Today has been COLD. Last night it was well below zero, and today the thermometer didn't get out of the single numbers above zero most of the day, with a really brisk wind that cut right through you in spite of some sunshine. If I make it sound like I was out there feeling the pain, don't be fooled. I was out just long enough to collect the data for my CoCoRaHS report at 9 a.m., found out what the weather was like, and stayed happily by the fire the rest of the day. We got another 1.5 in. of snow over night. It's clear as a bell tonight and only four below on my thermometer, so perhaps we won't have any new snow in the morning.

I finished up a page on the Cabot cemeteries for the historical society website, and started a new on on maple sugaring. In the process of pulling together some history for the intro, I went back to read what John M. Fisher wrote for the Vermont Historical Gazatteer (1867-1891), when he told about Benjamin Webster bringing his family to settle on Cabot Plain in 1783. I really appreciate that Fisher set down so much of the history for us, but there are certain things I find a little hard to believe.

He wrote about Ben and Mrs. Webster coming in March, "traveling on snow-shoes, and the hired man with Mrs. Webster's assistance, drawing the few goods they brought with them on a hand-sled, among which was a wash-tub, and in this tub their little daughter two years of age . . . the snow was 4 feet deep upon a level . . . " Well, sure, I can believe the 4 feet deep snow; after all, there is an almost identical story in the history of Danville, when Captain Charles Sias brought his family there. That was in March of 1786, and there was the same snow depth, the hand-sled with his family and effects, but he "brought with him 10 children, seven sons and three daughters . . . the snow was very deep and the way was trackless."

Like the Webster family, the Sias clan dug away the snow that had nearly buried the log cabin each man had built previous to bringing their families here. And the first task was to tap the maple trees. Here's where I begin to wonder if the truth may have been stretched just a tad. The author describing the Sias family didn't mention exact amounts of sugar that was made, only that the maples ". . .stood thick around them in the most beautiful groves, affording them sugar in abundance . . ." However, Mr. Fisher wrote that Mrs. Webster, while waiting for her husband to return from Newbury with the remainder of their belongings, took advantage of the warm weather and tapped some maples and made "40 pounds of sugar."

Considering that it takes at least 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup, and the sap had to be either boiled in an open kettle or in a hollowed-out log by putting heated stones in the sap to make it boil, it's hard for me to believe Mrs. Webster could manage that, even with the aid of the hired man who Benjamin left behind with her while he was gone. I don't know how much sap/syrup it would take to make a pound of sugar, but I dare say, a LOT. During World War II we always had a tub of maple sugar - regular sugar was rationed - and granted, that wooden tub was heavy, but it also took a lot of boiling to get it to crystallize, and we had equipment especially designed to do the job.

This is a picture sent to me by Ruth Goodrich of a recent display on the statehouse lawn showing the method commonly used to boil sap and make maple syrup years ago. Most settlers had an iron kettle like this one, and they must have brought with them an auger and enough wooden spouts and buckets to tap the trees. Then they would need to cut wood and split it to keep the fire going - another strenuous job. Life was certainly not easy. Early settlers had to have been strong, resourceful, amazing people to eke out a living here in the wilderness. Even today, rural Vermont can be a challenge.

Before I close, I had a message from Liz Sargent about her sister-in-law, Sheri Pearl who was in that really bad accident last week and was severely injured. Here's what Liz wrote:

As of today, Tuesday 2/15, Sheri is to be going to NVRH tomorrow (Wed. 2/16) via ambulance where she will continue her rehabilitation. She will be closer to home which will make it better and will get the physical therapy she needs to go the next step which is home!

Each day is a tiny bit better, but she still have mobility work to do and is still in a lot of discomfort, but she's gaining!

For those out of town, NVRH is our local hospital in St. Johnsbury. Sheri will be able to see her grandkids also which will brighten her days!

Thanks for all the thoughts, concerns, prayers, etc. on her behalf.

Best to all, Liz

Elizabeth A. Sargent, 529 Jamieson Rd., Danville VT 05828
802-748-1456 - lizsargent@charter.net

We are so glad Sheri is doing well enough to be transported to NVRH. We wish her a speedy recovery.