sap flows

First you feel it in your bones, that feeling that winter is on the way out. Then you look for days warming up to the 40s and nights still going down in the 20s. I reflect on the traditions this brings together--Ivan and Della making a business of it, my dad with the land and the set of bits. I choose the 7/16 inch, the one sticking out closest to camera. Into that hole will go the spout.All of this is to no avail unless you grin and bear the cold and get going. I'm early this year. I look up to locate the hole under a large bough. The sap didn't flow before I got the bucket on the hook. My hands were getting stiff by then. Finally, on the last shot, I got a drip falling into the pail.

the day after: digging out

West Eby kids had school today. One father returns from pulling the sled with his two children, and notices the milk truck stuck. When it finally makes it to our house it gets stuck again and a tractor pulls it away finally. It's almost 3 p.m. and our road is not yet opened to the west of us.

blizzard rages

Early afternoon the drifting is supposed to overtake the effect of the falling snow. The bird feeder is already slightly below the level of the snow. So I dig a trench around it and place a piece of plywood to shelter these imperiled two-ounce birds. Notice the one on the feeder and the one in the trench. Four times or more today I've dug the walk between the house and the barn.

having gotten out

Having gotten out, I saw neighbors who had used a horse and sleigh to get out. And to get around.