We've really had a taste of spring today!  This morning the sun was brightly shining and temperatures got up into the low 40s, but by noon, the sun was fading, and tonight the thermometer is hovering right around 32 degrees, so if we get the rain that was predicted, it will probably coat everything with ice - again.   This picture was taken at about 9:30 this morning.  Not a cloud to be seen!

Woody enjoyed the change in the weather this morning, too.  He was outside for quite a while, but finally got tired of just sitting on the deck with nothing much moving anywhere, so came back in and stretched out on the windowsill in the sun.

We went to Cabot and Walden this afternoon to distribute Ice-Out tickets.  Lots of folks were out and about - the roads were slushy, but perfectly passable.  The road crew here in Cabot was out with the grader pushing the snowbanks back to help open the ditches a bit in case we get rain.  The cattle at the Burtt farm were enjoying the weather, even though by this afternoon when we went by, the sun had clouded over.  There was no sign the Burtts have been in the woods to tap trees yet, but their sugar house was well plowed, so they are probably getting ready.  It's a rule of thumb that farmers should be tapping by town meeting day.

I had this message from Camilla Dente today:  

Hi Jane,
What a gift I received on Valentines Day - A new knee!  I had a complete knee done on Friday Feb 14.  What a gift from Tom! But seriously, we have been in the preparation for this surgery from the end of 2013 to St. Valentines day. It was a long training and preparation path but so worth the result. All is going according to the Doctor's and Hospital's Plan. I hope to be back walking as soon as possible, if this darn weather gets better.
The weather here certainly makes it easy staying inside and recuperating.   Camilla

We are so glad the operation is over with and she is doing well.  Isn't it wonderful what modern medical procedures can do for us these days?

We also received a message from Homer - he just loves to rub our noses in the snow and cold weather while he basks in the Florida sunshine, but I don't think I would have traded our weather today, even for this:

ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL SUNNY DAY HERE.       80 ABOVE AND NOT A CLOUD IN THE SKY.     MARGARET AND SUZANNE WENT TO THE BEACH THIS MORNING AND ARE NOW AT THE POOL.    SUE AND I WENT TO THE POOL THIS MORNING AND ARE HERE NOW ON THE PATIO IN THE SUN.     SITTING HERE WITH A BREEZE OFF THE LAKE.

    SUE KEEPS MENTIONING HOW NICE THIS PLACE IS AND ALSO THE GREAT WEATHER.      LATER THIS AFTERNOON OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SOCIAL WILL BE HERE FROM FOUR TO SIX AND MAYBE SIX-THIRTY.

ANYWHERE FROM 25 - 35 PEOPLE EXPECTED.     OUR NEIGHBORS ARE SO FRIENDLY !

                                    LOVE AND BLESSINGS TO ALL,

                                                                HOMER AND MARGARET

My weather report tonight is just like last night.  Today was just like yesterday except not quite as cold.  We got another 2.5 in. of snow yesterday and I expect about the same today.  The two feet of snow, plus or minus, we have on the ground around Joe's Pond is pretty average for February, according to the weather folks.  The wind was out of the south again, and warmer temperatures are creeping into the region so that by Friday we'll have some sleet and maybe rain or freezing rain - again.  The weather pattern repeats.

So what else is new?  Well, there's movement on the Rail Trail going by our pond.  The requests for bids appeared this week.  One for trail construction within the towns of St. Johnsbury and Danville, or Phase 1A; then another request for trail construction within the towns of Morrisville, Hyde Park, Johnson and Cambridge which is Phase 1B.  Bids have to be in by Feb. 28th.  If all goes as planned, construction will begin as early as possible in the spring.  It's good to know they are finally able to move ahead.  However, there's a sizable gap from the Danville line to the Morrisville town line, which has some missing bridges and serious erosion problems so may take a long time and lots of money before the two ends of the trail are able to be joined.

Speaking of rails reminds me - I watched "You Can Quote Me" on WCAX last Sunday.  Senator Dick Mazza, who represents the Chittenden and Grand Isle area of northwestern Vermont was being interviewed, and mentioned he would like to see a rail corridor for passenger and freight service along the western side of Vermont from Montreal to NYC.  

I've always been a big fan of trains.  I used to love watching them, loved hearing them whistle at the crossings along the St. J. & L.C. R.R. route not that long ago, and especially liked traveling by train.  When I first went to work in St. Johnsbury, it was still something of a rail hub - trains going in all directions. You could buy a ticket to go to Montreal, Portland, Maine or Boston - with connections to any place in the country.  Besides that, freight came in by train - automobiles, farm machinery, oil - logs went and lumber came back - even occasionally livestock or a whole circus would arrive in town.  That can't happen now, of course.  If you want to go to Boston, you drive.  Likewise, if skiers or vacationers want to come to Vermont, they have to drive.  No fun ski-trains pulling in at the Lyndonville station heading for a ski weekend at Burke Mountain.  But wouldn't it be nice to have that option?  Think what it would mean to this area to have a rail corridor on the eastern side of Vermont. 

