This came from Pam Hebert - it's really big in so many ways!  Check it out and then vote!
 
LYNDON INSTITUTE VS ST JOHNSBURY ACADEMY  RIVALRY CONTEST
 
Okay everyone we have a week to help these kids make it happen.  Keep voting - we look awesome for a small community!

VOTE VOTE  VOTE   IT ENDS DEC 19             

LETS GO FIGHT WIN!

http://contest.usatodayhss.com/

Beyond the Witch Hunt:

Opposing Injustice

You are cordially invited to 

 the American Studies 

presentation of learning

Thursday, December 13, 6 PM

in the Cabot School Library

Come listen as ninth and tenth grade students participate in panel discussions about the effects  of ‘witch hunts’ on individuals and groups 

and consider how we can empower each other to act against injustice.  

~ PLEASE NOTE THE NEW DATE ~

LOSE YOUR IPOD?

Found on 12/11/12 in Cabot Village: 1 Apple iPod, 8GB with double sided camera.  Call 279-1106 with a description of the IPod, case, etc., and the correct pin and it will be returned to the owner.   Thank you.

It was a bit chilly early this morning.  Our thermometer was at 16.1F when I first looked at around 6:30, and that was the low reading for the night.  The sun wasn't really up then, but within minutes, the thermometer began to climb and now (out of the sun) it's 22F.   

This photo, taken a few minutes ago, doesn't show much snow as it's of lower ground.  We still have a skimming of snow on the ground around our house and on the hills across the pond.  When I checked the Rossi's webcam earlier, it looked as if the pond is completely frozen over - but I had a message this morning from Diane saying there were geese out in the middle of the pond and she wondered if there was open water out there.  She also wondered if some were frozen in because some were walking around on the ice, but there seemed to be more that weren't moving.  Of course, it's possible they got caught while resting in the water during the night, but I hope they just landed on the clear ice thinking it was open water.  I'm reminded of a video I saw on a TV documentary a long time ago of geese landing on ice and skidding clumsily into each other and having a hard time staying upright.  It was funny to watch, but I expect the poor birds were mighty perplexed.  I don't know if they were able get enough traction on the ice to take off or not.

We went to the basketball game in Cabot last night.  They played the 7/8th grade Waterford team.  It was a good game, and well played.  Waterford has some really strong players and we could see a big difference in the way they played last night compared to last season.  Cabot's girls also did well, but Waterford took the lead right away and never gave it up.  Granddaughter Jo-Ann (5) has come a long way from when she first began playing three years ago.  She had never even seen a basketball game when she arrived here from Namibia, but she learned quickly and has become a valuable player on the Waterford team.  Here is a short slide show from last night's game.

We noticed the Burke's house on the Plain is nicely decorated, and on our way home from the game, stopped to snap a picture from the road.
After the game, we had supper at our house.  We had a great time with Baby Tangeni, who has something new to show us every time we see her.  She's growing fast and is such a happy baby, she makes us laugh just being near her.  When she visits our house, she is particularly fond of a large stuffed ET doll, and Woody.  Woody tolerated mild ear pulls, kisses, having his tail stepped on, petting the wrong way of his fur, and being chased.  What drove him out of the room were Tangeni's loud squeals of delight.  He didn't leave for long, though, and seemed to really enjoy all the attention Tangeni showered on him, except when the party got too loud - then he was out of there.  

We didn't capture any pictures of them together - we were all watching intently to be sure Woody didn't get upset - we know how serious his claws are.  We didn't need to worry, I guess; when he'd had enough he simply trotted away, and he could out run Tangeni, even though she's pretty quick on her feet these days, and he has lots of hiding places.  

We got some pictures at the table, though.  She was clearly posing for Grandpa Fred in these.
.
I had found a box of books and games Bill and his brothers had when they were kids, along with some old cookbooks Jo-Ann liked.  They went home with a bag full of books for both girls, and lots of memories for Bill when he starts reading some of them to Tangeni.  I promised to search for "The Night Before Christmas" book, and if I find it, I'll take it to the family party on Christmas Eve.

We have a skimming of snow this morning and it's colder than yesterday by almost 40 degrees, at 21 degrees.  We're pretty much overcast, but nothing is falling out of the sky; we do have a bit of North wind whipping at us, though.  At our house we're pretty much white, but at pond level, there seems to be no snow on the ground to speak of.  I looked at the Rossi web cam early this morning and the grass is nice and green there with open water as far as I could see.  There seems to be ice again in back of the islands.  It's a little difficult to tell from this picture, but with binoculars, I can see there are shades of white indicating there's probably thin, wind swept ice and older, snow covered areas there.  The wind doesn't hit quite as much on that section, so the water is calmer and freezes sooner, plus it isn't as deep so the overall temperature is probably a little warmer.

