Checking In and Stages!

 I know lots of you are experiencing unusual weather recently, but here at Joe's Pond things are fairly normal. We have lots of snow and today lots of sunshine with quite normal temperatures of around 30 degrees. Last night we swooped down to 7 above zero - which seems to be the "normal" pattern this winter - cold nights with warmish days. We try not to complain, especially when there's sunshine. It's pretty - the trees are drooping under the weight of the snow, and everything is fresh and white - roads plowed and sanded, so no complaints, really. The ski resorts and snowmobilers are very happy, I'm sure. Somehow the road crews and the guys who plow driveways seem to be able to keep up with everything. The sun is getting higher in the sky and warmer every day, so we know spring will come.

Thinking of spring brings us to thoughts of summer. I received a note from Chelsea Hewill in Danville about the possible future of Danville's Farmers' Market. She sent a survey, and she hopes everyone who uses the farmers' market each summer will look at and hopefully, do the survey. Click HERE to see the survey.

 I also found a very short email from Liz Randall on Long Island, NY in my mailbox this morning. Long Island is in a direct path of the storm along the coast. Here is the alert Liz received early this morning.

That's a lot of snow and wind! I haven't had the news on yet this morning, but I think coastal areas and the southern counties of Vermont and New Hampshire were expected to get pelted with lots of snow today. We had about 6.5 inches yesterday, and only a trace after I measured at about 9 a.m. It is heavier than what we've been getting, and as I was coming home from a meeting in Cabot Village around noon yesterday, there was a bit of rain hitting us. It probably made some of the main highways a bit slick, but our roads were fine. I had to be careful around the Cabot Plain Cemetery area as snowmobile trails cross the road in a couple of spots and there is a short section where they have to run on the side of the road. They are cautious and respectful, but if you aren't familiar with sharing the space with snowmobiles, it can be a bit unnerving, especially if they are on the road with you. It must be a great year for snowmobiling - plenty of snow cover, and those folks dress for sub-zero weather and don't seem to mind the cold temperatures. 

Which reminds me - I found this photo in my collection recently. It's a truck with skis mounted on the front (rear wheel drive in those days --  early 1920s) that Glen Shute used to deliver mail and carry passengers  from Walden railroad station through Cabot to Marshfield and perhaps to Montpelier. I'm not sure what his route was. The contraption looks a little jimmy rigged to me, but I bet it was at least slightly 
more comfortable than riding in an open sleigh behind horses like the group in the other photo above, also operated by Mr. Shute.

Stay safe and warm, wherever you are!