Mother Nature gives — and takes away — and gives again

I think Mother Nature likes to dance. Her recent weather pattern sounds a bit like a ballroom dance step: Snow. Snow. Snow, rain, snow.

So it did rain in Vermont on Sunday/Monday, but it switched back to snow rather quickly in the mountains. Many places in Vermont picked up three to seven inches of fresh snow in the last 24 hours — and a bit more at some of the highest elevations.

Here in the Champlain Valley, I enjoyed some nice cross-country skiing on Saturday before the rain set in on Sunday/Monday. We then saw our green lawns again, but not for long. They are white once again! Lazy snowflakes are falling as I write.

Now temperatures are downright chilly, making for excellent snowmaking weather. And the mountain forecast calls for flurries and snow, to boot.

Check out the National Weather Service mountain point forecast here. It applies to our higher elevations in the state:

<link http: www.erh.noaa.gov btv mountain point>www.erh.noaa.gov/btv/mountain/point/

Bolton Valley Resort said this morning that it has reopened trails to regain Sunday's trail count of 21. Meanwhile, Mad River Glen says they need more snow this week to open on Friday. Cross your fingers...