The Old Farmer's Almanac offers the following prediction for New England's weather this month.

   January 2006

   Avg. Temperature:  12° (8° below avg.)
   Precipitation:      2" (1" below avg.)
   Jan. 1-3:    Mild, rain and snow
   Jan. 4-12:   Mild, rain and snow showers
   Jan. 13-19:  Snow, then sunny; bitter cold
   Jan. 20-24:  Cold, flurries
   Jan. 25-27:  Sunny, bitter cold
   Jan. 28-31:  Snow, then seasonable

Instead, we have been having what can best be described as "Yo Yo Weather" with temperatures jumping and dropping within 24 hours by as much as 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Last Saturday, temps peaked in the 50's, we were splashing around in spring runoff, digging little trenches to help the pastures drain, as 6 inches of snow swiftly melted.   The horses enjoyed warm sunshine penetrating their winter coats.   Grass which had been lying quietly under the snow started to stand back up again and dance in the wind.

Sunday, temperatures fell to 4 degrees Fahrenheit.   What is that about?   And when it warmed up to the 20's, more snow fell.

The past few days, we have been back in the 50's.   The horses are outside without rugs again.   Water is draining off the fields.   No doubt it will all freeze over again in a few days time and winter will return with a vengence.

Meanwhile, we're enjoying the fact that this year The Old Farmer's Almanac was a wee bit off in their weather predictions.