Andrea Doughtie, Rural Painter

And here you see the advantages of a standing seam roof.  Last winter we accumulated four feet of snow and ice on our old roof before we had it shoveled off –apparently just in time.    The white stuff still built up on the new roof but as soon as we got warmer temperatures it started sliding down, like a curtain  hanging.  We’re relieved it works because the roof itself is pretty flat.  It’s amazing how much we’ve had to learn about living in a cold climate and what expense that knowledge has led to!

Life in Vermont is not all beer and skittles. Thursday we went into town in the morning to shop; then saw “Les Mis” at the theater in White River Junction (motto: “White River Junction–it’s not so bad”); and from there went to an art opening by a wonderful Strafford Artworks member, Micki Colbeck. It had started snowing a little after the play but by the time we left the opening it was really coming down; cars were going off the road. We crept home, using a back road to avoid the highest hill,  and it was a relief to get safely in.  The snow was pelting down. Then, sometime before 2:00 a.m. the power went out. That’s not usually a big problem because our expensive super back up battery kicks in. We tried not to use too much power all day Friday to conserve the battery but at 8:00 Fri. night the battery quit. We had gotten the house really warm so were comfortable reading by candlelight and warm in bed under comforters. But I tell you, we really hated to get up yesterday morning because we knew it would be cold. We dressed in many layers, Ed built a fire in the fireplace– psychologically helpful but actually almost no heat. By then the phone was dead as well so in my morbid mode I started worrying about all kinds of emergencies where we’d need a phone.   When Ed went to take the recycling in he was able to check the recorded message at the power company which assured us that we’d have power by Monday night–Yikes!  Then we started worrying about the pipes freezing since the temperature was dropping every hour.  The house is relatively new,  pretty well insulated but without any heat we didn’t know if it was insulated enough. Friends with wood stoves invited us to their houses but we felt we needed to keep stoking the fire to keep the house as warm as possible. As soon as phone service was restored a friend called to cancel her dinner party. Since she has a gravity-feed well that doesn’t require a pump she offered us some water–all sold out at the general store. But then–hallelujah!–just as we were getting terribly cold in spite of all our clothing, the power came back on. I never thought electricity could make me so happy! Now every time I run the faucet or turn on a light I’m grateful. We went to a big cocktail party last night and everybody really bonded over the stress of the last couple of days. We have to do something, either a wood stove or a generator. After the ice storm in ‘99 the power was out for three days and that would be a disaster. But–silver lining–the world was beautiful with all the ice coating the trees. When the wind blew you could heat the limbs clicking against each other. Here are a couple of photos.

I was sorry I had to point the camera right into the sun but the sun coming right through the ice was what made it all so spectacular. I’d love to be able to figure out how to get that effect in paint.

Ed and I have an ongoing argument about getting a dog. I’d really like one and he really wouldn’t.  So it was a little consolation that I did get some livestock today. A friend offered me some of her red worms and I was delighted. Ed drilled holes in the bottom of plastic storage container and we filled it with shredded newspaper (vegetable ink), peat moss and dirt. I had thought I’d be able to get a photo of all of them but they were buried so deep in the dirt and compost they came in, I only saw a couple. Apparently nothing is better than worm compost for perking up plants. My plan is to use it on the house plants this winter and in the garden next summer. It will be great if they multiply enough to eat all the fruit and vegetable parings we generate. It’s a cold trip through the snow to the compost bin in the winter so keeping it all in the house would be a huge bonus. Right now I have the bin in the guest bathroom where it’s easy to get at.  I haven’t named them yet…….

Probably about the purest form of American democracy can be found at town meetings in Vermont, where everybody can have a say. The turnout is large and people are generally well prepared to discuss a wide range of issues. The head of our Select Board says the founding fathers here must have had a sadistic streak to set the date for it on the first Tuesday in March when the weather is almost always bleak. Today was cloudy but actually not too cold. (All during the meeting the snow kept falling off the roof in huge masses. ) I’m impressed by the care given to the preparation of the agenda and the spirited involvement of Strafford citizens. People are generally very thoughtful, polite and often funny, with Robert’s Rules scrupulously followed. There was a great deal of concern about the sorry state of the local roads–terrible potholes due to frost heaves–and how on earth the town could ever afford to repair them. One suggestion was just to break up the asphalt and go back to dirt roads which seem to do better in the bad weather. But the big item for discussion was a cooperative agreement with a lot of other small towns to bring fiber optic to Strafford. Of course it passed since it won’t cost the town anything. Now we’re pretty much assured that by the end of 2009 we won’t have to rely on dial-up anymore. Plus, we can get TV and telephone as well. And no matter how remote, how hilly one’s location we’ll still all be able to get connected. We’re very happy. Dial-up is so frustrating and it would be nice to get some television as well.

On the day of the meeting the road crew arrives at 4:00 a.m. to start the three big wood stoves on the only day of the year when the building is heated. All during the morning casseroles heat on top of the stoves and by noon you’re ravenous from the smell.

But this is probably the last year we’ll have the stoves. They’ll be replaced by propane heaters which will be more efficient and much safer. So many historic buildings in New England have burned down it only makes sense to get rid of the stoves and somewhat rickety pipes and install modern heaters. Anyway, the lunch run by the P.T.A. is wonderful–a huge potluck meal.

Children have the day off school and many come to the meeting. Here they are building a snowman and having a snowball fight during the lunch break.

What a great place to grow up!

It snowed all day yesterday and into the night. Here’s the view from our living room window this morning–every branch and twig draped. Of course it’s not all wonderful. Yesterday the Subaru couldn’t make it up our long steep driveway and wound up in a ditch. So Ed finally broke down and bought an expensive set of snow tires that work like a charm. If we’d spent that kind of money on presents there would be a lot more under the tree!

We had the first big snowfall of the season this week and got out for our first snowshoe this morning.  It was a beautiful day and we went to a relatively flat spot for our first time out. A skier had already broken trail, making our job much easier, and the path went up behind the village of Strafford.  That’s the  beautiful white Townhouse on the left.  Not a single building in the picture was built later than the 19th century–altogether a New England postcard.   Since I grew up in Georgia and lived in Houston for nearly 40 years, snow is still a thrill (unless I have to get out and drive in it).   When we first  moved here someone told us that we  had to “embrace the winter” which we make a real effort to do by trying to get outside every day.    Fortunately there are quite a few snowmobile trails around for snowshoeing and sometimes we just go up into our woods–good for burning all those extra calories we seem to want when the weather is cold.  Once all the streams freeze over we can get to places that aren’t accessible during the warmer months.

This morning we were walking through some slightly-snowy woods when we saw an old truck on the path ahead of us. It’s not unusual to see all kinds of ancient abandoned vehicles way off in the woods so we weren’t surprised by this.

But as we moved closer we discovered that it was Mother Nature who had left this particular wreck–a trunk, not a truck. The “cab”  was a broken tree with other felled or fallen trees making the body.

Maybe you had to be there…..

Last night I went to a meeting at the library. After the business–treasurer’s report, etc. one of those attending said he’d like to make announcement. He’d found a black sheep wandering on a nearby road and wondered if anybody knew whose it was. Immediately people started suggesting various Straffordites who might be missing a sheep while others chimed in and explained why it couldn’t possibly be that person’s sheep. Then another member noted that a certain person was missing a black goat. Was it for sure a black *sheep* he had found? He assured everybody he knew a sheep from a goat!

When we first came up here I went to an evening presentation at the library and when I came out later a dog and a small black sheep were waiting (patiently) for their owners, right there on the library steps. It was then I truly realized I wasn’t in Houston anymore! How I love life in this little village.