WEATHER: Since the April 4th post, the nighttime lows have ranged from 30-33, the daytime highs from 33-40 except for yesterday’s high of 46 or so. Today the temp hovered at 34 while sleet stung the face. In the tug-of-war between winter and summer, winter is currently tugging harder. The dreaded precipitous April thaw hasn’t… Read More
Preparing for Open House
WEATHER: Snow. It’s a white white white white world. HOW’S IT RUNNING: Ever since Wednesday afternoon the sap’s been flowing, but not well. At night it trickles, during the day it sputters (collectively, that is, with sap from all 9,700 taps flowing into one receptacle). SAP SWEETNESS: 2.2%. Good news. BOILING STATUS: Thursday was Day… Read More
Sweetening the Pans
WEATHER: The thaw set in on Thursday, slinking to 40 on Thursday, spiking to 50 midday Friday before settling back into the 40’s. Both days, the forecast predicted temps of ten degrees higher. Little sun, no freezing nights. Saturday morning starts at 35 and might stay there, with snow and/or rain. Tonight we’ll see a… Read More
The Wind Storm of 2017
November reeked of chain saws here at Nebraska Knoll. Gas and oil fumes percolated through Carhartt work pants, jackets, wool hats, and gloves. I asked the guys to leave them in the mudroom, or better yet, to air them out in the woodshed. November resounded of chain saws whirring at assorted pitches from all quarters… Read More
The Ephemerals: Spring Beauties
This year the blog will revive its photo celebration of the northern hardwoods ephemerals, the flowers that bloom on the forest floor after the last sap run and before the canopy fills in and shuts out the sunlight. Here is the front of a card created and printed by neighbor Heather Hale on one of… Read More
Music to Boil By
12:30am. When I walked out of the sugarhouse after 16 hours of work, the greater world expanded in stillness below a full moon, but just until I noticed how clouds chased across the moon, how urgently Miller Brook bellowed from the bottom of the valley, and how cool air emanated from the snowbank. … Read More
Not Your Everyday Oatmeal Cookies
Maple Trout Lilli writes of just the ticket for a cold, rainy day in April: MAPLE GLAZED OATMEAL RAISIN COOKIES A jazzed-up maple cookie with a delectable maple glaze that is a rich compliment to this sweet spicy cookie. I kept the batter in the fridge and made a batch of 12 every day… Read More
Where is Spell Check?
OOPS: Whose nest is this?
Maple Cardamom Glazed Salmon
The blog’s food correspondent Maple Trout Lilli writes: First, a little history on this very-unique-not-often-used spice we’ve pared with maple syrup. Did you know that: In ancient Eastern medical traditions, cardamom could cure a sore throat, teeth and gum infections, congestion, tuberculosis, stomach, kidney, and lung problems, and also be used as an antidote… Read More
March, Round Two
WEATHER: First it snowed for three days, then the sun came out and drew everyone outdoors for three shimmering days, then the air warmed enough on the first day of spring to wake up the trees, then the clouds moved in along with snow and plummeting temps, and today the sun returned and the… Read More
