Many of us knew and respected Finn Thorgalsen, who lived in Danville and served as a game warden in our area for many years. Finn passed away on May 21. This morning I had a very nice message from one of his daughters, Lori (Thorgalsen) Schrader, regarding her dad:

Thanks again, Jane, for making Vermont seem so close to home for me.

My Dad (Finn Thorgalsen) passed away peacefully at home on May 21st following a long and sad battle with COPD. My kids and I have not been to Vermont yet, because he requested no services. My brother, sister, and their families were able to handle matters in the meantime. We will be up from Florida to Vermont for about 3 1/2 weeks beginning June 25th.

Many people may remember Dad as the local Fish and Game Warden (some fondly, and others not so much as he was charged with doing his job enforcing the law.) He retired after nearly 30 years of service to the State of Vermont in the late 80's due to poor health. I remember him often patrolling Joe's Pond looking for any signs of illegal activity, however he especially cared about the safety and preservation of the wildlife in and around the area. He also took measures to ensure the safety of the people who enjoyed fishing and boating at the pond.

He immigrated to the United States from Norway in his 20's and was very proud of his naturalization as a US citizen. He loved the community and took pride in it.

I just wanted to share this with you. Thanks again.

Lori Schrader

Thank you, Lori, for this lovely tribute to your dad. I didn't know Finn well, but he was always ready with a smile and friendly handshake whenever we met. I remember that he was always upbeat, even after earlier health problems, and I know he cared deeply about his family. The community will miss him.

I got my precipitation posting done on time today. Everything went according to schedule. We had more rain throughout most of the day, but I don't know how much yet. I don't think it will be a lot. We had high winds, though, and the blossoms on our big old ornamental apple trees took a beating. It's cool again tonight but supposed to warm up tomorrow.

Fred went to pick up the mail today and took some pictures at the dam. Everything was fresh and green.
The parking lot looks kind of deserted, though.

We have a new ad on the "Services" page - Cabot Heights Cleaning Services and Property Management. You may want to check them out if you have jobs to do around home or camp. We also posted a new message to the "Lost and Found" page, so you'll want to check that, too. Sam Lewis on Sandy Beach Road is looking for a used Sunfish sailboat and also has some barrels and a pump to sell. Give him a call at 563-2523. Details on "Lost and Found."

Isn't it funny how things work out sometimes? After six days of no precipitation to report, I was looking forward to reporting my .09 inch reading after last night's showers. I read the gauge at around 8 o'clock before the sun could evaporate it, and then went on with other things until my report time, 9 o'clock. At around 8:50, I answered a couple of e-mails and then went right to the CoCoRaHS web site. I got on the site ok, but when I tried to log in, I got a screen saying my computer couldn't find the site. We suddenly had no internet. So there I was, precipitation to report and the internet is down. Of course, this isn't earth shattering. I was sure nobody was looking for my report specifically; nor would it matter if I was a few minutes late, but I was disappointed that I wouldn't be able to change the gray square to green on the map.

We eventually discovered our phones were dead. We had service at the outside box, but nothing inside. The people at Fairpoint made a couple of suggestions which we tried, but when that didn't work, we requested someone come to check it out. We left the kitchen phone plugged into the box outside under the open window so we'd hear it ring if we had a phone call, and went on with our day. Within a couple hours, the service man came - a nice young man who said he lives in Newbury. He switched some wires around in the box that got us going again and I made my report. Better late than not at all. Tomorrow I'll have more rain to report, probably, and hopefully I'll get it done on time.

All this made us realize how we depend on technology. Especially the computer. I couldn't even check L.L.Bean's daily markdown until after lunch! But we put the down time to good use and did some organizing in our basement where Fred used to have his office and where I keep all sorts of non-essentials and treasures, all of which translates into chaos. We have been waiting for just the right time to sort through and toss some of it, and today was a good time to do it. We no doubt could benefit from more computer "down time". . . just not when I need to make my report!

*****

On Friday, June 12: Cabot School graduation at 6:30 p.m. on the Common.

