Message From Barry

After observing, this past summer following a downpour, 
erosion, sediment and debris runoff into Joe’s Pond at the Joe’s Pond Association dock, JPA Maintenance Director Larry Rossi and Water Quality Director Barry Cahoon determined to implement a water quality protection project to eliminate the discharge into the lake.

Larry arranged with local excavator Garren Calkins to install a French Drain.  This project was completed on 11/04/26. A French Drain consists simply of a trench lined with filter fabric and filled with crushed stone so that surface water runoff (in this case from the outlet of a culvert under Clubhouse Circle) is captured and will infiltrate into the ground before reaching the pond.

The photos show the pre-installation condition (top left); the excavated trench (top right), the fabric lining and partially filled drain (aleft) , and the finished project (below right).

Garren donated his excavator and operator time and trucking of materials.  He charged only for the cost of the stone and filter fabric which came to less than $400.  Garren was assisted on site by Barry.

JPA members should take note that this type of  water quality protection project has widespread application and can provide a simple and inexpensive method to reduce or eliminate sediment and phosphorus discharges from lakeshore properties.

Take a look around your property to identify where surface runoff is carrying sediment and debris into the pond and whether a French Drain or other treatment may be appropriate to address the issue. If you have questions or would like to have a technical evaluation and recommendation on how to address a water quality issue on your property, contact Barry Cahoon, JPA Water Quality Director, at bear817@hotmail.com 

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Yesterday middle son, Bob, and I did our "First Thursday Lunch" date. We went to the "Busy Bee Diner" in Glover. I've written about this little gem before, but it is so unique, I want to mention it again. If you've never been there, you should go. It is tiny - I'd say it's a little larger than our little library by the Joe's Pond public beach, but not by much. I'm guessing they have about six stools at the counter - all of the cooking goes on in the open, behind the counter, as near as I can tell, and at the north end there is a small table for two and a small picnic table arrangement with two benches that might seat four adults or six if they were very small. When the door opens, it clears the butt of anyone sitting on a stool by about ten inches, max - not really enough room for anyone to go by if the door is open. Everyone seems to know the two lovely ladies who operate the place, and appear to know most of the folks who come in. If they don't know you, they smile, nod, and are quick to engage in conversation, as we always are. It's like they are actually glad to make new friends.

The food was great. We had a delicious broccoli and cheese soup - served nice and hot and in a bowl that held the heat and was just the right size. I had a ham and cheese sandwich - done to perfection. The ham was thick and tender, and the cheese melted just right with the bread lightly toasted so it wasn't hard and crunchy or laden with grease. Bob had a wrap - I don't recall what was in it, but he said it was perfect, too.  While we were there, two men came in who were obviously "not from around there" and took seats at the little table with benches. With barely room to get around the place to serve us, the waitress was attentive to all of us and very pleasant. She actually remembered us from when we were there a little over a year ago, and seemed to keep an ear on our conversation, joining in occasionally! 

When two young women edged in when all the spaces were filled, I wondered how it would be handled or if they would have to wait for us to leave. However, they were there for takeout! It was ready for them and they were there less than five minutes. 

I should mention - there is not restroom available from inside - one has to go outside and around the corner to a little annex to the main building. There were two or three small tables with chairs outside, but with parking at a premium, there wasn't much room for those, either. However, good food and such a pleasant, homey atmosphere makes up for any slight inconvenience. I took a picture from our table in the far corner - what you see is pretty much all there is! We look forward to going there again - and perhaps we won't wait a year to do it! Did I mention - the prices are very reasonable!

On these trips we always try to find a back road to get us home. I knew there is a road from Greensboro Bend over the hill to Walden, so we took a left at the "Bend" and found it had changed a lot since either of us had been there. Bob has biked
 on the rail-trail through that area, and of course we had Google mapping to guide us, but still, it was an adventure. We came out on the road to Cole's Pond and just before coming into Noyesville on Route 15, Bob took a crossroad that comes out near the Frannie Foster place not far from tje junction with Route 215. There is a farm on the Coles's Pond end of the road, but just past their barnyard, the road turns into a Class 4 road - or probably better described as a "trail." It hasn't seen a road machine in years, and there were places where it was badly washed. But it wasn't impassable, as long as we proceeded cautiously. There were a few logs to dodge, and deep washouts, but we got around them ok. It was a good thing we were in Bob's pickup. What a nice old road, though. Great views west from there of broad fields, forest, and mountains. Unfortunately, the day had clouded over by the time we were there, so I didn't try to take pictures. 

