Waiting for Spring....

Well, as I sit here writing this post, I have the great pleasure of listening to the first thunderstorm of the season.  It's just a mild rumbler, but welcome none-the-less.  No matter that it comes while we still have snow on the ground...it is a sure sign that the weather is changing.  We've had a few very nice days and that has helped to melt much of the snow.

While I've been waiting for Spring to come, we decided that this year we would try our hand at collecting sap and making maple syrup.   I ordered 10 splines and tubes, drilled holes in my milk and orange juice cartons, and then into the trees.  I read up on the hows and whens...I was ready...all the weather needed to do was start being warm during the day with cold nights...so we waited...and waited..and finally the warmth came and the sap started to flow.  Wow, it looked just like water.  We lugged our full containers to the extra fridge in the back room until we had enough to start boiling.

But first...we needed a good place outside to do the boiling...so back I went to the internet...looking at DIY evaporators that we could quickly build.  I found a picture...pulled up the Lowes website, and ordered what i needed.  After picking up the cinder blocks, the building went rather quickly.   I also bought a large pan at the restaurant supply store nearby...and we were all set for our first experience maple syruping!

Here's the evaporator I built.

 And here is the all the syrup I have made in the last month and a half.

It tastes amazing!

While I was sitting outside finishing the last batch, I took this picture of Jack, our dog, having fun.  You can see some of the 'girls' having fun free-ranging too.

and last but not least...

Here's the newest members of the family!

These two cuties will be joining the big girls once they have grown up a bit.  They are safe and happy in the little brooder we made last year.  I still need to figure out some names for them...any suggestions?

Hope you are having a great week!

Blessings