Lake View Store

08/06/2026

8/6/26
7AM
57 Degrees
Clear
Wind: 3 Knots ESE
Moon: Last Quarter 53%

Into August and the insect population “seems” to have relented somewhat. This month will bring a slow but sure cooling trend as the summer wanes. I’ve seen snow on Oct. 1st, so get ready!!

Actually, September & Oktoberfest are some of my favorite times of the year and with it, the store will welcome in some beverages of the season. That and the food. The Derby Line Village Inn already creates authentic German dishes and “Oktober” intensifies the menu.

If you were waiting to take some time off to relax in peace, now is a good time to get to camp, before Labor Day. It’s been a great year so far & it can only improve.

Last night was the last Wednesday by the Water series in Newport & we decided to actually leave the store and hang out somewhere else!!

It was a nice night and Averill was very happy to greet so many new friends.

All those who ordered fish, it will be here tomorrow at around 2PM. Remember, ordering on Wednesday at noon for Friday delivery.’

08/04/2026

8/4/26
4PM
78 Degrees
Clear
Wind: 2 Knots ESE
Moon: Waning Gibbous 66%

A huge thank you goes out to Anthony Lazzara for another excellent example of his incredible woodworking talent.

He creates custom signs & other items, some of which are sold here at the store. He recently fashioned a beautiful Fire Warden’s sign for me. Thx a million.

If you reside in Norton, Averill, Warren’s Gore or Warner’s Grant, I can help you out with a burn permit, when needed.

Grateful appreciation to the previous Warden, Roland Vigneault for the 30+ years that he dedicated to the job.

07/24/2026

7/24/26
6:30AM
48 Degrees
Clear
Wind: 2 Knots ESE
Moon: Waxing Gibbous 79%

You may have noticed that I do not post very much in the warm months. It is in the winter that daily reports appear to advise the “vast” amount of snow travelers that inundate the area.

Part of why I came here in the first place is because not much changes here in Averill and that’s just fine. Everyone knows that when they come here, the weather, peacefulness and landscape is going to be consistently amazing.

That said, this year has been particularly special. We have not had more than a couple of hot days. In fact, it has been quite cool. This morning, as in many mornings and evenings lately, it has hovered in the 40s. Nice.

Except for one downpour that took out 114 again, the rain had been coming in good measure. This will ensure that our wells stay full and our foliage season will be as good as it gets.

This year, my wife-Lisa, has surpassed any of my gardening attempts and made the store truly beautiful. We have also embarked upon more structural projects, including roofing, windows and doors.

We did not build the pavilion this year, but we did improve the firepit. Now we can enjoy a bonfire and cook separately. (Huge Improvement.)
As usual, all the friends gather by the fire on dry nights to cook, eat, drink and laugh at the many canine antics.
There are at least 4 dogs here at anytime.

We have had a lot of visitors and they have been enjoying what we try to offer. I have gas, snacks, bait, shirts and a good beverage selection. Please remember that I still get the best Maine seafood delivered every Friday at 2PM. Please order on Wednesday at Noon.
I don’t get any extra, so please preorder.

I had my left knee replaced on May 6 and I am extremely happy with it. If you are putting of one of these-don’t. It is the best thing I’ve ever done, except maybe marrying Lisa and installing a self-filling dog water bowl!

As we bid adieu to July and watch the entry of August, be ready for some of the best days here. If you haven’t come up, now is the time. We will have some spectacular, bug-reduced days and nights.

Be sure to watch for this year’s Aquariid meteor shower. It will appear in late July through to early August, when it joins the Persieds. Watch from mid-evening until dawn.

Aug-weidersehen

06/05/2026

6/5/26
8:00AM
66 Degrees
Sun & Clouds
Wind: 2 Knots Southerly
Moon: Waning Gibbous 76%

June is upon us and the black fly & noseeum population has descended with it. Bad this year, but they will move on by month’s end. They have to make room for the Deer Flies…let’s hope they aren’t as bad as last year.

Today is a nice weather day. The temperature is pretty comfortable and it should remain dry until tomorrow. We’ll be out by the fire tonight…cooking & relaxing.

