Summer is Really Here!

What a lovely day! This feels like real summer, finally! I have measured just under a quarter of an inch of rain overnight for the last couple of nights - just right to keep everything fresh and green without flooding our brooks and ponds!

Marti Talbot sent me these two pictures taken just the other evening when we had a light thunder storm - I showed you pictures of each end of the rainbow, which is what I could see from our house, but Marty had a spectacular view!! Thanks for sharing, Marty. (It's amazing how quickly the sky changes. These two shots were within a few minutes of one another. Click to make them larger.



My cousin in Connecticut sent me a video clip of the bear swimming in the pond a week ago. I assume it's the same one Butch Bouchard sent a still photo of. This guy looks like he's full grown - and then some! They are certainly getting bolder. We bumped into one Saturday evening when we were going to take a quick walk up Jamie and Marie's driveway. As we turned the corner by our mailbox, Fred spotted something crossing in front of our neighbor's car straight ahead of us. Her car was parked in front of her house and there was a bear - we thought at first it was a young one, but not so sure after watching it a few minutes. It looked down at us, but apparently the smell of a possible lunch was more powerful than worrying about two old folks down the road. The bear meandered over to the doorway where there was a trash container - a good sturdy one, I assume, and we watch as he/she methodically investigated, and then knocked over the trash container and proceeded to sort through it. We decided it wasn't a good idea to interrupt a hungry bear in the process of finding food, so we backed off and decided we'd wait to take our walk later. We aren't sure if our neighbor was aware the bear was there or not, and we don't have her phone number so couldn't contact her. I doubt there was any real damage, but she may have to rethink where she stores her garbage/trash.

The bears apparently went to sleep hungry again last fall - something about winter setting in quickly, deep snow, difficulty foraging and not enough nuts and berries to go around so they had low fat reserves over the winter. Some awoke literally starving and were unable to feed their cubs. Very sad, but let's not put out food for them - they can find plenty of natural food now that there is plenty of fresh vegetation. They become a real nuisance and danger if they get used to an easy meal provided by humans.

We had an appointment in the Montpelier-Barre area this morning, and were very pleased that the stretch of new highway past the Goodrich Maple Farm in East Cabot is mostly finished. Workers were planting trees along the roadside where they had to cut down a lot of trees and bushes. That is a very nice stretch now - and the bridge is so much better than before. The bridge further down the road in South Cabot is done, as well - and also a good job. We wish the rest of Route 2 through to Montpelier could be redone as well. Perhaps someday.

 Here's something that makes me smile every day when I look out my windows - our back yard with all the blue flag irises and now some lemon lilies showing up among the mint and ferns. That area is pretty damp and we don't try to mow it. The flowers love it and it is very natural and so pretty this time of the year.

Enjoy your Fourth of July week! There will be a lot going on and lots of people out on the road. We noticed a larger than usual presence of state police watching for violations along Route 2 as we were heading towards Montpelier early this morning, so please be careful to stay within the speed limit and remember not to use your hand-held devices while you're driving.

Joe's Pond Fireworks will be on July 3rd - looks like there's going to be spectacularly good weather, but if it should rain, they will be set off on the 5th. Right now it looks good for the 3rd!!