We took a long hike yesterday in the Varden conservation area.  There is an old cemetery on top of the mountain where some of Sam's great great grandparents are buried.  The old chimney is over 200 years old, and we are working with a group that is trying to raise money to restore it.  It was from the original cabin of the first settlers in the area (also distant relatives of Sam's).  It was a beautiful day for a hike, but the ticks were terrible. 

Our little tiny magnolia blossomed this year too!

 

Mom was here last week with me, and we had a wonderful time.  We went to Lancaster County for a couple of days, and I took her to see Beverly Lewis's play "The Confession" at the Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant/Theater.  She loved it, so I'm happy she got to go.  I told her it was her Mother's Day present.  We also did a lot of sight seeing and shopping.  Here's Mom at the duck pond!

 

And here's the beautiful weeping cherry outside the Inn where we stay!

 

 

 

 



Nasty thunderstorm last night with heavy wind and hail.  Some of the hail was pretty big - and it had already melted some before I got my camera out!  Not much damage here, just a few branches down, but a little ways from here they had a lot more severe damage.

First day over 60 degrees - yippee!

Finished flushing and blowing out all the pipeline - so we're just about done for the year now.  A little more cleaning to do in the sap house and then put everything away. 

Visitors from Vermont coming on Friday and dropping off Mom for a week's stay - can't wait until she gets here!