Before we were on that road, though - not far from Greensboro Bend, we came to acres and acres of beautifully trimmed trees and manicured fields. There was a house, also beautifully landscaped, a pond, and gardens. I got a few photos, but it was already dreary and we didn't stop. Of course, I'm curious who owns this beautifully kept spot. Someone certainly has spent a lot of time trimming all those trees - and we noticed that there was a row of obviously newly planted cedars. It was close by a field of Christmas trees, so although I didn't see a sign, it was probably the Fontaine Tree Farm. Really beautiful landscaping.

The sun is shining, it's time to take a lunch break, and perhaps get outside to enjoy the warm weather and sun! I couldn't resist taking the cover off my porch recliner on Wednesday, and enjoyed about an hour sitting in the afternoon sun on my porch. Probably the last time I'll get to do that until spring, but it was like summer! Our temperatures are going to drop soon. It's 63 in the shade here right now.

 

 

 

 

 

Hunter's Moon

This photo was taken in the Randolph, Vermont area by Mary Whitcomb. Thank you, Mary, it's a great shot. I believe it was taken a week ago today. It is also called a Harvest Moon.

 Only 5:30 and dark already, thanks to the time change. It will take me a few days to get used to the new time. I understand that it makes sense for youngsters going to school and others who don't want to get up when it's still not quite daylight, but I don't like the long, dark evenings, either. I'm sure I will get used to it, like everyone else.

Here in Vermont, we are heading into our dreariest month - November normally has fewer sunny days than any other month. This coming week looks like another nice but dry one. Maybe we'll get rain later in the month. Before the snow.

Happy Halloween!

 Here we are at the end of October! The summer went by quickly, and so did autumn. Most of our trees are bare, but we do have our second season of color as the tamaracks have turned. Their brilliant yellow shows up in sharp contrast to the dull gray of bare hardwood forests. Every season has it's own charm, but tonight, when I went down to the mailbox, the air was anything but charming. It felt like we could get snow any moment. My thermometer is reading 36F and of course it's still heading downward. I'm well tucked in for the winter, but the past sunny, warm weather leaves us hoping for more of the same.

I received a surprise recently from CoCoRaHS, (Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow network) - a note thanking me for making over 6,000 daily reports (6,035, to be exact). I reached the 3000 mark back in 2020. It hardly seems possible I have made that many reports, but I guess the Colorado folks keep track of that sort of thing. I thought last winter would be my last reporting daily, but as winter approaches, I'm rethinking that. It does get me outside at least once each day to clean the snow off the deck and take snow measurements. There were days last year when it was too cold, too icy, or the snow was too deep, so I would skip a day here and there, but it is invigorating and I do enjoy doing it. I know I would miss measuring the amount of new snow each day, and rather than looking out and guessing how much fell, I expect I'll at least start off the winter taking readings and see how it goes.

I have been unusually busy lately. October is when I have all sorts of checkups. I like to get annual doctor appointments out of the way while the weather is still good so I don't have to worry about driving conditions. So I did a fair amount of that, but in addition I had several other events going on so I was traveling somewhere each day. Consequently, I'm taking today and tomorrow "off" to recoup a bit. I do get tired, and I get behind in the "normal" stuff like housework and computer work. Next week will fill in quickly, and I already have articles and reports to get out, so I'm working "on deadline" again. It happens just about every month - something comes up that must be done within a certain time slot. Right now I'm chasing down details about a Holstein cow worth over a million dollars and also details about a "friendship quilt" that was recently donated to our Cabot Historical Society. I'm sure there are interesting stories about both subjects - I just have to find them.

