Mud and Other Springtime Stuff

Another dreary day with cooler temperatures and no sunshine! That is all supposed to change tomorrow, though, and we'll get some nicer weather to dry up the muddy roads and allow us to get outside to do cleanup work on lawns and gardens. April is finicky, but the really nice weather is still ahead of us.

Last night the temperature got below freezing again. I looked for "cat ice" on my pond, but I guess the water has warmed up enough so it would take some really cold weather to get it to freezing temperature again. I'm not hearing any frogs or seeing any wildlife around, though. I'm also watching for sprouts along the shoreline where I dropped quite a lot of wildflower seeds last fall. I'm hoping some will catch and perhaps flower this summer.

I've had questions about how rare it is for someone to guess the exact date and time the Ice-Out clock stops, as Mr. Turner did. It has definitely happened a few times. I don't have the years that happened, but I'm sure it has in the past. The Ice-Out organizers perhaps have that information.

I heard from Kim Kidney (North Shore Road) this week, and she and David will rent their Montpelier home during the summer months while they are here at Joe's Pond. If you know of anyone who needs temporary space in the Montpelier area while looking for something permanent, or who has other reasons they might like to spend some time in the capitol city, get in touch with Kim. The description of their home follows:

House for rent near the old Vermont College in Montpelier. Fully furnished, 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths.  Available mid-June through mid Oct. For photos and more information please contact Kim Kidney at kimberlykidney@gmail.com.

After reading my blog about muddy roads, Andy Rudin sent me this photo that Jay Chatot sent to him. Jay lives just down the road from me and rides his bike in sometimes impossible conditions, for as long as possible, each year. As usual, there are stretches of solid road between strips of mud bog, and Jay has for years negotiated it all with courage. It's one thing to be in a motor vehicle, sitting comfortably while riding the ridges through the mud, but balancing on a bicycle over skinny, slimy, slippery ridges between deep pools of mud, takes skill and courage! If you choose to walk your bike through, that means you end up with mud up to your ankles or worse, and any method you take to get o the other side is probably not going to be pretty. And there's probably another mud hole over the next hill. It's relentless.

I wonder if Jay proceeded or gave up in defeat that day. Living on a back road, he has a muddy road to the left as well as to the right as he comes out of his driveway. It's one of those situations where you "can't get there from here" unless you are willing to navigate through the mud.

I am reminded of a picture that Evelyn Richer gave me several years ago - perhaps it was published in the Joe's Pond Association Newsletter that year, I don't remember exactly. I saved it, of course, and here it is.

So, visitors beware - we still have days to go before our roads are dried out and a happy experience to explore again. You'd normally be most welcome, but now is not the time!

The good news is - while I've been writing this, the sun has come out and we have a fairly decent day out there! The temperature is out of the 30s (42F) and heading up, and there is a bit of westerly wind that will help to dry things out. Life is good!