February 29, 2024

My son boiled the sap which was still good today.
 

February 28, 2024

My veins are tiny and roll so drawing blood is usually a struggle and leaves me with bruises.  I got big ones on both hands and right elbow.
 

February 27, 2024

Back home now.  The crocus are coming up.
 

February 26, 2024

I got to go home this evening, finally.  Still not feeling great but at least I can get sleep and a better choice of food.
 

February 25, 2024

 

February 24, 2024

 

February 23, 2024

This was the IV.  It woke me up many, many times when it ran out, or just felt like beeping.
 

February 22, 2024

 

February 21, 2024

 

February 20, 2024

I ended up in the hospital, getting emergency surgery due to an issue I was born with but had no idea until it caused problems.  It's rare- I can tell it's rare because a Google search only brings up some medical case studies.  I was in the hospital for a week.
 

February 19, 2024

 

February 18, 2024

We got 3 flasks of syrup (12 ounces each).
 

February 17, 2024

Boiled some sap today.
 

February 16, 2024

We collected more sap today.  It's supposed to get below freezing for a day or two.  What we got today was frozen or slushy.
 

February 15, 2024

This tree at the end of our driveway is a good tree and producing more sap than many others.
 

February 14, 2024

We collected the first sap of the season.  It's starting slow, but it's early yet.  We still ended up with about 12 gallons, which theoretically will boil down to 2-3 pints of syrup.
 

February 13, 2024

We got a little bit of snow this afternoon.
 

February 12, 2024

These three big trees in the back produce the most sap. 
 

February 11, 2024

We tapped the trees today- 27 taps.  It might be early, but the weather this week is looking perfect so we'll see. 
 

February 10, 2024

I got some more plant shelves cleared off and cleaned.  Not everything is going back up. 
 

February 9, 2024

We measured our back yard maple tree.  They need to be 10" diameter for one tap, 20" for two.  This one is well on it's way to two.  We still think of it as a little tree, but it's growing faster than we realize.

February 8, 2024

I thought my garlic wasn't growing but it's finally showing up.
 

February 7, 2024

My younger son and I are working on updating my cookbook.  He said I should add pictures so I guess I will start with no-bakes.
 

February 6, 2024

Daffodils are starting to show.
 

February 5, 2024

The kale still looks good.
 

February 4, 2024

A little red squirrel showed up and cleared some walnuts from a bucket on the deck.  It was quite the busybody for an afternoon, moving it's jackpot.
 

February 3, 2024

I'm almost out of maple syrup so we'll be making it this year.  Today we went through the woods to measure and mark trees that are big enough and count how many taps we need.  Every time we make syrup more trees have grown and we have more to tap.  We marked 27 taps, up from 18 last time and 8 the first time.  It's still early to drill them, but we're getting ready.
 

February 2, 2024

I finally got flowers back up above my sink.
 

February 1, 2024

I got this little stone last December.