"It was imprudent of us, in the first place, to become authors. We could have become something regular, but we managed not to.
We were lucky, but we were also determined." Roy Blount Jr

"I don’t change the facts to enhance the drama. I think of it the other way round, the drama has got to fit the facts,
and it’s your job as a writer to find the shape in real life."
Hilary Mantel

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Winter Bay

I unexpectedly extended my stay in the North Country for another night. While removing stored images from my camera, I though this pair worthy of posting. They were taken last Friday during my very brief visit to the Big Lake.

Unless you've actually been there, the first photo won't mean a great deal, but it's intended to give an idea of the snow depth. The badly drawn red arrow indicates a metal pole suspended between two trees. In spring, summer and autumn I park my car beneath that pole, which hangs very high up. If I could've walked to that spot (no way, the snow was too deep) I could probably have reached up and touched the pole, something that would be impossible at any other time of year. Or indeed, in the average winter!



Here's the town boat launch, now a snowmobile entry point and a means of access to some of the bob houses belonging to the ice fishermen.



Coming home on Sunday, through North Country towns, I saw more snowmobiles than automobiles in some places--especially the petrol stations. One town was holding its annual "Sled Festival"--the modern definition of "sled" being snow machine!

During the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, we had some intense (and very close) competition for "Best on Couch" here at the Lodge. Jewel edged out Ruth by a snore and a twitch. We were all excited about the Scottish Deerhound winning best in her breed on the first night. And then she took Best in Show last night as well!

Some days I have a lot to do. Some days, not so much. We haven't had any snow for a week or something like that, and are enjoying what the forecasters smilingly call "a warming trend." We won't be lured into complacency, but we'll enjoy it while it lasts!

I was sorry to miss the Annual Weekend Backyard Bird Count Survey sponsored by Audubon, but I was away and I forgot to remind the Chap about it so he could do the observing. (He did feed the birds in my absence!) So I'm unable to post my totals this year, or contribute them to the overall count for New Hampshire.

Valentine's Day--what can I say? He gave me a 6-pack of Magner's Irish Cider, Ghiradelli chocolate mints, other favourite consumables, and a card that made me laugh so hard I cried.

Yesterday afternoon we attended separate diocesan meetings at the same time in the very same building (he was upstairs and I was downstairs.) I smooched him when we met in the hallway...no witnesses, so it wasn't a P.D.A.

My next outing will be to attend public hearings in Representatives Hall on a proposed repeal of marriage equality, my first return to the State House since retiring from the Legislature. I expect to see many former colleagues, as well as some diocesan colleauges, clergy and lay, speaking in opposition. The Chap will be monitoring a different hearing over in the L.O.B. so we probably won't get the chance to smooch. But that wouldn't raise eyebrows these days, because he's no longer my constituent!


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