We're thinking it's time to break out our mud boots. Today has been one of those beautiful, warm spring days we usually get in April. Thermometer's soared into the 60's - maybe even hit 70 in the sun. We could almost hear the snow melting.

I went out in our back yard around 9 a.m. to measure the total snow depth and take a core sample. I was totally surprised that I could walk on the crusty snow without breaking in. That part was nice, but getting the core sample wasn't as easy as it is when the snow is soft. Then I had to dig out enough to be able to retrieve my measuring tube, but I went equipped with a sharp shovel, my trusty spatula to hold the snow in place when I lift the tube, and of course my yard stick and snow pan. It's quite a procedure, and I've only done it a few times this winter. We are asked to try to do it once a week, and I'll probably do that from now on, but when it's bitter cold and blowing, I don't get too excited about wading into the storm to measure the snow.

I measured 16 inches on the ground, and the water content was 4.38 inches. I'm not going out to see how much snow we've lost during the day. I'll try to measure it again next Monday - if we have any left. The forecast for every day this next week is for warm days and some showers. You can tell by the water on the ice that shows in this picture, we're on our way to real spring, with open water in the not-too-distant future.

Again, we're wondering what is going to happen in the Ice-Out Contest. Will the contest be over before the usual April 1st close, or will we get another cold snap that will hold things over into April? It's really hard to know.

I was in Cabot this morning and talking with Carlton Domey who said some of our local sugar makers were just getting their taps in. It's hard to understand why they would wait so long - several places we know of have had some good runs, one I think even in February. Most folks, even in years when the weather has been normal, plan to have their trees tapped by town meeting day. In a year like this, with such quirky weather, it was hard to judge, but I think most everyone figured on an early sugaring season.

I haven't been down to the pond, but I wouldn't be surprised to see that Ray Richer, our Ice-Out technician, has the apparatus out on the ice already. Most of the shanties were off by this weekend - a weak ahead of the actual deadline, although I think the law says they must be off by "March 25th or when the ice becomes unsafe, whichever comes first." Some years we've had such foul, cold weather, Ray wasn't able to get the flag out until after April 1st, and that had a few people confused since they know the contest is over on April 1st. But then it isn't over until the ice is actually gone, and some years that's been early May. We don't mean to confuse folks, but dealing with Vermont weather - especially Joe's Pond weather - all too often leads not only to confusion, but downright frustration. Like when the Sherwoods come to ski and it rains the whole two weeks they're here; or the family shows up for their July vacation and end up huddled by the fire and raiding the thrift shop in Danville for sweaters, parkas, long pants and mittens. Of course, the weather can turn on us in other ways, too - like long stretches of boiling hot sun that scorches gardens, evaporates the water in the pond, and leaves vacationers lobster red and sore. The fish won't bite and there's nothing moving - an nights are hot as a sauna. Rare at Joe's Pond, but it happens.

So I did some research at the town clerk's office, checked in at the general store and chatted with Claudette at the post office. I found out our car phone (On-Star) doesn't work in the village or even on the Plain until we're almost within shouting distance of home. I was able to call home from the intersection of Cabot Plains Road and Bolton Road which leads directly to the farm where the AT&T cell tower is on one of the big silos. I didn't really need to call Fred, but we wondered where along the road the car phone would pick up a signal. We usually have better luck when we're further away from home. And I guess that's the good news.