Most of our Joe's Ponders who migrate south each winter have left. It's quiet around the pond, but still lights from year 'rounders showing here and there. We have had several property changes this year, so it will be interesting to see who will be seasonal and who will stay through the winter. Winters here can be harsh, but so beautiful.

I don't expect any trick-or-treaters tonight - it's been years since anyone has come here - and I think only twice in my memory. One year Jane Larrabee brought Jenny and Curtis to our place when Fred and I lived at camp. It was fun to have them come. And I think once a family we didn't know stopped here years ago - parents brought their children in a car. For years I always planned to have some candy on hand, just in case; but I always made sure it was something we liked because I knew we probably wouldn't have any visitors for Halloween. After towns began having special Halloween parties for kids, we didn't bother anymore. It isn't practical for youngsters out here in the boonies to go trick or treating - much too far to walk between houses on a cold, dark night. When we lived in St. Johnsbury it was very different. We had dozens of kids come, and of course mine went out, but when they were really small, Halloween always meant dressing up in costumes and going to Grandma and Grandpa Bolton's. There was usually snow at their house (where I live now), and that was part of the fun. I'll go find something for supper and settle down with a movie. The news is too scary.

Don't forget to set your clocks back!
 

Be warm, safe, and happy.  

Autumn Leaves

 Today has been another beautifully sunny autumn day that drew me outside, mostly because I knew tomorrow will be rainy and cooler - and Saturday we can expect more rain with a little snow mixed in! Autumn is, indeed, leaving! The trees around my house have dropped their leaves differently this year. Some are absolutely bare, some are bare on the top, and some still have a lovely dressing of orange and yellow. I expect some of that is because not all my maples get the same amount of wind, depending on the direction the wind is blowing. We have had lots of wind recently. In the photo here you can see the maple closest to the camera and the one on the right of the photo are bare while the one towards the front of my house still has lots of leaves. My apple trees have lost all their leaves, but the white birches still have some. The hillsides are looking grayer every morning.

I was pleased that the thundershower and downpour that came at us around midnight Tuesday dumped over two inches of rain on us. We need the rain so badly. Even with all of that water coming off the hillside in back of my house, I have only a trickle of water coming from the upper, auxiliary pond that collects  runoff and feeds it into my bigger pond. When I checked this afternoon, my big pond is up maybe 8 or 10 inches, but it is supposed to be filled to the top of that green overflow pipe at the far right of this photo. It is still down perhaps four feet. It is normally about 12 feet deep at the deep end where the overflow is. I didn't go up to look at the upper pond - it is sort of out in the puckerbrush and I didn't feel like heading up there. I suspect ticks are looking for a warm place about now, and I don't want to be that! I wear my "barn boots" when I go up into the woods where the pond is, but didn't have them on today.

I took care of a few items still outside this afternoon so no there's only the picnic table and benches and the Adirondack chairs to put under cover before snow flies in earnest. I think we are in for a short stretch of really nice weather next week, and it's still very pleasant to sit outside, so I may use the chairs again before snow comes. Jamie and Marie will take them in for me later. At right, my front deck is littered with leaves - I enjoy the colors on the gray boards,even though they track into the house! They will blow off when they dry out.

This has been a busy week for me. I've had meetings and appointments - October is when I get all my health checkups. And Tuesday we had a lovely party for Bob and Dotty Noyes (left) and Cyndi and Ray Rouleau (below right) - both couples are leaving Joe's Pond to begin new adventures in senior communities where life will be easier than pulling in boats and docks, mowing lawns and shoveling snow. I know they will miss some of that, at least, but I hope they also miss us here at Joe's Pond sometimes. I know we will miss them - a lot!  Our West Shore Road community won't be the same without them here. While they haven't always been here year around, in recent years they have been, and it was wonderful having them nearby to enjoy winter, Ice-Out Contests, and seeing them out walking or driving by - and lights on during dark winter evenings.