I noticed the hills above Route 15 are frosty this morning, too.  You can see how the snow cover lessens according to elevation.   We should go to Route 15 and take a picture of our hillside.  I know up by the Plains School there is more snow showing in the fields than there is here.  Last night we went to the post office in West Danville around 4 o'clock and it was raining, but the temperature was dropping, so it was no surprise to find the ground more or less white this morning - not enough to measure, but I did find .54 in. of precipitation in my rain gauge.

We still have time for a White Christmas - just let's hope Mother Nature doesn't go overboard and drop the temperature and then deliver a few tons of snow on us.  However, if we don't hurry up and get some real winter weather, we may not be able to claim a "January Thaw," and then it'll be spring already!  And it's anybody's guess what that would do to the maple crop.  However, I'm betting on getting some real snow by Christmas.

Fred and I have been wearing our "spiked" shoes almost every day when we walk.  With cold nights, there are icy patches where you least expect them.  This morning our driveway was covered in black ice, and even with our spikes on, it was a little slippery.  When we got down to the road, there is ice under loose gravel, so it could be treacherous in spots where the gravel has either blown off or is a little light.  There are no snowbanks to catch us, so it's not a good time to get caught in a skid.  Some of the ditches along W. Shore Road are really deep to accommodate the water that comes off the hills in a heavy rain storm.  

Waterford School is playing the first basketball game of the season at Cabot this afternoon.  The family will come here for supper after the game.  We enjoy watching them play.  Last year they had a good game with Cabot  - both teams were very good, so we're looking forward to an interesting game.

Liz Sargent sent me a scan of part of an article about the big island here at Joe's Pond.  She said her nephew was removing an old shed at the Pearl farm this week and found this in one of the walls.  They didn't find the rest of the article, though.   I was pretty sure there was a copy filed in the Joe's Pond newspaper clipping album, but I didn't find it.  I have other articles about the island, but not this one.  If anyone happens to have the whole thing, I'd very much like to have a copy of the first page to go with this.  If you click on the image it will enlarge so you can see it better. 

MILITARY COUPLE TO WIN A FREE WINTER WEDDING IN VERMONT

JEFFERSONVILLE, Vt. - A Salute to Our Soldiers honors our servicemen and women with a complimentary Vermont wedding valued at $70,000 for one deserving couple. The contest to find that couple begins Dec. 15 and is organized by three Vermont businesses: VT Enchanted Events, VermontWeddings.com and The Mountain Top Inn & Resort.

Entries will be reviewed and one couple will be selected to receive a wedding package for up to 200 guests, hosted on Dec. 15, 2013 at The Mountain Top Inn and Resort, in Chittenden, Vt.

Couples nationwide are encouraged to submit their love stories at VermontWeddings.com between Dec. 15, 2012 and April 1, 2013. The contest is open to engaged and currently active, reserve, or retired members of the United States Armed Forces – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, or National Guard.

Often, our country’s military personnel miss out on life’s most precious moments due to deployments, casualties and injuries. In gratitude for their service, A Salute to Our Soldiers wedding give-away enables Vermont’s wedding vendors to give back just a little to one worthy couple.

Due to the generous spirit of Vermont businesses, the growing list of donating vendors includes:

•      822 Weddings
•      Barrie Fisher Photographers
•      Carman Brook Farms
•      Cuisine Lucette
•      Creative Muse Floral
•      Cynthea’s Spa
•      Dayve Huckett
•      Five Elements Salon and Day Spa
•      Hawley’s Florist
•      Irene’s Cakes by Design
•      Keepsake by Nana
•      Lake Champlain Chocolates
•      LoveBuzzPhoto
•      New Leaf Organics
•      Perennial Studios
•      Shear Heaven Salon and Day Spa
•      SuperSounds DJ
•      The Linen Shop at Occasions
•      Truly Noted
•      VickeryHill.com
•      Vermont Bride Magazine

Several of these Vermont wedding vendors also extend military discounts to couples planning their weddings.

About the Organizers:

VT Enchanted Events: Wedding planning that ranges from the bare basics up to complete wedding services tailored to fit all budgets. Each individual has their own unique style and flair that they will want for their wedding; the goal is to gain insight and bring it to life and present it like a page turning in a book. After all, this is a love story being told to family, friends, and most important of all, to each other!

The Mountain Top Inn & Resort: Just 11 miles from Killington, The Mountain Top Inn & Resort is the ideal location to host a Vermont destination wedding. The Resort’s Barn accommodates 250 guests, with a lake and Green Mountains as the back drop. Classic lodge accommodations, menu planning to meet each couple's personal tastes and an array of activities for friends and family complete the package for couples to create perfect memories for their wedding. Visit mountaintopinnweddings.com.

