I have always loved real Maple Syrup and being here in Vermont allowed me the opportunity to have the "Sugaring" experience for myself. Our neighbor let me tap two of his sugar maple trees when it warmed up enough to get the sap running. I used a sap bucket and lid we bought at the Morse Sugarhouse last fall and another bucket and lid that the Jensens had bought. I just used milk jugs for the two taps I put in the second tree.

One of the neatest experiences of our mission resulted from our meeting Evelyn Gant at the Tunbridge History Expo. Sister Vorwaller has been taking lace making lessons from her on our prep days throughout the winter. It has been very challenging but she hasn't given up and she is doing amazingly well with very few lessons. I've really enjoyed getting to know Evelyn's husband John while being in their home as she is having her two hour lesson that usually lasts longer. John and I have enjoyed visiting about any and every subject. We have much in common and lots of similar interests.

We are pleased we get to attend the Temple while on our mission and finally got down to the Boston Temple with Elder and Sister Jensen on a bitter cold day the end of January but it was mild enough to eat a lunch on the temple grounds when we went to the temple on Elder and Sister Sanfords anniversary March the seventh.

We didn't get many visitors on this snowy Sunday.

Pictured here is the adorable "Chicken Quilt" Sis. Sanford made for her granddaughter which Sis. Vorwaller loved quilting.

You can see how happy I am to put on my new pair of snowshoes which I was thrilled to find at a consignment store in Woodstock. We had just watched how they made them on T.V. and I liked the old type and thought they would work better for me which was confirmed when I used them. Now we look forward to snowshoeing back home. It will be a fun and enjoyable way for us to hike in the winter.

On January 17th we bid farewell to Elder and Sister McKinnon and welcomed our new director Elder Mitchell and his wife who are also from Utah Co. The change created more opportunities to keep busy during the slower winter months. That's my excuse for not blogging for awhile.