March is blooming

Two weeks ago we had snow but this week was a gift of unusually gorgeous weather. The crocus are blooming and tomorrow we will have daffodils. Every day this week I said, "I need to take the camera" but each day I forgot it. On Saturday we drove back up for pictures but it was rainy and cloudy so the crocus didn't open up. They are still pretty don't you think?
We have all been working hard and long this whole week. Mike has been working especially hard, shoveling, raking and running a power broom that really beats you up. Each night he came home sore and tired, falling into the chair and expecting to get up the next day with sore muscles (or not be able to get up at all) but each morning he got up pain free. IT IS A REAL MIRACLE!

I will give you an update on the sugar story. While this has been great weather for us, it has not been good for the maple sugar makers. The extra warm weather affected the maple trees and the sap only flowed for a short time. The yields are way down this year and wholesale prices have gone up to $40 a half-gallon (previously $60 a gallon)
The sign on the left tells about the process of making maple syrup. (I will explain more below) I took these pictures at Eaton's Sugar Shack a few miles down the road. It used to be a regular maple sugar shack, but now it is a restaurant and gift shop. As you walk in you see this amazing glassed in diorama of a mountain scene with the guys sugaring.
There are men with horses checking the trees and hauling the syrup and on the left is the shack where they boil down the syrup. I love miniatures so I was totally fascinated with this diorama. The little shack on the left of the diorama has icicles hanging down from it and there is snow all around.
Now back to the sign above. The writing is small but it explains the sugar-making process. It tells how it takes 4 40-year old maple trees with the sap gathered every day for six weeks to make 1 gallon of syrup. I explained earlier that it takes 40 gallons boiled down in the "evaporator" to make 1 gallon of syrup.
It took a four foot log, sawed, split, dried and burned in a raging fire in the "arch" under the evaporator for each gallon of syrup. It took the whole sugarmaker's family to continually fire the "arch, operate the evaporator and sterilize, filter, grade and pack the syrup. Right now it costs $12.50 for an 8 1/2 ounce glass maple leaf of syrup (same price for a log cabin),

Sorry the diorama picture is kind of blurry, but you can get the idea.
The little house below, with the red tin roof, is a real sugar shack. We drive by it every day on our way to work. Next week the weather turns cold again, but we have sure enjoyed this week. Hope you are enjoying whatever weather you are having. Have a great day and a great week. Can you believe it is almost April?

We love you all!
P.S. Be sure to click on one of the pictures so you can see them screen size.