Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Sugarbush time

The weather is changing. It feels good to see winter wane. After being cooped up all winter, I felt we could use a change of pace, so yesterday we went to the Nature Center,
then out to lunch, and after that, to the library.

It was a good day.


We saw the animal hospital, where wild animals are rescued and their injuries treated. Once healed, they are returned to the wild if at all possible. If not, they stay here.
There are several types of owls here. Very interesting.


There are also turtles. Big sis got right down there to see them.



After that we walked along the trail to the sugar shack. Sunshine and temps in the low 40s have melted a lot of the snow, but there is a narrow strip of it right in the shadow of the fence.



In the sugar shack, we watched the maple sap being boiled down into syrup. We lstened to explanations of hygrometers and fires, how to stoke them so the newly made syrup won't burn as you draw it off.


Outdoors, there's the "Pioneer Sugar Camp".


It shows the old way of gathering the sap...


and cooking it down into maple syrup.


We also saw falcons, hawks, and a bobcat, each in its own large enclosure there.
We saw and heard lots of other birds, singing the songs of early spring.



Here's a cool looking sculpture with my offspring behind it


At the little general store, we bought spiles for tapping our own maples, and pixie sticks. My kids thought I was crazy to buy them a treat like this. They are used to my telling them how important it is to eat healthy. But this was a fun day and I wanted them to enjoy it.

We did enjoy it. It was great.

We even saw a heart shaped log. Kind of reminded me that love pops up in the most surprising places sometimes. I love my my kids a lot. Spending time doing fun things together like this celebrates that love and gives us all chance to enjoy each other's company. It makes love grow.

See how the light shines through this heart log? Isn't that what love is all about?
It's letting the light shine through us onto others.


fun day...good day










Monday, March 1, 2010

time for thanks ...



What a crazy full week, with full schedules and full heart, and head full of things to figure out, and feeling full-up-to-here! NOT the kind of week I prefer, that's for sure!! We finished the week with two concerts at different places, different styles... now that was good. Music is good for a weary soul, don't you think? And now... as I begin another week, I want to take a minute to be thankful. Gratitude pretty much cures what ails ya. God is good to me, always. Always. And if I am willing to see it, there are fun things, pretty things, silly things -- things that make me smile -- everywhere. OH, but sometimes I am so exhausted, it is too much work. That is the time it takes some effort, but choosing joy is wise and good and right. So here we go... some favorite things in no particular order...

~~~~~~

289. dark brown, shiny bald heads

290. people dressed in their very best. or in jeans.

291. multi-colored light show on the walls

292. a good concert

293. leather coats

294. going someplace fun with the family

295. dry roads, so much easier to drive

296. the hat matching the coat, sort of

297. symphony concerts

298. friends who help out when you need them to

299. love

300. having a secret snack stashed in the purse for indulging myself when I need it

301. bargains at the thrift store for both of the kids

302. being warm enough in the winter

303. gluten free brownie mix

304. coming to the end of a way too full week, finally!

305. feeling successful, or better...knowing you are successful even when you do not feel like it.

(when life is full I don't write much. do you? I just deal with stuff first. maybe afterwards then I can. but anyway, have a good week, everyone.)