We've enjoyed a mostly rainy day today, and certainly got plenty of rain last night to make up the deficit we've experienced recently.  I measured exactly 2 inches of precipitation this morning at 9 a.m., and we've had fairly steady rain most of the day, which has added perhaps another inch, but I won't measure again until tomorrow morning.  The brooks and rivers are beginning to fill to near capacity and I expect the pond will be high for a day or so.  There was severe flooding in Portland, Maine today, and also in Portsmouth, N. H., along Rye beach and in parts of the city. Of course, weather people are watching the new hurricane, Joaquin, as it strengthens and heads north.  It is expected to be a category 3 hurricane and is headed for the Bahamas, then will turn more northwest, but right now it's hard to tell where it might make landfall, in the Carolinas, probably, or it could be further north.  Heavy winds with lots of rain can make it a dangerous storm, whether it is a direct hit or not.  Residents in coastal areas may need to evacuate, and we may find a lot more rain in our forecast over the weekend, even though we aren't directly on the coast.

We were in St. Johnsbury today to take Woody for his annual physical.  The folks at St. Johnsbury Animal Hospital always make a fuss over him, and he seems to actually like Dr. Shawntel Sechrist.  Can't say that I blame him - she's very special.  She was our neighbor for a while when she first came to this area, so we got to know her more than just as Woody's doctor.  I think he likes her southern accent.  Anyway, he's healthy and the assistant there say to him today, "You sure don't look your age!"  He was 12 in April, but we hope to keep him around and healthy for at least another decade.  We've had other cats in the family live to be in their 20s, so if his luck holds out and he stays smart, he will, too.

I read on Front Porch Forum tonight that Peggy Longo is going to open a thrift store in Cabot in the building where there have been a couple of restaurants in the past, across from Willey Memorial Hall and next door to the hardware store where the present Sarah's Country Diner is located.  A thrift store there may be a good idea.  Ms. Longo is going to donate profits to the Cabot Youth Program, and apparently intends to see that children in need are provided with warm winter clothing.  It's good to know there is a local place to recycle good used clothing.  I'm not sure when her place will be open, but the Planning Commission is visiting tomorrow to see about giving her a change of use permit, and she is looking for volunteers to help out at the store, so it could be operating soon.

Watch the weather, especially if you have travel plans, and do be careful during wind and rain storms.  The ground is soggy and that makes trees vulnerable to being uprooted to fall into roads or onto power lines, so be aware and be safe.