A Pleasant Surprise!

In my last post, I thought we had boiled for the last time this year.  I was prepared to just enjoy my Easter weekend, figuring we'd pop the taps on Saturday and get busy with bottling today.

However, the temperature got down to 26 degrees on Friday night and around the same on Saturday night.

So, when the daytime temps rose above freezing, sap flowed!













We collected several hundred gallons of sap over those two days, so Nate got his chance to help with boiling after all!

Today, however, we officially declared maple season 2016 finished.  The kids popped the taps this morning in the misty sugarbush.  It is always both sad and a joyous relief...

We bottled some syrup today, too.  Interestingly, most of it is dark this year, with good maple flavor!

Below, I am testing the Brix with a hydrometer before I bottle the syrup to be sure the syrup is at least 66% sugar content.

All in all, not a bad season.  Will we do it again next year?  Probably.  But, who knows for sure...

Will graduated from his auto tech school, finishing up his internship on Friday.  He's currently seeking employment in this area, but may yet choose to move back to Pennsylvania, like Nate...

Grace took a part-time job recently and plans to attend Homer High School next year...

I will be a licensed cosmetologist come February 2017, and hope to be employed, at least part-time.

Daily life here at Westbrook Farm is going to look very different by next maple season, as our family is in a season of transition that will likely continue for the next couple of years!

So, we'll take each maple season as it comes, re-evaluating, adapting, and seizing the opportunities that present themselves.





I'm so glad that Nate had the opportunity to participate with the rest of us this season!  We had a wonderful 4-day visit with him, and, as always, my heart was a tad heavy when we saw him off this afternoon.


Regardless of the adventure, this family will always tackle it together, although that may look different in the years to come.  We are so blessed to have each other!






I am so blessed by and through these wonderful individuals...

Keep following our blog for more information, recipes and adventures!  Syrup is available for purchase.  Contact us via facebook or phone, or visit our on-line shop after April 2nd.