April in Vermont

Below are excerpts from Ellen’s journal. She has kept her Walden Hill Journal going since we moved from Illinois. We hope you enjoy reading them for a vicarious experience of Vermont.

Apr. 1, 2006 Our new indoor/outdoor digital wireless thermometer is showing a balmy 61.7 °. Now that’s the way to start the month of April! A lone bluebird is perched atop a small tree in the field. I think that’s my earliest bluebird sighting up here on the hill. For once, he’s way ahead of the swallows. We took a shirtsleeve walk down Walden Hill Road and were serenaded by quite a variety of domesticated free-range hens along the way. Two long-necked wild turkeys also strutted across the road and eventually took flight. Rain has moved in with possible thunder in the forecast. Those “April Showers” will need to melt away the snow before bringing their promised “May flowers”.

Apr. 3, 2006 After 5 beautiful, sunny days, we’re back to cold and cloudy. The wood stove got a well-earned extended rest with solar gain carrying us through last night. Jeff gave the pipe a cleaning and now we’re ready to go back to burning wood again. After returning from the very festive and delicious Pope Library annual Novel Dinner at the Creamery, we fired up the stove to take out the evening chill. It was a real morale booster to arrive home at 7:30 and still have daylight. That extra visibility was appreciated since the road has developed some new rough spots with not much room to maneuver around those ever deepening ruts. The worst spot is just at the crest of a hill so you can’t see what’s coming from the opposite direction. Fortunately everyone is approaching with caution and courtesy.

Apr. 4, 2006 We’re getting our first substantial April snow dump and it’s a doozie. The flakes are large, very wet and numerous. Snowflake Bentley would be in ecstasy, but this time of year, I can’t be as enthusiastic. The roads are very slippery, not only from icy snow but from a less than solid, muddy slick surface underneath. It’s a good day to stay home and enjoy the warmth of the wood stove and try to appreciate the beauty of this late snowfall.

Apr. 9, 2006 Lots of solar gain to warm and cheer us up today. The latest bit of snow is hanging on in the woods but rapidly disappearing from the field. Most of the ice that builds up glacier style on the interstate road cuts has melted off but a few hardy patches remain. Nighttime temps are staying in the low 20’s and Orion still dominates the night sky. Snow remains on the peaks of the White Mountains as well as on the ski runs. A few brave iris shoots are tentatively poking through the ground and a small patch of poppy leaves has greened up by the compost bin. Furry pussy willows are budding.

Apr. 18, 2006 We’ve just returned from a week in CA visiting with the Gold side of the family. Northern California has been inundated with a month of heavy rain. Added to that is the melt-off from the high country snow pack, bringing on the inevitable mudslides. Sheets of plastic anchored with sand bags and discarded tires have been heaped on the ground to try and stabilize the slide areas. We drove down to southern CA via the high desert of sage brush and Joshua trees. Our route followed the infamous CA aqueduct which transports water to LA, leaving some behind to irrigate the occasional orchard in otherwise dry countryside. Our return trip took us over the mountains north of LA with an abrupt plunge into the flat, wide highly irrigated fertile valley that went on for mile after endless mile. Cattle and sheep grazed on the sparse grass where extensive fruit and nut orchards as well as grapevines flourished in the thickly planted, irrigated valleys. As we left the lowlands to climb the foothills leading back to Larkspur, we rode through windmill farms “planted” across the high ridges as far as the eye could see. Throughout the state, lush green prevailed, an unusual sight for the normally dry golden hills of California.

Apr. 19, 2006 We ventured home from Burlington airport via Kittredge Road last night and were surprised to see that after a week’s time, the very bumpy, corrugated road was still in a state of considerable disrepair. Rte 2 was uneven but at least clear of rain or snow. The only obstacle we encountered was a large lone coyote standing in the road. A clear, star-studded sky greeted us on Walden Hill with the barest hint of occasional peepers, peeping. It looks like we’ve lost all our snow cover except for the highest peaks on Mt. Washington. The full suet cake I put in the cage a week ago is nearly gone. For now the seed feeder is put away until the awakening bears have more natural forage to satisfy their hunger. A broadwing hawk must have been invading another bird’s nesting territory and was chased and pecked at by an angry pair of blackbirds. Two bluebirds have arrived and will hopefully stay and nest in one of the bird houses. Perennials are beginning to poke through the sun-warmed ground. Coltsfoot is in bloom adding spots of color to the dusty, sandy roadside. We’re well on our way to spring.

Apr. 23, 2006 Two wild turkeys were in the back field this morning, grazing in the rain. It’s actually good to see some precipitation to counteract this unusually dry spring. Our normally overflowing frog pond had been very low. There must be plenty of water in Danville since peepers were loud and shrill last night when I returned home from Pumpkin Hill’s performance near Boston. Flowering trees and shrubs are in peak bloom down there and willows and maples are putting forth their yellow and red buds. Up here, only the pulmonaria are in bloom. I had a slow but entertaining ride up Walden Hill a few nights ago. A small hare was doing its dart, stop and swerve routine while I was attempting to pass it. He would begin to cross the road, stop dead center and dart back. Finally he found an opening to his liking, continued crossing and bounded off into the woods. It’s only 36° this morning, a good day to stoke up the wood stove which has been idle since early April.

Apr. 25, 2006 We’re at the “hurry up and wait” stage of spring. Colder weather has put the swelling buds on hold. The valley is tinged with the red of quickening maple buds and the burgundy of osier brightens the slowly greening field. Lilac buds have moved on to their hint of purple phase and lupine leaves are up. Our neighbor Ron reported seeing 2 black bears while walking his dog near Gore Road. It’s 8:00 PM and still light even on this very overcast, rainy day. The cozy warmth of our wood stove helps keep the chill away.

Apr. 28, 2006 Our new digital thermometer recorded a low of 27° last night but bright sun prevails this morning, sending the chill on its way. The garden is turned but it’s still too early to buy moo-doo. We’ll have to leave the fertilizing for when we return from our trip south. The drive to DC should be a springtime flowery feast for our winter weary eyes and FL no doubt will dump us abruptly into summer. The grass is looking very green. Our lawn mower is being serviced while we’re away. Snow tires are off the car and stacked away until next fall. It’s been a very sunny April but it’s still not spring as far as the trees are concerned. One lone daffodil is in bloom in the field. A gentle morning haze softens the snow-free White Mountains. Our bluebird who arrived April 1st has been in and out with his mate but this last stretch of cold weather has sent them off in search of warmer climes. The very occasional swallow has done the same. Hopefully when we return mid-May, our seasonal birds will have chosen their summer houses, built nests and be tending an egg or two. Meanwhile robins dominate the yard and a very industrious pileated woodpecker has been busy chiseling out immense holes in an old maple tree in the lower woods. Large fresh chips litter the ground. It looks like that maple will provide some usable firewood soon.