Wednesday, May 30, 2018

I just got a reminder that we writers should never presume that something is what we expect from past experience, and before making assumptions, we should check for the facts. Case in point - when someone reported a waterskier one Friday a couple of weeks ago, when it seemed way too cold for anyone to be out there even in a boat, let alone on skis, I assumed it was likely some macho guy. This morning I got this message:
 Just got a good laugh!  The “macho waterskier you spoke of was me!  The “macho man” (Jamie) was driving me wearing a heavy down parka!!  Haha!!!

Pamela Hamilton 

Go Pam!! I say, chalk one up for Joe's Pond women!!
     And by the way, for those of you who don't know Pam, she is a pretty little blonde mother of two grown sons, who grew up at Joe's Pond and really never left. She is a year around resident on Edgewood Avenue.
 
 

Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Our Joe's Pond Association meeting on Saturday morning was very well attended. The business meeting had just begun when the rains came! If you haven't experienced heavy rain while at the JPA pavilion, you have a treat coming. It is LOUD under there. Even with the microphone, it was difficult to hear. The rain continued for a good portion of the meeting and provided some comic moments, but we all stayed reasonably warm and dry, so no harm done. The minutes will be posted on the website within a day or so - as soon as Fred can get to it.
     It was summer here today. The apple trees are in full bloom and most of our trees have all their bright new foliage in place. I have lilacs, apple blossoms and pansies - and a pot of Forget-me-nots courtesy of granddaughter Tangeni and her dad. I will transplant them out where there's plenty of moisture. We actually usually have lots of them in the back yard, but a couple of years ago we had Luke Persons ditch the area above our house and now our back lawn where the Forget-me-nots were is pretty dry and I'm not seeing any evidence of them this year. I'll look for another spot for them - perhaps up in the ditch where Luke left me some big boulders for "sittin' and thinkin'." It's very nice up there, but needs some paths smoothed out for easier walking. I've intended to do that, but where's the energy? I was talking to a friend in Cabot today who is about my age and we agree that we simply don't have the vigor any more for a lot of the things we used to enjoy - like gardening and volunteering - not to mention time. It takes longer to accomplish whatever we do attempt, so we're left not having the time to do all the stuff we'd like to. That's the reason we keep thinking time flies by faster as we get older - it just takes us longer to do things. I'm not complaining - just saying. At my age, I'm glad to be able to get out of bed in the morning. 
     That reminds me of Uncle Cliff Belknap who was actually my boys' great uncle on the Dimick side of the family. One of Uncle Cliff's favorite quips was, "I get up in the morning and check the obituary page in the newspaper. If my name isn't in there, I get dressed and have my breakfast."
     It was also Uncle Cliff who taught my boys that instead of swearing, they could say rapidly, "Cheese-and-crust-all-maggoty, caught-in-a-Somerville-ditch." 
     Well, middle son Bob often employed that little phrase and one day was overheard by one of his teachers at junior high - and he was sent home from school! Bob was not happy that even though he tried to explain, the teacher was convinced that what he heard was a string of oaths that warranted immediate disciplinary action.  Bob had a knack for testing teachers' patience. 
    

    
     

Friday, May 25, 2018

This picture was taken by Shelly Walker of Michael Cody and his wife with Tom Dente, president of Joe's Pond Association on Thursday when Michael received his check as this years' Ice-Out Contest winner. Here's what Shelly wrote:

Attached are two pictures that I took Thursday when Tom Dente presented the Ice-Out winner check to Mike Cody and his wife Betsy.  Mike talked about my Dad [Don Walker] selling  him his first Ice-Out tickets many years ago.  Since then he buys about 50 tickets a year.  This year with the particularly cold weather in March, he purchased an extra 10 tickets to cover dates in May.  It was very cold and windy Thursday morning; we joked about the ice coming back.  It makes me remember something my Mom used to say:  the ice on Joes Pond never really goes out; it sinks just below the surface in the spring and then resurfaces in the fall.

Dana, a reporter from the Caledonian Record, was there to cover the event.

I checked the water temperature at the end of my dock earlier this week.  It was 58 degrees!  I saw someone water skiing last Friday.  The air temperature was 32.  Brave soul.
 
