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Snap was our pride and joy dog. A considered companion, a confidant with great listening skills, a cherished family member. Even when she turned eleven in human years Snap remained very much a puppy in size and energy. As loving as she was fearless. Snap wanted to be close with us. As close as she could get. And now she is gone. She left us too fast. Too soon. Way too soon. Not so long ago she was busy chasing chickens in the barnyard when she suddenly collapsed. We wanted her to get up. Wanted her to be just resting, catching her breath. The veterinarian said her heart was three times larger than normal. That rang true since her love for us was outsized. Now it was restraining her breathing more and more every day. The vet gave us palliative medicine for her, but little sense of how long Snap would last. Of course, when Snap wasn’t gasping for air, she still thought she was the same vibrant “pleaser” and would run across the porch into the house, only to trigger another episode of hacking, wheezing and choking. Sometimes life is puzzling making us wonder why things turn out the way they do. Why Snap? Not fair. Snap didn’t qualify for misfortune. She deserved better. It is only air, plenty to go around. Twice more she collapsed. The last time, on the living room rug, she lay on all fours with her head looking forward. I knelt down to her level and touched her lightly. Her eyes slowly opened, and her short tail swept back and forth from her happiness to see me. She was too weak to get to her feet. So right there on the floor we connected. Rather she did. She touched my soul. As her condition worsened we filled up our anxiety basket with panic and resignation; the bread of apprehension. She was going. We knew it. She probably did too. The night of her passing, unexpectedly, on his Daily Show, Jon Stewart delivered a “hear a pin drop” goodbye to his dog, Dipper, who had died after twelve years of joy in their family. “Dipper passed away yesterday,” he said. “He was ready. He was tired. But I wasn’t.” No, neither were we. If a dog you love has ever been in your life, you don’t need to sit next to us while we thumb through the scrapbook of Snap’s constant deliveries of joy. We all have dog aficionado tales about the joy of bringing home a puppy; or the times your pet knew you were sick or sad and leaned into you, looked at you with those eyes, and knew exactly how to make you feel a little better. Paw on our hearts. Most of all, you don’t need to review our list of the twenty best things about Snap (closer to fifty). You have your own list, make sure it is absolute and lengthy but in no particular order, since ranking things spoils the singular power of each one. Near the end, we had to pick Snap up off the bed or couch, and constantly ask her to slow down to prevent another episode. We were being overly careful with her. But the air ran out. When we were at the dog hospital spending our final moments with Snap, the vet folks said when she stopped breathing, “she’s in a better place.” Could be. But I couldn’t help wondering, if we are certain we are going to a better place, why do we cling on to life even when it is so physically painful? To be present I guess. The promise of tomorrow. The assurance of being together. The fear of loss. But she’s gone and not around. The house is empty. The yard is quiet. I suspect even the chickens miss her. Snap could barely breathe at the end, taking in short gulps of air with her head up trying to clear her air passage. Head high, she never quit. Never quit loving. Never quit trying to please us. Never quit wanting us to touch her and hold her. She never resigned, battling for air. Snap never, ever quit. Merely she just took one last breath. As Stewart said: “My wish for you is one day you find that dog, that one dog that is just the best.” We did.

Vermont Senator Peter Welch delivered remarks from the Senate floor about the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, and the need for the United States to stop accommodating Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government while he ignores U.S. policy demands. Excerpts of his remarks are included below: “We must face the contradiction of what we are doing. We are airdropping food to famine-stricken Gaza today and supplying bombs for Israel to drop on devastated Gaza tomorrow. “How many times do we have to be repudiated by Prime Minister Netanyahu? On the use of indiscriminate force; On the recklessness of expanding West Bank settlements; On impeding the delivery of aid; On advocating an endless Israeli post conflict occupation of Gaza. “How long and how often will Prime Minister Netanyahu reject our policies but take our money before we say: Enough. “How many more than the 30,000 Palestinians already killed and the 70,000 wounded before we say to Prime Minister Netanyahu: Enough. “How many more homes and shops and schools and child-care centers and hospitals must be destroyed before we say to Prime Minister Netanyahu: Enough... “It has been said many times before: U.S. aid is not a blank check. When it comes to the Netanyahu government, it has, for many years and across Democratic and Republican administrations, been a blank check. “It’s long past time for the United States to stop supporting, by commission and omission, actions that are inconsistent with our principles and our policies and which make peace between Israelis and Palestinians ever more elusive, ever more difficult to achieve.” Senator Welch’s full remarks can be read here.

