Sugar Woods

While there are many things I love about living in the Maritimes there is one thing that I really dislike... 

Spring.

or more accurately - the lack of it. Today I enjoyed another snow day (actually freezing rain day but there is still about two feet of snow in my yard). At this time of year I want to be feeling like farmer's market season is just ahead of me. But, everytime I think spring might be coming...I get another snow day. I do love snow days but tomorrow is April...April and it is supposed to snow...again. 

But, even though I really don't like this weather there is one thing about it that I do love...

maple syrup. Seriously...I know I have posted about Maple Syrup before but maple syrup could possibly be what I am most patriotic about. I love living near the sugar woods. 

Maple syrup is what gets me through a Nova Scotia spring with a smile on my face. Without this lousy spring weather of warming up and then freezing again we wouldn't have this sweet, yummy, perfect, goodness. 

I loved taking the family for a hike in the sugar woods this week.

Maple syrup is one of my favourite things about Nova Scotia so I guess I can't really complain about the weather.

This week we visited the Fenwick sugar woods. There are three camps we visited - no one was boiling syrup when we were there - but they were making maple leaves at one of the camps.

Once the thickened syrup is poured they have to work quickly...

It was so fun watching them work.

The sugar syrup set very quickly and after only a couple of minutes they were able to pop out the finished candy.

We of course had to buy some maple leaves from each of the camps to compare. The middle camp was the creamiest and my favourite. Although, with the only ingredient being maple syrup they all tasted very similar and were all delicious. We also bought and tasted maple cream, maple taffy and of course maple syrup.

After the woods we went back to our church for a pancake and sausage supper with maple syrup of course.

So good!

Moving Update

Happy Easter!

Spring is starting to show itself here in the Okanagan. I keep pulling up the Nova Scotia Highway cameras looking for the last of the snow there ... Spring is a few weeks behind on the East coast. One of the few things I do not like - but all the things I love make up for the late spring.

Plans are progressing on our move and we are getting excited realizing how close it is and a little nervous realizing how much work there is to do before we go!

Last week I was reading "As Always, Julia" edited by Joan Reardon (the letters of Julia Child and Avis DeVoto - great book for Julia fans) and had to laugh at a quote of Julia's:

"How could any people have so much stuff. How do we have so many books...And, judging from kitchen equipment, one would think this was going to be a restaurant. Too awful. I don't think we are basically suited at all to this movable life. If only we had no 'interests' things would be much simpler".

There are a lot of things about Julia that I admire and relate to - but, this quote most of all - at least at this time - she summed up exactly how I am feeling. I packed up twenty-five boxes of books this month - and those are the ones I know I can part with and sell at our garage sale. Many times over the past few weeks I have been thinking...if only we didn't have any interests things would be much simpler! Between the books, the kitchen equipment, and art supplies we have a truck full!

We still haven't figured out how to get everything back across the country...trying to find the cheapest, easiest and most reliable way to move thousands of pounds of stuff across 5000 km. is not an easy task I assure you.

You would think this being our third cross country move we'd be experts by now but I think it is getting harder. I am getting less and less inclined to part with all the things we have accumulated. My library is exactly the way I want it to be. I have most of the books I really want - many collected at library sales and purchased cheaply and it has taken me over a decade to collect them. I don't really want to start over - my kitchen is fully stocked with everything I need - including many heirlooms that I do not want to get rid of. I have twice sold off most of my possessions other than those that are irreplacable and I don't want to think of doing that again. Aside from wishes, buying everything over again on the other side is probably more expensive than hauling everything across country anyway. BIG dilemma! Funds are low...time is running out...options are getting limited. Trying to keep the stress levels low ... but six weeks of one illness after another is giving away how low my immune system is right now.

But - the sun is out. I am finally starting to feel better and I have been loading up on Nova Scotia in my "spare" moments to keep excitement levels high while dealing with the stress of moving and leaving family and friends behind again.

Listening to some Atlantic music, filling my "Maritime Love" board on pinterest, watching videos on youtube, looking at real estate and reading Ashley MacIsaac's autobiography as well as a rug hooking book by Deanne Fitzpatrick is keeping me busy and filled with all things Atlantic.

With the moving keeping me busy as well as my schoolwork and the boys' spring break and colds and stomach flus hitting all of us life around here has been pretty busy!

