What a muggy day!  Summer is definitely here, thunderstorms and all.  We were fortunate not to have been hit too hard with heavy rain and high winds, although it did come down pretty hard for a few minutes this afternoon.  At one point I noticed some strange patterns on the water behind the big island.  I think it was sort of between showers, so may have been either wind or rain ruffling the surface of the water.  

Later on we saw this very large rainbow over the pond.  It seemed to stretch from one end to the other, from where we were watching.  On the news tonight there were reports of power outages and some flooding, I think in the Rutland area.  We didn't seem to have very hard storms, but several rolled through this afternoon.  Around 5:30 the sun came out and it was very lovely - everything washed down and fresh, and the air felt like warm pudding.  When it gets this humid, the perfume from the flowers is wonderful.  I have lots of white peonies in bloom, also pinks which give off that sweet, cinnamony fragrance, and just the smell of warm, moist soil is wonderful.  


Earlier in the day we walked around the perimeter of our lawn to check out apple trees, and see what surprising plants or trees are springing up where the logging was done.  We have some mossy areas that were looking very dry now they are exposed to full sunlight after many years of dense shade.  I suppose something will eventually take over there, too.  There are very moist areas that are lush with ferns that we will let grow - other areas will be kept mowed.  

Woody went with us, but it was a little too warm for him, so every time we stopped to examine some tree or bush, we'd find him either sitting or stretched out in the shade.  He went the whole route with us, but when we stopped for several minutes to talk with Mimi and then Tom Morgan came along, Woody sat patiently in the shade of one of the ornamental apple trees and waited for us to climb the hill back to the house.  Tom mentioned today would be a "cool day" in Texas, where he lives.  I think animals feel the heat perhaps more than we do.  He always is very quiet on hot days.  Jamie and Marie routinely take their dog, Otto down to camp for a swim on very hot days.  I guess we'll all have to get used to hot weather for the next few days.

Don't forget that the Danville Baseball Club will be picking up returnable bottles and cans on July 7th, from 9 a.m. to noon.  If you have questions, give Kevin Johnson a call at 274-8048.  

Also, if you have articles for the big rummage sale in Cabot on July 4th, give Terri Persons a call at 279-6818 and she will arrange to have your items picked up.  The parent/teachers group puts on the sale each year to benefit the school kids.  And plan to go to see the parade (11 o'clock) and take in some of the other events in Cabot to celebrate the Fourth.  Click the poster to learn more.

Also there's an interesting benefit for the Kingdom Animal Shelter in St. Johnsbury on June 29.  See poster below.

There are lots of things going on - you'll find an announcement on the web site about Rhythm of the Rein fund raiser on the 29th, too.  Check it out, right under Fred's picture of the trees on our lower lawn.

We just lost our electricity for a brief moment, but it was only a blip, so no damage done.

We have had only one report on geese, and that was from Sam Lewis who said he has seen only a very few in the area of the channel, so I'm guessing there aren't many hanging out here this year.  That's good news, and the Goose Committee will have a report at the Annual Meeting on July 6th.  We'll also have 2014 Ice-Out tickets for each of our members.  There are tickets at Hastings Store and Joe's Pond Country Store now.  You can also print tickets from the website and mail them in.  Later on we'll have the pay on-line tickets available, but not until we actually have ice on the pond!