It's Maple Syrup season!

Have you ever wanted to make your own maple syrup or just wondered how it is done? Tapping maple trees and collecting sap is not a difficult project but, boiling that sap down is time consuming and requires a little patience which to me is worth it in the end!

Late winter and early spring is the time to tap your trees, you are looking for temperatures in the 40's during the day and the 20's at night, it is that freeze/thaw period which helps to stimulate the flow of sap and create the pressure needed to collect it. In our area that is usually late February or early march but, this year we have seen warmer than average temps and perfect weather to start now in early February!

So how do you tap a tree?

We use a 5/16" drill bit to drill a hole about 3 feet from the ground into the tree, you want a slight upward angle to a depth of 2 1/2 inches, once you have drilled your hole, insert a spile (tap) into your hole and use a hammer... we prefer a rubber mallet and lightly tap your spile to fit snug into the tree trunk, do not insert it too deeply because going too deep may result in splitting the wood around your tap and you will lose sap! did you know it takes 40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of syrup? So you want to collect every drop you can with out losing any of it!

After you have the tap secure in the tree you have several options to collect sap. You can simply hang a bucket on the tap itself and collect the sap, if you choose this method you will want to cover the bucket with a lid to keep rain, snow and dirt out!

The method we prefer is to use old gallon water/milk jugs, drill a hole into the lid of the jug to securely fit the end of a food grade tubing which is attached to the end of the spile, this keeps everything closed and does not allow rain, snow, dirt or insects to get into the sap! 

The gallon container sits at the base of the tree and we secure it with rocks or sticks to prevent it from being knocked over! Check your trees daily and harvest the sap regularly to prevent over filling of the containers and loss of sap! you can store the sap in a refrigerator for up to 7 days before using it! 

That's all there is to collecting the sap and when the conditions are right you should get a good flow of sap which will put you on your way to making syrup

You can tap any maple tree! red, silver, black or sugar maple but the sugar maples have a better output of sap production making them the preferred variety. I have heard you can also tap black walnut and birch trees but, we have not tried anything besides maple!

The diameter of the tree determines how many taps you can put into the tree;

Do not tap a tree less that 10" in diameter!

10" to 14" 1 tap, 15" to 19" 2 taps, 20"to 24" 3 taps.

You want to collect sap until the tree starts to bud out, after that the sap produced will make your syrup bitter and make sure to remove the taps at the end of the season, the tree will close and heal itself and claim your tap if you fail to remove it!

I will do another blog post later to show how to boil the sap down and make syrup!

Give it a try, this is a great family activity and there is nothing quite like having pancakes with syrup that you produced yourself!

Surviving a Blizzard

I am sitting here tonight watching the weather report of a blizzard headed our way for the weekend and decided to look in on face book to see what is being said out there, I have seen multiple photos being posted of store shelves emptied of milk and bread, reading statements of people being concerned that they can not stock up on what they needed or wanted, others are worried about losing power during the storm and all of this has reminded me of the many reasons we are happy living this life in which we chose, We are prepared with food, water and heat, No trips to the grocery store for us and no worries of losing power, we have a wood stove to keep us warm and cook our food, oil lamps to light the night and food that we worked hard all summer to get us through!

I baked bread today...not because of the incoming snow but, because that is where our bread comes from and today was baking day...storm or no storm!

This is the bread that I baked today

I am comforted in knowing my family will be warm and fed during this blizzard and realized, Our life will go on unaffected by this weather event but, it also makes me think a little more about, how many people are not prepared and how so many people rely on outside resources; just to survive some snow, What IF something changed about life as we know it? If store shelves are empty because the weatherman mentions snow, what would happen to those people during a real catastrophic event? How many know how to grow any type of food or find food in the wild? If you are reading this and can relate, I urge you to learn! We live in a great age for information and you can learn anything with a google search, Use it, Learn and change....even if it is just a little, at least it is something that will make you feel a little more secure! 

In the meantime, I am sitting here by the wood stove, Warm and cozy, drinking a cup of tea while planning this years garden and feeling grateful for the blessings in our life! So I urge you, go search out and learn something new, you will be glad you did in hard times! If you are in the path of this winter storm, I hope you will be safe and warm! 

Robins Graduation

Robin Graduated and walked across the stage to

receive her diploma June 20Th!

Robin and her grandparents

Robin and Ryan

The proud Graduate!

It was a very good day for us all to watch our youngest daughter walk across the stage and officially become a Graduate!

After the graduation we had a cook out with family and friends,

On the menu was Hamburgers and hot dogs cooked on the grill, potato salad, Italian pasta salad, My Moms absolutely great creamy pasta salad, baked beans, fresh fruits and vegetables, veggie pizza, a homemade Hawaiian dream cake and home made ice cream with sundae toppings!

We all had a great day celebrating Robins achievements!

We are so proud of you Robin!!!!!

Ryans 4th Birthday

We celebrated Ryan's 4th Birthday on Saturday with a western theme, Ryan dressed up like a cowboy with boots and a cowboy hat, he even had his sheriffs badge on! It was a great day with Family and Friends, We had fried chicken, baked beans, pasta salad and of course cake and Ice cream!

Ryan got a new swing set and a wheel barrow with garden tools, many toys and books. Yesterday he wore himself out playing outside with his new things and helped Nana and Pop pop work in the garden.

Its so hard to believe that he is now 4 years old!

Goodbye Mamaw, I Love You

Monday Afternoon I lost my Grandmother whom I loved very dearly and Greatly miss her already, She was like a Mom to me, she was there for me through 40 years of my life and learning to live without her will be very difficult.

