Catching Up!

The old saying, "The faster I go, the behinder I get," describes how I feel some days.  It seems I've been been busier than usual lately, but I don't seem to have much to show for it.

I think fall brings out a feeling of urgency in me. I need to get things done before colder weather. Also, I always have a slew of appointments scheduled in October. Getting medical checkups during my birthday month seems completely logical on the surface, but when I think about it, birthdays can create a certain amount of angst, and all those checkups in addition?? Probably not a great plan. Then, there's the weather turning on us and ripping the beautiful leaves asunder. That's always sad to see, and add to that how the world is in general chaos with wars and threats, the nonsense of politics here at home, plus all the shootings and mayhem going on around us - no wonder people get depressed and discouraged. I rarely get depressed, but sometimes I feel there is just way too many bad things happening to good people, and something isn't right.

However, there is little I can do on that score, but I can try to catch up on some Joe's Pond news. First of all, we got 2.25 in. of rain in the past couple of days. Some rivers are fairly high, but surprisingly, not as bad as one might expect. I think the earth really needed the rain and was like a sponge, sopping up a lot of it even though it rained very heavily at times and normally that would create excessive runoff. It brightened the foliage and today was gorgeous.

I'm sorry I'm tardy getting this notice out. Monday is Alba Rossi's 106th birthday! Many of you on the pond remember Alba, Bill Rossi's mother, and if you'd like to wish her Happy Birthday, send cards to her at Lincoln House, Rm. 11, 120 Hill Street, Barre VT 05641. Even though this is a bit late to get it to her on time, the important thing is to let her know you are thinking of her and wish her happiness. 

More folks are leaving every day, and very soon there will only be year 'rounders here at the pond. The pond is unusually quiet, even on nice days like today, mainly because the boat access is closed off for repairs. I don't know how far along work is there, but it will be done sometime this fall - before the pond freezes!

I'm getting ready for winter, too. Susan Socks came to cut back my flower for winter, and she did a marvelous job! I'm very pleased - and she even de-sodded my stone walkways! What a difference. The walk hasn't looked that nice since it was originally finished, and the stone steps got a cleanup, as well. I was very excited to see how great everything looked.

Susan and her family own the Socks Family Farm just off of Danville Hill Road. She is a total professional and although I knew of her and the farm, I had never actually met her. The farm was formerly owned by Bernard and Arecca Urban, the parents of the late Velma Smith. There is a lot of history in that section of Cabot. Urban Farm Way, where Susan lives now, was once a well-traveled road that intersected with Cabot Plains Road - about 1/3 of it was through my family's farm. Part of it also was on the McLain farm where there was a well-patronized whisky still during prohibition. Actually, the still was on my Grandfather Bolton's property until he discovered it and told Dan McLain to get it off his hand. Dan complied, but actually just moved his operation down the brook to a different location, still on my grandfather's land. The authorities eventually caught up with him and some others in town who were distributing and profiting from the illegal booze, and Dan and his friends spent time in jail.

This morning, when the sun came out, I couldn't resist getting a picture of my maples - they somehow managed to keep a lot of their leaves through all that wind and rain of the past couple of days. 

This afternoon I wrapped up my ornamental evergreen so it won't winterkill. I'm not going to try to do the rhododendron this year - it is so sprawling, I really don't know how to go about containing it or protecting it effectively. I may take it out in the spring - I'll wait to see how it does. It may be that it will be ok as the snow piles around it. It gets heavily buried because I scoop the snow off the deck down onto it.

While I was outside, some chickadees were chattering away in the apple tree next to me, and one of them had a very distinctive voice. Instead of the usual single notes, this chickadee kind of chattered in double time so each note was repeated rapidly, rather like there was an immediate echo after each note. I have never heard one sound quite like that. I tried to get a glimpse of him, but he bobbed away before I could get a good look. Perhaps I'll hear that song again, if the same bird hangs out at my feeders this year. I wonder if they were looking for the feeders already? I haven't even thought about putting them out yet. I assume there is plenty of natural food available this time of year. But I do think I'll put at least one feeder out soon so they will find it before snow comes and they really need it!

Strange story: last night at about 8:30, a FedEx truck came up the drive. It's very unusual to get a delivery that late at night except during the Christmas rush, but I was expecting a package, so I wasn't totally surprised. The yard light came on and I watched from my kitchen window, but nobody got out. After a few minutes, the truck left. I decided one of two things had happened: either it was a new driver who had made a mistake or someone had goofed and the package wasn't on board at all.

Sure enough, late this afternoon, the truck came again and delivered my package. I asked the driver if he had been here last night and he said, "Yep, I saw you in the window and when I went to get the package, I said, Oh, crap, they didn't put in on the truck." 

I bet that made his day! Those guys must put in really long days! I do appreciate them - they are always courteous and helpful. And always on in a hurry!