Spring?

 Does this look like spring to you? It doesn't to me, and last night was anything but springlike, too. We had an overnight low of 9 degrees!  When I looked at my thermometer at 7 a.m., the sun was already shining on it and it read 25 degrees, so I knew the day was only going to get better. Now, at almost noon, the snow is falling off the big evergreen trees by my driveway and the road is back to mud - although, not the deep, sinking kind we sometimes experience in the spring. Thankfully, our road (West Shore Road) has been really ok except for some washboard and puddles. So far, so good!

I measured another four inches of new snow this morning, making it six inches in all from this two-day storm. It's pretty and clean, all that white snow, but we've had it long enough and it seems only fair for us to be able to pull out of winter and get going on some real spring weather. Sometimes we have to remind ourselves that Joe's Pond has its own micro-climate. Those of us who live here or in the immediate vicinity, need to accept that it is colder, the growing season is shorter, and it's often harsher here than two miles in almost any direction. The exception would be in Walden. Their weather is much like ours, only more so. We're in a snow belt, there's more wind, deeper cold, and in an electrical storm it often seems that we are too darned close to the heavens above. If nothing else, living here gives us bragging rights about lots of things other folks never experience. But sometimes we could do without all those perks. 

After I took my bird feeder down this weekend, the weather turned sour and we began to get snow. I found several birds sitting patiently in the maple tree when I opened the window shade Monday morning, and of course I felt sorry for them and put the feeder out again.  I measured two inches of new snow, cleared my deck and figured that would be it. It snowed off and on all day Monday here (but nowhere else!) and it didn't build up much, so when I went out this morning and found another four inches, I was really discouraged. Once againI cleared the deck and filled the bird feeder. The birds are happy - I may leave the feeder out at least for the rest of this week since we are expecting warmer weather. Once the snow is gone again, I will take the feeder down again - hopefully for the last time this season!

I thought you might like to read the follow-up plans about wake-sports legislation. Responsible Wakes for Vermont Lakes sent this update this morning: Wake Boat Update