Day 69 - 9th March 2012 - March Winds, Sap Moon and Stuff

Well it's certainly mild this morning; temperature is +13.1 and is it ever windy - it's blowing a gale! I think it's raining but too dark to tell yet  for sure. I guess this is what they mean by "March Winds".I'm off to town for the day, work to do with the help of Laura and we have a luncheon meeting. Another busy day, but since yesterday I played outside a lot in the fine weather, guess I have to make up for that.
Our neighbourhood outdoorsman Danny told me the other day that the moon this week is a Worm Moon - so I thought I would check with the Farmer's Almanac and see exactly what that means. Here's what they had to say:

Full Worm Moon – March

As the temperature begins to warm and the ground begins to thaw, earthworm casts appear, heralding the return of the robins. The more northern tribes knew this Moon as the Full Crow Moon, when the cawing of crows signaled the end of winter; or the Full Crust Moon, because the snow cover becomes crusted from thawing by day and freezing at night. The Full Sap Moon, marking the time of tapping maple trees, is another variation. To the settlers, it was also known as the Lenten Moon, and was considered to be the last full Moon of winter.

Apparently we are right on schedule since Larry and Danny [different Danny then above] have started putting out the sap buckets - it's Maple Syrup time in the country. Yesterday was the first day, the sugar shack will soon have a kettle on the stove boiling sap into syrup. It's just enough for family and a few friends, but they enjoy doing it and it's lovely to cook with and to use on pancakes - especially blueberry pancakes.
I went out again this evening, but was either too early or there was a bit of cloud cover and came in empty handed. Although later on in the evening I did see it rising above the neighbours house.

I managed a few dark and murky photos through the trees.

I'm not sure if that line of white through the top of the trees is from a plane or not but it looks awful low.

One of the buckets catching sap, you can see the spout under the handle.  I don't think it will run as good today.

This was an on going game - according to Lexi. She takes his hat off constantly. Usually she just nudges up to him and grabs it but this time she was all over him!

This is what she normally does. They were pulling up the old flocks. Soon time for new ones to crop up.  I leave them all winter, I like the looks of them when they are covered in snow and they make a great hedge no matter what time of year.






I love this pic, I know some of you have seen it already but ...just had to put it on here. My girl Lexi.

The sun as it was setting behind the trees.

 I'm early again, but am getting practiced up for when I go back to work. Enjoy your day, remember it's Friday and the weekend is almost here!......and don't blow away out there!