Sherry LaPrade hosted a very nice going-away party and everyone had a wonderful time. It's best that I don't repeat some of the stories, but Bob and Ray both had some interesting ones to tell! Cyndi practically grew up at Joe's Pond, so she had a few stories, too! Such funny and wonderful memories of silly things that happened, and people from "back in the day". Bob and Dotty's daughter, Jen, was with us - and she had a few stories to tell, too! Lots of laughs and a delicious meal. I left before there were any tears. I don't like saying goodbye to dear friends, even though they are making happy moves, like now. There is a group picture out there somewhere, but I don't have it yet - hopefully, when the dust settles, I'll get it and post it here. In the meantime, I took a few pictures with my phone. 

 An finally, the five of us in the "Birthday Bunch" one last time. Birthdays won't be the same without Cyndi and Dotty. I'm sure we'll keep in touch and remember birthdays, just probably not all of us together at the same time. 

Bob and Dotty closed on their home yesterday, but Cyndi and Ray will be here for a couple more months. Cyndi said their home will be on the market soon. It's been a pleasure knowing all of them.

Be healthy and happy, stay safe. 

Sad News

 I'm saddened to report that a dear friend of many Joe's Ponders has passed away. Thierry Guerlaine (Old Homestead Road) on September 30. Thierry was passionate about life in general and was instrumental in bringing Pickleball to Joe's Pond. He will be remembered for his enthusiasm and generosity, good humor and energy. He had many friends here and will be deeply missed. Our thoughts are with Julie and their family and friends.

We are getting a much needed soaking rain today. There are still lovely colors, deepened by the wetness, but now fewer on the trees, more on the ground in golden carpets and treetops beginning to show bare branches. Last night I had a meeting in Cabot Village and when I came home around 8 o'clock, the whole of Cabot Plain was engulfed in a thick fog. As well as I know that road, I wasn't sure I could find the turn after the cemetery and might end up down on Dubray Road; but I found it ok, at a crawl. I met only one other car - also moving slowly and carefully. Wat a peasouper!

I am off to Lyndonville this morning for errands and a dentist appointment. It is gusty and squally and the forecast is for snow perhaps this weekend. It wouldn't surprise me if we got a little today - the temperature is only 41 degrees.   

 Well - Happy Birthday to Me! I've made it through another year and almost to the anniversary of tearing the ligament in my knee a year ago. Things change in a year's time - I now take a cane with me whenever I leave the house. I have canes (more favorably known as "walking sticks") located in strategic spots. I keep my folding cane in the car and use that if I'm heading into town; I have a wonderful all-wood walking stick that Jenness Ide brought to me several years ago and I used to use only in the winter when I went down to the mailbox, but now I grab that whenever I head out the garage door for almost any reason - it's reassuring to have it with me. This summer I found I needed to have something handy for heading out on the back lawn from the porch. I frequently wanted to walk around the pond just to check on things, and when I do that I usually end up down on the lower lawn, too and it's a hike back up to the house - hills in every direction, so I keep a cane handy for that, too. It's a sturdy old-fashioned one with a big crook that hooks over my arm nicely when I don't need it. So in the coming year, who knows - I hope I can just remain upright! 

Yesterday the West Shore Road Birthday Bunch took me out for lunch. This was the last time all five of us will be celebrating a birthday together as both Cyndi and Dotty are moving away soon. We will miss them very much. We've celebrated countless birthdays together, and last year when my leg was in a cast, they all came to my house and brought lunch. They are cherished friends and I'm going to miss both Cyndi and Dotty very much. Yesterday I picked the Grill by the Mill in Bradford to celebrate. Bob and I had been there a while back and enjoyed it. We had a nice lunch, a table by the window overlooking the stream, and the weather cooperated beautifully. And the ladies brought a cake from Bentley's for me! Such a nice surprise. It was dark chocolate with raspberry filling - my absolute favorite! So good!! There was a brief shower as we were finishing up, so we lingered a bit, but then the sun came out and the trip home was very nice with lots of color to see - but not as far south as Bradford. We didn't begin to get nice color until Wells River area. From Groton home (we went the back way instead of up Route 5 or on the Interstate) through Peacham and home, it was beautiful. The only thing missing yesterday was a photo - which we usually do, but fortunately, nobody thought to do it! I'm always grateful not to have my picture taken.