The knee adventure is officially 30 days old tomorrow and I can honestly say that I’m moving forward quickly. If you are on the fence or afraid of doing it, don’t be-just get it done. There is pain in the beginning, but it goes fast. I’m on the cane and riding in the front seat of the car.

Perfect timing for planting this year’s garden. We are going to take a chance and try the first weekend in June. Look for some color to return to the Store. I’m putting the pavilion idea on hold and concentrating on a good firepit/grill.

I have a great grill setup that I’m am going to incorporate it into a lined paver setup which is concept-pictured below. If anyone has any pavers, bricks, or similar stones, please let me know. I’d rather recycle for character, than go brand new. Please let me know if you hear of anything that fits the description.

The store is in full swing. Gas prices are basically coming down, visitors are coming in and the new stocks of food & beverages are here. I have some new food, beer, soda & ice cream choices and the bag ice cabinet is full.

The doggos are pleased with the human influx, though not so much with temps above 75. Maybe they will stay lower. My girls are definitely winter pups, & just like me, we make the best of the warm spell until we are back in the best parts of the year.

05/27/2026

5/27/26
6AM
59 Degrees
Some Clouds
Wind: 2 Knots SSE
Moon: Waxing Gibbous 88%

It’s been awhile since I posted, but I am begging a good excuse. I’m now 3 weeks or halfway into my supposed 8 week knee replacement journey. I’m doing very well according to the Surgeon & the Therapist. I’m almost rid of the walker….maybe a few days.

The pain was excruciating in the beginning, but it’s ok now. It certainly isn’t the “some discomfort” like the Drs say! Anyway, thanks for all of the well wishes. I am certainly looking forward to getting back into a normal physical life.

The pups have been extremely supportive of the whole thing. They are helping Lisa care for this grumpy, curmudgeonly human. I’m getting a lot of canine love.

Early this morning, the sunrise was very briefly a glowing red/orange and I barely got a pic before it completely disappeared. I think that we are finally going to be the recipients of our usual 99 day warm spell. (Some call it “summer”, but I can’t really bring myself to calling it that.)

We just have to enjoy it every day and spend nights by the bonfire. This week, we will get our last bouts of 50 degree rain, before we break into 60 & 70 degree sun & cloud filled adventures. As usual, no plants go in the ground until 6/12/26. Maybe I can do some of it?

Last weekend, we were pretty busy. A ton of ppl came in to open their camps and generally enjoy the place.
As we slide into June, those numbers will increase exponentially and we will all get to watch the daily portrait of Averill evolve.

A rare Blue Moon—the second full moon in a single calendar month—will appear on May 31, 2026. Because it happens when the moon is near its farthest point in orbit, it is a "micromoon" and will appear slightly smaller than usual. Note that it will NOT be blue, it stems from 16th-century slang that is like to an absurd impossibility. “Once in a Blue Moon.”

I’m getting some indications that gas prices are starting to drop. Hopefully, they will continue to do that…maybe lower than before. I just ordered the Kingston Wine for this year…it should be in soon.

I’ll be posting more as I feel better. If you are in the area, stop by to visit the store, partake in some beverages and visit this basically ambulatory guy.

05/02/2026

5/2/26
9AM
33 Degrees
Flurries
Wind: 2 Knots SSE
Moon: Waning Gibbous 99%

Last night, traveling west on 114, just cresting the ridge by Brousseau, the Full Flower Moon was hovering at the horizon in all of it’s glory. It was orange and huge! By the time we were on the shores of Great Averill Pond, it had risen to illuminate the entire area.

That moon was actually a “micro-moon, in contrast to a “super moon.”
It’s just a matter of perspective and distance in actual sighting. We will get a second Full Moon this month on the 31st…making it a “Blue Moon.”

This morning opened with a burst of snow. It didn’t last long, but it is hardly unexpected in early May around here. Sometimes, we can receive a substantial amount, though by mid-month it’s rare.

It is just starting to look like Spring. The trees are budding and some have leaves just beginning to emerge. I think that we are going to have another extremely light Mud Season this year. There will be a ton of ppl happy about that. I happen to like it, but I’m not really considered normal…🤪.

The weather this month, as usual, will be abnormal also. Temperatures will fluctuate wildly and the pattern of warmth will get progressively more consistent. There no way to know when. No matter what, I will not put anything in soil until the 2nd weekend in June.

