more maple

how to tap a maple tree

happy

many thanks to evergreen for giving me the Happy 101 blog award!
(many apologies for taking so long to post- i have computer woes since august)

here are the award rules, copied and pasted from her blog:

First: Copy the award image in your post.

Then, list 10 things that make you happy, try to do at least one of them today, and tag 10 bloggers that brighten your day.

For those 10 bloggers who get the award, you must link back to my blog!....the last part..only if you want too...lol!!!

Let the fun begin!
10 things that make me happy:

1. the wonderful future that my extremely wonderful God has for his beloved human family that i read about in the Bible.

2. warm rays of sunshine on my face (..today, yesterday it was gentle rain on my garden, last week it was the exciting wind in my hair)

3. my hunny- of 34 years... love at first sight and evermore

4. yummy foods, especially the raw variety

5. gardening- veggies, flowers, fruit... any gardening at all from the seed to the harvest, playing in the dirt. or just even to look at and take photos . eating of it is a wonderful bonus.

6. creating... today i am smocking twin outfits for a friend's daughters. sometimes it's sewing, other times yarn-work, recipes, painting, etc...

7. photography, alas my dear camera is kaput. but i hope to get a new one soon, i love capturing moments in time

8. my little doggie, moe, he brings alot of joy to me. it is really any babies, kittens, puppies, small wonders... nurturing and caretaking, being delighted at the antics, cuddling and stroking, nuzzling and kissing these little bits of life.

9. enjoying a good view, especially of my lake (as pictured at the top of my blog)

10. teaching... i taught my children with home school, i teach people the Bible, sewing, raw food 'cheffery', any how-to that i know... i pass it on whenever the opportunity presents.

bonus: 11. laughing with my sisters

Next:
Tagging 10 other bloggers that make me happy, in no particular order:)

1. adirondack almanac

2. what the hell _does_ a vegan eat anyway?

3. Southern Matriarch

4. Made in Africa & Nos aventures en Afrique (it's a family thing: mom & the kids blog)

5. paris breakfasts

6. once upon a plate

7. adirondack gardening

8. living beautifully in vermont

9. dimitri the greek raw vegan-ο κοσμος της ωμοφαγικης χορτοφαγιας

10. farmgirl fare

i have about 99 other favorite bloggers (many many raw fooder blogs, alas the 10 slots are not 100 slots)

keep the love flowing!
xoxo
snowdrop

maple days 2010

i heart maple syrup!
this year's dates for the maple days are:
march 21-22
march 28-29
enjoy!!!
xoxo
snowdrop



Warren County NY




Adirondack Gold Maple Farm
74 Bear Pond Road, Thurman
phone:518-623-9718
e-mail:adkgoldmaple@aol.com
Participating: March 21nd,22rd,28th and 29th

We are a third generation maple producers with an old fashioned sugarhouse. We have a total of 600 taps, 500 of which are on tubing. Our stainless steel evaporator is a wood fired 2’x6’. We offer a full line of maple products.

Directions: Take I-87 to Exit 23. Turn Right onto Route 9 North into Warrensburg. Turn left onto Route 418 and follow it to the end and then take an immediate right onto Athol Road. Then follow the signs to Adirondack Gold Maple Farm.

Toad Hill Maple Farm
151 Charles Olds Road, Thurman
phone: 518-623-4744
e-mail:toadhill@hughes.net
website: www.toadhillmaple.com
Participating: March 21nd,22rd,28th and 29th

The Galusha Family has produced pure Adirondack Maple Products at Toad Hill for more than 30 years. Toad Hill is the largest maple producer in Warren County with more than 4,000 vacuum-assisted taps spread across three sugar bushes.

Directions: Take I-87 to Exit 23. Turn Right onto Route 9 North into Warrensburg. Turn left onto Route 418 and follow it to the end and then take an immediate right onto Athol Road. Then follow the signs to Toad Hill Maple Farm.

Valley Road Maple Farm
190 Valley Road, Thurman
phone: 518-623-9783
e-mail: maple1@nycap.rr.com
website:www.valleyroadmaplefarm.com
Participating: March 21nd,22rd,28th and 29th


Sugarmakers Mike Hill and Ralph Senecal boil in a new state-of-the-art sugarhouse. They have 1,500 taps on vacuum with reverse osmosis. We have a full line of maple products including syrup, cream, candy, sugar and maple cotton candy. Serving a pancake breakfast both weekends.

