Clocks Back - Is it Spring Yet?

 This is a beautiful spring-like morning, but I'm betting we will have a bit of winter before mud season and open water arrive. Last night I recorded a low of 11 degrees, but this morning the sun is bright and my outdoor thermometer sensor is reading 31.7 in the shade, I'm not sure if the storm headed in our direction will actually hit us or miss us this time, but we're ready. The Cabot road crew has pushed back the snowbanks on their roads so there will be room for more if necessary, and if not, the major runoff will be in the ditches, not on the road to add to the mud that is inevitable. Jamie has done the same on his driveway and on mine - plenty of room left to store snow!

Speaking of roads, Jamie cruised some of the roads around Joe's Pond last Friday and you will find those videos posted to YouTube. It will give snowbirds a glimpse of what their summertime world is like as we approach spring. We are nowhere near being at mud season, even though most of the roads are bare right now. The surface may get a bit wet and slimy, but there are no deep mud caverns to negotiate. Not yet. 

I've heard a number of people say they are expecting an easy mud season this year; but really, nobody knows. Mud season hasn't been as awful in later years, it seems to me, but I don't think anyone can really predict what it will be like. It will depend on how deep the frost is, the amount of rain we get later on in the spring, the material used on the road, it's base, and how much traffic is on it as it begins to thaw - plus a host of other factors. Like everyone else, I'll just hope for the best and lay in a good supply of food so I won't have to go anywhere if it gets really bad.

When I went to Jamie's YouTube site, I also played some of the TANK Band recordings. I really love hearing their distinctive sound - it takes me back about 35 years. These guys still get together regularly to practice - not for any special reason, but just because they are all good friends and enjoy making music together. They all have grownup families now - some are retired or semi-retired, others "thinking about it," but only from their 9-5 day jobs. They will never give up playing music. And they still sound great.

I trust everyone remembered to set their clocks ahead an hour before going to bed last night. I got all but one done. I left the one I have to use a stepladder to reach. I thought it best not to try to navigate a step ladder wearing a long robe and slippers. I will do that one today. All the others are easy to reach. 

I'm struggling to get one of my hearing aids to work this morning, and having only one operating is a bit disconcerting. I've reset the darned thing and it's now charging - so I'll have it back in an hour or so. If all goes well. This happens from time to time and I do have a backup set, but since I'm not going anywhere, I decided to just ride this out using only one. My backup aides require batteries and I don't have a large supply of them left. One of life's little annoyances. I cannot understand why some people resist wearing their hearing aids. I'm totally uncomfortable without mine. It always worries me that there will be some warning sound that I won't hear. I really like to be fully aware of my surroundings. I started a load of laundry downstairs this morning, but I cannot hear it. That makes me nervous.