I can think of other adjectives to describe that water skier - I hope he was wearing a wetsuit. Even so, it must have been a cold ride. I hope he (and I use "he" with confidence - water skiing in those conditions is strictly something only a macho male would do) enjoyed himself and didn't spend the weekend down with pneumonia. 
Tomorrow (Saturday, May 26th) is our Joe's Pond Association's Spring Meeting - 10 a.m. at the pavilion. It may be chilly and wet, so dress accordingly. We aren't expecting snow like we've experienced some years at spring meeting, but the wind is usually blowing over there and it's likely to be cold, even with the side curtains on the pavilion. See you there.


Thursday, May 24, 2018

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.
 

Reduced Speed Limit – The posted speed limit has been reduced to 40 mph through the project.  Please reduce speed and use caution traveling through the construction zone. 

Expect traffic delays as there will be several active operations throughout the project.


Week of May 28, 2018
Crews will be off the road by noon on Friday, 5/25/18 in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. Work will resume on Tuesday, 5/29/18.
Crews will be working on the approaches to the temporary bridge west of Houghton Road.
Crews are scheduled to continue road widening operations throughout the week of 5/28. This work will occur at Houghton Rd. and progress toward the Folsom Farm. 
Construction of the retaining wall in front of the Goodrich Farm will continue throughout the week of 5/28.
Installation of dense grade crush stone and sand borrow material will continue from Danville Hill Rd. to the Goodrich property.
Construction vehicles will be entering and exiting the work zone throughout construction hours, and as a result, alternating one way traffic patterns with flaggers will be in place. Brief delays can be expected.
Contact Natalie Boyle, Project Outreach Coordinator, EIV Technical Services, with any questions or concerns in regard to this project at 802-855-3893 or nboyle@eivtech.com.

--
Natalie Boyle
Director of Communications

EIV Technical Services
The City Lights Building
106 East Allen St., Unit 506
Winooski, VT 05404
off:   802.497.3653
cell:  802.855.3893

Wednesday, May 23, 2018

Gee, it seems as if I've been unusually busy lately. I can't tell you what I've accomplished, but trust me, I haven't been idle. Confused, yes, but not idle. I got up Tuesday morning thinking it was Wednesday. I operated on that premise until around lunch time when I was sputtering at Fred because we didn't have a grocery list ready "to shop tomorrow." To my credit, I remembered we have appointments in St. Johnsbury on Thursday and so shopping was on the to-do list. 
     Fred assured me there was plenty of time since it was only Tuesday. I had to check the calendar before I could wrap my mind around that. So then I suddenly had a whole day extra!! Well, that hasn't worked out to be much benefit, but I was able to do some outside work, wash a couple more windows and put screens in (I'm doing "spring cleaning" piecemeal this year), and edit a couple of pages of the manuscript I'm working on. And I answered a bunch of emails - I wonder why they seem to always come in bunches? I heard from Mary Whitcomb, my friend over in Roxbury. She had been with a group of history buffs last Saturday following parts of the Bayley Hazen Road and was actually on Cabot Plain, at the cemetery where there was a lot of history going in in the 1700s. I have never met Mary - we have only corresponded by email - but she reads the blog and we've found we have a lot in common. So I would have loved to have scooted over to meet her, had I known they were going to be there. Mary said she had no idea that I lived so close or she would have let me know. She put me in touch with the leader of their group who had some questions for me on the old road. Mary sent me this neat video of the area they were looking at. Many Joe's Ponders are very familiar with the Foster Bridge and the surrounding area, having spent evenings there watching the sun set, or visiting the quiet little cemetery and just taking in the gorgeous views.
     Mary also sent me this video of Molly's Falls Dam. I think you'll enjoy this one, too. Lots of people think of it as Marshfield Dam, but it is actually entirely in the town of Cabot and is fed by the brook coming out of Molly's Pond, as well as a couple other small brooks. The area that is now a fairly large pond was actually a thriving farm community that included several homes, a sawmill and a school house. It was called Petersville. The dam was built and finished just before the big flood of 1927. It was so new there was concern it wouldn't hold, and the power company officials had a team of horses positioned to raise the sleuce to release the water at one point, but they held off and fortunately it was the right decision. The dam held, the power plant in the valley below was the only plant in the area that wasn't flooded out and it kept running. The operator, Archie Bullard, was basically marooned at the power plant and stayed on duty, keeping it running, for 154 continuous hours. The power from the plant kept the hospital in Montpelier and other essential services operating during the flood.
Watching this video, you can imagine what would have happened to the homes downstream and Marshfield village, had the dam failed. 
     Mary said both these videos were made this spring. Very nice, and thank you, Mary for sharing those. 
     By the way, we went to granddaughter Tangeni's dance recital a week ago Saturday. I hadn't had a chance to unload the photos I took until today but here are a few.
     In the top one, she is with an older group doing ballet.


