This has been a beautiful spring-like day. We've registered temps in the 50s and there's a bit of melting going on. There should be pretty good sap runs I think, so perhaps producers will have a good maple season this year. Last night was cool, but I'm not sure if it got below freezing or not. The low showing on one of my thermometers is 49 degrees, but I think it got colder than that during the night. I haven't been paying attention to my other, more sophisticated weather station, so that is generally messed up until I sit down with it and reprogram, I guess.
     I received this reminder from Helen Morrison about the yard sale this Saturday for the benefit of Kingdom Animal Shelter:

Hi Folks,

     As you can see by the poster on the right, we are having a Yard Sale on Saturday, Mar. 3 to benefit Kingdom Animal Shelter.

     If you or a friend have any items they might be interested in donating to the sale, that would be wonderful.  Let me know and I will make arrangements to pick them up.

     As you can also see, we would love gently used items...but no clothing, electronics, or skis.

Let me know.

     Thank you. Helen - 802-563-2488

 (Click on image to read full size.)

     We had a busy day yesterday. Fred had an occupational therapist visit in the morning and a physical therapist in the afternoon. They put him through his paces with exercises designed to strengther his muscles. He did a lot of exercises after they left, including walking here in the house, so he's determined to get his stamina back a.s.a.p. Today I notice he's taking things a little more slowly, but he did accompany me to the mailbox and back - up our fairly steep driveway, and several steps onto the deck to get into the house, none of which seemed to bother him at all. I think the fresh air may be good for him. It was about 52 degrees in the shade, so very comfortable with jackets on.
     Tomorrow is the day the pay on-line Ice-Out tickets will once again be available. We've had several inquiries from people who wanted to access the page and couldn't, but we have only had the page active during the month of March in past years, so that's how we're doing it this year. This will be an interesting Ice-Out Contest, I think. The weather has been all over the place, so who knows how thick the ice is or what kind of weather there will be this spring?
That's all part of the fun, not being able to predict with any authority whatsoever when the block will go down and stop the clock. I'll let everyone know when the apparatus is out on the ice and will give you regular ice reports as we get them. Fred will also have regular reports on home page. Watch for the reports and get in the contest!
 
    

Good Morning, Everyone -
     It feels like spring here at Joe's Pond today. We have a very comfortable 35 degrees (in the shade) and much warmer where the sun hits. The snow is melting, the birds are singing - spring may at least be making a preview showing; I have no doubt March will bring more cold and snow.
     One sure sign of spring is that the 2018 Goshen, MA Meltdown is officially up and running. Administrator Bob Labrie always sends notice when they get their pallet and flag out on the ice, and it's always well before we get our apparatus out. Bob and his firemen friends patterned their contest after ours back in 2005. The pond is quite small and their contest has ended as early as March 11th in 2016 and as late at April 21st in 2007. They have donated over $12,000 to various non-profit organizations over the years, and given ticket winners over $9,000.
     I expect Larry Rossi is thinking about getting the pallet out. It seems early, but with the erratic weather pattern this year, it's hard to tell when the ice will become unsafe, so it's probably better to get it out sooner rather than later, even though it could be buried in snow for a while before the real spring sets in. Larry will be the judge.
  
    

Just a quick note to let our friends know that Fred is back home and doing well. I brought him home from Greensboro Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center on Friday. He was getting great care there and it's really a nice spot - but he was very anxious to get home. It's been one heck of a ride for both of us since going to Boston in early January. The pneumonia set him back quite a bit, sapping his strength, but he's quickly regaining that and hopefully can put on some weight and get some resilience back. His appetite was just coming back from the chemo treatments when the pneumonia struck and he had to have antibiotics that wrecked his appetite again. We're hoping that we have no more surprises and by the time spring is here, he will be feeling much better.
     In the meantime, thank you to all of you who have called and sent messages and cards. We both appreciate the concern so many people have shown. It sure helped knowing so many people were offering their help and good wishes. We are fortunate to have a wonderfully supportive family and so many caring friends. Thank you, all.
     Finally, like a light being turned off, Woody is no longer following me everywhere I go and demanding attention when I'm on the computer. Instead, he's curled up on the sofa in the living room where Fred is working on his laptop, perfectly content to sleep. I'm sure he's relaxed now the family is complete again. I know the feeling!

