"Maple Sap Bucket"

Ah, it's March, time to think of spring and maple sugaring. My cousin Georgie still carries on the tradition on Hadley Hill that was started by our great grandparents at the end of the 1800's. They boiled outside in a big kettle. Now it's done in a classic sugar house, but there are no green tubes running from tree to tree. Each bucket is emptied one by one by hand. Until two years ago the gathering vat was pulled by a beautiful team of Belgian horses. One of them passed away and the new team never got the hang of the process, so now machines have taken their place. While the horses were used we made a visit every year to take photos and say "hi". It's enjoyable when they are gathering through the woods and also on days when they are boiling. I love stepping in from the cold March air to the steamy sugar house. The smell of the maple vapor and burning wood from the stove seems to permeate my body and mind. I can still see George's father, my dad, and all the other men who spent so much time there every spring. Most of all I think of Uncle Bill. We always were happy to see his pick up in the parking area, which was most of the time, on our yearly visits. I am going to paint the sugar house and the horses. I even started a canvas a while back, but it just wasn't coming out right. For now this bucket will have to do, but may-be there will be time this year....

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