I just remembered the reaction of an elderly woman in Bucharest years ago when I tried to take her picture. She was sweeping the street in the middle of the city, and without giving it a thought I got out my camera to take her picture. She took after me with her broom!  I couldn't understand what she was yelling at me, but I imagine it wasn't very complimentary. Of course I retreated - and never did get the picture. My friend and I were exploring that day on our own, but later our tour guide said some older people were very superstitious about having their picture taken. Me, too, only not from superstition - just because I never look like I feel at the time, and I'm always surprised and disappointed at how  awful I look.

Recently I had to get my driver's license renewed. I did it at the satellite office at the mall in St. Johnsbury. There was a very pleasant young woman working there and when she did the photo, she discarded the first shot and took another. I didn't pay much attention - photos on your license are never good, are they? However, this time was different. This one isn't half bad and I won't cringe every time I have to show it. Of course, at my age, who gives a darn anyway, and how often will anyone ever see it?! I don't remember the last time I had to get out my license for anything. Certainly nobody questions that I'm old enough to buy alcoholic beverages - although I remember the years not too long ago when clerks had to check and record the number for everyone, no matter how obviously old and gray. It was very irritating and inconvenient. Now, apparently, the law has changed.

So - the foliage is being ripped off our trees with more wind today. I expect we'll have rain later on, thanks to the current hurricane action down south - and we still need rain badly. That will probably end our foliage season. Diane was saying yesterday that it seemed as if the season came upon us very quickly and really hasn't lasted very long. It has been beautiful, though, and I hate to see the trees becoming bare. I still have nice color around my house, but on the hillsides it's beginning to look more gray and gloomy every day as the wind never ceases. Late October and all of November is such a dull, naked period. No leaves and usually no snow. The long - long-range forecast is for an unusually heavy snow season in our area this year. We'll see how that turns out! 

Stay safe and dry, wherever you are. 

P.S. - Dotty sent me this photo the day after I posted the above. I had no idea she took this picture of me cutting my birthday cake. Thanks, Dotty - it was a lovely cake (and delicious). I'll keep this photo to remind me of what a nice day it was and how much I appreciate the friendship the five of us share. 
 

 

Milfoil Update

 FROM BARRY CAHOON:

To all who have selflessly and tirelessly volunteered their time on multiple occasions throughout this past summer and early fall to help contain the Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) infestation in Joe’s Pond:

Every Joe’s Pond Association member and all others who enjoy the countless gifts of this precious lake owe a profound debt of gratitude to all of you.  Thank you so much. Your dedication and persistence is of immeasurable and irreplaceable value.

This past Sunday, October 4th marks the final day of hand pulling and in-water EWM control operations in 2026. After finding fewer than 10 EWM plants in 2 hours by 5 divers and 1 paddle boarder it was decided that the team had reached a point of diminishing returns past which it makes little sense to continue. Water temperatures falling into the 50s with progressively colder nighttime air temperatures forecast this coming week made this an even easier decision.

Thanks again to all of you. We are hopeful, even confident, that all your efforts this year will make next year’s task much simpler, less onerous and significantly less time consuming.  Because of you, complete eradication of EWM from the waters of Joe’s Pond remains within reach and achievable.

See you in the spring.

Barry Cahoon, JPA EWM Management Coordinator

 

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 This is really good news, and we thank Barry and the whole crew who have so diligently (and apparently  successfully!) grappled with controlling this awful weed. It would be wonderful if we are, indeed, able to finally conquer the infestation. Our weather is definitely cooling every day and the water temperature is probably rapidly going down, too, so it's time to hang up the flippers and be happy things are looking so much better in our lovely lake. A successful summer and a job well done!

 

Our beautiful leaves are taking to the air today! The wind has been relentless and there are clouds of leaves being ripped from treetops. Some of the lower branches are not as bare, but around my house, the tops of my Washington hawthorn and some of my maples are naked. We have had a few rain drops this afternoon, and that's good. We do need the rain, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if tonight we get some snowflakes mixed in. 