It was a pretty spring-like day here today, lots of sunshine and some melting going on. Tonight it is about 35 degrees and raining lightly. We are getting rain for the next couple of days, and warmer temps, so the snow and ice will be melting and rushing into streams where already there are ice jams left over from the last warm period a few weeks ago. We're expecting some flooding - and probably muddy roads! 
     Fred has settled in at Greensboro Rehab. He will probably be there for about a week. It's an easy drive from here - takes me about 20-25 minutes in good weather. Today when I was there, the problem of the day was that the remotes for both Fred's TV and his roommate's work for both TVs, so when the roommate changes a  channel, it changes Fred's, too, and vice versa. The roommate is quite elderly and a tad grumpy, so Fred is not playing dueling remotes or anything like that, but I was there about two hours and the maintenance guy hadn't been able to figure out the problem. I left them discussing splitters vs. changing codes (if he could figure out how to do that). The televisions are two different brands, so it was a complete mystery why the remotes were interchangeable. I hope they got it straightened out. 
     Also, there is no secure wifi for patients - only administrative wifi is secure, and there is no cell service there. The rooms do not have land lines - if a patient gets or wants to make a call, the staff brings a cordless phone for them. I think there may be three lines available - including the administrative office line. Of course, there are only 30 beds and many are elderly patients who aren't interested or able to make phone calls, so I guess there isn't a lot of competition going on. The staff are very nice people, and I'm impressed with the place. It's clean and cheerful. It is kind of out in the boonies, but Greensboro village is close by and Willey's store - a plus for everyone. I've always enjoyed visiting Willey's.
     I had a message from Andy Rudin in Philadelphia yesterday. He sent this photo - spring has arrived in his garden. Seems early, especially when we're looking at 18-20 inches of snow on the ground still, but good to know we'll be seeing new green buds soon, too. Thanks, Andy!
 

It's hard to believe February is more than half over. I hope everyone had a nice Valentine's Day, giving sweet tokens of love to those who mean the most to you, and hopefully getting some in return. I stopped at the truck stop in Wells River on my way to see Fred at DHMC and got him a nice big slice of chocolate pie. It hit the spot for him! He needs to gain weight and has been told to eat all the "good stuff" - so nothing is off limits for him. For me, it's a different story. I wish I could give him a few of my extra pounds.
     We are happy that Fred was discharged from DHMC on Thursday afternoon and is now spending a few days at the Greensboro, Vermont Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center. It is a very nice, small facility and he's getting excellent care there. He is determined to get strong quickly so he can come home.When I saw him today, he was expecting to be evaluated by the physical therapy specialists tomorrow, and then we'll know if they think he's as ready to come home as he thinks he is. Woody and I are ready to have him home, for sure.
     The weather here today has been very sunny, but the temperature never got very high. I went for a short walk around 2 p.m. when I got home from visiting Fred, and there was a very cold wind. Also, there's that ice under the sifting of snow we got overnight. I measured just over an inch - just enough to make everything pretty, clean and white - and dangerous underfoot. I had my trusty walking stick with me and wore my creepers, but didn't dare venture up Jamie and Marie's hill. It's ok going up, but coming back down can be scary. I believe we have a warming trend heading our way after tomorrow. Tuesday will be near 60 degrees.
Well, in some places, but probably not at Joe's Pond. It should mean sugaring can get started, I suppose. There's real warmth in the sun when the wind isn't blowing.
     Here's an opportunity to do some spring cleaning and put those seldom-used items that are cluttering your cupboards and closets to good use. There's someone out there who is no doubt looking for whatever it is you have and don't use anymore, and the Kingdom Animal Shelter will benefit. Here's the scoop!