She left this world very suddenly and without pain which I am so very grateful for and I know she is in Heaven with our Lord and those who went before her.

Lillian M. Spielman, 83
NOV. 5, 1924-JULY 7, 2008
Lillian Marie Spielman, 83, of Falling Waters and formerly of Maugansville, died Monday, July 7, 2008, at Washington County Hospital.
Born Nov. 5, 1924, in Hagerstown, she was the daughter of the late Henry C.L. and Inger Peterson Wolffsen.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest "Jim" Spielman, in 1993.
She was a 1942 graduate of Hagerstown High School.
She was a homemaker.
She was a member of St. Matthew's United Methodist Church in Hagerstown.
She was a member of the Degree of Pocohontas Local Council Redfeather 59 of Williamsport and past great Pocohontas State of Maryland as Great Keeper of Records.
She is survived by two sons, Gary E. Sprankle of Martinsburg, W.Va., and William H. Spielman of Greencastle, Pa.; one sister, Dana Smith of Maugansville; nine grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by one son, Robert L. Sprankle; and one sister, Nancy Stevenson.
Services will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Osborne Funeral Home in Williamsport. The Rev. Jerry L. Lowans will officiate. Burial will be in Cedar Lawn Memorial Park in Hagerstown.
The family will receive friends Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home, which will open at 9 a.m.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Matthew's United Methodist Church, 443 W. Franklin St., Hagerstown, MD 21740.

Besides the Redmen, She was also Past President of The American Legion Auxiliary, she volunteered her services in many different areas. She was a Loving Mom, Grandmother, Great Grandmother and Great Great Grandmother who found her joy through making other people happy.

I Love you Mamaw and Miss you.

A walk in the park

We had a rain storm come through this afternoon and cooled things down a bit, so we decided to get sandwiches and have dinner by the river.

After we ate, we all went for a walk in a local park

We had a great walk except for the mosquitos!

We found this guy on the side of the path!

It was a nice evening away from the house for a little while, now everyone is just relaxing and the dogs are sleeping!

My Birthday

Yesterday was my Birthday, the big 4.0.

We went to my Moms river lot for a get together, we had Hamburgers and Hot dogs on the grill, potato salad, baked beans, deviled eggs and more!

We made home made cherry vanilla Ice cream with the cherries we had picked last week!


Mom made two cakes that had a blackberry filling and coconut frosting!
After we ate we all sat around the camp fire and enjoyed some good company while others played a few games.
We talked and visited until midnight!

Thank You Mom, I had a great time and all your work is greatly appreciated!

Today is my Daughter Amanda's 20th Birthday!!!
Happy Birthday Amanda!!!

Fathers Day annual Picnic

We had our annual Fathers Day picnic yesterday, I didn't get as many pictures of all the family that I wanted because I was too busy talking to everyone!

My Dad at the Grill

Ryan and his Great, Great Grandma!

My Step Mom, Cousin Buffy, her daughter and my Grandmother

Playing pass the cup, we had alot more people playing than this,

I started taking pictures after I was eliminated.

Volley Ball

Ryan enjoyed the playground!

Robin, Ryan and myself at a campground we stopped by on the way home!

Everyone had a good time, we had great food, games, swimming in the pool and visiting with Grandparents, Parents, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins!

Gone Fishing!

Last night we were invited to a friends house for a cookout and to do some fishing in their pond, It was Ryan's first fishing experience and he had a great time, fishing and watching everyone else catch fish!

Alan fishing in the pond


Robin casting her line

Robin caught the first fish of the evening!

One of the Sunfish Alan caught

My first fish of the evening

Sun Fish

Ryan's very first fish!


Alan helped Ryan with his fishing but let him cast the line out and reel it in, Ryan cast out twice and got a bite immediately each time!

Our final count came to twelve! a few small mouth Bass and Sun fish!... Not bad for a few hours of fishing and socializing with friends!

Guess whats on the menu for dinner tonight?!

Carnival and Fireworks Fun

Last night we enjoyed a great evening of fun, we went to a friends house for a cookout and they are lucky enough to live with in walking distance to the carnival that was going on in town, so we walked to the carnival after we ate some really good food and then came back to their house to enjoy the fireworks. We had front row seats for the fireworks, it was a very fun night to spend with friends and family!

Ryan's expression when we got to the carnival!

A Teddy bear ride!

Of course, no visit to a carnival is complete until you ride the carousel!

Alan, Matt and Trevor playing the carnival games, Alan won a stuffed panda bear for Robin!

When the Fireworks started!

After the fireworks were done and the night was coming to a close, everyone was worn out from all the activities that we shared!

Mothers Day Tea

We enjoyed a surprise Mothers Day Tea party in honor of our Mom

While Mom was at Church, Robin and I set everything up and when she came home she was very surprised!Robin, Myself, Mom, Linda and Kelsey

The table all set

The food table


We had a variety of tea, Blueberry and orange cranberry scones, Chicken salad, egg salad and cucumber finger sandwiches, assorted fresh fruit cookies and tarts. As a remembrance of our day we all got Sweet William flowers to plant in our gardens.

The weather was cloudy, a bit windy and a little cold but we all enjoyed our time together and agreed to make this a Mothers Day tradition from now on!

A Walk in the park

We stopped off at a local park while out running some errands yesterday

The weather was great, about 73 degrees

Crystal clear mountain water

Robin and Ryan

Robin testing the COLD water

We enjoyed our little walk in this park and I noticed some hiking trails there too! Hiking is one of my favorite things to do, I love the solitude of being in the woods, seeing the beautiful sights and listening to the sounds of nature with no other people around you, There is no better way to relieve the stress of our everyday, routine!