From Stowe Mountain Rescue - Feb. 21. Last night Stowe Mountain Rescue was involved in the search and recovery of a young man who died in a tragic skiing accident in backcountry terrain, accessed from Stowe Mountain Resort. As skiers ourselves, we understand the draw to explore the backcountry and we’re devastated at the senseless loss of such a beautiful, adventurous young life. The only thing we can do here is to try to avoid this happening again. So, with apologies for preaching, please note the following: When you ski in the backcountry you’re facing an entirely different level of risk than resort skiing. There are multiple hazards, from unexpected cliff bands to hidden rocks, potential snow slides and deadly tree wells. Honestly, there is little that can be done to mitigate these hazards, even for expert skiers. Having said that, there are some underlying rules that should ALWAYS be followed: 1/ Only ski terrain you’re familiar with. Go with someone who knows where the cliffs are. Hire a reputable guide if necessary. Don’t ski alone! Not that having a partner can prevent catastrophe, but it might just save you in the case of serious injury. 2/ Tell someone your plans - your intended route and anticipated timeline. ]3/ Be equipped to effect your own rescue or survive while you await help. This means carry a first aid kit, protection from the elements, high energy food and water, spare phone battery, headlamps and maybe a fire starting kit. Cumbersome, but important: it might take us a couple of hours to reach you - and hypothermia won’t wait. 4/ Don’t hesitate to reach out for help…before you need it. Dial 911, which gives us your location, and be put in touch with our team. We can help steer you in the right direction and start moving towards you if it seems like you’ll need a rescue. Let’s honor the life of this young man by following and sharing these principles. It won’t prevent all tragedies but might prevent some.

In a groundbreaking move, the renowned eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica, parent company of Ray-Ban, is set to revolutionize the world of hearing aids with the launch of Nuance Audio frames. These innovative eyeglasses are designed to cater to individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss, offering a stylish and discreet alternative to traditional hearing aids. Equipped with an array of microphones that capture sounds in the user's environment, these frames utilize advanced technology to process and transmit audio directly into the wearer's ears through internal speakers. Scheduled for release in late 2024, Nuance Audio frames are poised to redefine the way individuals perceive and address hearing loss. By combining cutting-edge audio technology with sleek design elements, EssilorLuxottica aims to provide a seamless and effective solution for those seeking enhanced auditory experiences without compromising on style.

They come off the mountain, or after sitting by the fire in the lodge, and clomp through the local stores with their bib overalls making the ultimate statement that they are a skier, or a rider, or just a boss. Matt "Schmutz" Lyons calls himself a long-distance hiker, content creator, and oatmeal enthusiast. But he also approaches his avocations with the sense of humor often lacking with those who take the wilderness so seriously that they miss the true beauty, nuances and dark humor that comes with being in the outdoors. That's why we love this poke at those too serious. Here is the link - enjoy!