     If you can't quite make out the small print, click on the image to make it larger. Helen Morrison says give her a call and she'll pick up your item(s). Her number is 563-2488. Do remember, though, they can't use old electronics, skis or clothing.

It's been a while - it's not so much that there's no news to report from Joe's Pond - it's more that between traveling to Lebanon, N. H. to see Fred at Dartmouth Hitchcock Memorial Hospital and keeping up with things at home, I haven't had much time when I was awake and alert enough to post anything. Fred is now doing much better and will be moved to a rehabilitation facility in Greensboro for a few days until he literally gets back on his feet. He's had a pretty rough couple of weeks and the pneumonia took a lot out of him. We're confident he's going to be back in rare form soon.
     I've been sort of holding the fort here at home, when I'm here. It's amazing how complacent one gets when there are two people to share the responsibilities. I've always known and appreciated how much Fred does around here and for others, but I'm finding out there are some things I'm completely mystified about. I'm learning, though, and getting along pretty well. But it will be really, really good to have my partner in crime back, believe me!
     For example, yesterday morning when I left for DHMC to see Fred, my computer said it was updating and I shouldn't turn it off. Ok. No problem. So I left. When I got back late in the afternoon and went to check my email, everything started up normally, but when I got to the page where I log in to open Windows 10, I got a black screen. No icons, nothing to click, nothing worked. I turned the computer off manually and then started it up again, still a black screen. I fired up my laptop and Googled to see if I could find a solution. One suggestion I found was to turn it off and leave it for six hours or so. Frustrated, I ate my supper and went to bed, thinking it would be better in the morning. It wasn't. 
     Son, Jamie, is our go-to guy for almost everything, but when I called him this morning to see if he had a solution, he said he is at a loss with Windows 10. He's mainly a Mac guy. So I went back on the laptop and was about to unplug everything - and I mean EVERYTHING associated with the computer - when Fred called. He mainly wanted to update me that he was feeling much better, had been walking for the first time since being hauled to the hospital almost two weeks ago, and expected to be transferred to a rehab facility someplace. But he said they were having difficulties finding a place that would take new patients because most are closed due to the flu. When he asked how things were going here at home, of course I told him about my computer problem. He walked me through trying a couple of things and we got it going again! It made my day that he was well enough to leave the hospital and be closer to home; and the rest of my day went much better, having the darned computer operating.
     I made a quick trip to Cabot post office at lunch time, and it felt like spring. The temperature was about 41 degrees, the ice that was so hard a week ago has mostly turned to mush, and there are lots of bare spots. No mud yet, though. After lunch I had a nap in my chair - yep, I nod off a lot like any old lady, cat on my lap, TV playing. Sometimes I think I get my best sleep in my chair, in spite of cricks in my neck. But I had a lot I wanted to do this afternoon, so to shake the cobwebs out of my head and mind, I walked up Jamie and Marie's driveway. I haven't done that for a month or more, having been in Boston and then rationalizing that it was too icy underfoot when we got back. It was good, easy going, and felt good to get some exercise and fresh air. Today was Jamie's birthday, and he got home just as I was nearing the top of his driveway, so I was able to wish him "Happy Birthday." 
     Woody is with me tonight as I write this. He is never very far from me these days. He was spending a good deal of time sitting in front of the bedroom door, waiting for it to open and Fred to come out, I think. He seems to be always alert for any little noise, as if he expects someone to be stirring in the house. I've learned to expect him to be either a step ahead of me or following close at my heels wherever I go. I have to be careful not to trip over him. He's good company, but sometimes too much underfoot. He'll calm down when Fred gets home, I'm sure. Tonight he's determined to walk in front of my computer screen. I think he'd lie down there if I made room for him. He has his own bed next to me on a little side desk, and usually settles there without much fuss, but tonight he's feeling a little more insecure, I guess. I'll stop now and give him some much needed attention.
 

