Terry Cowgill

With Apologies to Mr. Rockwell …

Is there any better place to be on a wintry day than Satre Hill for the annual ski jumps competition hosted by SWSA and its patrons? I was there this afternoon with my son for the competitions and we soaked in the wonderful atmosphere (as well as the falling wet snow).

It’s a neat mix of locals and others who travel here from near and far. There’s hot chocolate and hot dogs and, as is obvious from this video footage I took, the cowbells are everywhere.

If you weren’t able to get over there today, try to do so tomorrow for the U.S. Eastern National Championships. Gates open at 11 a.m for practice jumps and the competition begins at 1 p.m., followed by an awards ceremony at the Congregational Church at 4:30. Click here for a complete schedule.

The unidentified jumper in my video almost hit 60 meters. Looks like a kid named Andrew Bliss from Lake Placid won today’s competition. He nailed every jump at 60 meters or more. One of his practice jumps was 64 meters. Bliss really cleaned up. Speaking of cleaning up, duty calls in the kitchen.

Warm Colors

The high today was close to 90, but fall colors are still making their way down here from the north country. This view is through my neighbor’s front yard and into their back yard. I believe that’s Selleck Hill that you can see through the summer-like haze.

And the Lime ‘Rock’et’s Red Glare …

Miss the fireworks last night at Lime Rock Park? Jenny has captured them for you in a slide show and an amusing story. Thanks for being there for those who couldn’t!

Thanks For Your Service, Ladies and Gents

This was the gun salute at the Salisbury Town Cemetery this morning. I recognize three of the vets. At far left, that’s Selectman Peter Oliver, who served as a Marine Corp sniper in Vietnam. In the center is Jimmy Burns, who also served in the Marines. And in the sailor’s unform is Navy veteran Jason McGarry. The salute is followed immediately by the playing of Taps, which always reduces me to tears.

It never ceases to amaze me that this is the one event of the year that brings almost everyone in the town out of the woodwork. Maybe that’s because (whether you be left, right, center or on Mars) honoring sacrifice is one of those traditions we can all agree on.

To all those who served their country and died for it — not only soldiers, but police, emergency responders and members of the intelligence and diplomatic communites — you have my deepest gratitude.

Pigeon Holed

Wow. What a great photo. Hope you were wearing a haz-mat suit, though, Jenny. Lying belly-down on 34th Street (or on any stretch of pavement in Manhattan) can be hazardous to your health!

Winter Hangs On

On my way to check on a house, I stopped this afternoon to enjoy this view. The recent cold and the foot or more of snow couldn’t stop the waters from flowing over the dam on Fisher’s Pond (a.k.a. Meryl Streep’s Lake).

Blanket of Roses

It looks like temps will get into the 40s today — which will come as a great relief to those of us who are sick to death of the bitter cold. This lovely photo is a few days late, but since it evokes images of warmer times, I thought it appropriate to feature here and now.

Full disclosure: The photo was taken by the mother of a client of mine. She is an professional artist and photographer on Long Island. She emailed it out to lots of people as a Happy Valentine’s Day greeting. I’m already feeling a little toastier …

A Pretty Pest

Caught this fellow on film over the weekend hammering away at a dying pine tree in my backyard. Everyone in my house has been sick for days, so it took a tremendous burst of energy for me to stir from the couch just to see him — to say nothing of actually taking out the camera and working it from my porch.

My son tells me it’s a male downy woodpecker, but it looked a little large and lacking spots on his wings to be a downy. Perhaps it was the related hairy woodpecker, which also has the red spot on its head. At any rate, this was one of the trees that suffered extensive damage in the Dec. 1 storm. It had already been weakened by the carpenter ants that had begun to hollow it out.

If this bird gets his way, the tree will become his home. Then when I have to take it down, he’ll have to find a new abode — just like so many spotted owls in Oregon. Will that get me in trouble with the DEP?

Thankful for the Color

A Slice of Heaven in Hatteras

My friend Steve Potter, the former general manager of Lime Rock Park, sent me the following photo he took Sept. 21 while on vacation. Here is the text of his email:

“Sitting 30 miles or so east of the mainland, Cape Hatteras on North Carolina’s Outer Banks has the reputation of producing some of the world’s loveliest sunsets. Judge for yourself; I made this photo last Thursday (the fall equinox, as it happens) at sundown.”

Best regards,
Steve

Steve, this photo reminds me of sitting on a tree stump and watching the sunset over Currituck Sound while sipping a fresh peach dacquiri with my old buddies from boarding school. From Duck to Okracoke Island, I, too, have enjoyed the fine beaches and friendly people of the OBX. I first visited there in 1978, when the only food store in Kitty Hawk was Wee Winks, which is smaller than the Canaan Market. I haven’t been back since 1997, when my now-10-year-old son was still in diapers. My wife and I honeymooned in Southern Shores in 1988. This makes me nostalgic for both of those visits. We’ve got to go back again soon.