Just a quick check up: the 7+ inches of snow is melting fast, the road is muddy and grass is showing through on the yard: Lady dashed around in the snow and got Bert's seats a bit muddy on the way home. The plants inside look a little unhappy, they're ready for more sun, I think. Nothing major, just not perky. Bob says maybe they miss being talked to... Bob and I pruned some of the overhanging bushes at the bridge so they don't brush the car as we go by. Spring's only a month away!

In the midst of winter, cactus blooms!

Yesterday, Eric V. and I met at Thicut to meet an electrician to look at and fix the water heater fuse. He came right on time (9am), diagnosed the problem, replaced the double fuse switch and was finished in 15 minutes. We turned off the water heater; he said Anna Ruth should see a noticeable reduction in her electric bill. HOPE SO!

There was snow in the yard (about an inch) and the road had been plowed. I shoveled a path the the door easily.

The oil tank still reads 3/8 full, plants look good, everything seems secure. Here in Glastonbury the snow was mostly melted by afternoon. BUT:

Today we have about 5 inches of new snow! and more predicted. I am almost ready to have winter be done. But the trees are so beautiful with their dressing of snow.

To answer Paul's comment about what/why/how land management plan is:

This is what I understand the history is: Chuck Masters initiated the process of preserving the land around Thicut (with Eric V) by selling the development rights to the Forest Legacy Program, meaning the deed has been changed to prohibit developing 'forever' on a designated part of the property. (all of it except the roughly 20 acres around the house). However, one of the stipulations of the program is to have a management plan for the forest. Connwoods was hired back about 10 years ago to create the plan. It was a 10 year plan to maintain a healthy forest/get rid of invasive species, etc.This is why there was logging back in early 2000s: and why a company was hired to spray the barberry several years back. Rob Rocks is the forester who 'checks up' on landowners who have land in this and other national programs and reminded Eric V. and Anna Ruth that it was time to update/redo this plan. They hired Connwoods again. Eric V. was trying to get some government help in paying for the plan, hence the introduction of WHIP. It's not outrageously expensive, but when Eric V. heard that there might be funds (national/state) to help pay for this sort of thing, he investigated. It looks like that is now not going to happen.

Just to be clear on the property: Eric V. and Anna Ruth own all the property in Forest Legacy together, Anna Ruth owns the house and about 10 acres around it, Eric V. owns about 10 acres adjacent to Anna Ruth's and across the driveway over Lady Brook way.

Eric V and I met Seth from WHIP (Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program) to walk around the woods. The picture is at the culvert up the road that Bob fixed a couple years ago. Still holding. Seth, for WHIP, would write a proposed land management contract for us to sign and would reimburse 75% of the cost of any work we did, if the proposal were accepted. We were under the impression that this group would pay for part of the management plan being developed by ConnWoods (for the Forest Legacy requirements), but that is incorrect. Instead, WHIP would come up with their own plan and if we sign the contract, we would agree to to manage the property and get reimbursed for 75% of that cost. Sound confusing? IT IS! Bottom line, Eric V. will talk to Anna Ruth and decide whether to go ahead with the WHIP proposal.

While we were there, John O'Connell (sp?) from ConnWoods was finishing up his gathering of information for that land management plan. He stopped by after Seth had left and we had a good chat. He was disappointed for us that we would not get help paying for his plan. He thought there should be some state or federal money to help and would ask his coworker if he had any ideas.

During the course of the conversation, he asked if we knew of any old metal working mills along the brook, because he had found some charcoal dumps on Larry Frye's (sp?) land. (Kruger/Brooks' former property that abuts Thicut). He was intrigued by the sword factory. He said he was a little surprised not to find any charcoal making areas on Thicut property, but they are hard to find unless you are really looking, and the proximity of the ones on the other property made sense, now.

Eric V. and I

• Had tea
• checked out the house
• tried again to flip the water heater fuse/switch with no luck
• turned on and off the water, pump, and filter
• listened to the phone messages (I called Anna Ruth to relay the two calls from Yale/Vassar friends)

1:30pm: a balmy 34 degrees and sunny at Thicut. The yard is mostly covered with snow, but in the sun it is melting so the grass is sticking through. The ConnWoods truck was in the driveway, but no sign of the forester. However, there were cans of 'tree marking' paint in the back of the truck. I went into the house to check up:

• watered plants
• oil tank at 1/2
• unplugged the water filter in the basement (it was making it's normal noise which reminded me that it was on, could this be the drain on the electricity?) Left a note in the kitchen sink reminding us to plug that in when we turn on the water
• watered plants
• took some wood from the pile for a fire on Superbowl Sunday

When I left a half hour later, there was still no sign of the forester. It is a beautiful day to be tromping in the woods!

I just called Bob Naughton and he's plowed the road (from last Thursday's snow), so it should be fine for this week's visitors. We only had a dusting last night and it's sunny, so the roads (at least in Glastonbury) are dry by now.

So, evidently the process for creating a new land Plan for the Forest Legacy has started; meaning foresters will be wandering over the property this week. Eric V. and Anna Ruth signed lots of papers while she was in CT and one more needs to be signed for help with funding this project. Eric V. and one of the guys that works for the group that will partially fund the Plan will meet Thursday to walk around. We're due to get a bit of snow tonight, I haven't been down since last Thursday night's snow, so I don't know the status of the road..., but there's been some sun, so some snow has melted. It's been frigid, and is still pretty cold (25-30 degrees F).