It is finally here…on Wednesday morning, my left knee will be replaced. I’m told that the procedure takes 1/2 hour and I’ll be home in 4 hours. I am & am not looking forward to it. (I Am.) I will see how much I can write here throughout the experience.

Here’s to getting my mobility & life back. Maybe I can actually plant that stuff myself in June? We went to the “Derby Line Village Inn” last night for dinner. What a great place to eat & celebrate a couple birthdays and also the first sentiment.

For a while, I’ll be in a chair behind Lisa, while she runs the store, (probably better than me…definitely better looking). We may get some help from our favorite Idahoans later. As that goes on, so does some further store renovations & we’ll see if they are recognizable.

May 5th, around 3AM, check out the Southern Sky for the Aquariid Meteors. They are swift and produce long trains on flyby. Also, check out Arcturus, the 4th brightest star in the night sky. The moon will be in its last quarter.

We are all looking forward to our friends returning to our favorite place on Earth.

05/02/2026

04/20/2026

4/20/26
7:15AM
26 Degrees
Moderate Snow
Wind: 4 Knots Westerly
Moon: Waxing Crescent 13%

Winter has returned to Averill, VT & it’s vewy, vewy qwiet.

That is Norton, Canaan & surrounding environs. It is not unusual at all to go from mid-60s and Ice out to 3-4” of snow in 24 hours. The pups love this.

There are lots of friends who have spent many summers here & have never experienced the bulk of the year and its unpredictable weather.
This one is for you!

I’ve seen snow and used the wood stove at least one day in each month of the year. The nights can get cool and I’ve seen furries on Sable MT on July 4th. Conversely, it can get quite warm. 10 years ago, we never topped 75. As in all things, the pendulum will swing back eventually. One human lifetime means nothing to the Earth clock.

We will enjoy this blast for a few days. For what it’s worth, any and all of the members of the insect world that were emerging and/or leaving our houses, will be meeting their demise today. Maybe this will significantly reduce their presence this year…Especially those Asian Lady Beetles. (Bad this year.)

Everyday going forward into the first week of May, we won’t see anything above 50 and the weather will stay undecided. It will just make it that much better down the road. May will warm up and June will see colorful plants & the tiny beginnings of bountiful berry harvests to come.

By July Fourth, for our 250th, I should be walking around and dancing!

Happy 420.

04/19/2026

4/19/26
11AM
32 Degrees
Snow
Wind: 2 Knots SSW
Moon: Waxing Crescent 7%

It’s been awhile, (late March), since I posted. I was waiting for a really nice day to show the contrast between our favorite winter scenes and a bright warm day. However, in Typical NEK fashion, I’m reporting a snow event instead.

In fact, temps are going to be in the teens or 20s every night this week with nothing higher than 50 daily. Rain and snow will appear repeatedly. (It was 62 yesterday.) After that, we will try to slide back into Spring-like weather, but we shall stay prepared for the usual unusual.

Yesterday, Big Averill attained Ice Out. That’s about 12 days early, so it’s not like we were tending toward today’s conditions before. All of the other lakes are out and Norton Pond has been out for weeks. Sugaring has pretty much ended as well. It wasn’t a bad year at all, but it wasn’t spectacular either.

We will just continue to move toward the 99 day warm period here…while considering what flowers/plants to acquire for the new window boxes. Of course, nothing goes into soil until the 2nd weekend in June! It’s just my time to ponder them. Another year without much mud!

Another sign of the times is the Annual Doggo Shed, Averill is by far the winner every year with enough floof to create 3+ other dogs. The other pups go by unnoticed. Bought a mega-blower to help.

So it will be slow here until Memorial Day or so. That certainly doesn’t mean that everyone should adhere to that. Stop by for a visit if in the area. The beverage & Ice Cream companies are distributing new stock.

The last meteor showers were the Quadrantids in January, so don’t forget the Lyrid meteor shower, they’ll be best after midnight and before dawn on April 22. Look northeast in a relatively moonless sky for up to 100 per hour.

Lastly, my May 6 Knee Surgery is quickly approaching. I’m starting to get nervous. Lisa has been practicing her Drill Sergeant routine, so all is well. Maybe there are some chess players out there to help with recovery.

Auf Wiedersehen