Pond Thaw

This is significant. It is April 9th, nearly the 10th since it's after 8pm. On my way home tonight after work I can finally say our pond is finally free of ice. I think maybe there was one small spot left, but it may have just been leaves or the reflection. Last year the pond was thawed by the middle of March, which shows just how much colder this winter has been. They were boiling at the sugar house when I passed it too, and I'm pretty sure they collected for the last time. Bucket washing will probably be next weekend, but I do have to work bot Saturday and Sunday. The temperatures have climbed into the 60's today and tomorrow, and maybe 70 on Monday, and today was mostly sunny, but we do have some rain in the forecast. It does feel like Spring is coming now.

My daughter and son-in-law and two granddaughters left for their yearly 2 weeks in Cabo San Lucas. I hope they survivied the plane ride and are happily enjoying the sun and warmth. They have time share there and return every April to the place they actually got married three years ago. It was a beautiful wedding, just like the one up here in Middlebury last year. Its exciting seeing them start their lives just like we started ours so many years ago. They have everything ahead of them.

Is it really April?

Mother Nature delt most of the New England area an April Fool's joke with a big nor'easter snowstorm that dumped close to a foot of snow in some locations. I woke up yesterday morning expecting vivid white everywhere, but all that was out there was the snow that still hasn't melted from our unusually long winter. There wasn't a flake or a flurry anywhere, despite the warning that snow would develop shortle after midnight. My drive to work was effortless, I only encountered a bit of rain/snow mixture my last few miles, and certainly nothing that was causing more than wet roads. Last night, as the temperatures dropped to freezing, the snow did begin sticking to the trees and open grass a bit, and now, this morning, there is still a light dusting that will disappear quickly as the sun rises higher in the sky. Hard to believe its even April. We did warm up into the 50's on Thursday, but we need lots of days with high temperatures to warm up the ground. On the plus side, the sap is still running like crazy. Even with the warmer temperatures, many of the maple trees are still sitting in a foot or more of snow, so who knows when they will decide to bud and stop producing sap. This time last year, the sugar season was already over.

Nevertheless, we know Spring will somehow arrive here in the next few weeks. The maternity store that I work in will be going thru some major changes in the next month. Maybe once it warms up we will start to see more sales of Spring and Summer clothes. I think that is what is hurting our sales right now. And then, I will be starting with nearly a completely new staff by May. In some ways I am anxious to put together my own team that might just manage to somehow work together. I want to put so much blame on my assistant manager, but I guess I also need to look at myself and see where I really need to improve. The turnover here is crazy, that really needs to get under control. I can't put my finger on exactly what is causing it, and what would improve it. I am off for the next few days, maybe giving myself a chance to get things together, and go back next Thursday ready to face what's ahead of me.

Mild days, warm sun, melting ponds, leaves, flowers, and a new staff of team members. Its all in the forecast!