Happy Easter

 It is rare to have an Easter in Ottawa where it feels like Spring. This year the crocuses are blooming, the robins singing, and it is a bright, sunny, blue bird sky kind of day. Happy egg hunting everyone!

Blue Sky and Calm Waters

We headed to Silver Lake today to get the fishing boat out on the water for the first time in 2024. Thanks to family friends Brody and Kelsey for hosting us at their cottage for the day. Blue sky, calm waters, and a waterfall. No fish today but we will have lots of time for that in the coming months.

Friday Bee Day

 After hive inspections today, we can confirm we had one hive make it through the winter. We lost the other four. We are so happy to see the alive hive buzzing with activity - this was the hive that was decimated last year when our neighbour had his property sprayed for mosquitoes and we lost almost all the bees and had to requeen. Today we added some mite treatment strips, a pollen patty, and fed them a bucket of sugar syrup. We are so happy to have these ladies stick with us for 2024. Hopefully they thrive and we can split into some new hives. Please do not spray your property for mosquitos. I know mosquitos are a pain, but spraying is detrimental to pollinators including honey bees.

Big City Boys

On our vacation from the farm, we enjoyed the luxury of visiting a fancy Toronto hotel before Mama's work trip. Fancy hotel pools are the best!

Leaving the Farm Behind

Sometimes a subway ride and Chinatown adventure is just want you need. It was really cold in Toronto but some urban exploration is just what the doctor ordered.

Freezing at the Falls

I think we picked the coldest day of the year to visit Niagara Falls. It was freezing but fantastic. We were the only ones there!

Alone at the Zoo

Apparently a freezing cold day in March is the absolute best time to visit the Toronto Zoo. We are alone with the animals and everyone was happy to come out to say "Hello!".

Maple Syrup Fail

We collected sap only for me to burn it to the bottom of the pot while forgetting it during a work meeting. I spent three days scrubbing the pot. Not worth it. Apparently I am not to be trusted to boil maple syrup while Ian is away. He has NEVER burnt a batch even while multitasking. I burnt my first one. So much for my back up career plan of maple syrup maker.