So this month was supposed to be all about quick posts and baby quilts but...
We've been making maple syrup! 🍁
We've lived in this house for almost 30 years. There are several sugar maple trees on the property. I've always wanted to tap one and finally, this was the year.
It's so simple: drill a hole at a slight angle, insert the tap, hang a bucket on the tap's hook...
and watch the sap flow! (I lined our old bucket with a zip-lock because it's cleaner and easier to empty.)
We just tapped one tree this first year. I cannot believe how much sap has dripped in less than a week. I empty the bag at least 3 times a day.
I've been boiling it down in small batches on my stovetop. This very wide Calphalon pan I purchased at an outlet store years ago has been perfect for this task.
It takes about 1.5 hours to boil down to 2 cups which I then filter through a coffee filter.
When I've boiled down 3 pans (so I have about 6 cups) I put it in a smaller pan and boil it down some more. Actually, now it's like making candy, I cook it till it's 219 degrees F.
This year, I'm putting it in small canning jars. I turn the jars over while the syrup is still hot and let them cool that way. The jars seal themselves!
Next year I'll plan ahead and be ready with cute maple leaf shaped jars to store it in.
🍁🍁🍁
Have you ever turned sap to syrup?
Having something new and fun to focus on has really helped me thru this week.
Stay healthy!
How cute are these koalas?
The pattern is by Elizabeth Hartman and available here!
In January, Elizabeth offered to donate 100% of her proceeds of this PDF download to WIRES, a wildlife rescue in Australia. In less than 24 hours she sold out of the available downloads and donated $19,638.79 AUD to WIRES!!! How amazing is that?
The back is a cozy gray crosshatch flannel.
Hoping lots of babies are cuddling with Koalas in 2020!
Thanks for stopping by. Have a great week!
I've made several baby quilts this past year that I've not yet shared here so I'm hoping to catch up with short weekly posts this month.
Last year there was an online quilt along using this Meadowland pattern by Then Came June. I did not participate but I sure was inspired. Every quilt was prettier than the last. This pattern seems to work with any fabric. These prints are from Heather Given's Night Hike collection.
I picked up the fabric while shopping Small Business Saturday sales at Crimson Tate last November. What a cute shop! I even won one of the hourly door prizes! Thanks again, Heather 😊
The selvage reads so good I had to include it!
The backing is super soft Cuddle from Shannon Fabrics.
Baby quilts are such fun to make and give. Have a great week!
