tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4381772636320940407.post-37744356443298244832008-03-13T16:20:00.000-07:002008-03-14T05:48:26.411-07:00Hi there...Lucia here. WELL! We sprung ahead last weekend one hour and WOW I feel like I am still recovering. But believe me, I am a spring, summer, autmun girl with a wish for plenty of sunshine and wanting the best of the days!! OK am I anxious for spring? Well when it comes to this point of the year after greater than 180 inches of snow I feel rightful in saying YES!!<br />Last week I went to our favorite farm Lilac Ridge Farm, where we buy eggs and their 2008 maple syrup. It takes 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup. So we must understand what the farmers do, in the midst of milking cows, then moving on to the sap boil down for syrup. . . Sun up to sun down and then more hours beyond, the farmers and friends make syrup. It can be a great family get together, where mom and daughters and husbands and son - in laws and grand kids get together to help with a very healthty activity with lunch right in the midst of the sugar house, then just continuing on to boil down the sap. Dedication to the entire process from the family is key. The season is very short and the whole year's suppl must be made while the sap is flowing. What a wonderful liquid gold over the whole wheat pancakes with blueberries gathered and frozen last fall!<br />When I went to the farm the other day, Bev, the matriarch, was sitting with some of her grand boys. They were busy playing a board game, but Bev pulled us out of the intenseness of the game to point out that WOW daffodil bulbs were popping out up the sunny side of the house. Yes of course, the sunny sides of the houses! Well we still wait, as we have still so much snow on the ground, but still a great place to come and visit. Ciao my friends!Lucia and Debbie, Innkeepershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03627188204193954856noreply@blogger.com