Another Great Evening & Meal!

It was the last JPA dinner of the season last night, the annual Pig Roast, and it was another great meal provided by Shrubby's Smoke Shack folks. They did the event for us last year and certainly didn't disappoint us this year. Great food, well done and efficiently served. We had a great crowd in spite of the cool, very wet weather, and I think everyone had a good time, I know our family did. We had extras at our table - always a delight - and we had three very wet but energetic young girls who romped outside on the playground and tennis courts, ignoring the rain and only returning inside long enough to eat. There were other young people their age playing in the rain. It made me cold just watching them, but I know it's "normal" for kids to ignore rain (and their parents' protests) and take advantage of the fun it can provide. They will be at a different stage - protecting their shoes, makeup, hairdos, and more interested int heir cellphones than any outside activity, wet or dry, before we know it.

It looked to us as if there was a capacity crowd last night. Our table was near the back where the BBQ pits and kitchen are, and one of the first things we noticed was the defibrillator on the wall. I'm not sure when that was installed, but it is certainly an excellent addition. Thanks to the Joe's Pond Association Board of Directors for taking that precaution. I hope we never have to use it, but it is reassuring to know it is available.

Today we have a totally different weather system upon us. The sun is shining brightly at the moment (10 a.m.), but the outside temperature is still only in the low 60s, up from the 50s earlier this morning. I measured another .28 in. of rain, and my first thought as I checked the rain gauge was that it felt like  fall. Not that I mind much - I enjoy it being cooler but I do hope we get some good drying weather with this change. Everything feels soggy and with a gaping trench all around my garage and water seeping into my basement, I'm ready for a change.

The trench around my garage is where the old foundation was removed. Jamie remarked last night when he saw it that I should get a mule and charge for tours into the "Cabot Canyon." As you can see, there is a substantial barrier so nobody is going to tumble over the cliff! Larry Rossi and his crew began the project last Monday and in spite of occasional rain, finding huge boulders and more water than expected along the back side of the garage, they've made great progress. 

The technique for installing a foundation has changed in the past sixty-plus years since my father built this garage, and I'm sure the only machinery he used was from the family farm - a Farmall-H tractor and maybe a small bulldozer my Uncle Bill Bolton owned. I think that when it was time to re-fill around the walls, little thought was given to drainage, and the policy was to fill with whatever rocks, large or small, that had been dug out - whatever it took to get rid of them. This time around there will be drainage pipe in place with crushed rock. There is an added plus for me - I now have some really large rocks next to my driveway. Once washed clean of earth by the rain, I will enjoy them - like old friends reminding me of the wealth of natural beauty there is in nature, and I'm sure I'll think of my dad every time I look at them. There is no doubt some geological reason why there are both rounded boulders and huge flat slabs found in the same general vicinity - all of the rocks and ledges on this property were here naturally, most in place for thousands of years until humans displaced them to build homes. They are everywhere, and with water and frost, often work their way to the surface over time. I'm happy to see them above ground!

Enjoy the cooler weather ahead this week - minimal rain in the forecast, and lovely weather to get outside and do stuff! Mark your calendar - Danville Fair is Aug. 5th!