RicelandMeadows

February 26, 2026

February is flying by. It seemed like January was a six week month this year, but February has made up for it. First it was very cold with a few wagon rides mixed in along with the daily chores. Then we went from sub-zero temperatures to very mild spring days almost overnight!

Late February is maple syrup season for us. It happens every year and yet somehow, it catches me off guard. This year I thought we were positioned very well…until I opened up the doors to the sugarhouse.

There is always some “spring cleaning” to be done. All the equipment is cleaned very well before storage after the season. We still have to rewash tanks and wipe down walls every year. This year however, a family of squirrels had spent part of the winter inside having one heck of a party!

I was aghast at the mess they had made. It took us two additional days to get everything cleaned up and ready for the season! Nuts and a giant cardboard box torn to confetti bits were everywhere and I mean everywhere!

It forced me to miss a quick short first run of maple sap, but I learned long ago to be 100% ready before tapping the trees. Otherwise, you will be swimming in sap with nowhere to go with it. I wasn’t falling for that again!

The temperature dropped cold again after melting most of our snow. So, we switched gears and went back to working and training young horses. The horse at the top of the page with the white stripe on her face, is Maggee. This was her first time hitched with Belle. She did a great job for a young horse of three.

Maggee is a big growthy mare with a good attitude. She will be a good workhorse very soon. Her mom Amee and her will be working together very soon. She is a keeper.

Last night we finished tapping all of our maple trees for the season. Looks like a good sap run coming for the weekend. Here we go!

As we were putting the tapping tools away last night, the sun was setting in the west. The big glowing red ball of sunshine, painted things pink. I snapped a picture of the sugarhouse caught in the beautiful light. A pleasing sight for sure.

February is running out of days as the maple sap starts running out of the trees. A perfect ending to a short month.