Warm Rain turned to Cold Ice.

12-20-25 VERMONT: In typical New England fashion, it warmed up, into the fifties, rained at least an inch, which washed away a lot of the snow, and then froze with a lot of wind. We still have snow cover, but instead of a foot we have an inch. We had another power outage last night for about 12 hours. Speaking of power the solar panels were not working when they were covered with snow, but now are making electricity again.  

The feeders are getting attention now, I topped off the old seeds with new seeds, and they’re all being eaten. At first it was just chickadees and tufted titmouses, but now we also have bluejays, downy woodpeckers and a gold finch, who still has a lot of color. I thought it was a pine warbler, at first,  because there is so much yellow, but it’s probably too late in the season for warblers. 

We started the day with sunshine, but now it’s overcast again and we might get some new snow tonight.  

Bluejay in the azaleas.

The upper pond is now full for the first time since May. The brook was actually flowing during the warm rain.

All the rain froze and the pond is now icy again.

The tables and chairs on the terrace had deep piles of snow, but are now clear.

Goldfinch are usually gray at this time of the year.

Tufted titmouse.

Downy woodpecker and goldfinch.

Vermont in December.

12-17-25 VERMONT: We came up a few days ago. It is C-O-L-D here. The temps have been below freezing for more than a week. There is maybe a foot of snow, packed down in places. The ponds are frozen. The roofs are covered with snow, and the solar panels have been snow covered and are not working. We’ve been plowed and shoveled. The dogs love the snow. It is unusually wintery for December. The horses are very furry with their winter coats and dressed in blankets. I filled the bird feeders, the bears are asleep, with the left over seeds, but have no visitors. I guess the seeds are too stale. 

The tree is up and lit and decorated. Judy has started prep for the Xmas day party. Oh yes, today has brought us another Vermont tradition—a power outage. The generator is running so some of the house is working. I checked with GMP, and it looks like our road is the only one in all Vermont with no power.

We picked up the swan and the butterfly from the last auction. The butterfly is hanging in the old mudroom, and the swan has joined the flock. The roads are fine, plowed and sanded. 

We will meet Laura-Beth for dinner tomorrow in Hanover. 

Snow on the ground gray skies above when we arrived.

There's been a lot of snow.

The horses, Raven and Peachez, dressed for the season with their Mom and Dad.

New old butterfly weathervane in the mud room.

The house and road with snow on the roof. Today is supposed to warm up a little and all the snow might fall off with house shaking thuds.

The sky cleared in the evening for a sunset.

The tree with St. Chelsea on top.

Me and Blue sharing the sofa.

Ragtime.

12-9-25 SHORT HILLS: It’s been cold, unusually cold, with actual temps at night in the teens. Vermont is even colder. We are headed there the end of the week after they get mid-week snow. We will be there through Xmas with many guests, and our usual Xmas day party, Judy’s triumph.

We saw the new production of ‘Ragtime’ Saturday at the Vivian Beaumont at Lincoln Center. I read the book by E. L. Doctorow years ago, and we have seen either the movie or previous stage productions. This one is a knockout. Set in 1906, it is relevant today re immigration and racial prejudice. The three principles, Joshua Henry, Caissie Levy, and Brandon Uranowitz playing Coalhouse Walker jr., Mother, and Tateh got standing O’s. Making cameos are Admiral Peary, Houdini, Emma Goldman, Henry Ford, J.P. Morgan, Evelyn Nesbit, Booker T. Washington and others. My hearing aids set at ’T-coil’ worked perfectly to amplify the sound. 

I guess, like kids who want the same bedtime story repeated every night, adults also like their favorites repeated.

We had dinner with Lynn and Bill Sunday at T of A. 

We had a dusting of snow that disappeared by noon.

We haven't been to Lincoln Center for a while.

The Met looks almost the same.

Ragtime poster, yopu can just make pout the reflection of the photographer.

The reflecting pool doing its job.

Theatre goer in the cold.

Warming up inside. There is not a bad seat in this ampitheatre.

Freezing.

12-3-25 SHORT HILLS: We have now had a hard frost, with a harder one to come tomorrow or tomorrow night. I was filling the bird feeder Monday and saw the birdbath frozen. It subsequently thawed and then re-froze. We went from mild fall weather to winter almost overnight. Several low temps over the next ten days will be in the teens.

The birds are gobbling up sunflower seeds and the suet blocks, as well as the remaining berries on the shrubs. I am trying to keep up with the demand. 

As often happens, a warmish day after cold ones induce the forsythia to open flowers. I don’t think there are any pollinators left out there. Fortunately only a handful of the buds open. 

Thanksgiving was fun with all the east coast family at Anna and Gardner’s plus Gardner’s sister Elizabeth and some of their friends. You can tell it’s going to be a good party when the first glass of wine is served in mid-morning.

New blooms: forsythia.  

Cold water.

Thanksgiving table.

I had help with my zipper when we left.

Forsythia- "It's December."

Blue and Judy were at Covenant House this morning.

Peachez in the snow. Vermont is at least 10° colder than NJ and is getting a bunch of new snow.