I have to admit, I was getting a little bit nervous. I placed my annual FEDCO tree order a month ago, the day before the deadline, with just enough purchased to get me in the door. I placed a rather (okay, very) large Baker Creek flower seed order, with hardly a vegetable in the mix. Flowers are lovely and I do so love having my cut flower garden grow each year, but.....we can't exactly eat them for dinner. I haven't ordered our chicks or turkeys yet, and Steve and I haven't even talked about the pig plan for the year. As I turned the calendars to April, I thought....hmn....when is spring fever going to hit? Because surely, it will hit? It has to hit! I need it to hit!
Sure enough - and I should know better than to doubt - all it took was a warm day or two. A warm day or two in which the snow began to melt. In which we could be out of doors comfortably - without seeing our breath. In which that fabulous scale tipped from being out of doors more than being indoors. The First Day, I guess I call it. We had that day this weekend, and oh it felt so good. That's just what Ani declared when she asked if she could take her boots off and walk around barefoot. A deep breath with her eyes closed and then then, "oh Mama, that feels just so so so so good." It does, baby girl, doesn't it? It really does.
And just like that.....spring! We are reminded that it really is on its way - even if (oh but please no) there is more snow. It will all melt quickly enough with this glorious sun shining. And soon we'll be working in the garden - with the seeds I finished ordering last night, and the chickens and turkeys too. The snow has melted enough for me to get out there and really check on the beehives. Sadly, they didn't make it this winter. I'm disappointed, but know I'm not alone, especially after this harsh winter and especially in our neighborhood. I harvested the honey that remained, and it's a sweet gift for us. And similarly, yesterday was our last sap boiling day of the season. It wasn't an amazing year, it was a slow one, really. But we are happy with our four gallons or so, and happy for the time spent collecting it and boiling it down. As we were barefoot and short-sleeved yesterday, watching the final boil, I remembered back to the day we started tapping trees this year. A far cry from the weather we have now, in just a few short weeks. And I suppose that's one of the very best things about sugaring season - such change it ushers in for us in the seasons, and a presence of mind to pay attention to it.
Wishing you and yours a most lovely start to your week!