*****

Cabot Creamery will be celebrating 90 years in business on June 13th. There will be a festival of events from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with performers, food, raffles, and exhibits under tents in the parking lot and gift center. Parking will be on the common by the church and school or at the recreation area at the north end of town, and there will be a shuttle bus to deliver visitors to the activities. Sounds like it'll be quite a fun day - there's a BBQ and other food on sale, plus hay and tractor rides in addition to performers such as Northeast Fiddlers Association, Patty Casey, Banjo Dan and the Plowboys and the Radio Rangers. There will also be representatives from other Vermont companies such as Ben and Jerry's, Green Mountain Coffee, Vermont Smoke and Cure, Vermont Pure and Lake Champlain Chocolates. Lots of fun and things to see and do.

Also on Saturday we celebrate Vermont's Free Fishing Day, when residents and non-residents can fish without needing a license, so dust off your fishing gear and get out there. Looks as if the weather on Saturday will be perfect for all the planned activities.

Finally I'll have some rain to report tomorrow. For the last six days my rain gauge has been dry. I've been conscientious, though, and actually checked the gauge every morning even knowing no rain was forecast and none came unexpectedly - but darn it, I'm new at this stuff and you just never know. So, tonight, Tues. and Thursday we should be getting some rain so I'll have something to report.

By the way, CoCoRahs (Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network) is looking for more volunteers to report precipitation. It's easy enough. The hardest part for me was finding a spot far enough from buildings and trees to set up the gauge. You can get training on line, so if you're interested, go to www.cocorahs.org

We were in Lebanon, NH yesterday for daughter-in-law, Monika's graduation. It was a very nice day and we are very happy for her. Some friends from the Washington, DC area came and are staying with Bill and Monika, and we were all invited to the home of Monika's host family in Norwich for a cook-out. We took lots of pictures, as did everyone - I'm sure they'll have plenty of shots to send to Monika's family in Namibia. That's Monika right after receiving her diploma. And that's Jamie with in the very bright shirt way in the back with the video camera. Below, Monika with her host family, Joel, Signe (red dress) Soren and his sister Lila, who made the cake she's holding, and friend Rodney Johnson in the background. Everyone had a wonderful time. Good food and good company.

We stopped briefly at the Walmart Super Store in Woodsville on the way home. It's quite a nice store, and very few people were shopping. It was late on Saturday afternoon, so that probably was the reason. We've only been there a couple times since it opened - we get most things locally - but when we're in the vicinity, we like to check it out. We picked up a couple subs at the Subway there and brought them home for our supper. Subway wasn't busy, either.

Speaking of Subway - Dave Parker (who owns several in the Barre/Montpelier area) will be bringing out the 2010 Ice-Out Contest tickets sometime this week, I think. Diane Rossi and I will be getting them ready to hand out to JPA members at the meeting on July 4 (10 a.m.), and they will be available to anyone and everyone from then on. We'll leave some at Hasting's Store and probably Joe's Pond Country Store, too. It's surprising how many people are already asking for them. I'm not quite ready to begin thinking about Ice-Out yet! The ice is hardly out of the pond, and we had snow last week. I want some summer first!

Today was a pretty perfect June day. And I do mean pretty. I was over on the west side of town just before lunch time and as I traveled along the six miles or so from one side of town to the other, I caught the scent of apple blossoms and lilacs, warm earth and in a couple of places, new mown hay. Nothing quite like this time of the year.

I was making book deliveries - some of the Cabot Oral History books to the creamery gift shop ready for their big celebration next weekend, and to other people, some of the Historical Society books we published this year. I went to the Tebbetts farm off Ducharme Road. That's pretty country up there. I mentioned to Mary Tebbetts (she's Anson's mom) how lucky we are to live where we do. Mary's view is directly across the valley, looking east at the Cabot Plain area. She can also see the Bothfeld farm and I was really surprised when she told me she can see our Joe's Pond fireworks from her house.

As I was leaving, Mary exclaimed, "Oh, there's Tex!" and pointed towards the barn. "Tex" is a lovely, docile Texas Longhorn cow someone saved from the slaughter house and brought to Mary's farm for safe keeping. I took a couple of pictures and then saw a small nose poking through the slats of the gate where the big cow stood. It seems "Tex" had a liaison with a Jersey bull - so now there's a little guy - you can barely see him in the picture. He was very shy, and his mom seemed pretty protective, so I didn't argue. It crossed my mind, though that the little Jersey bull must have been pretty determined. "Tex" is not only a big animal, but I would think those horns would have made him think twice before getting fresh with her! Apparently his approach worked, and now mom and son are enjoying life at the Tebbetts farm. I'm glad "Tex" escaped become steaks and instead is a proud mother on one of the prettiest farms around, and getting good care.

