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What a beautiful summer day again today! Two days of warmth and sunshine a a row - almost an overload! Yesterday I actually had to go out onto the porch to get warm. My house felt chilly and damp from all the gloomy, cold days we've had and it took some time for the outside air to warm things up. Today is better. I have the insulated blinds down on the sunny side of the house and even though my thermometer is showing the outdoor temperature (in the shade) is 81.9F, it's cool inside. I need to be diligent about keeping windows and blinds closed on the sunny sides of the house, however, or it will bet uncomfortable quickly.
My plants on the porch are loving all the heat and humidity - finally! My dracaena plant dropped some leaves from all that cold weather, but I think it will be ok now. I misted everything yesterday and the night was much warmer for them, so hopefully we're past all of that chilly weather and can relax into summer.
I think I spotted some June bugs flashing last night. It's about time for them to show up and begin bouncing off the windows or buzzing at screens. I also have lots of frogs singing - some during the day, but many at night, a full chorus ranging from high-pitched trills to deep-throaty "gerlunks". Lovely to hear.
Another sign of early summer, our Ice-Out Contest winner, John Vincent, has received his Awards Certificate and check. Here is the very nice note he sent to JPA Ice-Out officials yesterday confirming:
Good evening. I did receive the Certificate Of Award along with the check in the mail yesterday.
From
this little piece of Heaven as well as the bottom of my heart to yours and
everyone at Joe's Pond Association I again share my thanks and am already very
much looking forward to Ice Out 2026. I will reach out if/ when planning to
visit.
The horses are my girlfriend's. Pictured left to right are Alabama, Cheyenne, Big Randy and the puppy is Baby.
My sincere best wishes to you all for a healthy and great 2025!
************************
I've been writing a piece for the Cabot Chronicle about District 8 in Cabot, which is the village district. It is part of a series dealing with each of the 14 school districts of our town. I don't believe these numbered districts have any significance today, except perhaps to half a handful of old-timers who may remember their community was so designated. The numbering came about sometime before 1870 when there were one-room schools scattered throughout the town. One might think they were numbered consecutively perhaps according to when the schools were built, but that doesn't appear to be the case. There was no District 13, which I completely understand - like high rise buildings often don't list a 13th floor. Strangely, we have never found any record of a District 9 in Cabot, either. Until recently I thought that was probably an oversight; however, a little research told me that, too, is sometimes considered an unlucky number. Life was hard enough back in those days, so why tempt fate by creating a new school district and giving it an unlucky number?
The village school served a larger number of students than smaller communities like Lower Cabot, East Cabot, and the Plain. It was also in the village that the first secondary, or high school, was established. Until about 1908, students who wished to continue beyond the 8th grade had to attend a school outside of Cabot, usually St. Johnsbury Academy, Goddard Seminary in Barre, or Montpelier Seminary. At first Cabot's was a two-year high school, but around 1918 it became a four-year course.
Until around 1941, graduating from eighth grade, or Junior High, was not celebrated in Cabot Schools. It was customary for the students to go on a picnic to celebrate the last day of school - sometimes to a neighboring field or grove of maples, or sometimes to a pond. It was usually too chilly at the end of May for swimming, but being near the water was always fun. In Cabot Village, Beatrice Perry and some other ladies decided youngsters graduating from eighth grade should be celebrated. Some would not go on to school, making graduating from Junior High a milestone for them. Through the efforts of those ladies, the custom of celebrating with a banquet for the young graduates was conceived.
I'm not sure what sort of fanfare goes with graduating from Junior High in Cabot today, but I'll have a complete report of the proceedings at Waterford School after tonight. Granddaughter Tangeni's graduation is this evening.
That's my history lesson for today! Enjoy the sunshine and June warmth.
NOTICE!
This just came from Susan Bouchard:
To help protect Joe’s Pond from the spread of Eurasian watermilfoil (EWM), it's essential that we monitor where the plant is growing. This weekend, the Joe’s Pond Association (JPA) is hosting a Vermont Invasive Patrollers (VIP) Workshop, sponsored by the State of Vermont.
Location: JPA Pavilion
Date: Saturday, June 7 (Rain date: Sunday, June 8)
Schedule:
Morning Session: 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM (in-person workshop)
Afternoon Session: 1:00 – 2:30 PM (paddle survey training on the lake)
If you plan to attend the paddle session, please bring your own kayak or canoe. The workshop will be led by Lizzy Gallagher, an aquatic biologist with the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation.
Register here:
https://vermontlakes.org/
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