Directions: Take I-87 to Exit 23. Turn Right onto Route 9 North into Warrensburg. Turn left onto Route 418 and follow it to the end and then take an immediate right onto Athol Road. Then follow the signs to Valley Road Maple Farm..

Wallace's Sugarhouse
312 Dippikill Road, Thurman
phone: 518-623-9406
e-mail:thurmanmaplesyrup@yahoo.com
Participating: March 21nd,22rd,28th and 29th

This will be the second year for the Wallace's new sugarhouse with all new equipment. Which includes a Leader 3'x12' wood fired evaporator with a steam away. This 2000 tap operation carries a full line of maple products.

Directions:From Warrensburg go north on Route 9 to Route 28, at the Glen Bridge take a left onto Glen Athol Road, go approximately 4 miles, take a right onto Parker Cross Road. Go 100 yards and take a right onto Dippikill Road, go 1.5 miles sugarhouse is on your right or take Route 418 from Warrensburg turn right onto Athol Road go 2 miles take a right onto Glen Athol Road , go 2 miles turn left onto Parker Cross road. Go 100 yards and take a right onto Dippikill Road, go 1.5 miles sugarhouse is on your right

stress

i came across 2 nice articles this morning
that i thought i'd share with you....



Foods that increase Stress levels

Some of you may wonder what on earth has healthy eating to do with stress?

What you eat affects the way you feel emotionally and physically.

Stress is everywhere and there are many people who are trying to overcome their problems with stress, anxiety, and depression start out their day by consuming two cups of coffees, a couple of sugar donuts, and a few cigarettes hoping to overcome fatigue resulting from a sleepless night and wonder why they end up having a panic attack on their way to work.
Needless to say that such a breakfast is completely void of nutrition as well.

This lens is about foods which could make your stress even worse.
You Are What You Eat!
Eating is one of the natural joys in life.

Most cultures celebrate holidays and the passages of life with feasting. However, eating right is a learned skill and not just something that just comes naturally.

Unfortunately, the foods that people eat for pleasure are not always nutritionally sound. The love affair with snack foods has led to joke that the four food groups are candies, cookies, coke, and chips.

A healthy body responds better to the inevitable stresses of life, and good nutrition is a building block of good health.

Eating a balanced diet can help to prevent stress, optimize health and manage stress and burnout more efficiently.

What you eat affects the way you feel emotionally and physically.

There are foods that reduce stress and those what increase your stress levels instead.

Foods that increase your stress levels are: Caffeine, Alcohol, Sugar, Sodium, and Fast Foods.

Caffeine
Caffeine is a stimulant. One of the reasons we drink it is to raise our levels of arousal, particularly at the start of the day. If you drink many cups of coffee a day, then you may become nervous, hyperactive and irritable.

Alcohol
In small amounts, alcohol may help you relax. In larger amounts, it may increase stress as it disrupts sleep, reduces your effectiveness, and possibly harms relationships.

Large amounts of alcohol over a long period of time will damage your body: depletes B vitamins, alters blood sugar, elevates blood pressure.

Read this if you use bad habits and addictions such as excessive emotional eating or alcohol consumption as a stress management technique.
Sugar
Avoid Too Much Sugar
Sugar-rich foods can raise energy in the short term.

The problem with this is that your body copes with high levels of sugar by secreting insulin, which reduces the amount of sugar in your blood stream. Insulin can persist and continue acting after it has controlled blood sugar levels. This can cause an energy dip and prompt another sweet treat.

Tips for cutting sugar

-Use less sugar, raw sugar, honey, and syrup.

-Use natural sweetener Stevia, instead.

-Eat fewer foods that contain sugar such as candy, cookies, and soft drinks.

-Select fresh fruit or fruits canned is juice or light syrup.

-Read labels and avoid foods that list sucrose, glucose, maltose, dextrose, lactose, or fructose.

To make lasting changes in your diet, plan on gradually introducing a few changes at a time that you can stick with for a minimum one month.