We're still getting those weather swings - over the weekend, some snow/rain mix and today nothing is falling out of the sky, but there is lots of wind. The temperature is 21 degrees, and with the wind,  it feels more line the low teens or single numbers. I have no idea how much snow there is on the ground, but the banks along our road have grown in the past few days. At least now there's something softer to catch us if we slide into the ditch. There's still ice on the road, although West Shore Road has been well sanded.
     I want to let everyone know that there are a few changes in how we're doing Ice Out this year - instead of contacting me for tickets, please contact one of these very capable and dedicated women:
Diane Rossi - 802-563-6088; Michelle Walker - 802-563-2357;
Henretta Splain - 802-472-2936; or Mary Anne Cassani - 802-684-2195.
     These ladies will keep tickets flowing and will answer all your questions. I realized I would not be able to devote enough time to do what is necessary this year because I will be with Fred, now at Dartmouth Hitchcock in Lebanon, N.H. Although we hope Fred will be back home soon, we cannot anticipate when. In the meantime, printable tickets are available on the Joe's Pond website, and we expect to have pay-on-line tickets available on March 1. I'll keep you informed.

We've been on a bit of a roller-coaster, Fred and I. As you know, Fred has been in ICU at NVRH this past week. He has received excellent care and yesterday when I left, he was awaiting his roast pork dinner. However, the breathing/pneumonia/lung infection is persisting and the doctors at NVRH transferred him to Dartmouth Hitchcock late yesterday. This was not an emergency transfer - but the surgeons at NVRH do not do the type of procedure needed to get the fluid and sludge out of his lungs. We were relieved when we got word there was room at Dartmouth Hitchcock. With so much flu, emergency rooms, ICUs and hospitals generally, are full to capacity. I'm waiting to hear from Fred before I head down there today. That's it from here for now.
     Here's something to make the Winter Olympics more personal - Amanda Pelkey is Andy LaPrade’s great-niece.  She’s on the US Women’s Olympic hockey team.  #37. Watch for her!
 

I once again want to thank all the people who have sent cards to Fred and called or written notes with encouragement as he moves through the healing process after his operation on January 11th. We knew it was going to be a long haul to get back to feeling normal, but we didn't expect more surprises. However, life is full of jolts and the unexpected, and on Monday morning, Fred awakened me saying he was finding breathing difficult. We called 9-1-1 and our neighbor, David Covell, was first to arrive. Dave is a first responder for Cabot. He assured us the ambulance from Barre would be here shortly. Why Barre? Because we are in Washington County and Cabot currently does not have enough volunteers, so usually cannot respond. I don't know why Danville wasn't called - or if they were and they, too, have a shortage of volunteers. Long story short, Fred was taken to Northeast Vermont Regional Hospital. Turns out he has pneumonia and some other problems going on in his lungs. He was doing much better when I saw him today, but the doctors will know more about what's going on once they get all the information from the cultures taken. All this after he seemed to be doing exceptionally well, exercising, getting his appetite back, and feeling a little better each day, we thought. Sunday was a low energy day for him, but we watched most of the football game, and figured he had perhaps overdone the exercising. Now we know his body was trying to fight off the infection in his lungs. 
    Of course, I'm fearful of the flu - for him and for myself - so I'm being careful to wash my hands before and after visiting him, and trying to stay far away from crowds or individuals who are sneezing and coughing. I cannot afford to get sick, and Fred certainly doesn't need any more complications.
      We both appreciate very much all the interest friends and family have shown, and I just want you to know that if I'm not blogging every day it's because I'm spending time with Fred.

