Maple sap boiling down in the sunroom. Adds a dimension of pleasure doing the syrup this way (rather than using the propane burner) because the heat is produced by the wood harvested last year, while the sap is this year's gift of the forest. Not only that, you can sit back on the couch with a good book while nature does its work.

As the sweetness was percolating, Jake and I went out for round two of the slush walk. What's better than spending time with your beloved son? I wouldn't know...