Weather Report

 Our weather turns on a dime lately. I left home yesterday around noon with the temperature at 35 degrees. We had sunshine early in the morning, but when I left it had clouded over and I could see what looked like fog north of here in the area of Walden Heights. As I approached the schoolhouse turn on Cabot Plains Road, I realized it wasn't fog I was seeing - it was snow. My car was registering the outdoor temperature at 31 degrees. By the time I reached Cabot Plains Cemetery, the road was snow-covered and a gusty wind was pushing snow horizontally across the road - and the temperature had gone down another degree. It took me back and I smiled realizing that living "off the Plain" I had forgotten how different the weather can be only that short distance away.

There were several newly-cut large tree stumps along Cabot Plains Road and lots of bent and broken smaller trees and branches, but closer to the village I hadn't seen much damage. Cabot Village was snow-less except for some residual banks left by plows. Going home, I decided to continue up Route 215 to Walden Heights and then follow Brickett's Crossing Road to see if there had been much storm damage. As I climbed towards Walden, the paved road became snow-covered and I was expecting there might be black ice underneath some of it, but if there was, I didn't feel it. However, I was back in complete winter mode by the time I reached Walden Heights. From there home, I didn't see much evidence of storm damage. I hadn't been gone even an hour, but the weather had changed radically and my driveway had an inch or so of snow. 

Before I went inside, I clipped several large branches on one of my big spruce trees that were partially broken by the heavy snow and wind. I couldn't reach where they had actually broken, but I was able to trim them back so other branches perhaps won't be damaged in the next storm. Bogged down with my big clippers and my walking stick (because snow covered icy spots on my driveway), I managed to drag all the branches in one bunch out back to the fire pit.With only a skimming of snow on the ground, it was pretty easy going once I got up the slippery driveway. That was sufficient exercise for the day!

Today I went to St. Johnsbury to do last-minute errands before Christmas. Although the day started off sunny, the temperature never got above freezing. I had a low of 17 degrees last night, but only a dusting of snow overnight. I couldn't see all of the big pond, but I think there is only open water by the narrows.Still, the ice probably isn't very thick with all that warm rain and melted snow water pouring in. The abnormal flow out of the big pond has cut a channel in the ice the whole length of the middle pond and opened up much of the first pond. Water is rushing over the dam, and will be for several days. 

Surrounding towns are still seeing high water, and while some streams have crested and begun to recede, there are a few trouble spots still along Route 2 and 5 and in the Middlesex/Waterbury areas. This storm not only produced high water, it also caused some mud slides. One in the Waterford area closed Route 18 for a while, and I believe there was another on Route 2 in the Concord area. Messy weather, to say the least.

We won't have a white Christmas, but it promises to be very pleasant weather to be out and about on our way to Grandma's house or wherever. Here's a familiar poem written by Lydia Maria Child in 1844 as a Thanksgiving song  - which was later set to music and the lyrics changed to "Christmas". I thought this Currier and Ives print seemed appropriate to accompany the poem.

Over the river and through the wood,to Grandmother’s house we go;
the horse knows the way to carry the sleigh
through the white and drifted snow.

Over the river and through the wood—
oh, how the wind does blow!
It stings the toes and bites the nose,
as over the ground we go.

Over the river and through the wood,
with a clear blue winter sky.
The dogs do bark and the children hark,
as we go jingling by.

Over the river and through the wood,
to have a day of play!
Oh hear the bells ring, “Ting-a-ling,”
Hurrah for Christmas Day!

Hurrah for Christmas Day!

Over the river and through the wood,
with a clear blue winter sky.
The dogs do bark and the children hark,
as we go jingling by.

Over the river and through the wood,
to have a first-rate play.
Hear the bells ring, “Ting-a-ling ding!”

Hurray for Christmas Day!

Over the river and through the wood—
no matter for winds that blow;
or if we get the sleigh upset
into a bank of snow.

Over the river and through the wood,
trot fast my dapple gray!
Spring over the ground like a hunting-hound!
For this is Christmas Day.

Hurray for Christmas Day!