SPRING OBSESSIONS ARE CALLING!

SPRING IS ALMOST SPRUNG!

I think you all know that I am a lover of winter! I started writing this blog at the beginning of winter and I have pretty much shown you all that I am crazy about winter and all of it's activities. I have bored you all to tears with my ranting on skiing, snowmaking, sledding, snow in general, etc.. Skiing has been tremendous this year, and I had a great time making snow and sledding out in the yard. However I am ready to move on to my next set of obsessions!

Mia helping dad strain the
sap as we collected today

Spring brings in a whole new set of hobbies. Maple syrup season pretty much straddles winter and spring and is a reminder to me that spring is right around the corner. Sapping has been awesome this year. I believe a result of the snow pack that we had and the harder than normal winter. But it also brings in some other hobbies that I am itching to get back to.

Images of me riding my bike last year.  This day was a 200
mile solo ride dedicated to my friend Karen Petty who was
taken from us by Pancreatic Cancer.  

The first has to be riding my bike. I have kept active skiing this winter and I am eager to jump right onto the bike and test out my mogul trained legs in the hills. Plus I need to do something to tear off this hibernation belly I have acquired! Riding is just the thing for that. 

To of my beauties - Abby and Ailey on
opening day of trout 2010.

I also look forward to opening day of trout season. This yearly tradition of going out and catching a slew of trout with the girls has become engrained in our family, and I am eager to get them out there! Oh god I just realized that Mia has reached the prerequisite age to begin her fishing career! God help me - 3 years old! The others were out at three years old so I guess I need to stick to that tradition in fairness! Papa Leo hope you're free on opening day! I am going to need some help!

A beautiful night on the bay with my favorite sailing partner
- My wife Cathy.  We met sailing and it is a strong bond for us

The next thing is getting my sailboat ready to go in the water. This obsession really doesn't kick in until June but there is a 2 week flurry of activity to get the boat seaworthy enough to float that is coming on quickly. I am looking forward to the breezy summer days out on Narragansett Bay hanging with the whole family, one kid or another, or my beautiful bride, but being out on the water is pure peace to me. I grew up sailing - I literally don't remember not being on boats and I am ready for the joy of it!

Marsh Marigold - Tastes like spinach!

Another thing I look forward to is getting out in the woods with my kids and beginning our yearly hunting for edible wild plants. Our first find of the season is usually the delicious Marsh-Marigold (actually maple syrup is really the first). We go out - donned in rubber boots and splash around the local streams picking these little beauties! Mmmmm! Then on to the other more summery plants - berries, cattails, milkweed, acorns, etc.. My kids really love this stuff and so does their Wacky Dad!


     Ok old man winter - hold on for a couple more weeks to keep the skiing sweet but give up the fight this year and let us enjoy a beautiful spring!




Love,


Wacky Dad