A Sweet Memory

Sure enough, days have flown by and Maple Season is long gone. 

This year we were blessed to be able to have enough trees on our own property to not have to run around elsewhere. 

But one of the things we didn't have was a sugar shack.  But there was a rickety old frame of something that might have been a chicken coop once upon a time. And this funny frame is what we chose to recreate into the temporary Sugar Shack.

All the spiles, and buckets were pulled out and washed, and the weather forecast watched diligently for the first "run" of the sap.

One warmer weekend (ok, so it was warmer compared to the average temp back then!!) Josiah decided it was time, and grabbing his hand drill and some taps, went out to the big clusters of Maples in between the house and the pole barn to start the Maple Syrup season!

The first hung bucket of the year.

So, we ran out of time, and funds for the sugar shack, and since we are hoping to re-purpose this building for something else, and build a proper shack in the future, we decided that tarps and plastic were going to have to do for now. :)

The man and his shack.

Inside, once Josiah had the boiler set up, and running, and with the sun coming in the front, it really was quite warm in there.

One of the best parts, I think, is going around each day, up and down the back hills, to collect the sap, and see how much each tree produced.

Since this was the first year tapping these trees, Josiah took a detailed chart with him and tested, and documented each trees sugar content every time!

Another awesome part about the season is the smell. Seriously someone should discover how to bottle up Maple Syrup scent and sell it!! 

Last year we tried making Maple Sugar for the first time!! And it was an amazing success. Somehow with stirred Maple Sugar, you get more sugar than the syrup you start with! And it's very good too. ;)

Half the fun this year, was having people over to show everything to. 

And of course once all the work is done, a pancake/waffle supper is just the thing!

Josiah put 55 taps in all on our property, and the total syrup intake this year, was over 12 gallons! Here's hoping for more next year!

Yes, it's been a while since Maple Syrup season was over with... things have been piling up so fast here, that I haven't had a chance to share. But it was a immense success, and now a sweet memory.

~Chs

They're Back!!!!

Some of you might remember our dear goats Fiona and Java, that lived with us for several years during our first farming ventures at Lily Spring Farm.
Well, once again there are Goats inhabiting the Sauve farm.
And strangely enough they bear an uncanny resemblance to our last goaty duo.

Please meet......

 Phlox, a full size sweet heart Saanen Doe.

 And a little brown spotted Mini Nubian Doe, named Pansy!

So Hello everybody! We've got milking Goats back!!

~Chs

The Coming of Spring

Spring is coming in slow and steady. Which is actually quite nice. A gentle melt does less damage. :)

Faith has been looking forward to planting her seeds ever since we finished harvesting last fall, so  she tried starting early seeds this year in Milk Jugs! ... but there will be more details on that later.

The first "meltage" began around the trees, making neat little rings around their trunks.

The moss started showing in the bog, the tussocks peeking up through the ice and snow that was loosening it's grip on the world.

Rubber Boots became a necessity as the spring continued to encroach on us.

The duckies were especially thrilled, but not content with their mud puddles, they enjoyed using their water dishes as bath tubs!! :)

Pretty soon there was enough bare ground to let the poultry wander outside of their enclosures, both Ducks and Chickens.

Now I know I'm going to have a hard time convincing you this is a Chicken. I know... half the time I think he is a Rabbit myself. But yes indeed this is a Rooster of the Silkie variety of Chickens... he goes by the names of: "Little Blue Dragon", "The guy in grey sweatpants", "Mr. Rabbit" or sometimes... "Rocky Balboa" (and yes that is an inside joke that I'm not going to explain) 

As the warmth continued and the marsh and bog came into view in all it's mysterious beauty, we found that there are SO many different kinds of moss growing in and around our acre and a half of wetland.

The tussocks that rise out of the water are each covered with these varieties of moss. Some of the "islands" have trees sprouting out of the spongy peat moss.

Another sign of spring are some lovely apple blossoms that are blooming... indoors :) 

We brought in some of the trimmings from the pruning we did, stuck them in a jar of water, and they leafed, budded and bloomed. Sometimes in life, the sharp, hard, cutting back that God gives us, can produce the most beautiful, fragrant flowers.

~Chs

Craft Day

It's been a couple weeks now, since Faith and I had a wonderful time with our church ladies for a craft day.

We all got together on a Saturday with our various projects for a fun day of fellowship.

Faith brought along Josiah's tatted flag for show and tell. 

There was such a large variety of projects going on. Faith was knitting slippers, Miss Beth was crocheting a sweater...

Baby just charmed everyone.. :)

There was a Panda being painted for a wall hanging.

Complex and beautiful beaded bracelets being made.

More wall hangings painted.

Other artistic paintings. 

And of course when you get a group of people together... you must have food! And there was some pretty tasty offerings.

Painting was a favorite occupation among the little girls. And there were some rather pretty pieces of art as a result!

Little Gracie girl enjoyed the pickles that were there. :)

One of the girls brought this impressive purple cake! It just matched Miss Ronda's shirt!

Friends!

The stunning finished bracelet!

We also had some creative embossing being done! So much going on.

But the best part of it all, was the wonderful conversations and sweet Christian fellowship we were able to enjoy!

~Chs