Another rainy day. We took a walk up Jamie and Marie's hill - well, I walked, Fred ran - and it was really quite nice. I had my umbrella and for a few minutes the rain really came down pretty hard, but then it let up again. That's the way it's been all day. I took a couple of pictures when I got back - the air was so nice and the colors of the leaves are deeper because they are wet. The top picture is the pond from our deck. The fuzzy look of the evergreens and tamaracks is because they were covered with droplets of water. The trees are getting so tall now we can't see much of the water, although once the leaves are off it's better. It's been pretty cloudy all day, and some of the time we couldn't see the pond at all.

The second picture is a young maple tree in front of our house. I think it is one of those that came up by itself and we thought it might be a good place for it, so we let it grow. We have a bunch in front of the house that I've let grow like that, but I'm afraid one day, when they get really big, we may feel a little threatened by them. It wouldn't be good for one of those to crash onto the house in a wind storm.

I'm sorry to report that Bill Keach's father, Ken Keach,89, passed away on Thursday. Many of you probably knew Ken. He was a contractor in St. Johnsbury for many years with his sons, Bill and Dwayne, and later his grandson Robbie. He is survived by his wife, Marge, his two sons, grandson Robbie, and three great grandchildren, and extended family.

Visiting hours will be on Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. with a brief Masonic service at 7:45 p.m., at the Sayles Funeral Home on Summer St. in St. Johnsbury. Condolences may be shared at www.saylesfh.com

Ken was a very nice man - I got to know him a little when he did some work for us a number of years ago. He'll be remembered fondly by people who knew him, and deeply missed by his family. Our sincere sympathy goes to Bill and Bo and their family.

Bill and Bo Keach have a cottage on Narrows Drive here at Joe's Pond, and their home address is 2300 Daniels Farm Rd., Waterford VT 05819.