20140412 - Maple Syrup Day @ the Farm

20140412 - Up in the am, little boys already out of the house. I can see the smoke rising and the Boy Scout moving around down in the South yard. I have my cup of coffee and head down to help get the last things in place for the day. Uncle Roger and Dale are there, already hard at work boiling down the sap in the ancient cast iron kettle.  The morning is perfect, a bit windy but no chill, the sound of the fire and the running spring fill my ears with memories.  Soon family and friends start showing up and conversations, history lessons and new friendships are formed.  Kids are in the barn swinging from the rope, building hay forts, feeding the ponies treats and exploring in the woods.  The Scouts are cooking over open fires and the pot-luck food is overflowing on the table inside.  Tours of the house and building, friends all around and the sun blessing us with a perfect afternoon.  Lunch was served and everyone had plenty to eat; the Boy Scouts had their potato dish competition and everything was excellent.  Back out to the fire and the sap is almost syrup.  The samples demonstrate the pure goodness in the real syrup.  We pull the kettle from the fire at just the right time and pour the syrup through the filters, then take it into the springhouse to bottle.  Every family got a small sample to take home with smiles all around.  After the syrup event we headed up to Camp Mowana for a trip to Flemming Falls and a meandering walk past Hoppy's grave, the Indian fire ring and through the pines.  The kids stopped for a game of basketball and then back to the farm. Things wound down and friends headed home with memories they will have forever.  The Scouts helped us clean up and we relaxed by the fire as the sun went down.  The Scouts then headed out on a night hike and G came back a bit early scared by the coyote sounds.  The Scouts settled back in their tents and the barn for another night of camping out.  Up to the house and everyone exhausted. What a perfect day!

No matter where you travel from.

When you get to the Farm, 

you know you're home.

Thanks to all who helped prepare, those who came to share, those that came to play.  

Because of all of you, it was a wonderful day.  

See you next year!

See all our Maple Syrup related activities. 

20140411 - Preperations

20140411 - Up in am and everything ready to go.  We all loaded up and headed to the Farm.  We got there in good time and then headed out for a quick lunch that took 2 hours :-o  Not to worry though, we got back to the Farm and got into the preparations.  we moved things set things up moved more things, staged and put final touches on everything.  Aunt Mary & Martha stopped by to help and the Township workers dropped off the "Watch For Children" signs.  The first Scout leader showed up and joined us for a huge dinner.  Soon other Scouts showed up, pitched their tents, swung on the rope and got a fire started.  GmaW & I went down to check on the boys and D stayed in the barn with the other Scouts.

20140410 - No Game :-(

20140410 - Up and in to work. I sent a text to team game on!  Bob W then cancelled the game for no reason; went to field with Bob B and Umps there not happy...  We worked on the field for 20 min and if we had a couple bags of diamond dry it would have been game on.... :-(  Plenty mad had parents calling me all night.  To bed mad.

20140409 + L&J

20140409 + Up to work straight to floor.  Spirits high.  At the desk the rest of the day till late.  Phone calls all the way home.  Picked up G&D to go to baseball practice.  It was good.  Home and got some things done with L on the stolen purse ongoing problems.  To bed in good time.

20140408 - Customer Day

20140408 - Up and in to work early to host the MSFT in big wigs...  Visit went well... Drinks/meeting after work.  Home about 10:30 WIPED OUT

20140407 - Scout Dunk

20140407 - Up worked late, raining, practice cancelled.  Took Jack to Scouts, home watched NCAA Championship basketball game.

20140406 + Practice

20140406 + Up to church, home for lunch, D doing homework & Scout stuff, JG&I playing in backyard.  LJ&G to movie at church, D&I to baseball practice.  Left practice for scout adult leader meeting.  Home gathered troops and headed to olive garden for dinner.  Home to bed in good time.

20140405 - Brainiac

20140405 - Up L to get new license and bank accounts.  Had to go back to bank with L to connect accounts.  DJ&I to bank for D to cash check, couple sport stores for cleats and stuff, Best Buy for a speaker.  Took G to a bday party.  L out shopping replacing her stolen stuff.  DJ&I Home for a bit and then rode our bikes to the AT&T store to get L a new phone.  Home had dinner, set up the new phone and watched basketball like a zombie, to bed.  Woken up late by a uy that got pulled over in front of the house...

20140404 - STOLEN!

20140404 - Up and into work, J had piano today.  home had subs from work, L&G Meijer, D&I working on merit badges / buying stock in MSFT.  L home very upset, someone stole her purse.  We made calls to cancel her cards, $300 already gone...  She filed a Police report...  What a mess...  D&I to meijer and gas station dig through trash talk to mangers

20140403 - Dealin

20140403 - Up in the am and in to work, It was a full day and then home for more.  Had dinner with the fam and played cards with J&G, Bob W over about baseball, uniforms and $, Eric over to chat about work. up late.

20140402 - Security

20140402 - Up in the am and into work.  First thing was a meeting on the floor with the teams reviewing upcoming events.  Up to the front office to greet the security auditor I would spend the rest of the day with.  Tours and meetings for the rest of the day.  It went well and I headed towards home.  I stopped at City Hall for a Landscape Board meeting and then on to meet LDJ&G with Gma&paW at Max & Erma's.  We then stopped at the doughnut shop for ice cream.  Home and Gma&pa stayed for a minute and then headed home.   I helped D with some homework and then got the little boys to bed.  L asleep on the couch and I caught up on paperwork.

20140401 + 43 and 1st Practice

20140401 + Up in the am, said happy bday to L and off to work. Extremely busy day at work, finished up last call on way home. In the house for a quick change and sandwich L baked herself a cake and we sang happy bday to her. Then G&I went to his first practice of the season. The little guys looked good and with so many returning players we have a pretty good team. L took D to batting practice. All home and a snack and boys off to bed. L&I stayed up and watched Gravity.