Back in the real world - Liz Sargent sent me this photo of Pearl Island that she took this past weekend.  They are hoping to get some repairs made to the island before spring comes.  The island was hit hard by high water last year.  Looks like they have a good hard-surfaced road right to their door!

We had a nice break in weather yesterday - bright sunshine, but there was a biting wind that kept most of us rosy cheeked and rushing for shelter.  I had a meeting at the Danville Historical Society in the afternoon, and as I drove through West Danville, the "Open" flag at Hastings Store was flying straight-out horizontal.  Later, when I saw Jane Larrabee at the meeting, I mentioned that to her and she said, "Well, that's West Danville.  If the wind isn't blowing, we think something is wrong."

This picture is of Lyford Pond's West Shore Road - often confusing for drivers like UPS who aren't familiar with the area.  This is the intersection with Brickett's Crossing Road which continues from Joe's Pond's West Shore Road to Route 215.  Lots of snow beginning to pile up along roadsides now.
I figure we got pretty close to 24 inches of snow total from this last storm.  Then, after a half-hearted attempt at sunshine this morning, the weather turned to snow again and dumped another four inches or so on us. There was a not at all warm south wind, too.  We are expecting a gradual warming trend after tonight.  Last night we were in the single numbers below zero, but tonight won't be quite that cold, and then later this week we can expect temps in the 40's and possible rain.  Wouldn't you know?!


Diane Rossi and I are getting Ice-Out tickets to our outlets now.  By the end of next week they should all have good supplies of tickets and the pay on-line option will be available on March 1st.  The 2014 Ice-Out season is now upon us in a big way.  I checked our records and found out Larry Rossi put the flag out last year on March 6th.  Diane and I were recalling that after the flag was out we had some rain and the rope froze solidly into the ice - which was in a way a good thing because we also had some snowmobile traffic that might have cut the rope had it not been under ice.  Unpredictable weather is all part of the fun of the game.

Here's a news flash - we've been seeing ads on television that Buck's Furniture in Wolcott is closing their doors, and at first we doubted the message.  Buck's has been there for what seems like forever - but I'm guessing 40-50 years, at least; and along the way, they've had some fairly unusual ads announcing sales for all sorts of reasons, sometimes making one think they might be going out of business as they were "selling everything to the bare walls," or "everything must go," but this is apparently for real.  There are several buildings in Wolcott associated with the business, and once the place is closed, Wolcott will have some really big vacant buildings unless some other business locates there.  Lots of folks will miss Buck's Furniture - it was a real experience to go there and explore the miles of rooms on various levels, with literally tons of furniture of every price range, shape, size and type - and a sales staff not about to let you out the door without making a deal.  We wish staff and owners well.  Wolcott will not be the same without Bucks.

I love when people share photos and fun stories for the blog.  I hear from someone almost every day with something interesting they have been doing or with a question about Vermont or Joe's Pond - you'd be surprised how far afield Joe's Pond appreciation goes.  Or perhaps you wouldn't.  Most of you who have visited or who live here know it's special, but it's always fun for me to learn that someone else thinks so, or that our summer-time residents basking in the sunshine in some warmer place still think about those of us who elect to hang out here at the pond through snow and rain and ice and freezing temperatures.

I heard from Homer and Margaret Fitts this morning - some of you will remember that last summer Homer requested a new "Happiness is Joe's Pond" bumper sticker.  It had been years since they were sold to members as a money-raiser for the Association, but President Tom Dente promptly produced some out of the depths of some storage closet or something - I never found out where - and presented one to Homer at one of our business meetings.  Being the faithful ambassador for Joe's Pond that he is, Homer immediately put it on his car.  Now, here's "the rest of the story."  Homer's message from Florida:

HI JANE,

    JUST HAVE TO TELL YOU, COMING OUT OF CHURCH THIS MORNING A COUPLE WERE LOOKING AT MY  "HAPPINESS IS JOE'S POND"  STICKER ON THE BACK  OF MY CAR.     THEY ARE FROM SPRINGFIELD AND HAVE SNOWMOBILED AT JOE'S POND OFTEN.    SAID THEY ARE HAPPY NOT TO BE THERE RIGHT NOW WITH THE WEATHER.

                                                            HOMER

I had to tell Homer in my response that that couple was missing some really good weather and snowmobile trails are about as good as it gets right now.  However, I'm sure they are enjoying the warm weather in Florida and perhaps they'll get to Joe's Pond before the end of our snow season.  After all, we still have the rest of February, then March and probably a good bit of April that will likely support winter sports.

Speaking of sports - I also had a message and photo from Don and Diane Sherwood, showing us how they are conditioning themselves with food and fun before preparing for the next . . . well, you

decide: 
 

Hi Jane!!!!! Fred too!!!!

We just wanted to reassure everyone back at Joe's Pond enjoying the lovely winter season, that we who have ventured further south to check out the weather are also experiencing the warmth and sunshine of Florida. We all met at the Fishermen's Wharf, had a wonderful meal and snapped this picture to show what we are suffering through. When the snow is gone, the ice is out and the grass is green we will all return to the Pond. Diane and Don Sherwood will however come back in March to ski the slopes at Burke Mountain, getting ready for the next Winter Olympics!!

