Spring Fever

 Nice days like today really make me wish I was twenty years younger. I love being outside and love doing yard work, but boy-oh-boy, my back lets me know I'm on the other side of doing much of that sort of thing anymore. So I putter for an hour or so each day it's nice enough to be outside, and hope my body somehow gets acclimated to being more active than it's been all winter and in time perhaps I'll have more stamina. Today I raked a bit, did some pruning, and got a few more stones in place by my pond. There is still a lot of water coming off the hillside, so it's wet about 2/3 of the way around the pond. I have hopes that it will begin to dry out soon so I can cast some wildflower seeds out there without them ending up being washed into the pond.

Before I forget, I had a request from Liz Prohaska to post the following notice so you can mark your calendars. Looks like the Fourth of July weekend is building up to be pretty active!

SPIRITS OF VERMONT FUNDRAISER to benefit the Pope Library in Danville, Vermont Sunday, July 3, 2-5 p.m. Joe's Pond Clubhouse Taste the best of Vermont's distilleries, breweries, and wineries paired with food by local chefs. There will all be a silent auction and live music. Tickets - $30 Buy at the door or at the library, or call in advance: 802-684-2256 or 205-410-0563 Thank you to our Title Sponsors:  AutoSaver Group, Passumpsic Bank, and Tim Scott Real Estate.     Weather permitting, fireworks will be that evening, so it should be a really exciting day to spend with friends or family - something for everyone. If the weather turns wet and the event has to be postponed, fireworks will be on the 5th.   On a personal note, I went to get my 2nd booster shot on Sunday. That all went just fine - I was in and out quickly at Kinney's in St. Johnsbury. My arm was a little lame on Monday morning, but I had been working outside after I got home Sunday afternoon, so I really didn't think much about it. But by noon I had a slight headache and felt achy and chilly. After lunch I fell asleep in my recliner and awoke at about 4:30, still too tired to do anything, so I went to bed. I slept until about 7:30, and then got up and took a Tylenol. I knew this was just a reaction from the shot - plus probably my muscles were protesting a bit because of all the activity I'd been doing Sunday afternoon, so I wasn't concerned. Within an hour I was feeling pretty normal and hungry - always a good sign. I decided to eat lightly - small increments and a diversified menu. Over the next couple of hours I had a banana, some crackers in milk, half an ice-cream bar, a scrambled egg, and a piece of toast with a glass of chocolate milk. By then I had watched all of American Idol on tape and a couple of Frasier episodes. I got to bed around 1 o'clock and slept soundly until 7 this morning. Today I've felt fine. I'm told that getting a reaction like that is a good sign that my immune system is working with the vaccine.    I really didn't want or need a "day off" and got behind in a few things, but have made up for the lost day today, I think. Monday morning I went to Cabot Village to do some errands and noticed a large structure being built at Burtt's Apple Orchard. It's behind the present house and barn, across the road from the orchards, and at first I thought it was a new house, but then I saw it had a couple of large openings, so I wasn't surprised when I learned at the post office that it is going to be a new storage facility for their apples. I'm very impressed with how that business has grown in just a few short years.   On my way home, I swung over to Diane Cochran's Stop Inn Shop to check on her supply of the West Danville history books. She has a good supply now, if you happen to be in that area and want a copy. I always enjoy stopping to see Diane. She  has a sort of "garage sale" set up on her porch, and there are some interesting items there, including quite an assortment of paperback books. I am always fascinated by pretty serving dishes, glasses, and kitchen gadgets, so I sort of rush across her porch without stopping, otherwise I'm pretty sure I'd come home with something I don't need that I'd have to find room for in cupboards already overflowing with dishes I rarely, if ever, use.   There was quite a bit of activity along Route 15 in Walden where the rail trail will cross the road. Surveyors were there and there was a stockpile of material at the intersection. The railroad went over the road - it was a dangerous crossing because there was a slight turn as we approached from the east, and more than a few cars ended up slamming into the stonework that supported the overpass. Also, it wasn't very high, which was ok in the horse and buggy days, but pretty tight once the road was paved and vehicles began to get bigger with every new model.    I remember a white-knuckle moment at that crossing years ago on a trip to ski at Stowe. It was snowing and the road was slippery. Our friend, Irv Gray, was driving - a little too fast as we approached that overpass, and the car went into a skid headed for the stone abutment. His wife, my husband and I braced ourselves thinking we were certainly going to crash, but at the very last moment, Irv brought the car under control and we zoomed through unharmed. I don't really remember, but I doubt he slowed down much - he was an insurance adjuster and drove miles every day in all sorts of conditions, so not much phased him.   Back to the rail trail - it looks to me as if the brush has been cleared at least to that point, and quite likely beyond. It is wonderful to see good progress being made, and I'm betting it will be open all the way, the whole 93 miles of it, by fall, as planned. I'm sure there are wonderful stopping spots along the route, like in Danville with its variety of eateries and  West Danville's Hastings Store and the Joe's Pond Craft Shop, plus the new place where Three Ponds was. Just in case some of you aren't aware, there is a neat little combo, Butch's Harvest'ore  AND Tootsie's creemee stand, just down Route 15 a few yards from that crossing in Walden Heights. There are outdoor tables there and it would be a great spot to take a break from the trail, get some snacks and a creemee. Did you know that the term "creemee" is a Vermont thing? In other states, this wonderful summer treat is called a "soft-serve." Whatever you ask for, try one of their maple flavored ones. They are special.