     The middle picture is a tap number and in the last one she has her "graduation" certificate in one hand and her medal in the other. She has grown up a lot since her first recital. I think this is her third year taking dance. I think she's going to follow in her big sister's footsteps, literally. She loves to dance, just as Jo-Ann did. We were sorry that Jo-Ann missed her flight so didn't make it to her sister's recital this year.
    Don't forget that tomorrow (Thursday) the winner of this year's Ice-Out Contest will receive his check in a brief ceremony at the State Fishing Access, 10 a.m. Try to take a few minutes to head over there and greet your Ice-Out Committee for 2018 and wish Mr. Cody well as he receives his money and certificate showing he is the 2018 Ice-Out Contest winner!



Sunday, May 20, 2018

Doesn't it seem early for black flies? I guess not - they are definitely out and about, but seems to me in past years I've had a longer period of "fly-less" weather that allowed me to get outdoor stuff done without the bother of those awful pests. I guess they hatch about the same time the wild cherry trees bloom, and that's happening.
     While I was outside today doing a few things, a humming bird came up to me to announce there is no feeder out. Fred usually takes care of the humming bird feeder, but I think he decided he won't do it this year. I'm not sure if I will take that on or not. I really think they get enough from natural flowers, but I kind of hate to disappoint the beautiful little creatures - and one always comes to the window or buzzes me when I'm outside to let me know they are back. It is a chore, though, keeping the feeder clean and the solution fresh.
     There is going to be a gathering at the State Fishing Access on Thursday, May 24 at 10 a.m. to present a check and certificate to the winner of this year's Ice-Out Contest. We hope lots of you will come - it's always fun to talk with the winner and find out what formula was used to come up with the correct date and time! The winner this year was Michael Cody of Barre, and he will receive well over $5,000. I think we may discover his secret was that he bought quite a lot of tickets and spread out the dates and times well. I know lots of people do that - but no matter what, the end of the contest depends entirely upon the weather.
     We went to Danville Inn this morning for breakfast. It was spur of the moment, but a nice break from our routine. They were busy, but as usual, everything was very good and we enjoyed our meal. I always eat far more when I go out for breakfast than I would at home, so lunch was postponed until about 2 o'clock, and that will automatically push our evening meal to a later time. We'll get back on schedule tomorrow.

Friday, May 18, 2018

Pretty day, but coolish. I intended to get outside to work, but didn't make it. Instead, I worked on the West Danville history manuscript. When my computer died last week, I worked on one of the chapters using my laptop. I've been busy getting the newsletter out and some other stuff, so hadn't worked on the manuscript for a while. When that happens, I usually read from the beginning, editing as I go along, and that way I become reacquainted with what I've done. So I edited about five pages, making several changes, and then when I got my computer back, went back to my laptop to copy and transfer it - but couldn't find it. I thought I had been working on a thumb drive, but apparently if I was, it didn't save. I looked everywhere and still couldn't find any evidence of having worked on it. So today I started at the beginning of that chapter again.
     Then I wanted to open a picture stored on my computer and discovered that the program I have used for years, Microsoft Digital Imaging Pro, was no longer on my computer. We found the disk and tried to install it, but it's so ancient it doesn't interface with the updated computer - and Microsoft no longer makes that software, so there's no way to update it. I've installed a new program that I hope will work, PhotoPad Image Editor. It's free, so if it doesn't work for me, I'll uninstall and find something else.   There's always something to ruin an otherwise great experience like getting a zippy "new" computer back after the old one died, so I shouldn't be surprised that this happened. And there may be more glitches to come, but I sure hope not. I know Publisher is still intact, and so far everything else seems to work super well. Only time will tell.
     More Joe's Ponders are arriving back every day. Whenever I go to the store and post office, I bump into someone I haven't seen since last fall. Folks coming back are always tan and summery looking - but it doesn't take long for tans to fade and the shorts disappear in favor of long pants and sweaters. It's going to be a cold night - 41 degrees at 11 p.m., so we could have a light frost before morning. I took in a couple of plants I had set outside, just in case. Summer will come - it's just a bit too soon. However, the bugs are here already - they were pestering me when I was working outside yesterday. I saw a bumble bee today, and that's a good sign. And the frogs are singing. It's all good.

