Weather, Sugar Season, and Sadness

This picture was taken early this morning by Diane Rossi. Our Ice-Out Contest flag is still straight-up and secure, with plenty of snow and ice around it. The snow from our last storm has been rearranged into beautiful wave-like furrows, and there is a bit of a crust from recent rain. But it's holding firm and we will need some prolonged warm days to get the melting process revved up. Warmer days are in the forecast, after our next couple of days enduring a wintery mix, and you have exactly one week left to get your guess in as to when the block will go through the ice and stop the clock. All tickets must be in by midnight (11:59:59 p.m.) on April 1, in order to be valid. We wish you luck in picking a time and date the clock stops. It doesn't matter whether you live at or near Joe's Pond or if you are miles away; there is no magic formula for winning this guessing game. It's purely a guess, Mother Nature's in charge. I will keep you informed about weather and ice depth, but everyone knows that the weather can change quickly. Some years we've had two, three or four guesses that were equally close; most years there is only one winner. Your guess is just as good as anyone else's. And, as long-time Joe's Ponder, Andy Rudin recently pointed out to me, you have a much better chance of winning our contest than other lotteries, because we're smaller. Of course, so is the "pot." But never mind, you could still win five or six thousand dollars!

Right now we are in a waiting mode, expecting some nasty weather later today. Last night we had a low of about 15 degrees, so the back roads (translation, MUD beds) are firm for the moment, and paved surfaces frosty cold and possibly slippery. If we get a quick shift to rain, there will be some danger of icing - and there will probably be a mix of snow that will make everything clean again - but not great for getting around in, walking or driving. It's March, folks, this is normal.

It is also "shug'rin' season." This is the first of two "open house" weekends for Vermont maple producers. Sugar houses all over the state will be opening their doors to the public this weekend and next, to give them a taste and sense of what the sugaring process is. There will be samples, sugar-on-snow parties, and demonstrations explaining what it takes to turn 40 gallons of thin, clear tree sap into a thick, golden mass of sweetness. I think this has been a pretty good year for maple producers so far, and it looks as if the season will hold at least for another week or two.

Sadly, I must report that we have lost another member of our Joe's Pond Community, Joe Calcagni, 89, passed away a week ago today, on the 18th. Many of you knew Joe - he was a past president of the Joe's Pond Association, from 1981 to 1984, and loved Joe's Pond. Three of his children now have cottages on Joe's Pond: Joe (Joni), Andrea (Bob) MacLeod, and Matthew (Hillary) - all on North Shore Road. There is always a profound sadness when a longtime member of the community passes. Joe will be dearly missed by his family and by his many friends here at the pond. Our condolences to his family.