Spring, New Life and Maple Sap

Many people associate the arrival of spring with flower blooms, tree buds, newborn animals and the arrival of birds chirping. After the cold of winter, the new season is a welcome sight as the temperatures start to warm and people once again enjoy outdoor activities.

In the first days of March, as cold nights give way to mild days, another sight welcomes spring around here. It’s common to see plastic bags, tubing or buckets suspended from Maple trees to collect the sap that flows from them.

Once collected, the sap is taken to a sugarhouse. Here it’s cooked down – allowing the water to be evaporated, leaving the sweet, brown, sticky substance that we call Maple syrup. Many of us love to cover homemade pancakes and waffles with it. Still, others enjoy it as a cooking ingredient, or made into sweet Maple candies.

As the weather changes and grows mild, let’s remember the beauty of spring. Nature’s signs help us to visualize another aspect of the season: Easter and the new life that it represents.

In these first days of spring, I hope that you’ll enjoy the fresh air, sunshine and new life that are springing up all around. My family and I will join you!

Have a great day!  🙂

“Taste and see that the Lord is good…”  –  Psalm 34:8a (NIV)

(This was first published at theroadreport.wordpress.com.)