According to all reports, we are now going to have summer here at Joe's Pond. We aren't sure what season the weather we've been having fits into - perhaps it should be classified with another of Vermont's unique seasons, you know, "mud season," this year closely followed by our "rainy season" . . . doesn't leave much time for summer!

We went into town to get haircuts this morning, and I stopped at the Danville Town Clerk's Office to pay our camp taxes. We have a small pie-shaped piece of land where our water well is that is in Danville, and the rest of the camp property is in the Town of Cabot. It doesn't matter which town - taxes went up in both this year, as usual. Fred took a picture of the Green in Danville, looking at the post office; then, when we got to W. Danville and I went inside to pick up the JPA mail, he got a picture of the dam. What a difference a couple weeks has made in the amount of water going over the dam!

I talked to the folks at the Environmental Court where the appeal on the Sousa farm's cell tower installation will be considered. I didn't learn much except that this procedure is going to take some time. There are two related cases, and docket numbers have been assigned, but are not on the court calendar yet. The judge will look at each case from the beginning and make her decisions; she may or may not agree with the decision of the Cabot Zoning Board of Adjustment to issue a Conditional Use Permit.

In the meantime, it's fair time here in the Kingdom. Click here for a list of fairs around Vermont: Fairs

Like Jane Larrabee said after Danville Fair, it's a sign of fall - well, actually, she said we'd better get out the snow shovels, but given that our seasons are out of whack this year, I'm going to put that idea on hold for a few weeks, at least. The Orleans Fair was last week, but Caledonia County Fair in Lyndonville is coming right up, Aug. 20-24; also the really big one, Champlain Fair in Essex, Aug. 23-Sept 1; did you know we have a Vermont State Fair? It's in Rutland, Aug. 29 - Sept. 7; and then, the World Fair in Tunbridge, Sept. 9-14. When Fred and I worked at Social Security Administration, we sometimes were assigned to go the fairs to set up a booth and talk with people about Social Security. We met some really nice folks and always enjoyed a day out of the office. There's always lots going on at the fairs - and I love fair food. Lancaster Fair used to be a good one to take in, too. The fairs do signal the end of summer, though. A summer all too short this year.