Dogs run free...

Spring in the park.

Barb and I took a walk in Hubbard Park today, the first day of spring. There were frozen snow pellets falling as we made our way along the well packed path. The pellets made quite a noise in the trees, as if someone was throwing sand, but didn't last long. It's been so cold lately that the maple sap hasn't been running, so no good boiling up at Morse's this weekend. Perhaps next week. Of course, in a few weeks, when it does start to get warm, people will start complaining about how wet it is, then about how hot it is (buggy, too).

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The Hubbard Park tower stood in stark contrast to the surrounding snow. When the ice thaws from its steps, perhaps I'll climb to the top.

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If you read Lib's web log, you may recalll that she, Josh, Peter Gale and I went to Mad River a few weeks ago for a nice day of skiing. One nice part of the day was Josh giving Lib instructions on the finer aspects of skiing the bumps. She did quite well. It is worth noting that Josh did not even offer to teach me. I, alas, am well past learning how to ski the bumps.

Mud time

I performed a Spring Ritual today, cleaning the driveway and sidewalk of a winter's worth of sand and crud. This involved turning the outside faucets on again, and seeing if the hose, which had been left outside all winter, was thawed and unbroken. Luck was with me and all went well. It suprises me how much satisfaction I can get from simple tasks like cleaning the drive. Perhaps I should have been a gardener or grounds keeper. naw, that would get old and would be so unpleasant in the hot weather. Now if folks will actually use the sidewalk, we will reduce the amount of sand tracked in the house. Clean is good.

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Sugar time
I also went up to Morse's to see if they were sugaring. Burr was right where you might expect to find him at this time of year. He says it is not much of a year, so far. Seems it's not getting quite cold enough at night. If we can get some freezing nights, all will be well. In the mean time, if you go up the hill, you will be able to contemplate the great wooden sculpture at Morse's. This includes the famous, and always delightful, Venus de Maple, the Maple Man (or is it a woman), and the very sugar shack itself. Of course, if you are in the area you should go to Morse Farm to see it all yourself.

Then and now

When I got home this evening, I looked out at the porch table that has stayed out all winter. It has been piled with snow, as seen here, until today. Now, after a couple of days in the fifties (well, maybe the forties), it looks like this. I take that as a sign that spring is just around the corner.

Mayor Hooper!

Slink just called to say Mary Hooper is now Mayor Hooper of Montpelier! Go Mary! Here is the mayor with her husband, Jim "I'm with her" Slinkman. To the left, the new Official Shoe of Montpelier.

Signs of spring

On the radio Mark Breen is talking about signs of spring that listeners have sent in. It's the usual mix of first bird sightings, ice out on some pond, and so on. I noticed a sure sign of spring last Saturday. The stench of the winter's build up of organic material all starting to decompose at once. There must be a big blast of methane and other fine products of decomposition gushing out into the run off stream. Along the highway I notice the freshly exposed corpses of deer that have been long frozen in the snow banks along side the road. Some are full grown, others small and (formerly) cute. Did they die and somehow fall into the snow, or did they get clipped by a plow and swept up into the snow ejecta? Beats me. I hope the flowers and leaves and green are not far behind.