We are still boiling sap, but the yield this year so far is half from previous years.  I'm guessing the later start to the sugaring season is contributing to that, at least for us.  This year we got those cute tins to bottle some of the syrup in.

The snow is starting to really melt and the temps are starting to climb again, so I think the sugaring season just might come to and end, but who knows.

Sorry I'm not visiting just been too busy.  I hope to catch up with you all when sugaring is done.

I've been wanting to redo my bathroom.  Other than the outside wall which are logs, this is the only place in the house that I can paint and give color to.  I have wanted to either get a new bathroom cabinet or paint it with Annie Sloan paint, so I decided to paint it.  I want to replace the counter top, but right now that will have to wait.

This morning as the sun was coming up it really shined beautifully on the side yard.

I finally got some window clings that will hopefully help the birds from flying into the window.  I picked maple leafs to put on the window.  So far we haven't had any causalities only stunned birds that after some time eventually flew away, and I want to keep it that way.

So I have a couple of questions for you all.

Did you wear green today?

and

Did you have corned beef and cabbage?

We took a walk before the sun went down and came home to a beautiful sunset.  I took this with my cell phone.  I could have cropped it but I wanted to show you how long of a driveway we have.  I just love our country driveway.

We sure had a very productive day today.  I did painting on our bathroom cabinet, while Mr continued to work on the chicken brooder.  I will show my painting project when it's all done.  We gathered syrup and plan to boil tomorrow.  I took this shot as I was sitting while the sap was emptying into the vat.  The sun was going down, the sauna was heating up and sap gathering was almost done for the day.

It felt so good to take a sauna after a very busy day.

Corn Casserole

1 can whole kernel corn, drained
1 can creamed corn
2 eggs beaten
1 stick butter, melted
4 heaping T. all purpose flour
1/4 C. diced green pepper or red pepper or both
1 C. whole milk
1/2 C. shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 tsp each salt and pepper

Combine all ingredients and pour into a greased casserole dish.

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hr. 20 min.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I thought I'd share this new to me recipe I found on Facebook, corn casserole.  I have never made corn casserole until now and I have to say it was pretty good.  Sugaring has been at a standstill with the warm temps, hopefully the temps will drop soon to reset the sap run.  So in the meantime Mr has been working in the barn making things in preparation for the chicks arrival.

I know most people want the warmer temps and I will admit I've enjoyed the warmer temps we have been having, but we need the temps in the 20's at night and 40's in the day for the sap to really run.

Our snow is almost gone now and you could say we are officially into mud season.  So, we are waiting patiently and hoping that we'll be boiling soon.

{wordless wednesday}

It's a foggy this morning.  Drinking coffee and thinking about what my plans for the day will entail.  It's been busy around here, well, it's been busy for Mr trying to finish up getting ready for sugaring.  We put in 135 taps on the trees, Mr finished up the last few by himself.

{cell phone photo}

I needed to grind some more flour, so while Mr was out in the sugar bush I was inside grinding flour to make my bread. :)

Now we have to work on getting ready for the chicks to arrive.  I can't tell you how excited we are for that.

Well, it's that time of year again, it's maple sugaring time!  The temps were in the 40's but it was still cool out in the sugar bush.

As soon as Mr pulled the drill out of the tree it was already running down the tree.

By the time the spout got tapped into the tree it was already dripping.

We got 91 spouts in the trees and still have a few more to do, but the temps were dropping and 91 was enough for the day.

a single photo...

capturing the moment.