And it looks like Mud Season’s over. The big waves and troughs are scraped and buried for another year. And it’s a bit early because of a surprisingly warm April, so far.
… And Signs of Spring
Part of the scene at the Burlington, VT, waterfront, on Lake Champlain, over the past weekend. Lots of people out after a long winter.
Posted in Lake Champlain, Spring
Tagged Burlington waterfront, Lake Champlain, spring, Vermont
Vermont Teachers Protest Pension Reductions
Vermont public school teachers gathered at the State House in Montpelier last week to protest proposed changes in pensions for teachers and other state employees. The state legislature, which had not funded the pension plans adequately in past years, creating an ever-increasing deficit in the retirement system, considered a proposal to reduce pensions and require larger pay-in amounts, among other changes. The changes would not have affected those already retired or who would retire within five years. However, the reaction from teachers was swift and emphatic. By the end of the week the speaker of the state House of Representatives withdrew the proposal and planned to appoint a commission to study the situation over the summer.
Posted in pensions, Vermont State House, Vermont teachers
Tagged pension protests, public employee pensions, Vermont, Vermont State House
We Got Mud Season
It wasn’t really a hard winter, but after early January, it consistently was moderately cold. So, apparently, the frost settled deeply into the dirt roads. The beauty of this mud bog is that it is just at the end of our driveway, so you don’t have to go far to watch the fun. And you can hear the sounds of scraping metal without even going outside. Plus, with just a short drive you can experience it yourself.
Posted in Mud Season, Spring
Tagged dirt roads, spring, Vermont
Winter Retrospective
It’s not really time for a winter retrospective (even though all the snow in the backyard is gone) because we know it’s going to snow in April. But here goes. Except for coaching, I photographed only three races in the winter of 2021, all local and all low-key, from the lollipop race of the Northwest Vermont Bill Koch League Festival at Sleepy Hollow to Vermont’s eastern high school championships at Craftsbury Outdoor Center. They may have been small, but they did not lack for great picture-taking opportunities. Congratulations to the kids, who ski so well and have so much fun, and to all the organizers, the parents and the coaches who put these events together in a pandemic. These are some of my favorites. Click here for full, giant galleries on the new SmugMug pages I have just added.
In the Bridge
I’ve been helping out the local weekly, The Bridge, with photos a bit this winter. These are all from a story by Will Lindner about the businesses that have sprung up in the crossroads hamlet of Middlesex, VT. Above, Brian Lewis at the takeout window of his new restaurant, The Filling Station (a former gas station). Below, Randy George at Red Hen Baking; Karin Bellemare at Roots Farm Market; Mike Sullivan at The Mud Studio, and Russ Bennett, the impresario/landlord working on building community in Middlesex. Click here for the story.
Meanwhile, it’s Spring and in the next few days I’ll post some photos from the winter past. 
Posted in Middlesex VT, small Vermont businesses, Vermont
Tagged Middlesex VT, Small Vermont businesses
Winter Arrives
After a slow start, it suddenly snowed and winter was here, full-time, for now. Top and below, the Montpelier, VT, middle school cross-country team heads across a field on an adventure ski. Everything else is within about two miles of home during the first big snowfall of 2021.
All Quiet on the State House Front
Despite concerns about demonstrations in the wake of last week’s attack on the US Capitol, Vermont’s State House was practically deserted Sunday except for media and law enforcement. Police, reporters and a few curious citizens chatted, and it just another quiet, gray and snowy Vermont day, but one with security unheard of on a winter Sunday afternoon. The only demonstrators were down at Montpelier’s city hall several blocks away protesting against fascism.
Posted in 2020 elections, Vermont, Vermont State House
Tagged 2020 elections, Vermont, Vermont State House
Winter Happening
As crazy as the rest of 2020, winter at the end of the year was happening slowly, in cold starts followed by fits of warm weather. Above, the colors of winter rolled in over Camel’s Hump, north-central Vermont’s local mountain. Below, the wintry look of Dec. 23 followed by the unwintry look of Dec. 26, after a day of fifty-degree weather and rain. 
Snow due tonight and tomorrow will change things.
Posted in Camels Hump, Vermont, Winter
Tagged Camels Hump, Vermont, winter
Stick Season
Stick Season: the interlude in Vermont between autumn and winter, when there are no leaves and no snow. But there are long, long shadows, peace, and a sense of anticipation for the next seasonal act. Above: East Montpelier. Below: North Branch of the Winooski River and elsewhere in Montpelier. Click here for a gallery of Stick Season shadows and people.
Posted in December, November, Stick Season, Vermont
Tagged December, November, Stick Season, Vermont