It's said cats have nine lives. Perhaps that's true of the Blue Cat quilt that returned home to Castleton after 32 years of adventures that took it from Poultney, to Augusta, Ga., to Williston. The history of the quilt began in 1976 when a group of women decided to do something special to commemorate the bicentennial, reports the Rutland Herald. The theme was based on Catherine C. Coblentz's 1949 book "The Blue Cat of Castle Town." The blue and white quilt has six applique squares that depict three historic Castleton landmarks, three highlights from the book, and six geometric squares inside a border.Helen Nesbit of Poultney, who won the quilt in a raffle, gave it to her son who lived in Augusta, who in turn gave it to his son, Robert, who lives in Williston, who gave it back to the people of Castleton. The quilt will be displayed in the home of the Castleton Historical Society along with stories from the quilters and those of the Nesbit family who has been its caretaker all these many years.

The Estey Organ Co. of Brattleboro, built its 100,000 reed organ in 1880 and sent it on its way. It's baaaaaaaaack. A building demolisher near Pittsburgh found the organ in an old mansion, gave it to his son who then sold it. This particular organ was a Grand Salon model, covered with detailed carving, said the Brattleboro Reformer. It lost its original top sometime during the 130 years since it left the company, but is still in playing condition. Each organ has a different sound and the reeds incorporated into this organi gave it a grander sound."Every time we restore one...it's like bringing something back to life," said Nelson Schneider of the Estey Organ Bees. Once it is restored, No. 100,000 will be sent on it way for other generations to appreciate.

Government and software industry leaders are hoping to recruit more students into engineering and mathemaics through a national design competition. Vermont is the first state to participate in the Real World Design Challenge, according to the Rutland Herald. The program provides engineering software to schools where students then use that software to create a more fuel-efficient airplane and compete against other groups. It is believed these designs will result in patents or other applications. The program was coordinated by the Federal Aviation Administration, software giant Parametric Technology Corp., and others like the U.S. Department of Energy. Andrew Giroux, a student at Champlain Valley Union High School in HInesburg, was glad to see these kinds of contests now being offered in Vermont. It appears to be a win-win for teachers, students, and Vermont. Maybe even for airplanes.