Iris

When I got downstairs this morning I said to my Mom, "What is all that stuff on the ground?"

Straight faced she answered, "Oh that? It's frosting. Snow is coming tomorrow though."

I'll let you know if she is right or not, I'm hoping for not....

3-29-12 --just another layer of frosting overnight--

In the Woods

There are signs of spring wherever we look. The ice is broken on the "bog", water is flowing free under the bridge, the piles of snow are melting, and we can walk out to the taps. 

It's actually unfortunate that we can walk to the taps, we prefer to take the snow machine out into the woods. Right now all our taps run into buckets on each individual tree. As we look toward the future we'd like to get lines that will run from tree to tree and into a central location for collection. 

The sap is slowly dripping it's sweetness from the trees. Today Dad spent some time working outside and boiling down more sap. He brought in several large yogurt containers inside to finish boiling at a later date. We haven't had a "good run" yet of sap, but expect one soon.

Plans are being finalized as to the amount of fencing to put up this year. It looks like the chickens and ducks are going to get about 100 foot square yard to run free in, which include the duck pond, some shade trees, a little hill, and a lot of grass to scratch in.

Preparing

We are all busy fixing, planning, shifting, sugaring, collecting, mapping, counting, celebrating, dreaming, reading, learning, and discussing.

There is an air of energy, preparation, and expectation in the house.

• Preparing to have one less person in the house as Ben has started the process of moving out. 
• Preparing a map of the back yard as we plan out things like: fences, coops, and gardens. 
• Preparing for the future as Dad considers almost doubling our taps to 100, if he and Jason could make a few more roads this summer. 
• Preparing for canning by sending Jason to work with an order for jars and lids.
• Preparing the living room to open it up for daycare as we have decreased their space when we increased the family size.
• Preparing to switch gears from winter to spring.
• Preparing ourselves for a "baby" who keeps getting older and will in a year be officially "full grown".
• Preparing a lists: seeds that we have, seeds we need to purchase, and plants to buy when it's time.

Saturday Snaps