Snowman ornament on the Birch Ridge Inn Christmas Tree

Snowman ornament on the Birch Ridge Inn Christmas Tree

Brr. It's -15 degrees farenheight outside... or so it was earlier today according to Siri on my Iphone. And yes, Siri actually goes Brr when it is cold outside.

The faustian bargain our society has made in the name of progress is an iteresting animal. But that is perhaps a subject for another day when the carthasis level is a little lower.

Today we took down the inn's Christmas tree. Unlike when 6 grown men were required to hoist it skyward, after presiding over the Great Room for 5 weeks, it only took Mary and I to take it down and haul it out behind our garden shed. It was still fairly heavy, and it also was pretty steadfast in holding on to it's pine needles; just the attributes one would expect from a tree that was freshly cut prior to the holidays descending upon us all.

With the departure of the tree, the snow men are about to make an appearance around the inn. It will take a few days, as we are still trying to develop a new working pattern after life threw down a curve ball after the holidays, but the snow men will make thier annual appearance decorating the inn for a celebration of winter all around us.

We have been able to venture out on the slopes a couple of days this week. We have been dutifully impressed with Killington's recovery from the wet weather that preceded the holidays. We have an expression..."It's not ice if there are no fish under it". And that is technically true... Just like the structure greeting guests to the inn is not a covered bridge, as it does not traverse a body of water. Techincally it is a snow shed. But it looks like a bridge. What we found on the slopes was a mix of conditions, all starting with your basic eastern hardpack. After that you could find some machine groomed granular, some golf balls, a few death cookies, and of course some freshly made powder from Killington's huge snow making system. Even though they were varied, conditions overall were quite good. And with light snow now falling virtually continiously due to the very cold temperatures (Mother Nature is wringing out all residual moisture in the atmosphere over the top of Killington), it looks like conditions for skiing and riding can only get better.

And that is a good message for life... it can only get better!

Where ever you may be, keep warm, think thoughts of skiing/riding, and let it snow!