C4804

Christmas Evergreens

Balsam Fir

Collins Cover Announcement 

Evergreens — Balsam Fir

Ice Boats

Rural West Milford, New Jersey, was the town where I grew up. Located at the top of the state, its sprawling 94 square miles contained many lakes. The largest was a nine-mile natural wonder that the Indians and early settlers called Long Pond. Today it is known as Greenwood Lake with 41/2 miles located in New Jersey and 41/2 miles in New York State. When I was a boy, the Coast Guard had a small boat patrolling it as it is interstate waters.

As you can imagine, I spent a lot of time on the lake - swimming at Chappel Island, ice fishing with my Dad, water skiing, and working part time jobs at the Moosehead Marina on the West Shore and the Awosting Beach Club on the East Shore. Among the most vivid memories are boating with my friend Bill Wiley as he had an outboard for the summer and an ice boat for the winter. Zipping over the ice propelled by a brisk wind in the sail is quite a sensation, and it was the inspiration for this cachet.

A trio of very colorful ice boats skim over a frozen surface on this evergreens cover. Framed by the snow-covered boughs of balsam fir, the picturesque winter scene makes for a superb cachet. And, as an added touch, a crimson cardinal's bright plumage complements the variety of colorful sails of the speeding boats. This one has the "WOW" factor.

I'm pleased to offer a cover inspired by my Greenwood Lake memories — a glimpse at a unique winter sport framed by snow-laden balsam fir. Ice Boats — Collins #C4804 at $14.00.