Every now and then something really nice happens on an otherwise dreary day, and that happened to me today. I had an email from Butch Bouchard (Sandy Beach Road) with a link to another of his son's drone videos. What could be nicer as we sit watching snowflakes falling and swirling off the roof on another typical winter day than watching people frolicking on Joe's Pond on a beautiful summer day? Click "link" above, or HERE to watch the video.  And thanks, Butch, for thinking to send that to us. It gives all of us here in the cold something to look forward to!
     I guess lots of folks will be watching the Super Bowl tonight. I don't follow football at all, but Fred does, and we'll both be watching tonight. He will need to explain to me a lot of what's happening on the field, but then there are the commercials, and those can be entertaining sometimes - or not. Sometimes they are just plain silly. I used to laugh at my mother years ago when someone would tell a joke and she just didn't think it was funny; but now I understand perfectly. Sometimes I think she really didn't "get it," but other times I knew she just thought it was foolishness, and that's the way I feel, more and more often as the years go by. But I appreciate cleverness and sometimes just knowing how much time, effort and MONEY it takes to put these ads together is enough to get my attention.
     By the way, in case you missed it on WCAX this weekend, they mentioned that Lindsay Richardson, from Berlin, Vermont, will be dancing with Justin Timberlake at half time tonight. Watch for her. Here's a link to a short video - LINK. Here's another short video of Lindsay. Nice to know she's doing what she loves and is successful.
     I just had a nice email from our friend, Bill Jones - he became a grandfather today! He's going to be a neat granddad. Bill lost his wife, Janet, only a few weeks ago, so I expect welcoming this robust little baby boy into the family is just what the family needed.
     

This is going to be a cold night! The sun hasn't dipped all the way behind the hill yet, and already my thermometer is showing only 1.3F. There is a mean northwest wind blowing right down West Shore Road that is dropping the wind chill to about minus twenty. I would say the groundhog certainly saw his shadow today, at least  here in the Northeast Kingdom, in spite of what Gary Sadowsky said on the noon weathercast. The sun hasn't been shining full force, but certainly enough to cast a shadow - in between gusts of wind and blowing snow. I think most of us here at Joe's Pond know we'll have at least the months of February and March to enjoy winter weather.
     Some of you will be interested that Alban and Margaret Richey have sold their two cottages on North Shore Road to Jamie Milne's daughter, Caroline and her husband, David. David recently contacted me to get set up with Joe's Pond Association, and we welcome them.
    Margaret and Alban Richey have been here a long time, and we'll miss them, but how nice it is that Jane Milne's granddaughter will be close by - that end of the road is pretty much a family complex. Well done.
     I decided it was too icy to walk down to the mailbox today, so I took the car. Seems silly to drive the car three or so rods to the mailbox, but it's a lot better than inching down the driveway with my creepers that have a tenancy to turn int skates when it is this cold and the ice is super hard. Besides that, there's no soft place to fall unless I want to walk in the snowbank, which I don't. It went very well and I actually made two trips - because I forgot to put some mail in the box for tomorrow. Oh, well, it got done, and I'm back in the house, safe and sound, watching the wind blow.

We've had a mixed day weather-wise today. We got a little snow overnight and throughout much of the day, and now it's just overcast. The snow was light and just enough to cover the ice so it was hard to tell what was underfoot. I made it down to the mailbox and back ok, but even West Shore Road looked pretty icy under the sand the town had spread. It was cold enough so the sand didn't do much, but it was certainly better than nothing. There had been bare spots on our driveway, but I couldn't tell where they were under the snow, so I just depended on my cleats and walking stick - although the darned walking stick (just one of the convenient pieces of spruce limbs I've picked up during our walks in the woods over the years) slipped precariously on the icy spots, too, so I didn't dare depend much on it. It does help me catch my balance sometimes, so I like to have it with me. 
     We've had two visits from Vermont Visiting Nurses today. Bonnie came this morning and did the usual vitals, etc., and this afternoon a very pleasant physical therapy specialist named Marty stopped in. He was very helpful and gave Fred some good suggestions about how to make his recovery speedier and more comfortable. Right now, keeping his oxygen level up is important, so he has some breathing exercises to do. It's good for him to walk, and he does that just fine - but he won't be running up Jamie and Marie's hill for a while yet. That will come eventually, I'm sure. I envision that Fred will emerge as his usual, strong self about the same time spring arrives.