Sodium
Limit Sodium Intake
Sodium is an essential mineral, but adults nowadays intake about ten to twenty times more sodium than the body needs.

A single slice of bread actually provides the minimum daily requirements for salt (23 milligrams.) Recommend sodium intake is three thousand milligrams daily.

Tips to eliminate salt habit

-Avoid salty snacks such as chis, crackers, pretzels, and nuts.

-Limit your intake of salty condiments such as soy sauce, pickles, and cheese.

-Restrict use of cured meats, sausages, and bacon.

-Use herbs and spices while you cook, and reduce the salt in recipes.

'Fast food'
'Fast food' as it usually contains more fat and additives than are good for you.

Certain food additives may aggravate stress and there is usually more salt in 'fast foods' which can contribute to raised blood pressure and heart problems.

Too much fat has a similar effect.




7 Foods to Soothe Stress and Anxiety

Feeling frazzled? Reach for foods that really fight stress and anxiety, like these seven wonders of the high-wired world.

1. Nuts

Almost all nuts are good sources of vitamins B and E, plus selenium and zinc, but some nuts have more than others, so cover your bases by mixing them up.

Just an ounce -- a small handful -- will help replace those stress-depleted Bs (walnuts); give you a good dose of selenium and zinc (Brazil nuts), which are also drained by high anxiety; boost your vitamin E (almonds), which helps fight cellular damage linked to chronic stress; and may even lower your blood pressure by helping your arteries relax (pistachios). They're high in calories, so don't overindulge.

2. Guacamole

Avocados are loaded with B vitamins, which stress quickly depletes and your body needs in order to maintain nerves and brain cells. Scoop up the creamy goodness -- which comes from healthy monounsaturated fats -- with whole-grain baked chips or raw veggies. If you're watching calories, dip instead of scoop: 2 tablespoons have about 55 calories.

3. Berries, Any Berries

Blackberries, strawberries, cranberries, raspberries, blueberries.

They're not just delicious; they're jammed with antioxidants, which is why they're great at countering the skin-damaging free radicals generated by stress. Eat them one by one (like healthy M&M's) when the pressure is on. If you're a jaw clencher, try rolling a frozen berry around in your mouth. And then another, and another.

4. Salmon and Other Fatty Fish

The omega-3 fatty acid in salmon, called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), isn't just good for your skin. Studies show people who eat ample amounts of DHA have a much lower incidence of depression, aggressiveness, and hostility. So this healthy fish may even help road rage! Some people report improvements in mood within days or even hours of eating omega-3-rich meals. Consider omega-3 supplements to assure you get the right amount.

5. Oranges

People who take 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C before giving a speech have lower levels of cortisol and better-behaved blood pressure than those who don't take it. So lean back, take a deep breath, and concentrate on peeling a big, juicy orange. The 5-minute mindfulness break will steady your brain cells, and you'll get a bunch of C as well. (Read: Vitamin C - Stress Buster)

6. Spinach

Spinach and other happy greens (the dark, leafy ones) contain folate, a B vitamin that appears to be essential for mood and proper nerve function in the brain. Two cups of cooked spinach gives you the 400 micrograms of folate recommended to pick up your mood.

7. Dark Chocolate

The antioxidant flavonols in dark chocolate (check labels; you want 70% or more cacao) help keep your blood pressure steady and your mind sharp. They may also help counter cellular damage caused by stress. Try this when you need a mental lift: Microwave 8 ounces of vanilla almond milk on medium for 1 minute, and then stir in an ounce of dark chocolate till it melts (heat triggers antioxidant release). Delish. Just show a little restraint; chocolate packs a lot of calories.


i hope you all have a stress-free day today
:)
xoxo
snowdrop

summer on a salad

italian dressing
(by Alissa Cohen, Living On Live Food pg 471)

The longer you let this one sit, the better it tastes.

1 cup olive oil
1 cup fresh basil
1 cup fresh parsley
1/2 cup dried Italian seasoning
2 scallions
2 teaspoons onion
1 lemon, juiced
2 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Blend & chill for at least one hour.

tastes like summer on your salad :)
yum yum yum!!!
(i make 1/2 recipe for just the 2 of us, but often)

ps. my order of books has arrived
if anyone is looking to obtain one,
let me know :)