The lost scissors are found!  Fred borrowed Jamie's metal detector this morning and within less than five minutes, found the scissors in deep snow - a pile left from shoveling off the deck.  Apparently they had been in the burlap when I wrapped it around the big old rhododendron, and dropped into the snowbank.  That was not a place we would have thought to look, but fortunately, Fred methodically covered the whole garden area, just in case, and found them.  
     A reader suggested using a magnet, and I think that might have done it, too - except I probably wouldn't have thought to look in the snowbank well to one side of where I'd been working.  Thanks for the suggestion, though.
    Today is dreary again.  Not cold, just dark and Novemberish.  My thermometer is reading 36 degrees, and nothing is happening.  No wind, no snow, no rain.  Just dark, dreary and depressing - except it's almost Thanksgiving, and then so soon afterwards comes Christmas and the New Year, most of us don't have time to be depressed.  And for some of us, therein lies the problem.
    Holiday depression is very real, and there are probably nearly as many causes as there are individuals who experience it.  Everyone reacts differently to different situations.  For some people, it's not being with family during the holidays, for others it's BEING with family that causes it.  I saw a cute cartoon the other day - a young woman has screaming children circling her as she talks on the phone:
Daughter:  "Mom, you and dad aren't coming for Thanksgiving?"  
Mother:  "Your father is taking me on a cruise!"  
Daughter:  "But if you're on a cruise, you won't be with your family!"  
Mother:  "That's pretty much the whole idea."
    For most of us, being with family, eating too much and maybe watching hours of football is just what we do on Thanksgiving.  There are a lot of people who prefer to spend their Thanksgiving providing meals for less fortunate, elderly or lonely people, and that's wonderful.  There are many kind and thoughtful people around who look after their neighbors.

    There are also a lot of folks in our region who look forward to Thanksgiving as their time to get out into the woods to hunt deer with their buddies while their wives and girlfriends go shopping for Christmas.  So, whatever fills your bucket, we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving. 
     As I finish writing this, snow is beginning to fall. 

Construction Update Cabot Danville US 2 Reconstruction FEGC F 028-3(26) C/2    Project Location:  The 1.4 mile project extends along US 2 from Last Road to Danville Hill Road in Cabot. This is a multi-year project with most of the work occurring in 2017/2018. Completion is scheduled for 2019. Thanksgiving Holiday Break:  No work will be performed on the project from Wednesday afternoon (11/22) through Sunday (11/26).  Work will resume on Monday (11/27).   Week of November 27th, 2017 US 2 – East (Danville Side) of Goodrich’s Maple Farm Most of the work this week will occur behind the barrier near Goodrich’s Maple Farm.  Short traffic interruptions may occur to allow for trucks to enter and exit the construction site. Crews will continue construction on the second phase of excavation for the new roadway alignment east of Goodrich’s Maple Farm.  Work will include installing new underdrain and select stone material.  Excavation for the retaining wall at Goodrich’s Farm will start this week also. * Trucks will be hauling material to the fill area near the Folsom Farm throughout the week which could result in minor traffic interruptions as trucks access the area. Traffic – Minor traffic delays can be expected this week. It is illegal in VT to use any handheld portable electronic devices while driving. The law carries fines of up to $200 with points assessed if the violation occurs in a work zone.  Contact Francine Perkins, Project Outreach Coordinator, FRP Enterprises, LLC with any questions or concerns with regards to the project at 802-479-6994.  Construction updates are posted at www.roadworkupdates.com