Grange summer: potluck, rentals, projects and chicks

When we decided to have our first sort-of-post-COVID potluck dinner after our June meeting, we weren’t sure how many people would show up.  It was still over a week before Gov. Scott announced the end of most pandemic restrictions–and it was one of the beautiful June days, as well!
In the event, we had a small but very convivial gathering for dinner, welcoming people from Jericho and Burlington, as well as Grange members from closer to home.   All of us were vaccinated, so we ate, unmasked, in the relatively cool Main Hall, rather than setting up outside.  As usual, we had great food, too!

       Since we had so much tasty fun, we’ve decided to reprise this event around the middle of July, so put 6:00 PM, July 17th on your calendar.  We won’t try to have a formal Grange meeting, but we will invite you to renew the social bonds that are a traditional part of Grange–along with good food to share!   We will set up tables outside, on the shady North end of the Hall, so we can eat outside.  We won’t be restricting this to those with vaccinations, but we ask that unvaccinated folks wear a mask if they are indoors, and maintain some “social distance”.   The Grange (at all levels from National to State to Community Granges) encourages everyone who can to get vaccinated, of course!
As Merry has often said, “you’re going to eat anyway, why not do it with a bunch of friends?”.   Bring whatever you want, we frequently get:  hot dishes, cold dishes, vegetables, salads, soups, breads, cheeses, butter, chips, dips, cookies and cupcakes, even ice cream…your choice!  We always have lots of food, so even if you aren’t able to bring something, odds are good that there will be plenty to eat.
We will provide serving utensils/plates/glasses/bowls/spoons, forks & knives–besides that we just need you!

• Maintain the “sand catcher” for the driveway culvert–Lewis Neill built a “settling pool” to keep sand and small rocks from clogging the new culvert he put under the top end of the driveway (see the picture below) in 2007.   Every big downpour fills it up, and I have trouble keeping up with clearing it out.  Just requires a hoe or shovel, and being willing to keep an eye on it.  Contact Tim:  swartztim15@gmail.com and let me know!
• Weed & water the gardens–we have a variety of plants and flowers around both entrances, thanks to past work by volunteers.  We’ve got an outdoor faucet, and could buy a hose (or get one donated).   Is there someone who could stop by occasionally and check out the flower beds, and weed and water as needed?  Contact Tim or Merry:  merrykaysings@gmail.com.  I’m putting a few pictures of the current state at the bottom of this newsletter.
• Bakers take notice:   we’d like to contribute baked goods for the VT State Grange to sell on July 2nd through 5th, at the Vermont Welcome Center rest area in Sharon.   The proceeds go to support the State Grange Center in Brookfield, that provides a summer camp experience for Grange youth, for Fall Festival, and facilities for other organizations to rent.   If you can, contact Ruth Hovey-Sicely:  ruthsicely@aol.com
• Little Free Library:  At our May meeting, we agreed that having a small, voluntary lending library, part of the Little Free Library movement would be a great idea.   We are still looking for a volunteer to build the outdoor box with doors that would be needed, to be mounted perhaps on our Old Entrance porch.   Interested?  Contact Tim.
• Flushing the on-demand water heater:  Calcium “scale” can build up in the heat exchanger, and needs to be flushed out out with vinegar, ideally every year.   I did it in mid-June, and can now give you a tutorial, if you can take this on as an annual chore.  Contact Tim…

On the left is one of the old fans–looks impressive, but doesn’t move much air, according to the “smoke pencil” tests I’ve done, and the blower-door test by Bill Hulstrunk.

On the right is an image from the seller of the fan we are planning to buy–in our case we’ll attach it to a duct to direct the air outside, to avoid the moisture condensing inside the attic during cold months.

  ….for a couple more days.

The Eastern Phoebes

which

nested in the

Old Entrance

hatched

(I think)

all 5

of the eggs

they laid

in late May.

Now there are

only 2 nestlings,

which still seem

to take up

all the room!

I expect they will

fledge pretty

soon.

The sand-filled-rectangle to the left of the grass should be an empty space, to hold sand and small stones settling out of the water which rushes to the opening for the culvert.  Needs regular clearing, with repeated thunderstorm downpours!  Otherwise, water runs around and makes a gully in the driveway.

Our lush, but unkempt flower beds by the ADA and Old entrances:

 

• 4-8th grade contestants and families wait to check in–contact info was recorded and kept for 30 days.
• Mike and Kindergarten-3rd grade contestants are getting ready for some hot chess competition.
• K-3 players were spread out downstairs…
• …and upstairs.
• Corinne is keeping track of the moves