JACKWAX

"Sugaring" is done for the season in our area. We just bought another fresh gallon from a local maple sugar sap house at $39.00 a gallon. We wouldn't use anything else on our pancakes, waffles, and biscuits!!! We also buy the maple cream which is made from boiling the sap down (thicker), then stirred 'til get gets to the consistency of creamy peanut butter. (maybe a little softer)

To make jackwax, you boil the maple syrup until it "hairs", like when you make fudge. The next step is to find real clean snow (we still have a huge pile of it that came off the roof of the barn), put the snow into pans, and then pour the hot concentrated sap over the snow. It immediately hardens to the consistency of taffy (and sometimes harder). Take fork and twirl it around the "candy" and ENJOY.

Years ago they had Jackwax parties, which was a big treat. They often took place after a group of young people would have been on a hay ride. They'd meet at someone's house where they'd prepare the sap, gather the snow in pans, and enjoy their treat.

Mackenzie's first taste. She loved it

Jessie liked it too.

GRANDKIDS HERE FOR THE WEEK

School is out for a week, so two of our younger grandkids are here for one their annual weeks vacation. Mackenzie is 7 and from Erieville, NY and daughter of our youngest daughter, Sue . Jessie is 15 and she is from Johnson City, NY. and is the daughter of our youngest son, Scott.

We have all kinds of attivities planned for the week.

Mackenzie (Kenzie) and Jessie

on the bridge that is named after their 4th great grandfather

who arrived in the USA in 1854 and settled near this bridge,

which is about 10 miles from our home.

THE ANSWER

Ok those who are curious about the stick. Here is your answer. It's a weather stick... check this website out http://www.snowsource.com/generalstore_davishillweatherstick.htm

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS?

This is an instrument that is working everyday. It doesn't use batteries or electric power. Some times is sticks out straight and sometimes it points upward. As you can see, it is pointing down today. Just comment that you do or don't know what it is...the answer will come later.

MIRACLES DO HAPPEN ( I hope )

For those who don't know my husband, he is an incurable "Hudson Car" collector, and restorer. Right how he has 4 of them liscenced and running and a number in the wings ready to restore. ('36 Hudson Terraplane, a '47 Hudson truck, '49 Hudson, and a '52 Hudson)

Here are some of them. http://groups.msn.com/HudsonEssexTerraplaneBulletinBoard/unclejoshshudsons.msnw

Right now he is working on this 1940 Hudson Coupe. The reason I titled this "Miracles Do Happen", is that he is restoring this as I speak/write. I took these pictures today. Now the miracle will be.....we are driving it to Boston to the Annual National Hudson Meet in July of this year. Like that's .... in about 3 1/2 months. (He does all the work himself) I know he'll have it purring like a kitten by then, but not so sure about all the upholstery, painting, etc. As long as it runs he'll probably drive it, even if I have to sit on the floor (hehehe). He loves this hobby and gets excited over every little part that he gets cleaned up, repaired, or whatever that he does.

By the way, this Hudson is suppose to be mine.

Any suggestions on what color to paint it. As of now it's going to be black,

with white walls and of course lots of chrome that Hudson's are noted for.

CAMP COOKING in the ADIRONDACKS

I bought this cookbook last Fall while I was visiting the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake, NY. I decided it was time to try some of the recipes. Last night I made the Cream of Carrot soup. My my, was it ever delicious. You must try it. Today I've made the Shepard's pie recipe. I'll let you know how that was.

I have a confession to make. I digressed some from the recipe and it was still exceptional. I didn't have any chicken stock (the neighbor had borrowed what I had) so I used Cream of chicken soup and added some water to it. I also used evaporated milk instead of heavy cream. It was delicious anyway!!!

A NICE SURPRISE THIS A.M. "A Crocus in bloom"

When I went outside this morning I was greeted with this crocus, what a nice surprise.

As you can see though we still have some snow but it is going fast.

The pond is still frozen over but we have 2 geese and 4 ducks

that have found a small patch of water to swim in.