FICKLE FINGERS - IT IS OUR FATE I FEAR

With the rain projected for tonight and tomorrow, and even the temperatures not quite at freezing, we may have good ice skating on the lake should snow hold off for a week or so. Why? Because the water that was open only a few days ago has surrendered to the cold night air.

This morning, when at rising I thought I spied a single sliver of open water way out there in the middle, hope has dwindled. Not that anything or one should venture out heavier than a bird or perhaps a small chipmunk - not that there would be one so unwise. But ice there is, even though the patches of snow that remained a few days ago have gone. The lawn is a frozen, crunchy green. The few small piles of leaves are frozen hard. Not even a breeze moves them.

Driving through Bangor and Brewer yesterday on the way to mail out the last large box of Christmas gifts to the west coast, I had no problem in spotting entire driveways already covered with snowy ice. Perhaps they are so shaded even the sun of recent days never got a chance to shine into those areas. If so, winter started early for the cars and drivers there.

So far, my driveway is clear. Even the section in the upper part shaded by trees that was covered by crunchy snow as I drove out yesterday morning was clear with the gravel in control by the time I returned. That section is always the last to see the hard earth. However, behind my new neighbor's house, right at the base of their stairs where they often park, it is all icy. Perhaps there is a dip in the ground and the ice and snow has a greater depth. The sun can easily pour heat on the spot. Lots of ice melt will be applied there in the coming months.

But if the snow holds off, and the coming rain freezes hard on the lake, it will make for beautiful ice skating for those who venture forth when the time is right in a month or so. Time will tell. Right now the frozen water is high, much higher than it was this fall.

The fish will be going deep. It is time to pull out winter sweaters and gloves.