Today has been a full day - the JPA meeting was this morning and we had a very good turnout. I can't say for sure why, but I expect the nice day may have had something to do with it. And the crowd was in a very jovial mood. We didn't conduct a lot of business - officers were elected, and no changes there; we heard about the rail/trail progress, and while Mr. Hoeppner, the representative who spoke to us was enthusiastic, there's still an awful lot of money to be raised (and spent) before it is complete.

As far as JPA is concerned, things are running smoothly and we fortunately have no big spending items to be concerned with - only a great schedule of social events and lovely warm days for the next two months, with a little luck. Our first big event is the "Beans 'n Ribs" supper next Saturday. Tickets are going fast (only 150 will be sold) so if you want to go, call Wendi Larrabee, 684-2247.

In the afternoon we stopped at Rossi's where Bill needed Fred to help adjust the otter on their waterfront. That's them in this picture. Diane wasn't there, so Bill came down to camp with us to meet Floriana, Monika's mom. I have to say, Floriana is making great strides learning English - far better than we're doing learning her language, Oshiwambo.

Not only that, she's a very good sport and wants to try everything. She enjoyed a boat ride with Bob (right) and had a great time watching the fireworks. We had a fire in a special fire pit sort of thing on the waterfront (below), and watched the fireworks from there.

Where Floriana lives in Namibia is very dry with few trees, and what does grow there is nothing like our maples and spruce trees, and one of the things she wants to do before she returns to her country is take a walk in the woods. I think we can arrange that, for sure.

Everything considered, it's been a lovely day. The weather couldn't have been better and I know Don Sherwood, who is in charge of the fireworks, is very happy he didn't have one of those "is it going to rain?" dilemmas like we've had from time to time in years past.

Joe's Pond Association was founded 90 years ago. We've come a long way since then. The officers elected at the May 6, 1921 meeting were: Gilbert E. Woods, president; Dr. Frank E. Farmer, vice president; J. Clark Amey, secretary and treasurer; and directors were Henry Beck, Harvey S. Dole, Elbert E. Gage, Robert E. French, Theodore Chase and E. E. Badger. This picture was taken about that time. I don't know who the fishermen were, but it could have been Dr. Burbank, whose cottage was the one now owned by Tom Beattie and John Dauteuil on West Shore Road, and he was an avid fisherman. Or it could have been H. K. Smith and a fishing buddy. The writing on the photo says the picture was taken from "Shiloh," in Cabot. That is not a cottage name I'm familiar with, but perhaps someone on the pond or who is familiar with the pond from years ago might know. If you click on the picture you'll see there aren't many cottages on the shore - we're looking at the Rt. 15 side, I believe, and the cottage that shows up there might be where the Paulsen cottage is now. The picture is from a collection recently donated to the Cabot Historical Society by the family of the late Myra Houston.

Have a wonderful and safe Fourth of July celebration.