I feel as though someone should apologize to the Fall Foliage towns who will be hosting for the rest of this week. While the rain held off Tuesday and yesterday, today is a totally different story. We've had steady rain since early this morning. I measured only .03 in. of precipitation in my gauge at about 8 o'clock this morning, but at 3:30 I measured another 1.25 in. - and the heaviest rainfall isn't scheduled to begin until later today. The ground is soggy and not absorbing much water, so there is bound to be lots of flooding, especially in the lower regions. This is my rain gauge - I thought I might be able to read it without going outside, but realized the middle tube had already overflowed and I'd need to measure the overflow to get an accurate reading. I emptied both cylinders after I measured it and will take another reading tomorrow morning.

We went to St. Johnsbury this morning to grocery shop and get haircuts. It was raining all the way but then let up for a bit while we were there - or perhaps it was just that Joe's Pond and Danville were getting harder rain than St. Johnsbury, I don't know. It had let up a bit by the time we reached home. Here is a short slide show and those of you who know our area will be able to tell where we were through the raindrops - the rest of you will be left to wonder why we bothered . . . To St. J. and Back

When we arrived back in West Danville, we stopped at Hastings Store. Very quiet there - it was about 10:30 a.m. Garey showed us a picture of some mushrooms (at least he said that's what it was) that were growing in back of the store. They lasted only a day or two, he said. Anyone got any ideas what variety they are? He said they were all in a clump, and those worm-like things are growing out of the little mushroom cap and fall over - we wondered if that's one way of spreading the spores.

He also showed us this photo of Kathy and Neal Sargent, Jr., taken in Australia. Neal is deployed to Afghanistan and had some leave, so Kathy met him "down under" for a brief vacation. When she left, Garey and Jane presented her with two Joe's Pond tee-shirts. Kathy brought back this photo of them wearing the tees in front of "Joe's Fish Shack" - a place they happened on while sightseeing and of course reminded them of home. Neal had to go back to Afghanistan, and Kathy returned home where she expects to be deployed any time. They have both been full time Vermont National Guardsmen for some time.

Before we went home, we scooted down to the building site on Sandy Beach Road. Of course, there was nothing going on there, and won't be for at least a couple days until this storm has passed, but you can see a lot has been accomplished. Right now it's pretty muddy and will take some time to dry out, but at the rate they're going, it won't be long before there's a roof overhead and it'll be good working conditions for the winter.

The top picture is looking at it from the south; the lower photo is looking at it from the north - sort of. The septic tank was put in place earlier in the week. Fortunately, there is good drainage and the basement is well sealed. This storm may mean some basements around the pond (and elsewhere) will have some water in them. The water level in the pond is bound to come up with this much rain, if we get what is being forecast - 3-4 inches over tonight and into tomorrow.

In case you didn't notice Fred's flag on home page that there's something "new" in the Real Estate listing, take a look. Locals will recognize the house at the corner of Rt. 2 and Keiser Pond Rd., at the end of the bridge coming out of W. Danville. It would be a great business venture for someone, perhaps. It's been a boarding house, a private home, an antiques shop, fabric shop, and probably other businesses over the years. The ad doesn't say how many rooms there are, but it looks as if it may have a good number. It will be interesting to watch.

October 4th is World Habitat Day. To learn more about this and how you can help, click here: World Habitat Day, 2010