Hoping to take a bit of time later today to decorate some eggs and prepare a turkey dinner for tomorrow... one thing is for sure - life is never boring and I always have way more things that I want to do than I have time for! I am thankful for that -  and I suppose that is what I get for complaining of being bored so much as a child. My sister told me a great quote that she remembered from our great-aunt Anne: life is never boring - if you're bored learn Chinese! Love it and love her...always an inspiration.

Time to get busy...

signs of spring...

Two of my favourite signs of spring have been popping up all over for the past couple of weeks...

Just in case I haven't mentioned it before... I love asparagus season! And the little corner of the world where I live is known for producing great asparagus. This season I may be consuming a little more than my fair share...but it is SO good! I love...really love roasted asparagus. Although I think I may be the only one in my family who is happy that there are at least two more weeks left in the season! The same could be said for rhubarb... my kids do not share my obsession with the tart, pink, deliciousness...but I am really enjoying the flavours of spring this year and they are learning to like them...they don't seem to match my level of excitement until strawberry season hits.

The other sign of spring that I can not get enough of is lilacs!

After fruit blossoms, my favourite spring flower is definitely lilacs.

I love how lilacs perfume the air...

I love the variations in colour...

I love how simple the individual flowers are...

and I love bringing in an armful and grouping them together...

Waking up to the scents and sights of spring are one of life's small pleasures. 

and I am learning that it is the small things that make the biggest difference.

Bees and Blossoms

This past week I have been enjoying the beauty, sounds and scents of all the local blossoms...

The week (or so) that the blossoms are out is one of my favourite times of year...

Looking at a group of trees blossoming is so beautiful! I love standing under a tree and really looking at each blossom...knowing that they are the promise of fruit that will soon come.

I love being surrounded by the subtle sweetness...

But, I think what I love most is the sound...

I love the humming of the bees.

I love watching hundreds of bees at work.

I think I could sit and watch them all day.

Each year I fall more and more in love with bees...

I think I may need to get my own hive... I just need somewhere to put it!

Yes, my *imaginary* farm definitely has a few hives!

and lots and lots of blossoms!

For now, I am enjoying the efforts of others... and loving what I see!

Farm days...

I am behind again...but I wanted to share the fun we had on earth day at Pilgrim's Produce Organic Farm.

Our kids favourite booth was Cottontail & Co. selling rabbits "Dead or Alive - Preferably alive!" There was quite a line-up here of kids wanting to hold a bunny...

Even my hubby was tempted to bring one home...maybe next year. Although I am very tempted to purchase a few in the not alive category...very tempted...

The kids also loved the baby chicks from Rosebank Farms - pasture raised poultry.

I was really excited to find a local source for pasture raised chicken! I think I may need to buy another freezer...

The kids loved the animals but couldn't find a way to convince us to bring any home... not that it would take much to convince us...we just need to find a place of our own where we can bring them home to!

I loved seeing the greens...I am SO ready for our local produce season to start!

I was really happy to see the first blossoms of the season...

We loved wandering around the farm...

and enjoying the entertainment offered. We left smiling and a little sad to leave - longing for a farm of our own.

We were cheered up again this week-end with the opening of the local farmer's market and the start of the local asparagus season.

We filled two large bags with delicious local produce which should tide us over until next Saturday.

I need to find more opportunities to visit farms as we are all getting restless and needing a farm fix a little more frequently than usual. But, for this week...daily roasted asparagus is keeping a smile on my face!

Spring at the North barn

Today I did a little exploring in the old North barn on my parents' property.

I have explored this barn many times over the past twenty-four years but I still love to wander around and imagine the life it had before my family moved in...

I imagine the loft with the sweet, grassy smell of hay and the sounds of kittens mewing and children playing.

I wonder if Holsteins or Jerseys stood here patiently waiting to be milked? 

Today, I brought home this rusty, old rake that I think will fit in nicely in my craft room as a holder for spools of ribbon. 

I also brought home this old tool box with the initials of the original owner and builder of the barn (and of my parents' house), Mr. North. I think I will clean this up for my craft room as well. I love that I was able to take an half hour out of my day to spend a little time on me and that I was able to find a few treasures that will remind me of my explorations every time I look at them. This year I really want to focus on taking the time to notice the simple pleasures of life.

On my way out I noticed the first daffodil of the season blooming. It looks like spring has arrived and that is something that will keep me smiling all day.