Sugar on Snow

Due to COVID, there's no Winter Carnival this year. No ski jumping contest in town. But more importantly, no Sugar on Snow.

In New England, Sugar on Snow means packing a bowl with snow and pouring boiling maple syrup on top. The syrup hardens and forms taffy. Chewy and sweet.

As so often during this past year, i decided to DIY--make my own.

Boil the maple syrup to 235 degree (soft ball stage on a candy thermometer).

Pack a bowl with snow. Last night's snow was light and fluffy. This morning's snow is heavy and wet. Heavy is good.

Pour the hot syrup over the snow.

Spiritual practice is another DIY thing. No one else can do it for you. You already know the recipe.

Meditate or pray. 20" a day is a good start. Use a timer.

Read a spiritual book.

Meet with your spiritual friends at least once a week and meditate together.

The heart softens, and practicing kindness becomes easier and easier.

Coldest 90 Days

It's snowing.

December 9 begins the coldest 90 days of the year. So here we go, on the downhill slide into winter. Whee!

The ground is locked up. The snowfall covers a multitude of sins--undone projects, unkempt flowerbeds. Out of sight and out of mind.

Now there's nothing to do but walk in the snow, snowshoe on the snow, ski on the snow, sled on the snow (even if you're 70), and skate on the ice. Our possibilities have narrowed down to this for the coming 90 days.

Goodbye, Gardening. Farewell, Flowers. Das Vidanya, Vegetables. There is a season to everything, and now the seasons have turned. Everything ends. Everything.

Photo from cntraveler.com