What an interesting day weatherwise. We've had a little of everything, and tonight there is a real chill in the air although the thermometer is still reading 60 degrees. It feels chilly - a little like fall. It is hard to believe states south of us were having record high temperatures. I was at the Cabot Historical Society building this afternoon for the program about the Friendship Quilt, and even with a couple dozen people in the relatively small space, we weren't uncomfortable. This picture was taken as people were arriving. Several former Cabot residents were there and seemed to enjoy getting reacquainted. That's Mary (Blodgett) Fearon from Lyndonville, Bonnie Dannenberg, president of the society, Ed Wheeler, who used to live in Lower Cabot is behind the post, and Marilyn (Bolton) Perrin, one of the presenters at far right.

We had a nice group turn out for the program. David and Marilyn Perrin have done a great job researching and putting together the presentation on the quilt; and it was especially nice that the great granddaughter of the original owner of the quilt, Janet Townsley, was there. She read some letters her great grandmother, Mary Jane Bickford Howe, wrote when she was living in East Cabot before her marriage and trip west. Turns out she didn't think much of the doctor in town at the time, Dr. Warren. But apparently she had lots of friends here, so I guess it didn't make much difference what she thought of the local doctor. That's him in this photo from our collection, with his daughter and a couple of piglets they were apparently raising. Not very "doctor-like," is he?!

Apparently Mary Jane's life in the Dakota Territory was not all that difficult and her husband built a lovely home for her. She never returned to Vermont, but it's nice her great granddaughter came and had a chance to see where her great grandmother's roots were. This is Mrs. Townsley as she spoke to us today. I believe she may have been visiting a daughter who either lives or has a summer home in New Hampshire.

Did you notice on home page we alerted you that there is another camp for sale on Joe's Pond? The Fitch camp has just been listed. That's high on the hill above Edgewood Ave., off of Rt. 2. It's sort of like being in the treetops, with an absolutely lovely view all the way up the pond and you can imagine the sunsets seen from there. It doesn't say so in the ad, but I'm sure they have access to the water - it isn't far away.

I also want to remind you that there are ice-out tickets waiting for you at Hastings Store if you are a Joe's Pond Association member. Each member gets 10 tickets to either buy or sell, and most come back for more - and we have plenty, so get in touch with me or with Diane Rossi. The local stores have them now, too. You'll find them on the writing desk in front of the addition Garey put onto the post office. We're hoping you'll pick yours up so we won't have to mail them.

We have all just received our tax bills here in the Town of Cabot, and would you believe they are lower than last year? That's almost unheard of, to have taxes go down. We think it's a direct result of the school directors and teachers doing such a great job of reorganizing the school to hold down expenses. Costs were getting way out of reason and it was gratifying that they took the necessary steps to keep expenses down. It meant some severe cutting, including some staff and some courses, but hopefully it will work out that kids will still get a very good education even though teachers may have to stretch themselves a little more than before to make do with the new policies and the cuts. These are demanding times we live in.