Sunny Days, Warmer Temps

 Church Street, April 6th

Yesterday a man came into the store dragging his wheeled suitcase behind him and spent a little while looking at everything. I had simply asked him if he was traveling in or out, and he said out. A short while later his comment was, "When does it warm up here?" To which I answered, "Where are you traveling back to?" He was from South Carolina. I take it he had been here for the week, and yes, indeed, we had had some down right cold weather for several days. We have not warmed up much at all yet this year. We haven't really hit 60 yet, and even the days that have been in the 50's haven't felt very warm because the wind seems to be blowing so much. There are still a few patches of snow here and there, especially along the ledge as I drive to work. It will warm up, we all know it is coming, but it sure is taking its jolly good time this year. Thursday it was sunny and bright, and we did hit maybe 51. It felt nice out when I went to gather sap for awhile. The wind isn't as strong in the woods, plus you're carrying buckets filled with sap up and down the hills, so you warm up even if its only in the 30's. Sugar season is nearly over. We may be able to squeeze a bit more from the trees tomorrow and Sunday, but after that it won't get below freezing anymore, and the sap will quit running, the trees will bud, and the peeper frogs will be out. We have made close to 100 gallons this year, almost a record for us. The next two days will tell for sure.

Last Saturday night 9 of us neighbors gathered in the sugar house for dinner. We had a lovely meal of pork roast, sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts. It was fun eating, drinking and chatting while we tried to keep warm as the night got colder. We all enjoyed the night.

Dinner in the Sugar House 

  They gathered once again this afternoon, sap that boiled down to dark, rich syrup. Looks like this is the end. Tomorrow they will go one last time, get what is left, pull the taps and buckets on Tuesday, and do the cleaning on Saturday. Another season comes to an end, but it also means Spring is well on its way. But by the end of this month the trees will have sprouted their new coat of leaves and the meadow will be green with new grass and the mud may even dry up some by then. It is coming, and we all know it. And its fine if we have to wait a bit longer to really appreciate it. Spring is wonderful here, and even if it is unpredictable, it is always worth the wait.