VermontWeddings.com: Vermont’s largest, most comprehensive online directory of wedding resources including locations, professional services, guest accommodations and activities. VermontWeddings.com provides couples with online tools to research, plan and share information about their picture perfect Vermont wedding. Visit us at VermontWeddings.com, and follow us on  Facebook and  Twitter.

Media contacts:

Jackie Watson, VT Enchanted Events
802-324-1433;  vtenchantedevents@gmail.com

Diane Dickerman, The Mountain Top Inn and Resort
802-483-2311; marketing{at}mountaintopinn.com

Lorin Holmes, VermontWeddings.com
802-863-2421;  lorin@vermontweddings.com

###

I'm pretty sure some of you have seen the following, but you may still get a chuckle out of reading it again.  Some of us women already know these things about men; some who are young enough to believe they are going to change their men need to know this is just how it is - men are way different than women; and most men simply don't have a clue.

These are just simple facts that cannot be disputed:

WHY MEN ARE NEVER DEPRESSED:
Men Are Just Happier People --
What do you expect from such simple creatures?
Your last name stays put.
The garage is all yours.
Wedding plans take care of themselves.
Chocolate is just another snack...
You can be President.
You can never be pregnant.
You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park.
You can wear NO shirt to a water park.
Car mechanics tell you the truth.
The world is your urinal.
You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky.
You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.
Same work, more pay.
Wrinkles add character.
Wedding dress $5000. Tux rental-$100.
People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.
New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.
One mood all the time.
Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.
You know stuff about tanks.
A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.
You can open all your own jars.
You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend.
Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack.
Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.
You almost never have strap problems in public.
You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.
Everything on your face stays its original color.
The same hairstyle lasts for years, even decades.
You only have to shave your face and neck.
You can play with toys all your life.
One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one color for all seasons.
You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.
You can 'do' your nails with a pocket knife.
You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.
You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives  on December 24 in 25 minutes.
___________________________________
 

Men Are Just Happier People

 
NICKNAMES
If Laura, Kate and Sarah go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Kate and Sarah. If Mike, Dave and John go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Bubba and Wildman.

EATING OUT
When the bill arrives, Mike, Dave and John will each throw in $20, even though it's only for $32.50. None of them will have anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back.
When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.

MONEY
A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.
A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need but it's on sale.

BATHROOMS
A man has six items in his bathroom: toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel.
The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify more than 20 of these items.

ARGUMENTS
A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.

FUTURE
A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.

MARRIAGE
A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't.
A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change, but she does.

DRESSING UP
A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the trash, answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail.
A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.

NATURAL
Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.
Women somehow deteriorate during the night.

OFFSPRING
Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams.
A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
A married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people remembering the same thing!

We haven't had much weather so far this weekend.  Last night we had a sifting of snow, but it only shows up on the cold surfaces.  It's hard to tell from here, but it looks as if there is still ice in back of the islands.  Much of the pond has opened up again, but the water is cold enough now so it won't take much to freeze over again.  I took this picture a few minutes ago.  The thermometer is reading 30 degrees.  Below, you see there was a little snow last night, but as the day warms up a bit, that will probably melt.

The hunting season here is over.  We haven't seen any sign of the young buck with the lop-sided antlers that's been frequenting our yard this fall.  We're hoping to see him again, but there's always the chance he was shot.  We usually see some turkeys, too, but so far we haven't seen any this fall.  They may have gone through and we just missed them - but once snow comes, we'll see their tracks if there are any in our area.  There have been some on the hillside going down to Cabot Village, so it seems the wild turkey population is thriving.

Speaking of Cabot Village, there is a lot of chatter on Front Porch Forum about the possibility of making some changes to Main Street in Cabot to calm down the traffic.  It's a difficult problem to solve because Main Street is part of Route 215, the shortcut between Route 2 in Marshfield and Route 15 in Walden.  At the north end of Main Street, the road branches to the South Walden Road, which cuts off a mile or so if one is traveling towards Hardwick; however, traffic must go straight through the village to that point, and the noise level is often high with as big trucks shift through gears.  Also, that's a straight, level stretch of highway that invites speed.  Not unlike Danville in some respects, although the amount of traffic through Cabot is nowhere near what Danville sees on Route 2.

There has been a committee working on Cabot's problem for a while, and plans are taking some shape for traffic-calming measures and other improvements such as sidewalks, etc.  All of these changes come with a price tag, but in actual money and general upheaval if/when work is being done.  Just ask the residents of Danville.