Miss you all!!!!

Diane and Don

The happy folks in the photo are, from left to right, back row:  Ray and Cynthia Rouleau, Don and Diane Sherwood, Fred and Ellie Bertrand, Sandy and Bill Ricker, and in front, Charlie and Alice Aimi.  Thanks to Don and Diane for sending the picture.

The Cabot Town Report is here.  We got ours on Friday or Saturday.  I haven't had time to read it yet, but I'm pretty sure there will be some interesting stuff presented at Town Meeting in March.  That's a sure sign spring is not far off - when we begin preparing for Town Meeting.  I bet some of you didn't know that Diane Rossi, Sherry LaPrade and I were auditors for the Town of Cabot a few years ago.  It's nice to note they are still using the same format we designed for the report.  

Another sign of approaching spring is that Diane Rossi and I, along with our spouses, Henretta Splain, Larry Rossi and all the others who work on and support the Ice-Out Contest, are getting set for another big year.  With a couple feet of ice out there right now, and the snow and blizzard conditions we've seen lately, Ice-Out seems a long way off, but it is actually a year-around effort that really heats up right around the first of March when Larry will put the flag out.  We've already had a request for an interview, but we've asked to delay at least until early March.  We're still in winter mode here!

 
In case you missed the comment posted to Tuesday's blog, here it is:

Temperatures in South Carolina at the coast are just at freezing with rain coming down. So far the damages are to trees with lots of limbs coming down. Lots of ice and power outages inland. We should have same weather until tomorrow and then the temperatures will go up and the sun will return.

Sam and Judy Lewis
Pawleys Island, SC

Thanks for that, Sam and Judy, I hope you are seeing sunshine by now.  

Here's a link to the Weather Channel about this storm, Quintus, as it moves up the east coast. I think they just started naming winter storms last year - see this link.  Several references on the weather reports have likened this storm to the Valentine's Day 2007 storm.  This storm has had serious consequences all along the eastern coast, and in Georgia yesterday, sheriff Scott Berry announced that Valentine's Day was going to be "cancelled."  Good luck with that, Sheriff.  When we were in St. Johnsbury yesterday, there were lots of gentlemen purchasing flowers in White Market, and at Price Chopper, there was a whole new section of flowers on display and lots going on in that department.

It's still snowing lightly here.  I measured just under 15 inches of new snow at 10 a.m. when we got back from Danville.  We've had another 3-4 inches this afternoon.  It is beginning to taper off, but there is still a brisk NW wind blowing and drifts are forming.  The wind has packed the snow at my back yard stake, but it's still showing 25 inches, which is 10 inches more than yesterday.  My weather gauge overflowed with snow before I got to it this morning, so it was difficult to measure the precipitation (I melt the snow for this figure), but I was able to get a good core measurement (1.66 in.) which is a lot of precipitation for one storm.  

The temperature is falling now, (19 degrees) so it will be another cold night.  Fred is out whisking the snow out of the driveways one more time so everyone can get home ok.  Then we'll all settle in for a nice Valentine's Day meal by the fire!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I only have a minute to post these pictures and let you know we had a significant amount of snow overnight.  The first two were about 6 o'clock this morning when Fred first went out; the bottom one I took as he was finishing up our driveway. I needed the yardstick to measure the depth of new snow this morning - 13 inches, and it's still snowing.  Just while I was out clearing the deck and getting the measurements, we had another 1/4 of an inch, I'm guessing.  It's pretty light and there's some blowing and drifting.  Nice wintery weather.  We have to go out in a little while, so Fred is busy clearing the driveway.  I can't tell if our road has been plowed recently or not, and I haven't seen any traffic going by, so I'm not sure we can make our appointment, but we'll see.

 THIS KIND MESSAGE CAME TODAY - I'M SURE HOMER AND MARGARET WON'T MIND MY SHARING IT HERE:

WE WANT TO WISH YOU A.......

" HAPPY   VALENTINE'S   DAY "

                            LOVE AND BLESSINGS,

                                HOMER AND MARGARET

I also received the following from Andy Rudin, in Philadelphia:

Hello Jane,

 

We are now getting all of these weather types in one day.

Basically, this city is SHUT DOWN !!

I feel like I am living in Adamant, Vermont all over again.

I was there from 1967 - 78.

 

There are, however, two things that happen this time of year that give me lots of hope.

One is seed catalogs, even if I don't order any seeds.

The other is the renewal application for our boat license.

 

Andy

 

We are just beginning to get snow - the temperature has been rising steadily from the teens this morning into the mid-20s now.  We are getting most of the snow tonight into tomorrow a.m., but it is very welcome in the mountain ski areas and even here for those who like to snowmobile.  We should have an exceptionally nice Valentine's Day weekend - lots of snow to play in and as long as everyone is careful on the highways, it should be fine.  Fred took the above picture late this afternoon, before it had snowed much.  As you can see, we don't have high banks along West Shore Road; but by tomorrow at this time, they may be a good bit higher.