Great Expectations!

 We're starting the new year off with good news about the popular rail-trail that has been open from St. Johnsbury to the bridge on Channel Drive at Joe's Pond for some time. The state took over finishing the trail, and expected to be finished this fall. However, there were delays getting the needed materials and the completion date was pushed ahead a couple months. The latest news came today on WCAX - tap here to see the report: LVRT Update.

I'm not sure if the weather we're is being celebrated by everyone, but it is downright balmy for this time of year. I expect the skiing and boarding isn't holding up very well at most resorts, and I doubt snowmobiles are having much luck finding enough snow on trails. Mostly slush and mud, even in our higher elevations, and our roads are muddy, too. I heard today that some maple producers are finding the maple sap is running - but that probably won't last very long. The weather is more spring-like than wintery, but there is a limit to this, I'm sure, and we'll probably pay dearly for all this nice warm weather.

Right now I'm having a bit of a tussle with my friend, Thor - Tangeni's kitty that is staying with me while she is vacationing in Florida. Thor is about a year old and has lots of energy. He can only stay quiet for short periods of time, and then demands attention. He has adapted to the much less active lifestyle here at my house pretty well, but he has a tendency to want to investigate everything and everywhere. I thought I had the house pretty well kitty-proofed, with things put away that might get broken or damaged, but what I hadn't counted on is that he is very adept at opening cupboard doors (mine have tension closures instead of latches), and bi-fold closet doors are no problem for him. Not only that, but he can spring six feet onto the top of my cabinets in the kitchen with ease. Left on his own, he rarely tips anything over, but he does like to rearrange things - even heavier objects I thought would be safe. Fortunately, the cabinet fronts and sides extend a couple of inches above the top, so my decorative bean pots high on the cupboards are safe. One of his favorite spots is on my computer desk. Well, not exactly on the desk - more like on the keyboard. It's as if he's figured out if I can't type on the keyboard, my hands are free for petting. When he jumps up, I make room for him to walk between my screen and the  keyboard to get to an open area of desk that has plenty of room for him to sprawl out. But as soon as I begin to push him along, he goes limp and collapses among the stapler, speakers, and cords, overflowing onto my keyboard and mouse pad, and looks defiantly at me with big, devilish green eyes. He's heavy and all paws and lashing tail. He accepts being gathered up and deposited where I want him, but insists on resting his head on my hand. I don't type well one-handed. 

For most things, like finding him on the kitchen counter or dining room table, my defense is a spray bottle of water I try to keep handy. He has quickly learned about the water spray and all I need to do is reach for the bottle and he's gone. I have to be careful where he is when I do that because when he makes his getaway, anything in his way may go flying into space. He loves being in my lap and has learned to wait until I finish eating - I have most of my meals in my recliner while watching TV. (It's an old folks thing, I guess!) He also likes being in my lap when I'm working on the computer, but there really isn't much room for him and he usually loses interest in a short time. He's full of surprises, but great company. Right now he's in my lap after being banished several times from my keyboard. It's time for both of us to have something to eat. I'm taking the hint!