Saturday, October 10, 2009

Cool, partly sunny, windy. More like a late fall day than an early one. I heard a weather person on TV say it was more like November than October. It's past the first week of October and we haven't had a real snow storm yet, so that's a plus as far as I'm concerned.

Woody, our cat, continues to heal and seems much improved. I think animals often are able to take care of themselves pretty well, at least, the scratches and dings they get from just being outside and exposed to other animals, but the antibiotics have made life easier for Woody and for us.

Bill Rossi's book is getting very good reviews. Garey at Hastings Store has them available and they are also at Diamond Hill Store in Danville. Bill didn't order a large number and I think he'll have no trouble selling all of them.

John Moore pointed out an error in our regular Joe's Pond Directory 2010. On page 56 I mention that Joe's Pond is the largest body of water in the state called a "pond." Well, John says that isn't correct. He said Island Pond in Brighton is larger. I checked it out and he is correct. According to information I found put out by the State of Vermont, the area of Joe's Pond is 396 acres (our maps from many years back shows 393 acres). Island Pond is combined with Spectacle Pond, a kettle pond east of Island Pond, separated by the Lakeshore Drive causeway, and the area for both bodies of water is listed as 608 acres.

With a little research I found that there are several "ponds"
in Vermont with areas larger than Joe's . Groton, Fairfield, and even Molly's Falls Dam. I don't know where that information I used came from - possibly a gazetteer of some sort, but you can bet I will not make that mistake again. Thanks, John Moore, for pointing it out. I should have double checked my source.

Fred took a couple of pictures this morning. The one above was taken from Island Drive, and the bottom picture was taken from above Edgewood, looking north. This morning was very cloudy and dreary, but now the sun is out and it's very nice outside, but quite windy and the leaves are falling all around us. There is still plenty of nice color, though. We've enjoyed a very nice display of foliage this year.

There is a story in the Caledonian Record about a farmer, Harvey McDonald, in Derby who is installing a windmill in an unused silo on his farm. I'm not sure what the advantages are of having it within a structure, but I thought it was an interesting concept. According to this article, the state now requires that power companies pay for the extra electricity they gain from sources such as home windmills or solar panels. McDonald figures the cost of the windmill, after federal grants and tax breaks, will be paid back within 10 years. He said his $2,200 a month electric bill will be eliminated and he'll receive 20 cents per kwh for whatever he produces beyond that, which will be a boost to his overall farm income.

The article mentioned that McDonald has planned to do this for several years, but the improved technology, credits and financial return has finally made installation viable. I expect there's plenty of wind up there in Derby.

I've been working on historical society stuff again. I scanned several "calling cards" that had been donated several years ago and that we never displayed. Calling cards were popular in the Victorian era well into the 1900's. Both men and women used them - and it was an indication of social standing. There were certain rules of etiquette with their use and even special messages conveyed. There would be a silver tray or special container provided in the vestibule of the home where a caller would leave his or her card, whether the family was at home or
not. The caller would be expected to stay no more than perhaps 15 minutes, and would then move on to call upon someone else. The caller would expect his or her visit to be returned within a reasonable period of time, and in that way people were continually in communication. One of the cards I have announces the owner is "at home" (see photo) and therefore ready to receive visitors. Sometimes leaving a card was a way of saying good-bye, as well. Sometimes you'll find a Victorian style home that still has a bowl-like ornament on the newel post of stairs that come into a vestibule at the front door. This was to receive calling cards. Many upper and middle class homes had servants or at least a maid who would be on hand to answer the door even if the family was not at home. Cabot Village had a fairly large social circle at one time, and calling at each others' homes was expected.

Even in the rural areas, there was a lot more "visiting" than there is today. It was perfectly acceptable to call on friends and neighbors with no warning beforehand. It was a way to keep in touch. The farm families were not nearly as formal about visiting neighbors as the villagers were - calling cards would have seemed pretentious. The caller would walk however many miles or come by horse and buggy, bearing a loaf of freshly baked bread or a jar of homemade jam, and he or she might stay for a meal, if asked. Sometimes a woman would arrive with several children, and stay for the afternoon, an unannounced "play date" for all the kids, while the women caught up on neighborhood news. The families kept in touch and helped each other out when needed. With or without calling cards.

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