'm maybe saving them from a serious accident.  There are always a few "cowboys" out there who drive like they're on dry summer roads and going to a fire; it will be hard to dodge them if they start to slide, so please be alert and watch out for them if you have to be out on snow-covered roads.  Most will adapt after a skid or two - hopefully without doing serious damage.

We were in St. Johnsbury doing errands today.  First thing we noticed on our way in was the house just after Chouinard's that I believe Marty Beattie owns is gone.  There was machinery there cleaning up the foundation when we went by.  Then, in St. Johnsbury they were paving on Western Avenue - again.  I guess they have to build up the surface gradually or something.  I had thought work was finished for the winter, but that isn't the case.  Also, on the right just before the Fairbanks Inn, the new gas station and convenience store is going up rapidly.  I don't know when that will be open, but very soon, I'm guessing.  It will be convenient to have at that end of town - the little station just up the street doesn't stay open into the evening, and I expect the new one will at least have pumps operating 24/7, like Marty's 1st Stop in Danville. Not much else new in the St. J. area.  

We learned today that the new owners of Romaine and Margaret Bacon's home on Route 2 are going to be year 'round residents at the pond.  They are Michael and Susan Yesalonia, formerly of Barre.  It's nice to have more year around residents at the pond. 
Otherwise, things are pretty quiet.  Except on the political scene, of course.  The race for governor turned out to be very close, with neither candidate getting 50% of the vote, so the Legislature will have to make the choice - their first order of business come January.  In the meantime, I expect the candidates will be on their best behavior and the legislators will be bombarded with well-intentioned directives from constituents as to how they should vote.  The voting is by secret ballot, so this is one time they can all vote their conscience and consider what will be best for the State.  Interesting times here in Vermont.