We've really had a taste of spring today!  This morning the sun was brightly shining and temperatures got up into the low 40s, but by noon, the sun was fading, and tonight the thermometer is hovering right around 32 degrees, so if we get the rain that was predicted, it will probably coat everything with ice - again.   This picture was taken at about 9:30 this morning.  Not a cloud to be seen!

Woody enjoyed the change in the weather this morning, too.  He was outside for quite a while, but finally got tired of just sitting on the deck with nothing much moving anywhere, so came back in and stretched out on the windowsill in the sun.

We went to Cabot and Walden this afternoon to distribute Ice-Out tickets.  Lots of folks were out and about - the roads were slushy, but perfectly passable.  The road crew here in Cabot was out with the grader pushing the snowbanks back to help open the ditches a bit in case we get rain.  The cattle at the Burtt farm were enjoying the weather, even though by this afternoon when we went by, the sun had clouded over.  There was no sign the Burtts have been in the woods to tap trees yet, but their sugar house was well plowed, so they are probably getting ready.  It's a rule of thumb that farmers should be tapping by town meeting day.

I had this message from Camilla Dente today:  

Hi Jane,
What a gift I received on Valentines Day - A new knee!  I had a complete knee done on Friday Feb 14.  What a gift from Tom! But seriously, we have been in the preparation for this surgery from the end of 2013 to St. Valentines day. It was a long training and preparation path but so worth the result. All is going according to the Doctor's and Hospital's Plan. I hope to be back walking as soon as possible, if this darn weather gets better.
The weather here certainly makes it easy staying inside and recuperating.   Camilla

We are so glad the operation is over with and she is doing well.  Isn't it wonderful what modern medical procedures can do for us these days?

We also received a message from Homer - he just loves to rub our noses in the snow and cold weather while he basks in the Florida sunshine, but I don't think I would have traded our weather today, even for this:

ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL SUNNY DAY HERE.       80 ABOVE AND NOT A CLOUD IN THE SKY.     MARGARET AND SUZANNE WENT TO THE BEACH THIS MORNING AND ARE NOW AT THE POOL.    SUE AND I WENT TO THE POOL THIS MORNING AND ARE HERE NOW ON THE PATIO IN THE SUN.     SITTING HERE WITH A BREEZE OFF THE LAKE.

    SUE KEEPS MENTIONING HOW NICE THIS PLACE IS AND ALSO THE GREAT WEATHER.      LATER THIS AFTERNOON OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SOCIAL WILL BE HERE FROM FOUR TO SIX AND MAYBE SIX-THIRTY.

ANYWHERE FROM 25 - 35 PEOPLE EXPECTED.     OUR NEIGHBORS ARE SO FRIENDLY !

                                    LOVE AND BLESSINGS TO ALL,

                                                                HOMER AND MARGARET