The minutes of the Joe's Pond Association Spring Meeting are posted on the web site. You'll find them under "Joe's Pond Assn" on the main menu.

We've had a somewhat rainy day, but the ground has sopped it up like a sponge. We really needed the rain for our early gardens. Spring wasn't as springy-wet as usual this year and there also wasn't the normal amount of snowfall, so the water table is probably down a bit. We had a fog bank roll through just after lunch, but it's better now - about 64 degrees, sprinkles from time to time, and a tad dreary and damp, but Fred started a little fire at lunch time and we're cozy. I've been at the computer most of the day, but we did dash off to St. Johnsbury again today for haircuts. We're off schedule - we generally try to get things done all the same day so we combine shopping with other things; but this is an off week for us to do grocery shopping. We'll get back on schedule for next time.

On our way home we got gas at Marty's and I got this photo of some lovely plants (vegetables and herbs) out in the garden supply area. Everything looks really healthy and it's organic, which I think is important.

I was happy this morning to see that I have all sorts of things popping up in our garden. The warm weather and rain combination has brought everything to life, even the brown spots we were getting on the lawn. We have several spots where the topsoil is pretty thin over ledges, and during the really hot, dry weather it scorched the grass. I may take off whatever soil there is and leave the ledges showing - it would look better than brown spots. Our neighbor down the road has a sign in front of their home, "Encarnacions at the Ledge," and they have a similar situation with lots of ledge around their place.

Did you see the article Fred posted on home page about the house in Norwich exploding? That is frightening. Really fortunate nobody was hurt. There are a lot of unusual things happening these days and one wonders sometimes.

By the way, Bill and Diane Rossi are hosting a couple of Russian gentlemen visiting through Rotary. I'm not sure what they are particularly interested in here in Vermont, but perhaps Bill will let us know. Last year they hosted a very nice young man from Taiwan. We have another neighbor who ran away to Italy - we had a card from Venice yesterday. She'll be back, though - but she sure does love her annual getaway to visit her family in Italy.

I guess about everyone is back at the pond for the summer by now. Things seem to be busy all along the shore, and we noticed another For Sale sign has popped up on Rt. 2 - Jack and Colette Dente are selling. There are some others, too. Anne Michals place on Narrows Drive is listed (check the Camps For Sale page on the web site). It's always sad when people sell and leave the pond, but we understand that sometimes we need to go in a different direction.

I'm going to go in the direction of the kitchen and get some food on the table.