March Birthdays

Today we Celebrated Grandma Toads Birthday after Church. Brunch, Bagels and doughnuts. Followed by a nice hike outside int the warm sunshine, down to the creek. Good to be home.

Sunday Peace

Ahh - the sign of a day well spent in the outdoors.Mud everywhere!!! Shoes, shirts, socks, hands, I guess i wouldn't have it any other way. We enjoyed a very Peaceful walk on part of the undeveloped Tree Farm. Heading down to the creek, skipping stones, throwing rocks, making discoveries of old junk. Rocks and used items carried home. sloshing feet in mud boots. Warm sunny skies - the sky was a brilliant Robins egg blue today. The Red wing Blackbirds were chirping up a storm!! Wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Sights of Spring . . .Transformation . . .

Only one week until officially spring.
things that are changing;

skunks are out
more roadkill
winter aconites
few crocus
MUD
buds swelling
sap dripping
birds singing
birds returning
Easter decorations going up
fuzzy chickies are out
Easter egg dyeing
Green cookies
Sunny skies
Rainy skies
Clouds

Contrasting with cool nights, freezing temps, sap that runs during the day and freezes in the spicket at night. Bright and pastel colors of flowers, nature, clothes.


Spring . . Transformation comes whether we are ready or not. I am ready. Are you?

Just a thought Thursday . . . . .

I value the friend who for me
finds time on his calendar,
but I cherish the friend who for me
does not consult his calendar.
Robert Brault

On and Off the needles

This Hat is almost done- 2 more rows and given the cold snowy weather of today there will be lots of time to wear it still.


This has been off the needles for a while but I did not have the ends woven in, I finally finished that and wore it today! It is yummy warm and the colors remind me of the spring that is yet to be. A week from Saturday I think!! How will you celebrate it's arrival?

Dinner Last night

German Puff Pancake

This is a family favorite, easy to make with Milk Flour Eggs
Served with sliced Lemons and Confectionery Sugar
Sometimes we saute Apples then It can be German Apple Pancake.
Paired with Fruit salad and sausages or such, always a hit.
I believe this is on the kids list of things they know how to make!

Maple Thoughts

Maple Thoughts

In his essay "Phases from Farm Life"
American Naturalist John Burroughs
says of Sugarmaking "Before the bud swells,
before the grass springs,
before the plow is started, comes the sugar harvest.
It is the sequel of the bitter frost; a sap-run
is the sweet good-by of winter."
-John Burroughs-"Phases of Farm Life"
From Maple Syrup Cookbook by Ken Haedrich

Maple Time is a sweet pleasure in life. It is another time,weather sensitive process. It cannot be hurried, it is time to sit, watch wait, keep the fire burning, whittle, knit, chat, split wood. It is a time like no other as it comes only once a year. It slows you down and gives you peace.
This is the start and finish of our efforts.
You must do this outdoors. You are essentially evaporating 40 gallons of sap for every gallon of Syrup. You do not want that moisture in your house! When you are at the very end- you must watch very carefully lest you not boil the sap over as we have had the experience on more than one occasion, that is bittersweet after hours of careful watch . . . . but the sweetness is like no other. So wherever you are - get out to a Sugar house this season. It is a timeless part of history. We are fortunate to still be able to enjoy. Another sweet pleasure is Sap Tea- taking a cup of warm sap as it is in the evaporating stage and adding a tea bag- you will have tea like this only once a year. Enjoy!!