We're having another summer-like day. It's just beautiful outside and hard to stay in. The only thing is, we still have lots of snow around our house, so no point in going outside to work on anything except perhaps to clean up the driveway from all the winter sand and ashes put on when it was icy. So instead, I've put screens in almost all the windows - without washing the glass - I can do that later. I just really wanted to get the house aired out, and don't want bugs to get in. There are lots of flies that have been awakened (or hatched) by the warm sun, and other little flying critters that have come out to enjoy the sunshine.

We aren't the only ones dealing with screens today. Bill and Diane Rossi were all set to put the screen door on their porch, but discovered there's a problem with it. It's kind of like one of those Chinese puzzles, and none of us could figure it out, so it went back into the garage and they'll call the guy who installed it originally to come to look at it.

While there, we had a chance to get a closeup look at the ice and it sure looks plenty solid. There was a fisherman near the narrows, and while it looked as if he is dangerously close to open water, apparently he wasn't concerned. He was there for quite a while, and in the meantime, there were snowmobiles cavorting on the pond in front of the Marlynn Rouleau cottage. This will no doubt be about the last weekend they can enjoy snowmobiling on the pond.

I'm hearing reports of out-of-control grass and brush fires on the scanner; one is in Plainfield, and another in Berlin. There is far less snow there than here, and very dry. It will be a week or so before the snow is gone on our side of the pond, so we won't be raking leaves right away.

Homer and Margaret Fitts were telling us yesterday about Homer's daughter, Sue, who lives in Salt Lake City. Earlier this week she had another operation, but Homer said she's doing very well. She's still in hospital, but he said she should be fine and will be home soon. We wish her well.

In an e-mail message today, Homer said WCAX has asked for an interview about the Ice-Out Contest here at Joe's Pond. We will watch the news and post it on the website or here on the blog. Don Walker came to pick up more tickets today, but neither he nor Homer will venture an opinion as to when the ice might go out. We're thinking it looks like it could hold for at least another couple of weeks, but then again, if we get the 70+ degree weather that's forecast, we're back to "anything can happen."

Today I received a comment about the blog - it was anonymous, so I can't respond directly. The writer mentioned liking the photo I posted on about March 12th of the mourning dove. That was one of those "happy accidents" that don't often happen for me, but I'm glad someone enjoyed that particular shot.