This is a picture of the inflatable boat found in the narrows yesterday. Lee Cobb said he was instructed to leave it at Allen's on Old Homestead Road, but he is unable to get it into his car. Perhaps the owner can come and retrieve it - it's at Lee and Karen Cobb's at 98 Narrows Drive. It looks like a really nice boat, and someone is no doubt missing it - or will be. The Cobb's phone is 802-684-2131.

It is quiet here today. We have a steady rain falling - probably needed for crops to grow after a few days of dry weather. Everything is lush and green - mostly everything is in full bloom. As usual, I have given up trying to get my flower beds completely weeded. The black flies (and now ticks) really make it a job I don't want to do. I haven't felt threatened by ticks before this year, but now I know they are definitely flourishing here, I am very aware and even my favorite walks around our lower lawn area have lost some appeal. Please be careful to check yourself, children and pets every day and before coming in from being outside to be sure there are none of the little menaces hitching a ride, looking for a meal. The most common tick found in Vermont, the deer tick, does carry Lyme Disease, and that is not something anyone wants to have. Here's a site that may help you understand the real threat and still be able to enjoy the outdoors this summer. TICKS

Someone asked this weekend how the West Danville history book is coming along. I'm very happy to say we are making real progress. Two big chapters are virtually finished (all except adding photos and of course a final edit) - one on the railroad and one on the Joe's Pond Association. Next to be finished up are chapters on the dam, prohibition, crimes and misdemeanors - and there is a lot more to do on the Joe's Pond chapter (that will be a really big one, with numerous separate sections). We have research started for  sections on deaths and drownings, and there will be chapters on wars and weather - all of which have information waiting to be organized. Most of these have already several pages done - not including photos. It's like a giant jigsaw puzzle, but it is beginning to come together nicely. Our editor has several sections she will be working on this summer, and should have everything by the end of the summer. Then pictures and a final read-through edit and we should be ready to publish.

I know, that is more information than you probably wanted, but we want you all to know that even though it seems as if we've been at this forever, we are making headway. This is a far more complicated process than any of us guessed. Who know there was so much information about little West Danville? We have been nothing if not thorough in our research. Patty and Dot have dug through the massive files the historical society keeps, and we have all gone through literally thousands of issues of newspapers - and we still have more to search that are not digitized. It's hard work, but we all get totally engrossed in it, sometimes to the extent our families begin to miss us! But that's the nature of research and writing. We have been fortunate to have the assistance of able helpers such as Geri Pelok who searched deeds for us, and input from others like Jane Larrabee, Andy Rudin, John Moore, and Ted Chase. And then there are the numerous readers - some who contributed valuable ideas and suggestions how we could make the story better - and we appreciate the input from all who gave their honest opinions.

So you see, we have not been idle these past six years! Now we rush to make our realistic deadline - get the book out before Christmas, 2019!