We have "ice watchers" around the pond these days - unlike when the Ice-Out Contest was first started and there were only a handful - or actually, probably fewer - of year-around home owners on the pond. These days, we get reports from folks on the far north shore, the far west shore and the far south shore, literally - and a few in between!

For instance, Shelly Walker who lives on the south shore reported yesterday:  An ice fisherman had put up his red tent [Sunday] on the ice across the bay and spent the better part of the day out there.  It must have been lovely, but the ice this time of year makes me nervous.  The brook between Hamilton's and your camp [Dimick's] is now open out into the lake a bit.  The ice has pulled away from the shore in front of my house about 6 inches or so.

I saw a couple of Great Blue Herons flying overhead this weekend.  And of course the Canadian Geese are back.  I almost felt sorry for them.  There were two out on the ice just walking around probably looking for food.

 

 There is very little open water - a little stretch at both narrows, but no significant sign of spring yet. Those geese were probably thinking there should be open water and they could get a head start finding a nesting spot! Bad luck for them, good luck for us. We don't need nesting geese again - best if they just move on to a larger, less populated pond.

I can hear the geese honking on these nice days, but on a day like today, with a fresh coating of snow and the wind blowing a gale, I expect any self-respecting goose or duck wouldn't chance trying to land on Joe's Pond. The small areas of open water would get very crowded pretty quickly - if they could manage to find them at all.

In other news, Joe's Ponders - you can pay your dues on line now. Fred has activated the page - he waits until the Ice-Out activity has subsided just to make the clerical stuff easier on all of us. You can go to Pay Dues On Line and get that chore taken care of right now so you won't have to think about it and risk being in arrears. The official date to have dues paid is July 7th., but I always mention the first of July - that gives a little wiggle room. However, when paying on line, you are instantly paid - no delays, and it saves postage. No extra cost to you, and you can also make donations as you wish. It's easy and efficient.

Weather yesterday was rain and in the 40s and low 50s, with flood watches in lots of areas; last night the rain turned to snow and we got another inch or so of new snow on top of the foot or so still on the ground, the temperature is 31 degrees and the wind blew viciously all night. I think the wind has calmed now, and hopefully the temperature will go up again - but the good news is that having this brief cold snap may have slowed the runoff a bit; that said, now we have another inch or so of snow to melt. Long winter, slow spring.