"If you’ve ever wanted to experience a total solar eclipse from the sky, Delta has you covered this April." So begins Delta Airlines promotion of its offer of a special flight from Austin to Detroit on April 8, 2024, "specifically for umbraphiles to be able to spend as much time as possible directly within the path of totality." Thanks to the University of Arizona, we learned that an umbraphile is "literally a shadow lover", but properly applied, one who is addicted to the glory and majesty of total solar eclipses. "Delta flight 1218 will be specifically operated on an A220-300, which will offer especially premium viewing due to the aircraft’s extra-large windows. The flight will depart from Austin at 12:15 p.m. CT and land in Detroit at 4:20 p.m. ET — timed to give those on board the best chance of safely viewing the solar eclipse at its peak,* according to the Delta website. Only problem is, as far as we can tell, the eclipse will still be taking place above them and Delta doesn't fly commercial jets with glass ceilings. Still, if it's your jam, you can get your ticket for around $1,000 and enjoy a complimentary drink and a bag of nano-pretzels during your journey. They say you can find more information at delta.com, but we found it as hard to see as the eclipse will be from their airplane. A Vermont field will work better we think.

A half century's data suggests that April 8 could see 75-80% historic cloud cover. Millions of Americans will be traveling to some place on the viewing path of the solar eclipse this April, given an opportunity like this won't return until 2044. Cities and towns around Vermont who are fortunate enough to be located within the path are busy making plans for the event. Last week, the Wall Street Journal published a planning guide for the eclipse, and wisely contacted Mark Breen, senior meteorologist at the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium. Here is what the Journal reported. Even after all that planning, it’s unlikely everyone will score clear skies. Mark Breen, senior meteorologist at the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium in St. Johnsbury, Vt., will be live-presenting the event from his workplace. Ominously, Breen said, a half-century’s data suggests that April 8 could see 75-80% historic cloud cover in that location. “Starting in Mexico there’s around 20% cloud cover, and it basically increases as you go northeast.” Our suggestion: enjoy the day and the darkness, knowing you may or may not need those special glasses for viewing.

According to Havahart, groundhogs "are skilled climbers and swimmers, which helps them to escape less-skilled predators." Their :"burrows are so complex that each has its own "bathroom" chamber," and are known to have been responsible for uncovering a historic village in central Ohio - now a famous archeological site. Meanwhile, the vacuous media filmed, posted, and laughed about the 10th anniversary of a former New York City mayor dropping the innocent creature, who later died from injuries. They thought it was funny. Before next year, we vote to drop Groundhog Day tradition on its head, top-hats and all, and let the little guy go.

We always enjoy following Stowe Mountain Rescue. Their latest tale is of a Canadian family hiking on the Trapp Family trails who got a little turned around, but were able to summon the rescue team before their cell phones died. We earned our keep tonight rescuing a lovely Canadian family who were lost in the Trapps trail network. Realizing they were in trouble, they put out a call for help just as their cell phone died and darkness fell. We ran our ATV along the trail they had been on but found no sign of them so were launching into a wider search plan when a call came in that they had made it to the cabin and were sheltering in place (saved by the last dying gasp of their thawing cell phone). With our subjects safe and warm, in a known location, the mission suddenly became easy. Once we had them bundled up in our rescue boggan and headed downhill, we proceeded to fall in love with the kids (aged 12 and 7 and hopelessly charming). It had been a long day for them but they were in excellent spirits. We talked about backcountry safety on the way down (the importance of carrying a cell phone battery bank taking center stage) and when we later asked them what they had learned, they exclaimed gleefully “Don’t trust the parents!!”. They were excited to tell us that they were visiting the Trapp Family Lodge as a surprise Christmas treat in honor of the daughter’s recent role as Gretl (the youngest character, based on Martina Von Trapp) in a Sound Of Music production! She was every bit as cute as the original Gretl. What with this connection and sheltering in the cabin lit by a single candle and then riding downhill in a rescue boggan - talk about a memorable vacation! Hopefully some of the backcountry safety lesson will be remembered too. We wish them well and hope they’ll be back.

