I hope everyone had a nice long holiday weekend. We are closing things down at our cottage, like lots of other folks. The gang was here during the weekend and took out boats except the pontoon, which Jamie needs to retrieve the buoys, and those need to be left for a while yet. There was a lot of activity around the pond this weekend. Fred and I finished distributing Ice-Out tickets, dropping them off to everyone we could find around the pond. We hit all the roads around the pond. We left some envelopes in doors and cars if it looked like folks were around but out in their boats when we stopped by, so if any of you were wondering how those envelopes with bright yellow Ice-Out tickets got wherever you found them, now you know.

I had this message today from Henretta Splain, who lives just up the road from us:
Hiya,

A beautiful (if that can be said about these animals) buck moose with full rack crossed my front yard early evening yesterday. It's coat was shiny and it just looked majestic! It was moving fairly quickly and after getting untangled from my dog (who was also excited) by the time I got to my camera it was gone.

So after my bear sighting a couple of weeks ago on West shore and this moose, I get the feeling our four footed residents are getting ready for the change of seasons.

Henretta

All critters are getting ready, if they're smart. We've noticed robins are flocking, and Fred says the humming birds are about ready to leave. We're still feeding them here, but in a few days, we'll only see one occasionally, and think that may be one that's just flying through and spotted some of the flowers and got lucky. Our regulars will have gone.

Fred took pictures along the way, so here's a short slide show for you. It was a beautiful day and seemed to get warmer as the afternoon went on. We ended our quest at Mike Dornbrook's place on Harrington Hill, overlooking the Rogers' Ponds.
slides

When on Channel Drive, we took a picture of the bridge over the channel that JPA has been requested to fund reinforcing for use as part of the rail trail. You can see that the original railroad bridge seems to be intact and railings have been added. We aren't sure yet what additional measures will be needed to make it safe for hiking, biking and snowmobiles. There will be more information by spring - before we make any decisions are made about funding it.

Mad Matt the Democrat
Lecture by Vincent Feeney
Wednesday, Sept 9, 2009
CABOT HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Main St., Cabot VT.

Call Bonnie Dannenberg, 802-563-3396
for information

Click poster at right for details. It's free--bring a friend!

This came from Susan Bouchard this evening:

Jane, regarding Mary Jo Dunleavy’s funeral arrangements, this is what is posted in today’s Boston Globe and I verified it with her family.

Susan Bouchard

______________________________________________________________________________________

Mary Jo Dunleavy

DUNLEAVY, Mary Jo Age 54, of West Roxbury formerly of Barre, VT, Sept. 4, 2009. Funeral Mass in St. Theresa's Church, West Roxbury, Weds. at 11:30 a.m. Visiting hours at the funeral home Tues. 4-8. Complete notice to follow. PE Murray-George F. Doherty & Sons West Roxbury 617-325-2000

We've just received very sad news that will cast a cloud over the beautiful weekend at Joe's Pond, for sure. Jack LaGue sent this:

I'm sad to report that we received word last night that Mary Jo Dunleavy has lost her valiant one-year battle with cancer and has passed away.

Mary Jo was a close friend of the Bouchards and the Rubacalbas and was a frequent visitor to Joe's Pond and attended many JPA events.  She also rented camps on the pond the last several years during her summer vacation.

Luckily, many of us have some great memories of the good times with Mary Jo that can now dwell in our thoughts to help ease the grief.
Jack

Arrangements have not been made, but as soon as I know more, I'll post the information here for you. I know there are many heavy hearts today. Mary Jo was a truly lovely person and we'll miss her.

Nothing exciting happening today - so far. Just another warm, sunny, quiet fall day at beautiful Joe's Pond. I'll keep you posted if activity picks up. Enjoy your Labor Day Weekend, but do it wisely and safely, please.

Here's a link you may get a smile from: Click Here

We're all very happy to be looking forward to wonderful weather here at to pond for the coming Labor Day Weekend. We've waited all summer for nice weather, and now that kids are in school and some people have moved back to their winter digs, we're getting a large dose of sunshine. Yea!!

Part of the fall cleaning spree we've initiated around our place, was getting rid of the old shed, commonly known as "Aggie's Shed" because my father built it to store stuff one of my mother's sisters, Agnes, brought with her about 45 years ago as part of her mobile home. We were going to use the old shed as kindling until I said I hate to destroy anything that someone might still be able to use, and Fred backed off with the chain saw long enough for me to make a phone call to our neighbor, John Randall. We'd asked John, a builder, for some advice about the shed and I figured just maybe he'd have a use for it. He said sure, and within a couple days came with his tractor to pick it up - literally.

Now, were you paying attention above when I mentioned Aunt Aggie's mobile home? Along with the trailer, of course there had to be "hookups" - like electricity, water, and (drum roll, please) a septic tank. From time to time in the past Fred and I have wondered, where was that septic tank? Nobody in the family seemed to be sure. Well, John found it. One of the big tires of his tractor dropped several inches into a cave-in on the lawn. No damage, he didn't get stuck or anything, but we knew immediately -- that was where the septic tank was.

Long story short, Fred pulled back the sod, removed the now bent and rusted metal cover and revealed a relatively small (thankfully) metal septic tank with a foot or so of (even more thanks) odorless water in the five foot deep container. So now we know where the darned thing is, we can deal with it. Fred knocked holes in the bottom and sides so the water can filter out and we're waiting for Darren Calkins to come with material to fill it. We're glad to know this will finally be taken care of and nobody will get hurt by suddenly falling into a mysterious pit.

By the way, Fred sent an interesting article to me this morning. I thought some of you probably know first hand about this. Time Article Just proves that things are bad everywhere, I guess.

Some of you may already know, but I just found out today that Jane Ward (Barre Ave) fell back in July and broke her wrist. She is recouperating at Woodridge Nursing Home in Berlin, doing well, but I'm sure she'd enjoy hearing from some of her Joe's Pond friends. The address there is: 142 Woodridge Rd., Berlin VT, 05602-9165. I don't know her room number, but I'm sure she'll get any mail sent. Her phone number there is 802-224-7171.

Here's something that may give you a chuckle. Remember these people? Ukulele Orchestra

Just for the record - I made the right call last night. There was no frost! I went out to the garden today to check out where those darned bees are, and sure enough, there is a neat hole in the ground right between my rhubarb and the lovage. I believe they are beneficial in some way - at least for spreading pollen, but I've also heard some bees or wasps help control garden insects. They were very busy today, so I stayed well away from them as I picked up the stalks dropped when I left in a hurry yesterday. The sting site isn't painful, but it is swollen and itches, so I'm glad they only got me once. I should try to get a photo so I can identify them . .