Let's take every opportunity today and every day, to thank our veterans for their service.  Those who have served, and those brave men and women who are serving in our military today, deserve our highest respect and praise.  The least we can do is to personally thank them.  I say a big THANK YOU!
     
     Gretchen says these photos are to kick-start the Joe's Pond Ice-Out ticket sales!  
    

 
I received these beautiful photos this morning from Gretchen Farnsworth (Sandy Beach Road).  Gretchen is always ready with her camera to catch the latest activity on the pond, and her vantage point at the head of the pond where the channel enters, is a wonderful spot for wildlife.  It also gives us a clue about the pond freezing and thawing, since it is the first location to show signs of change.  
     This morning a good portion of it is covered with "cat ice" that supports snow.  And no wonder - last night was near zero degrees.  My weather station shows an overnight low of 9 degrees, and a wind-chill low of -16 degrees.  That's cold, even for mid-November.  This will be a signal for the ducks and geese to clear out of here - it won't be long before the rest of the pond is frozen over if these cold days/nights continue.