We mowed the lawn today. Fred does most of it with the riding mower - I like to do around my flower beds and vegetable gardens with the walk-behind mower. It's good exercise, and it cuts the grass a little shorter than Fred's machine. Neither one of us likes to trim.

While we work, Woody slumbers. He has at least six beds of his own scattered throughout the house, so where does he want to sleep? On our bed, of course. He's gone outside now, and is sitting patiently in the garage waiting for Fred to put the mower away. His dish probably has an empty spot, and that always worries him. He likes to have plenty of food on hand all the time, even if he isn't going to eat right away. Quite often he'll let Fred know his food is low, Fred will fill his dish, and then Woody will ask to go out without eating a bite. We think it's just so he'll know he's got it there when he comes in hungry - just in case we're not around, I suppose. Smart, pampered beast.

I spoke with Homer Fitts yesterday (Monday). Homer said he's feeling much better now and his cancer is in remission. Very good news. He was sorry that he missed the Joe's Pond Association Spring Meeting, so I briefed him on some of the highlights. We'll have the minutes posted, but both Fred and I have been busy since the meeting. We've been checking the on-line directory, trying to catch any errors. If you notice an error, please let us know. I try to keep up with address changes, but I usually miss a few and newsletters are returned. I make the corrections to my address list and remail the newsletters, but then we have to update the on-line directory.

Here are some of the highlights of Saturday's meeting: Steve Larrabee reported that the Rail/Trail is way behind schedule. He said they are awaiting a decision on whether they'll need an Act 250 permit and the whole process is taking much longer than expected, but things are in place so when they get the go-ahead, things will happen fast.

Skye Nacel, who has a fitness business, spoke to us about perhaps having fitness classes, utilizing the rail-trail and the pavilion. More on that at the July 4th meeting.

The loon pair have two eggs that should be hatched around July 4th, according to Ray Richer. Again, he warned that we should give the loons plenty of room and not harass them in any way so if both eggs hatch, the chicks can be safe. Ray also said if you have erosion problems due to runoff from brooks or culverts, contact Kelli Merrell at: kelli.merrell@state.vt.us

You'll notice a difference in the sound level, I think, with the new ceiling in at the pavilion. We didn't have a really large group at the meeting Saturday, but I thought it seemed quieter when everyone was talking before and after the meeting.

Diane Rossi and I will be co-chairing the 2010 Ice-Out Contest. We will have Ice-Out tickets ready for you to pick up at the Annual Meeting on July 4th, and we'll strive to get your tickets to you before the end of the summer if you aren't at either the Annual or End of the Year Meeting. If we don't connect with you, we will be sending your ten to you so you can include them in holiday cards, etc. If you need more, just let us know and we'll send right out.

That's about it - you can read the minutes in a few days. I'll let you know when they are posted.

Fred got a picture of an Eastern Kingbird this weekend. We weren't sure what it was at first, but Fred was pretty sure it was in the flycatcher family.

On Saturday evening we were at Juniper's, a very pleasant restaurant on Darling Hill in Lyndonville, and stopped at the chapel owned by the Downings. It's a lovely spot and the chapel is very impressive. We took lots of pictures, but I'm posting only a few. It's open to the public and you can visit any time - it's worth seeing.

Here's a picture taken from the balcony showing the interior. The main floor sanctuary is equally lovely. The outside picture shows the building and the cross that has caused so much concern. Mr. and Mrs. Downing want to light the cross, but neighbors object.

The last photo is a view of diners on the deck at Juniper's. There is a breath taking view from the deck and the sunporch, where we sat. We thought it was a bit chilly and windy to eat outside, but several people were enjoying eating there. The food is very good and the wait staff are friendly and attentive.

We're going to be enjoying a stretch of very nice weather for the next few days, according to the forecast. I hope there will be no more frosty nights for a few months. Our gardens could use some nice warm days.

Elaine Metcalf added this to the pictures she sent yesterday:

We just love to watch and enjoy the birds. Cecil feeds them all year---we do take the feeders in at night! Our "visitor" was here, about 25 ft. away from the window at 4 p.m.

It's a contest to see just who gets to the camera first.

Elaine Metcalf