I can't believe we went to St. Johnsbury today and Fred didn't take a single picture!
We made a quick trip just for a few groceries and other errands. I needed a container for a plant, so we went up to the Job Lots store at the mall. I found just what I wanted right away and picked up a few other items, too - of course! They have a pretty good assortment of garden supplies and patio stuff. I saw some interesting solar powered lights, and was tempted by some of the gazebos they have on display with netting to keep out the bugs. The black flies this time of the year keep me hostage indoors. This evening I was talking with "Buggy" Morse, a longtime friend who raises Christmas trees here in Cabot. He has a lot on Harrington Hill and said the black flies are thick over there, too, but he has to get out there to prune the trees, so is always looking for a way to outsmart the bugs. I commented that I've tried about every repellent there is on the market but the bugs seem love it and go after me more than ever.

"You aren't using it right, then," Buggy told me. "You should spray it on a chunk of wood and let them chew on that so then they'll leave you alone." Pretty typical Vermont humor delivered without so much as a chuckle. He went on to say his daughter gave him a bug-repelling shirt and hat and they seem to work pretty well. I've seen them in the L.L.Bean catalog, and I imagine Caplan's in St. Johnsbury may carry some. It's worth a try.

Well, we got the "comments pages" up, but there sure hasn't been much action going on. We did get one comment, and Fred put a notice on about the Events Schedule. I mentioned it to someone this morning and suggested posting to it, but the idea was met with about as much enthusiasm as for getting a root canal. Fred says it's a lot easier to take off than it was to put on, so we'll leave it there for a while and see.

I guess we should haul out the deck furniture and barbecue stuff to get ready for our weekend of summer heat the forecasters are promising. Most folks I talked with today don't imagine we're going to be sweltering here at Joe's Pond. A couple people said if it does get hot, good deal - we deserve some warm weather. A few said they aren't ready for it to get hot too quick - too much of a shock to the system. No matter how it turns out, some folks will be happy and just as many will still complain. We're talking about the weather, after all! Enjoy it if you can.