Sad News

I am saddened to report that we have lost another long-time Joe's Ponder. Cindy Rubalcaba (Barre Ave.) passed away on December 6th. Cindy and her family have enjoyed summers at Joe's Pond for many years. The Rubalcaba cottage is across the water a short distance from our cottage, and the Rubalcaba kids were all part of a wonderful neighborhood of youngsters who formed friendships in the 1960s and 1970s that have lasted through the years. Cindy was always fun and upbeat and she will be very much missed. My thoughts are with her family, and I wish them peace through wonderful memories of their loved one.

I also learned yesterday that Jane Milne fell and broke her leg. I haven't confirmed that, but I will try to be in touch with Jane soon to see how she's doing. I can totally understand how quickly and unexpectedly a fall can happen. And I know well how debilitating it can be during the healing process. I hope Jane heals quickly and can toss away the crutches and walkers soon. 

As some of you know, winter has settled upon us with a solid grip of cold and snow. This morning I measured 6.5 inches of snow on my deck from this last snow storm. It has been so cold and windy I decided I would not venture out there to clear the deck and measure snow. I have an option to make  "multi-day reports" and that's exactly what I did. The temperature warmed slightly overnight, but today there have been snow flurries and the wind is picking up - as the temperature slips downward again. We will be in for another cold night tonight.

I was somewhat amused this morning as I worked on clearing snow off the deck. I've been doing weekly physical therapy sessions to rehabilitate my knee, and part of the routine is for me to practice side-stepping (both directions), and also walking backwards without holding onto anything. I do those exercises at PT alongside a bar so I can catch myself if I waver. I realized this morning that I do that constantly when I'm shoveling snow off the deck - working sideways and moving backwards after pushing snow over the edge - my security bar is my snow shovel. Somehow, it works! I believe there is no need to practice those movements again on days I clean off the deck. At PT I'm constantly being reminded to hydrate as I go through the exercises. As one therapist explained when I started therapy, muscles are like leather; drinking plenty of water keeps them supple. So now I carry my water bottle wherever I go. 

All these below-zero nights have frozen the pond slightly earlier (and more quickly) than usual, and Shelly Walker reported to me yesterday that she spotted the first fishing shanty - a red tent of some sort, I think she said - out on the ice by the fishing access this week. Never mind that the ice has only recently completely reached shore-to-shore and I can't imagine it is very thick. That isn't enough to deter dedicate fishermen, apparently, but I would think the windy, cold, snowy weather would be. One has to be devoted to the sport to go out there when it's as blustery as it's been for the past several days! Shelly didn't get a picture, but said she will watch and perhaps get one later.

Winter here is not always pretty, but we love the place and look forward to warmer, sunnier days, with happier times.