Maple syrup season

We went to a maple sugar shack today not far from our house.  This past week we had a few days that reached the 50s, so excellent for the sap.  It was snowing when we arrived here.

A 60 year old bucket that the tree grew into...

The air smelled sweet of maple!  They can boil 100 gallons in an hour.  

Snow and more snow

We have now lived here a year and a half! 18 inches expected this week. Usually I like snow, but right now we've had so much and I long for warm weather.  I want to hang our clothes outside on the line.  We have managed without a dryer, using two wooden racks to dry our clothes by the woodstove when it's rainy or snowy.  I am eager to plant our garden. Our zucchini, tomatoes, beets and carrots did well. Everything grew better here in upstate NY than it grew in southern OH.  I think the soil has less clay in it and stays moist but drains well. Last year, we planted 3 clumps of rhubarb, several canes of raspberries and 20 strawberry plants.  I hope they all come back.

The little lamb I was calling Dotty passed away peacefully.  She didn't seem to be in any pain, thankfully.  We all had such hopes that she would pull through.