Our Maple syrup adventure

The coming of spring brings us outside again after using the cold, snowy months planning out all the projects we could dream of.  Our first harvest of the season was maple sap.  A simple but time consuming process that yields a sweet reward.  Being our first maple season we didn't want to overwhelm ourselves by taking on a huge project.  We borrowed 4 buckets and spigots from a friend and tapped 4 maples near the house.  When we began, we agreed to be quite happy if this adventure gave us enough syrup for one special meal.  We had no idea what to expect.

We had marked our maple trees with yellow tape in the fall

We drilled holes

Hammered in the spigots.  They began dripping immediately

Those that couldn't help stood around looking cute

Hung the buckets

Drip, drip, drip

By the time we were done hanging all 4 buckets, the first bucket looked like this

One day later, we had enough sap to start boiling. We started by straining it through a coffee filter

Then put the pot on the fire to boil for several hours

You'd think the chickens would see the big boiling pot as a threat!

Once the sap has started to change colour, we brought it inside for a final boil over the stove

When it reached 104 degrees it was ready to strain again

It takes 40 litres of sap to make one litre of syrup.  We ended up with almost 4 litres of syrup by the time the week was over.  The lighter syrup was from the first batch we made.  The later season syrup is darker.  It is delicious!

Another old friend leaves us

I brought Sebastian (Bubba) home as a very young kitten when I was 18.  I was still living at home with my parents.  He was very ill.  He had a huge hernia that required 3 surgeries to repair it.  He had a heart murmur that made anesthetic difficult.  But he was a fighter, and his personality broke through and he quickly became my best friend.  He was the best cat.  He was friendly, tolerant and affectionate.  He befriended my parents' dog Willie, and then Chris's dog Tai.  After we moved in with Chris he would cuddle with Tai for hours, grooming him.  In between his toes, inside his ears, under his lips. 

When we had children we found out how truly amazing our Bubba was.  He became protective of the babies, and more tolerant than I could hope for.  He would let any baby do anything to him without fear of repercussion.  Babies could tug his ears and tail, poke his eyes, sit on him, all while he purred and rubbed against them for more attention.  As the children grew older he started setting limits with a nip or swat of his paw, never using claws or drawing blood.  And yet when a new baby was born, he became tolerant of their rough play once again. 

Zander and Phoenix playing dress-up with Bubba

I guess Bubba was cold and needed some blankets and diapers to keep warm

Fat Bubba keeping baby Finnlee company

What a tolerant boy!

The kids were always dressing him up in doll clothes

Here Bubba, have an apple

Baby Solstice giving bubba a hug

At 17 years old I guess Sebastian just couldn't hold on without his long time friend Zeppelin.  After she died he spent several weeks roaming the house calling out for her. He started showing signs of his age.  He was walking more slowly, sleeping more, eating less.  We witnessed him having a few small seizures, and signs that he had had more.  I also believe he had a stroke.  Several days ago, he stopped eating all together.  His left front leg was dragging behind him, useless.  I knew he would leave us soon.  We made him as comfortable as we could.  He slept on my bed with the electric blanket turned on to warm him.  We brought him water and gave him lots of cuddles and love.  He hung on for days, weak but responsive.  He would lift his head and rub against my hand long after he lost the strength to raise his body to walk.  His rumbling purr the response whenever we touched him.   On Easter Sunday we left him on the warm bed to go for a walk.  When we came home, he was gone.  I wasn't holding him, I wasn't whispering my love to him, but I believe he knew how very much he was loved.  His presence will be missed here for a long, long time.

Young Zander with his best buddy

Zander reading to Sebastian in a laundry basket

Bubba keeping a sick Zander company

Best friends

He loved sitting in boxes

Baskets

And bags

It there was a box, he would find it

We will bury Sebastian next to Zeppelin in our expanding pet cemetery.  He will be remembered most for his very loud demanding meow, his rumbling purr, his soft smooth fur, and his sweet nature.  Goodbye my dear friend.

Spring

Spring means puddles

Splashing, wet, mud.  No jackets

Walks with Gramma

Swinging

Picnics

Warm sunshine

Happy chickens

Happy enough to lay eggs twice as big as usual!  Ouch!

It was our first double yolk.  Orange yolks come from happy healthy hens!

The long and short of it

 Finnlee has never had a haircut.  She's 4 now, and her hair comes down past her waist.  I love her long hair!  However, I do not love the daily struggle to get it brushed.  Neither does Finnlee!  Ever since Phoenix cut her hair short 2 years ago, Finn has talked about cutting hers.  I've always managed to put her off.  Untill now.  She wore me down.   

I brushed it out one last time, tears in my eyes

Isn't it lovely?

One more braid

Goodbye long hair

As you can see, this is harder for me than it is for her!

I have to admit, its pretty cute on her

A short bob

2 ponytails to donate to Angel Hair For Kids

It suits her after all