Thursday, May 17, 2018


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.
 

Reduced Speed Limit – The posted speed limit has been reduced to 40 mph through the project.  Please reduce speed and use caution traveling through the construction zone. 

Expect traffic delays as there will be several active operations throughout the project.

 Week of May 21, 2018
Crews will be working on the approaches to the temporary bridge west of Houghton Road. 
Crews are scheduled to continue road widening operations throughout the week of 5/21. This work will occur at Houghton Rd. and progress toward the Folsom Farm.
Construction of the retaining wall in front of the Goodrich Farm will continue throughout the week of 5/21.
Crews will be off the road by noon on Friday, 5/25/18 in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. Work will resume on Tuesday, 5/29/18.
Contact Natalie Boyle, Project Outreach Coordinator, EIV Technical Services, with any questions or concerns in regard to this project at 802-855-3893 or nboyle@eivtech.com.

  Natalie Boyle
Director of Communications

EIV Technical Services
The City Lights Building
106 East Allen St., Unit 506
Winooski, VT 05404
off:   802.497.3653
cell:  802.855.3893
***********************************************************************************

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

We have just had a lovely warm and gentle rain this morning. It is still overcast, but there is kind of a pale green tint to everything with green grass underfoot and various shades of green on all the trees and shrubs. It's just the prettiest time of the year, I think. There are flowers beginning to bloom - even the dandelions are welcome! - and swamp marigolds ("cowslips" to us native Vermonters) in the marshes glowing golden among bright green leaves. The pansies I planted last year are up and doing fine, lots of pretty blossoms already. The apple trees are almost ready to burst forth, and leaves on the maples are exploding with soft yellow-green. Every day there's visible progress towards summer.
     Those of us who live on West Shore Road are happy that both Cabot and Danville have worked the road so the ride is no longer a painful exercise in dodging potholes and enduring washboard. A few folks have been out mowing their lawns - we haven't yet, but Fred put the battery in the mower this weekend and started it up. It will be my job to mow for a few weeks, at least, until Fred is fully recovered from his last operation. He's coming along very well, by the way, and should be quite fit in another four weeks or so. I imagine the grass will need mowing after this nice rain.
     We went to our younger granddaughter's dance recital last Saturday afternoon. I took pictures, but my computer is still in the shop being repaired, so I haven't taken the pictures off my camera. I'm sure I could load them onto my laptop, but then would have to update the file on the desktop, and it's just not worth the time and effort. I should have my desktop back in another day or so. Then, if any of the pictures turned out well, I'll post some.
     We stopped at Hastings Store and picked up some of Garey's pastries this morning. We had a mid-morning snack of blueberry-banana bread with a cup of coffee when we got home, and that was soooo good. Nice combination! I also picked up some of Garey's lemon bundt cake, which I like very much. He's such a good baker. We are fortunate to have him putting out all these goodies every day. I don't bake as much as I used to, and really enjoy being able to satisfy my "dessert" cravings with a little something from the store.
     I have been making pumpkin pies lately because Fred suddenly got a hankering for it. We always have real whipped cream on pumpkin pie, and that adds considerable calories, but it's so worth it! Fred has gained some weight, which he needs to do - but I have to be very careful. And that's all I'm going to say about that.


Sunday, May 13, 2018

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.
 
Communications Announcement
Due to recent health related issues, Francine Perkins will be stepping down as the Public Outreach Coordinator for the Montpelier Transportation Projects.  Natalie Boyle of EIV Technical Services will be taking over as Public Outreach Coordinator for the Cabot-Danville Reconstruction project.  Natalie brings extensive public relations experience and will provide support to the community as these projects move forward. Natalie and Francine will be transitioning the outreach responsibilities throughout the remainder of this week.  