Governor Phil Scott today delivered his annual State of the State address to a joint session of the General Assembly, opening his eighth legislative session as Governor. Many of the lawmakers in that Assembly oppose any changes to Act 250, a restrictive regulatory policy that has held back housing development for over 50 years. Vermont's legislators are not required to disclose where they live, or whether they own their homes, but many of the most staunch defenders of antiquated regulations live in homes, often with large acreage, and remain warm and comfortable when they go home each night while the rest of the state struggles to house thousands of its residents. Should home owning Vermont lawmakers who object to helping others do the same recuse themselves on the issue of Act 250? Below are the key points Governor Scott made about this issue in his address. Last year I said, “we won’t be able to make the most of this opportunity if we don’t address the decades-old regulations holding us back.” While we took some steps, I know many of you would agree, we need to do a lot more. The fact is, Act 250 did exactly what it was intended to do. It slowed down growth, and in some cases, stopped it altogether. But it was enacted at a time when we were growing way too fast. Today we face a different reality – one where families desperately need homes, and communities need reinvestment. There’s an expression: “If nothing changes, then nothing will really change.” In our case, that means if nothing changes, things will continue to get worse. We’ve committed the funds, and laid the groundwork, but if we don’t truly address Act 250, we won’t solve our housing crisis. Every single one of you, and the people you represent, need a voice in this debate. This issue is too important and too consequential for two committees, and a couple of special interest groups, to control the outcome. If we make commonsense improvements, we can give young families the decent, affordable homes they need. We can offer seniors a chance to enjoy retirement, without the burden of a large home they can’t afford. And we can put homeless Vermonters in real homes, not over-priced hotel rooms we can’t afford. By jumpstarting housing for working families, we can revitalize communities, refill our schools, and make our neighborhoods more inviting in all 14 counties. We can help solve the challenges we face – funding healthcare and education, climate change mitigation, I.T. infrastructure, and so much more. Housing is key, and it’s something we can do right now. So let’s work together and get more families in homes faster, and at a cost they can afford.

Hype Machine Says Vermont Snowstorm Sunday; Reality Could Still Be Very Different - is the headline of meteorologist Matt Sutkoski's recent post. "You might have already heard the hype that we're supposedly finally getting a decent Vermont snowstorm this coming Sunday.   "The short answer is: It's possible, but don't bet on it," his blog, Matt's Weather Rapport continues. From there, Sutkoski's story explains the numerous factors that will impact the actual accumulation of snow Vermont may see, and how most of them are difficult, if not impossible, to predict. This doesn't stop most TV and other media weather reporters from speculating and amplifying the worst possible outcome. Meanwhile, on Sutkoski's X post, there is a breath of fresh, trustworthy air. "Hype machine is touting Sunday #snow in #Vermont . Before you get too excited, we actually have no idea yet whether we'll see a storm." Back at the blog, it says "Right now, the big question for us in Vermont is how far north the storm comes, and thus, how much snow will be available." "The high pressure in Quebec could squash the storm southward, or the lack of any big weather systems in the Atlantic could allow the storm to scoot out to sea well to our south. On the other hand. If the storm is deeper than forecast, or if a weak storm near the Great Lakes is able to tug the main storm westward, then we get a decent snow.  The computer models can't yet tell us how this will play out.  Bottom line: Wait until at least Thursday to make your Vermont weather and snow plans for this weekend." Our Bottom Line: It might be a good idea to take a look at the "Rapport" before wasting money over-buying bread and milk and skin cream for all that hand wringing.

Eleven locations will provide guided tours for hikers of all skill levels. Vermont State Parks is hosting a several guided First Day Hikes on January 1st around the state. If you've been curious about winter recreation, or you're practically a polar bear. The list of the locations is below and you can learn more at their blog site. - Bartlett Mountain Loop, Willoughby State Forest - Big Deer Mountain, Groton State Forest - Bomoseen State Park - Button Bay State Park - Butler Lodge, Mount Mansfield State Forest - Colchester Causeway - Happy Hill Shelter on the Appalachian Trail - Millstone Trails, Barre Town Forest - Owl’s Head Mountain, Groton State Forest - Round Pond State Park - Spruce Mountain, LR Jones State Forest