 

I'm sure I've mentioned before that not many years ago we always expected snow during the first week of October - at least on Cabot Plain. Of course, it didn't stay long, but was enough to show white on the ground and keep the air frosty for bird hunting and woods walking.

 

Last week middle son Bob and I did a "First Thursday" lunch date to Groton. We took every back road Bob could find on the way there - even got lost for a few miles between Mosquitoville and Boltonville. We were on the old Bayley-Hazen Road for a short time, and came out eventually on Rte. 302. We then had to travel a few miles west to our destination, but every mile was a delight. The foliage was better than I've seen it for at least a couple of years, and the weather just perfect for a road trim in the back woods of Vermont. We were happily welcomed at one of our favorite lunch spots, The Upper Valley Grill, and I believe we got extra large portions of carrot cake because we're "regulars" there now. We came home over the Groton State Forest Road and the back road past Peacham Pond to South Cabot. Pretty drive. The photo above is just a small sample of the really beautiful foliage this year - looking south from somewhere in Peacham or Ryegate - who knows exactly where we were!!

 

This morning was sunny and I enthusiastically dashed onto my porch thinking, "coffee in the morning sun." But even though my southeast facing porch is somewhat sheltered, the swirling gusts of frigid wind turned me around immediately and I had my coffee in my recliner, warm and watching the leaves flying off the trees outside my big windows. For just an instant I wondered, when did I become such a wimp? Windy, 45-degree weather never used to bother me. I just dressed for it! But that option didn't appeal to me this morning and I was very happy to sip my coffee inside my warm house. I'll bundle up and head down to the mailbox later, once the mail has come. Or I should say, IF the mail comes. Mail delivery these days is spotty here.

     

I just finished an article for the November issue of our local monthly publication, Cabot Chronicle. The editor asked for something pertaining to veterans, so I began researching. Turns out, our country has had very few stretches of peaceful years. We have gone from one conflict to another, and another, and our small town has contributed more than the normal number of "boots on the ground" in most of them. Being independent Vermonters, they sort of "sat out" a few skirmishes, like the War of 1812, the Indian Wars out west, and the Mexican altercation over the border with Texas. A few Vermonters may have participated, but I didn't find evidence that many from Cabot left their farms and families to join those  battles. They turned out remarkably for the big ones, though! The Civil War and WWII, even Korea and Vietnam saw lots of Cabot men (and women) going into the military. Of course, there was compulsory military service, so that no doubt accounted for many signups.

 

I knew some WWI veterans. My uncle Ray Bolton served with a cavalry unit after graduating from Michigan State Veterinary School, and our neighbor, Ashley Barnett served. Uncle Ray was unscathed, as far as I know - I remember him as jovial and kind, and a role model for his younger brothers, including my father, who always looked up to him. Ashley was deeply affected, and I recall my father telling stories about Ashley reacting badly to loud noises after his return. He always seemed fine to me, but Dad often referred to Ashley as "all out of fix." I think the common diagnosis was he suffered from "shell-shock". Ashley was only 53 when he died in 1948. He had a large family -  nine children -  and several were in school with me on the Plain. His wife, Sarah, died in 1946, and I remember how difficult it was for Ashley and the children after she passed. The older girls cared for the younger ones as best they could, but life was hard for them. My mother sent meals to them most weekends and in the winter I often took the food down on my sled. Their farm was at the intersection of Deeper Ruts Road and West Shore Road. After Ashley died, they all moved away and I lost track of them, but some of them that my mother had taught in school visited my parents from time to time for many years.

 

Right now I'm seeing 45F and it's definitely heading downward. The mail just came - at almost 6 o'clock! I'll scoot down and get it between rain (or snow) drops!

 

It's a "hot soup and warm fireside" night! 

 

P.S. - The wind is still blowing hard but it was kind of invigorating! I wore my winter jacket and it was reallly good to be outside. Lots of fresh air! And it's always nice to have mail delivered.

 

View from East Hill in Peacham. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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