With questions or concerns about either of the projects, please contact Natalie at:  nboyle@eivtech.com, (802) 855-3893.



Reduced Speed Limit – The posted speed limit has been reduced to 40 mph through the project.  Please reduce speed and use caution traveling through the construction zone. 

Expect traffic delays as there will be several active operations throughout the project.


Week of May 14, 2018
Crews will be working on the approaches to the temporary bridge west of Houghton Road.  Work will also resume on the new bridge near the Folsom farm. 
Crews are scheduled to begin road widening operations throughout the week of 5/14. This work will occur at Houghton Rd. and progress toward the Folsom Farm.
Construction of the retaining wall in front of the Goodrich Farm will begin the week of 5/14.
Contact Natalie Boyle, Project Outreach Coordinator, EIV Technical Services, with any questions or concerns in regard to this project at 802-855-3893 or nboyle@eivtech.com.



--
Natalie Boyle
Director of Communications

EIV Technical Services
The City Lights Building
106 East Allen St., Unit 506
Winooski, VT 05404
off:   802.497.3653
cell:  802.855.3893

Saturday, May 12, 2018

I've been pretty busy. I had my regular eye appointment on Thursday - only this time I went to Berlin instead of Shelburne. I really appreciate being able to go there - so much shorter distance, and the patient flow seems to be better there. No long wait time at all. I hope I can continue to have my appointments there.
     However, not all was great this week. My computer failed after doing an update. We tried everything, but still I couldn't access any of my programs. Fortunately, Fred was able to get to my stuff from his computer since we are hooked up to share, and put everything he could on a thumb drive. Since we were going to Montpelier area anyway, we took the computer to North Branch Tech Services. Turns out, the computer was pretty messed up - not unusual, they said, at about age five and frequently happens during/after updating. I guess it gets old and tired like humans and when all the new stuff comes hurtling at it, the poor old thing just gives up. So it's getting an overhaul and being rebuilt into something really jazzy - fast and nimble and good for another five years or so - or more. In the meantime, I sort of had to wing it to get labels done for the newsletter, but that's all taken care of now, and as of today they are "in the mail," for real.
     This morning Gretchen Farnsworth (Sandy Beach Road) sent this gorgeous photo taken from their house earlier today. 

We surely live in a beautiful part of the country. Joe's Pond is special.





Thursday, May 10, 2018

I am very sorry to learn of Bob Wechsler's death this past Monday. Bob and his wife, Beth, have had a cottage on Barre Avenue for many years, and Beth spent many years at Joe's Pond with her parents, Russ and Virginia Reed who they owned a cottage near the pavilion. Bob had many friends here at Joe's Pond and will be sadly missed. Our deepest sympathy to Beth. If you wish to send a note to her, the address is P. O. Box 48, West Danville, VT 05873.
     We were in Montpelier today to pick up the newsletters from Leahy Press. They will be in the mail tomorrow, and you can see the newsletter on the website now - in color! Some of you are no doubt in transit, and I admit it's hard for me to figure out exactly where I should send the newsletter. This year it was published a bit later than normal because of the late Ice-Out date - I always wait to announce the winner in the newsletter. So if you don't get yours right away, it will likely catch up to you. I have included a remittance envelope for dues in the center fold of the newsletter. If you have recently paid your dues, ignore the envelope. We have had a good number of both on-line payments and early regular mail payments, and I've tried to keep up with posting. However, my desktop computer failed this week and I've been struggling to get everything on my laptop so I could keep working on due and newsletter stuff. My apologies if I've goofed something up. I expect to get my regular computer back within a few days - it's in the shop getting repaired. Email me if you have questions, or see me at the spring meeting. Dues are payable on or before July 1.
     Here's something you may want to mark on your calendar: 

RHYTHM OF THE REIN

THERAPEUTIC RIDING CamP - DRIVING PROGRAM

       Invites you to a night of de-stressing and relaxation

           
RELAX    REJUVENATE    RESTORE

CHOOSE FROM A MYRIAD OF relaxing

ACTIVITIES & SUPPORT our program!

                    *ADULT COLORING  * MASSAGES  

              “AROMATHERAPY”   * HIMALYAN SALT DETOX         

* HORSE TIME – THEY GIVE GREAT HUGS!

