Lake Champlain Flooding

I realize that it's not of the same magnitude, the flooding that we're having up here along Lake Champlain or the many rivers in the Adirondacks. That is, it's not of the same magnitude...unless it's your house that is completely surrounded by water. I took a ride around Willsboro Point and Essex today. The small coves and bays of Lake Champlain that surround the peninsula of "The Point" have heaved up onto waterfront property and completely consumed some homes. Many of these houses used to be vacation homes, but many of them now are peoples' first and only homes. And yes, Willsboro Point does have some expensive homes, with pools and tennis courts and, of course, most of those homes have been spared damage as they sit high above their cove or bay. But a lot of these houses are just houses, like mine, only far too close to the lake, at least they were this year. Lake Champlain is at historic high levels, drowning houses on both the New York and Vermont sides. The lake is supposed to grow even higher tomorrow. But we have a forecast of some relief from the rains coming up, and most of the melt is complete. I hope this is so, because even for those of us who aren't in danger from the high levels of the beautiful rivers and lakes up here in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York, we have had enough of the rain and the wet. Today was a lovely, sunny day...for most of the day.

Here are some shots of the damage along the lake.
















This horse seems completely oblivious to the drama going on a few hundred yards away.














A house, er, estate that is seemingly untouched by the lake nipping at its feet, though if there's a basement, boat races could be underway down there...it's something to do, inside, out of the rain.


My "Ghost House". It makes me want to cry every time I pass this house and watch it fall further into ruin. Sigh.










The Essex Ferry, just a 7 minute drive from my house, had only recently re-opened after a late winter closure due to ice on the lake. As you can see, there is no getting to the ramp that would lead you onto a ferry.






At least Mister Robin seems happy with all this wet.

Celebrity

I posted this in email form, but I thought I'd put it here, too.

Not all that much goes on up here in Willsboro, New York. Well, this is not altogether true. Lots goes on, really, and in the winter it has a lot to do with snow!

But even up here in my little town, we have a celebrity. And a pretty big one. George Hearn, the great Broadway star, two-time Tony Award winner, Emmy Award winner and all-around talented fellow, lives just down the road. His house is not more than 10 minutes from mine (yes, I am practicing my stalker skills and took a drive by). Nice house. :)

Here is some more information about him at Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Hearn

You can also see assorted recorded performances of his if you search You Tube.

My sisters, Deb, Dana, and I saw him on Broadway in his Tony Award winning performance as Max in Sunset Boulevard (the character played by Erich von Stroheim in the movie version).

And last year, not too long after Dana and I moved up here, we saw him in a reading of Samuel Beckett's Endgame. It was a benefit for restoration of the Whallonsburg Grange Hall and it was fabulous. And I saw him one day at the meat market, which is just a couple of buildings down from my house. I was so shocked to see him that I didn't say anything (damn). He smiled at me and I smiled back, and then he took his two gallons of milk (he has two sons at home) and headed to the checkout.

So, the actual news and the reason I am posting today is that Dana has auditioned for a part in a performance of "Mame" up here in Willsboro. The stars of the show you ask? Why George Hearn and his wife Leslie, who was also a perfomer on Broadway. Dana has been cast as Cousin Fan. She also has been given a prime bit part as the third performer in a song with Leslie and a secondary lead. Dana has a long and varied resume in community theater and a very good singing voice. She says that she thinks she's the "go-to" singer for when they need stuff.

I just think it's so cool. I have instructed Dana that should there be an opportunity at any point during rehearsals to get George or Leslie or both of them over here to the house, she is to do it. :) I have been a fan since seeing him on Broadway. His voice is amazing, and based on seeing him before the performance of Endgame and at the meat market, he seems like a right nice fellow.

Not to be outdone by Dana and her news, I have been busy selecting seeds for my vegetable garden. :|

I hope everyone reading this is well and enjoying your winter, whatever weather it has brought you. This has been a grand and enjoyable winter so far up here in the north country of New York State. We have loads of snow, the dogs are loving it so long as it stays above about 15 Fahrenheit...any colder and they zoom out for a quick pee and are back on the porch in a flash.