Saturday, February 28, 2009

awaiting Spring...

Despite the fact that today started out at 17 degrees, there were definitely some hints of Spring earlier in the week: the pussy willow buds are just starting to show a little peek of white fuzziness, the days seem suddenly longer as it is still light out at dinnertime,
our snow cover has dwindled {for now anyway} to random patches... ...and I go no where outdoors without my muck boots...

And, I've resumed my afternoon nature walks with a new purpose...helping to collect sap from our maples...

as tomorrow we will try our hand at making maple syrup for the first time.
Stay tuned...
~Deb



23 comments:

  1. Lucky you! to be able to collect sap.! Maple is one of my favorites! I don't go out without my muckers either! The one thing I dis-like about spring,MUD. Three labradors and mud, don't make for a good match.

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  2. Anonymous4:16 PM

    Just wanted to let you know I love your blog. Hope you're enjoying collecting sap-wish we had some sugar maples on our property!

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  3. I am excited that you are going to collect sap for syrup. I hope you post the whole process. I have never seen it done and know little or nothing about it except it tastes yummy!

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  4. Ooh! That's exciting! I can't wait to hear about the syrup process!

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  5. Here in central Arkansas we are currently experiencing heavy snow showers!!! It's not that cold, but feels like it! I can't wait for late Spring when the last chill has left the air! I'm curious about the maple syrup making--it's one of my favorite flavors! Love your photos!

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  6. How neat! You will have to let us know how it turns out. I would not have any idea on how to do something like that.

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  7. I'm feeling the same way, can't wait for Spring! We also had a very cold morning (in the teens), but it was a beautiful sunny day!

    Glad you are back!

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  8. I took the puppy for a walk out back...he hopped off the flagstone path with ease...I followed and ended up to my knees...MUD!

    Let us know how the syrup comes out...
    Susie

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  9. Growing up our parents would let us boil the sap beyond syrup stage to make snow taffy.Spoonfuls of thick syrup were drizzled on the snow then rolled on to a popsicle stick to make the most wonderful treat ever.Wish I could be making syrup this year.We only have 2 maples not enough sap to make it work for our family. Good luck with yours.

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  10. Anonymous9:27 AM

    Good luck with the sap collecting - I can't wait to see the results and I hope you share the process!

    Manuela

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  11. Loking forward to the syrup experience!

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  12. When we lived upstate NY our neighbors used to make their own maple syrup. And they shared! Yummy!

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  14. Just reading you thoughtful musings gives me hope for spring to renew us and erase this looooong winter. I remember making maple syrup with my mother when I was a child and it created so must steam that the wallpaper in the kitchen began to come loose. Be careful . . .

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  15. You are so lucky to have definite signs of spring. Here we are still under a few feet of snow, I hope this week brings us signs of spring as well.

    Have fun collecting sap for maple sugar, and maple syrup.

    God bless.

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  16. Oooh, maple syrup!! Sounds so good! We don't have maples here in Denmark, but some people tap the birch trees for an exquisite drink! Thanks for a peek of spring!!

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  17. Have fun making maple syrup...hope it goes well. I love the stuff, but it has gotten very expensive in this country --£5 for a little bottle! :o(

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  18. The closest I get to pussy willows here in Tucson is finding them at Michael's craft store. I love your maple syrup outdoor activity and the idea of actually making syrup to use. What a lovely thing to do.

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  19. oh how I can't wait for spring!!!! I love your muck boots! I definitely need a pair for myself!!! :)

    Did you receive my thank you note in the mail? :)

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  20. i just had to say hello-

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  21. How I love pussy willows!!!!! I've never found any growing around here, so would you believe I actually BOUGHT some last year?!!!!! They're still here in a vase keeping me happy.

    I thought spring was coming here, too. And then, last night, we got 7 inches of the white stuff! LOL Here we go again! hehehehe

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  22. Anonymous9:16 AM

    I've read your blog for quite a while, just got the Artful Blogger magazine a while ago, and was so pleased to find an article on you and your blog! :-) I thought I'd come out of the shadows and leave a comment! I, too, am awaiting spring... and we just got a dumping of snow that is more than we usually get in this area! Oh well, my daffodils are peeking up, which is a hopeful sign!

    God Bless,
    Kate

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  23. Oh Jealous...in my previous job I helped tap sugar maples and boil the sap into syrup each year. It was a nature center and we did it for school groups etc. It's cold, boring work at times, but the end result is well worth it.
    Enjoy!

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Thank you for taking time to leave a comment--I love reading each and every one! I will try to answer any questions you have in the comment section. Due to the amount of spam, I am sadly no longer able to accept Anonymous comments....Kindly, Deb

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