Bunnies to cuddle if the horses look too big!

*SNACKS, BEVERAGES, RELAXING MUSIC - $10.00/PERSON

              May 24th Thursday 5-9 pm at Water Tower Farm

                       386 US Route 2, Marshfield, Vt.

426-3781 or email fmi

   THERE WILL ALSO BE A CRAFTS AND BAKE SALE TO BENEFIT THE PROGRAM

FOR VENDOR INFORMATION CALL DIANNE AT 802 426 3781

Monday, May 07, 2018

Good Morning! We have a beautiful spring morning - bright sunshine and warming temperature (52 on my shaded thermometer, well over 80 on the sunny deck) but there is a little breeze that is coolish - not quite summer yet.
     Andy Rudin sent me a very interesting article this morning. I think Vermont has had a record maple crop this spring, but this article will shed new light on the new trends happening and some of the financial aspects of the industry. Sugarin' isn't something farmers do in the spring just to give them a little extra cash and something to take up their time until it's time to plant crops anymore. It's way bigger and more sophisticated than we would have dreamed it could be 25-30 years ago, even. Take a few minutes to at least scan through. I think you'll find it fascinating. Click Here for article.

Sunday, May 06, 2018

Winner Announced!

The Joe's Pond Ice-Out Committee has announced the name of the winner of the 2018 contest - it's Michael S. Cody, from Barre, Vermont. Michael was a bit difficult to reach, apparently he is traveling at present. He will receive over $5,000 for his lucky guess which was right on the minute, 11:27 on May 4th. Congratulations, Michael!

Friday, May 04, 2018

The flag is down!!

The 2018 Joe's Pond Ice-Out Contest is OVER! The clock stopped at 11:27 a.m. this morning. We believe at this point there is one winner, but of course this must be verified before it will be announced. The Ice-Out Committee will let us know as soon as they have contacted the winner.
     This year was very close to setting a new record for late endings of the contest. If it had held until Sunday, we might have had a new record for latest date. As it is, this is only the sixth time it has been a May date, so it has been an unusual year. The big pond is still fairly well ice covered, but it's the blue, mushy, slushy kind of ice that will be gone in a day or so. Both the smaller ponds are completely clear of ice. We are expecting rain and lots of wind later today and tonight, according to the forecast, so that will probably finish off the rest of the ice in no time at all.
     We came home from Boston yesterday. It was 93 in the city when we left around 1:30, and after we got on the throughway headed north, I noticed our car thermometer was reading 95 degrees. We began to get showers and the temperature began to drop, but in with sometimes hard rain, there was a lot of ground fog, probably caused by the cool rain hitting the hot pavement. Visibility was difficult, but we still made good time and with a brief stop in Tilton, were home a little after 5. Fred is doing well, and we are both very happy to be back home. 
     We had to put up with Woody complaining all night long because he couldn't get into the bedroom to be with us. This has happened before when we've been gone. We're hoping he is calmer tonight. Today he has gone back to his routine of being outside a bit in the morning and then sleeping most of the afternoon. Not a bad life, I guess. 
     It's been a really nice summery day. Fred and I walked up Jamie and Marie's hill after lunch, and then I did some outside work and fixed a couple of things that needed tinkering. It was just too nice to go inside. There is a coolness to the wind, but for all of that, the temperature in the shade now is still almost 72 degrees. 
     We noticed on our way home yesterday there were more bugs than usual for this time of year. Our windshield got fairly well splattered. I am glad to see this - I think for a couple of years there was concern that there were not as many insects, and while it was nice not to have to clean our windshields as often, it was bad for the environment. No bugs means less for birds to eat, and not as much pollination going on - that sort of thing. However, this has apparently been a good year for the bad bugs, too - ticks are going to be rampant, according to warnings from the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) - who knew there was such an organization? I guess there's good and bad in just about everything.


Here's the morning Ice-Out Report!
 

