Tangible Joy

The crocuses have blossomed, and they are drops of laughter,

Little cups of sunshine,

Tangible Joy.

And I love them very much.

A Sweet Ending Story

Maple Syrup production is in full swing, but a lot went into getting to the point where we can enjoy the sweetness whenever we so desire (which is rather often to be honest).  First was the building of the sugar shack, on some of the coldest and nastiest days of course.  Josiah built it with pallets, filling in the gaps with extra wood to create nice solid walls.  He topped it off with a metal roof, complete with a sophisticated vent to let the steam escape.  Next they had to set up their brand new, truly real, evaporator.  Very shiny, fancy, and efficient.

We were able to procure a large supply of buckets and spiles from an elderly friend of ours who has been making syrup for decades. As soon as the weather had reached the appropriate height, out went the buckets to capture the dripping sap.

Once 40 gallons had been collected, we started the boiling-down process.  Josiah is our master maple syrup maker.  He babies the fire, watches the boiling, decides when to draw off, and when to put in; in short, he makes sure everything runs smoothly.

The magnificent structure.

So if anyone is interest in Pure Maple Syrup, we have it here! :)  And for those of you who are interested in knowing the behind the scenes, Josiah is going to be boiling for the next 2 days at least, and would be happy to tell you anything you want to know!

~Chs

2 Days in My Life

This year my birthday was a little different in an entirely good way.  Every Thursday, Mom, Faith and I volunteer at the Pregnancy Resource Center's Clothes Closet.  We have many friends there, and one of them, dear Kathy Brandt, has a birthday just 1 week before mine (and exactly 60 years earlier!)  We had planned a little party for her and I.

We made a carrot cake.  Mumsie and I and had much fun shaping and decorating the cake.

This darling little Duckie was the end result! :) 

 We had a delightful party, although sadly Kathy Brandt was not feeling well and couldn't make it.

I am very blessed with wonderful friends and family!! 

Friday morning started out rainy but warm and wonderful, with decadent crepes filled with Strawberry/Blueberry sauce making up our breakfast. 

Later that day I took my Ducklings out for a dabble in the mud.  It was their very first outing out back, and my first walk in our back yard since I tore my MCL.

{When fashion is beaten by practicality and comfort. :P}

It was a lovely time outside and I am so grateful for the warmer weather.

That evening we had a party! Josh, Theresa, and Grace joined us. 

Turkey Cordon Bleu, Oven Roasted Squash, Canned Green Beans, Mashed Potatoes, and Raspberry Pears!  Delicious and filling.

Our dessert that evening strayed from the normal Birthday dessert for 2 reasons. We had cake the day previous (and Cake and Ice Cream after dinner is always too much for me) and I LOVE Ice Cream Sandwiches.  So, I made them! :)  They were awesome! 

 {Flowers: they know me well}

I am so grateful for having been placed into this wonderful, real life, unique, wise, down to earth, farming family.  I also thank God for the 22 years of life He has given me, and pray that I might use the next year to His glory!

~Chs

Passover Seder

This past Sunday we were blessed to be able to participate in a Messianic Seder meal that our Aunt Carmen and Uncle Tim's church puts on every year.

Mom, Faith, Josiah and I planned to attend, and we arrived early to help out in the kitchen.

We peeled 3 dozen eggs, peeled and chopped 3 bags of apples, and washed and picked parsley.

Josiah helped out in the hall setting up tables and putting all the place settings where they belonged.

Rabbi Glen, the speaker at this event, is a wonderful energetic man, a Messianic Jew with a heart for proclaiming the story of his Creator and Savior!

Glen took us through the Passover, pointing out so many Messianic symbolisms.  It is almost overwhelming and so thrilling to see Jesus Christ woven throughout.

Different parts of the Passover: parsley dipped in salt water, Haroset, boiled eggs, and "bitter herbs" / Horseradish.

It was a wonderful re-enlightening time, and we enjoyed the fellowship and the ability to serve.  Hopefully we will be able to do so again next year!

~Chs

The Cute Coot

Recently we have had a few unique visitors to our temporarily enlarged pond.  First there was a gaudy pair of Merganser Ducks.  My ducks were not at all sure about these intruders and wanted to chase them away, but the Mergansers just dove out of the way.

But the next little bird that investigated our waterway was much more friendly, and not quite as brilliant as the Mergansers, but oh so strangely adorable and loveable!

He is the American Coot, or as we call him, our "Cute Coot".  He looks like an odd combination of a chicken, a duck, a dinosaur and I am not sure what else.

He is not shy and so curious, and at this point Josiah has made friends with him; the Coot will come pretty close for treats.  We are thrilled to be able to closely observe such a unique and mesmerizing part of God's creation.  Coots are fascinating.

~Chs

Bits and Pieces of March

 The weather this March has been bouncing from freezing, to just above, to a glorious 40 or 50, then back down below freezing.  This has created for some beautiful landscape, including a week ago when we had a dump of 3-4 inches of snow, and that combined with the wind made some lovely patterns that were beautiful to see.

Just a few days later, we had a warm up (anything above 30 is a warm up here) and my ducks were thrilled with all the puddles it created!!

The "warm up" was followed by a few freezing single-digit mornings which formed some absolutely marvelous frost formations.

Another fun bit of March.. is... Ducklings!!! 

They just "happened" to be on sale at a TSC I walked into (to be honest I called a few of them to find if anywhere had a sale on them).

So 4 darling little Runner Ducklings came home; one of them has the most ridiculously adorable crest (Topsy) and they all have riotously hilarious personalities.

March also means starting seeds and looking forward to gardening.

"The love of dirt is among the earliest of passions" ~Charles Dudley Warner

Happiness held is the seed, happiness shared is the flower.

"The love of gardening is a seed which once sown never dies." ~Gertrude Jekyll

Yesterday was (according to the calendar) the first day of spring.  It didn't quite reflect this optimistic statement outside, but nevertheless we believe it is coming, and to celebrate this fact we had a wonderful evening as a family watching one of my absolutely favorite movies, and definitely THE spring movie of all time "The Secret Garden". 

At the moment I am unable to get out and check on how spring is coming along due to an accident early this week which has left me couch bound and crutches reliant.  But hopefully as I sit inside, outside.. spring is coming.

"Is spring coming?" he said. "What is it like? You don't see it in rooms if you are ill." 

"It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine, and things pushing up and working under the earth."


~Chs