I'm Working on Christmas Gifts Right Now

Usually every year I attempt to make some home-made gifts for my family, and this year is no exception, except that I've gotten very behind at what I'm working on. It's mostly a question of supply availability, which means that I've got several things going on at the same time. I'm knitting, quilting, and there is some sewing and embroidery lurking about for my attention, as well as some knitted decorations that need stuffing.

We are still working on the Maple Sugaring diorama, but with the busyness at this time of year, things tend to sit around until there is a block of time to actually finish them. 

Stick with me, I promise there is more to come. 

Winter is here, we had snow and then loads of rain. As depressing as that was - there was some localised flooding of low road areas - I keep reminding myself what it would have meant if that rain had come down as snow! There have also been more than the usual number of get-togethers with friends and family this year, which is lovely, but has added to the time things on the go tend to sit unfinished. We have company staying with us for nearly a week over Christmas, which means the house needs some real attention. In my kitchen cupboard is a mug that has a slogan on it "What housework? I'm busy crafting." 

Yes, I am.

...And a Few More Things

 Woodpile, chopping block, borrowed axe, stumps to to sit on, and finally, barely visible, a damper for the fireplace. Now for lids and spiles for the sap cans....

Fatigue and a Carrying Chest

Yesterday, I had my Covid booster, and I'm feeling very tired, an expected side effect. However, I did manage to finish a six-board chest, painted in barn red, (still needs its rope handles, though!), for my maple sugar workers to carry their gear in. I managed to create a passable sieve, used to remove bark bits etc. from the raw sap, so that is two more items for the diorama.

 We've had two overcast days, with rain constantly - although I'm not complaining, as it could have been snow - which means I've not yet been out in the garden to retrieve some firewood branches and tree stumps. They'll be in scale, of course, one large stump for chopping the logs for the fire, and two small ones for the workers to sit on. They can use the chest as a table to hold their tea and meals, as it is several days' work to boil the sap down into syrup. I also need to make lids for the syrup buckets, and then I have to create spiles. 

As I don't work tomorrow, since my bosses at my volunteer job are at a three-day conference, and will try to make some items for the diorama then. Hopefully, I'll be less tired. My first attempt at a tea kettle didn't work out that well, so I'll try that again. The lid ended up being too small to stay on top of the kettle....

Maple Sugar Buckets, and....

 It took several days, and about 8 applications of sealer, paint coats, and varnish to produce these sap buckets. They are made of recipe card cardboard, and were finished to match the buckets on the trees in the background, which are rather more pale yellow-silvery than the paint job on the fireplace and the evaporating pans. The little scraper is also made of painted card, with a toothpick handle.

On the drawing board are a teakettle, a couple of mugs, and some more necessary tools, as well as a woodpile, among other things. At some point, I have to produce a  passable facsimile of a large copper cauldron. Along with the woodpile, the scene needs a couple of stumps, one being used as a chopping block for the wood that goes into the fireplace.

And the other thing? Well, the third attempt to acquire the 1/8" heart punch is now over; we received it late last week, and it was once again the wrong size, this time measuring 3/8". We've given up and asked for a refund of our purchase price. Now I have to see if any of the dealers I know carry this size of punch, or are able to source one for me. Sigh! I don't know right now if I'll ever be able to get back to the garden corner vignette. However, I haven't given up hope yet.

It's Too Soon!

My Front Garden/Apple Orchard

This just plain isn't fair! It was 24 degrees Celsius on Saturday, but 5 degrees on Sunday, and this is what arrived in the course of today, Monday. Yes, those are nasturtiums under the snow at the right. There are also still sweet peas blooming, but likely not for much longer!

Fortunately, this was forecast, but we try to be hopeful; it didn't work this time. The snow tires went on my car yesterday, just in case, and the snow scraper/brush was already in my car. It'll be cold for the children tomorrow for Hallowe'en. Six months of this stuff is not something I look forward to....
 

The Directions Aren't Always Correct!

 As I had mentioned earlier, when I started this project, we're working from a series of articles in Nutshell News published in 1992. I said in my previous post that I'd make another set of evaporating pans, as the first set didn't fit on the sugaring fireplace. Well, the second set was also too long....

Out came my ruler, and after measuring, two or three times, the drawings from which I was supposed to take measurements, the diagrams for the fireplace and the pans did not exactly work out size ways....

My resolution was to add a row of stones to the end of the fireplace, which made everything fit just right! A bucket is awaiting some more faux painting, and I did manage to make a scoop out of card and a decorative toothpick; all it needs is some painting. I've also got to make a sieve and a wooden paddle scoop, as well as a skimmer. I may have to use heavy aluminum foil for the latter, as it needs holes as well as a shallow, dished profile, but I'll experiment with card at first.

The sledge is stained, and the Medieval Market offered up one of its large barrels. I kind of want another barrel, though, as well as another pail. My first experiment for the sap bucket didn't work out as well as I'd hoped, so I'll try another approach on Friday. Tomorrow I work.

That Part is Done!

 

Today's work is the painting of the sugaring fireplace hood and chimney. It has been faux-painted to look like tin, complete with rivets along the hood seams. The photo can be enlarged by clicking on it.

Tomorrow the new evaporating pans, and the damper which goes behind the fireplace, to control the flow of air for the fire.