Thursday, May 03, 2018

Amazing as it may seem, the flag is still flying for the Joe's Pond Ice-Out Contest! If it survives three more days, a new record will be set. The latest it has gone out since the beginning of the contest is May 6. It sure looks like it will still be there by then, but anything can happen. Thanks to Diane for the daily photos to keep everyone up to date. The ice is looking considerably darker than a few days ago, so things are definitely changing - but how much? Nobody knows exactly. We'll keep you posted.
     Fred and I are still in Boston. We don't know when he will be released from the hospital, but I'm expecting it could be tomorrow. We will head north as soon as possible. He's passed all the physical therapy requirements, marching around the corridor, managing stairs, etc., and as soon as his innards get back to functioning normally and he can have solid food again, he'll be good to go.
  The weather here is unusual, too. Today's temperature is supposed to reach close to 90 degrees and there will be thunderstorms. Most people are thrilled with the instant summer, heading for beaches on their days off, shedding parkas and boots for shorts and flip-flops. I saw a burly security guard here at the hospital wearing shorts yesterday - not a pretty sight, but he was obviously dressing for the occasion.





Wednesday, May 02, 2018

Channel 7 TV came to do an interview on Ice-Out today and Ray Rouleau did the honors! It will be on this evening, Channel 7 (192 on Charter). Be sure to watch at 5:30 tonight. Diane Rossi sent these pictures of Ray and the TV crew.

Looks like a beautiful day in Vermont - blue sky and everything! Ray is lookin' good in his short sleeves and Florida suntan. 
     I bet the TV crew was hoping the flag would go down while they were filming!! Wouldn't that have been a hoot?!

 It sure looks as if nothing has changed out there, but today may change a lot! If the temperature reaches well into the 70s as predicted, that will have a big impact on the ice. According to what I'm seeing in the forecast, the temperature will be back in the 50s and 60s and partly cloudy for most of the rest of the week, so melting should be fairly steady, but perhaps not too dramatic. Slow and steady. However, that block is pretty heavy and when the ice gets punky, it will plunge through and disconnect the clock.
     Here in Boston, the temperature is going to be around 85 degrees today and yesterday some of the nurses who have today off were talking about heading for the beach. It was still cold when we left Vermont on Sunday, and I packed accordingly - thus I will be wearing fleece. It doesn't matter, the temperature in the hospital rooms is quite cool, so I'll be comfortable, but I will definitely be over-dressed if I decide to head out onto the street to do some shopping. Monday we went to a Whole Foods Market a few blocks away to stock up, and I may want to do that again, especially if Fred will need to spend a few days here at Neely House after he is discharged from the hospital. We'll see. With the cool breeze that is always part of Boston's weather, it seems, fleece may be a  good option, regardless of the 85 degree temperature!
    Marie told me this morning that Cabot fixed West Shore Road yesterday, so that is really good news. Jamie (and everyone else) must have been pleasantly surprised when they returned home last night. I really think that compared to other towns, and considering all the miles of back roads there are in Cabot, the crew has kept the roads pretty darned good. It isn't easy coping with the mud and the frost heaves - not to mention that late season snow storm Sunday!


Tuesday, May 01, 2018

I have been pretty busy today and somewhat distracted. Fred had his operation this morning at 6 a.m. and is doing very well. Now I can relax a bit. I'm back at our mini-apartment at Neely House with a big slice of pizza for my supper and hopefully won't need to budge from here until nine or so tomorrow morning. 
    I've had photos from Diane Rossi today, and here they are. The snow they got at Joe's Pond Sunday night seems to be pretty well melted, but Jamie wrote this afternoon that the potholes along West Shore Road are increasing in number and depth. He also mentioned "six or eight inches of snow" they had to deal with. That is more than was reported on the weather at WCAX, but whatever amount they got, it was too much. Here in Boston we are expecting 80 degrees tomorrow. People are saying they have gone from winter to instant summer. 
     Diane pointed out that the ice is getting darker all the time, and that means it's weakening. So far the flag is still flying.
     My friend, Mary Whitcomb asked me last night how many peopled had May dates in the Ice-Out Contest. We didn't have that information, but I got in touch with Henretta Splain, our data specialist, and she came back with the answer right away - 1,320. Mary said she and her son both have dates in May. We now know this is going to be a May Ice-Out date for sure, so we wish all those folks luck. One or more will surely be a winner. We'll keep you posted - it should happen soon!



Snow & Ice Report

 W e're through another March snowstorm, and as far as I can tell, we aren't expecting more snow this month. We'll probably have...