Sunday, March 13, 2011

Sweet Maple Memories! - Part Three







































































Winter gently laid down more 6cm of snow during the night. It was a beautiful sight to look out and find tree branches and village roofs decked out in fresh snow as the first light of daylight saving turned night into day. Yes... I did make all of our clocks "spring forward" that extra hour before heading off to bed last evening!

While many are angered by Winter's reluctance to depart... I am patient. In fact... I search for pockets of "fugitive" snow deep in the woods long after it has disappeared in fields or along side roads. I revel in finding it... and usually take time to paint it. But "I" am a lover of Winter!

I have decided not to ramble on... as I am accustomed to doing in my posts. For a change... I have decided... simply to let a few of the many paintings that I have made over thirty years "speak" on my behalf. I humbly hope that these express the deep and abiding love and respect that I have for those individuals and families who have "sweetened" my journey ... for so many Springs. I can't imagine a Spring's arrival without "Sugaring off"... the return of Canada Geese... the American Robins... or the Red Wing Blackbirds. These are the true measures of the return of Spring for "Me"!


"The land-holder who appropriates a few rods of land to the preservation or cultivation of the sugar tree not only increases the value of his land, but confers a benefit upon future generations."
-Superintendent of the United States Census, 1860

My deepest gratitude to the Smail, Sunderland, McCutcheon, Jones, Brown, Tackaberry Lalonde and Greenlaw families... and a host of other landowners who allowed me to visit and paint in their sugar bushes over the years! Thank you all!


Happy Spring! ...and Good Painting to ALL!
















18 comments:

  1. Oh, Bruce, I try not to be partial when looking at your paintings all in a group like this...But I have a hard time not favoring the ones with people working. (and I won't mention the watercolors, because then I come off as incredibly biased, lol).

    Personally, I'm not a big fan of winter (I endure it patiently from inside my house), but when I look at your paintings, it ALMOST makes me want to get bundled up and venture out there. Perhaps when it warms up, I will give it a go!

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  2. Beautiful snow paintings! And I too am not happy with the time change. I feel quite cheated out of that extra hour today.

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  3. Good Morning Bridget!.. Thanks for visiting and for offering comments that warm my soul!

    I am most pleased that my paintings offer you pictures... and feelings of winter warmth... despite your own strong preference to enjoy winter looking at it from the warmth of your comfy home! One of the real purposes for making art... is to transport the viewer to the "place"... where we have... paused... and worked... to offer the gift of our own joy in having had the experience. Sharing the road!

    If my pictures have made "You" ...ALMOST want to get bundled up and to venture out there... "I" have succeeded in doing what I set out to do. I have brought the outside ...into your warm... safe place... That's good enough for "Me"!

    Glad that the presence of working people in my pictures pleases you! Their presence (at work)is integral to completing the total picture. Most often I paint the landscape void of any human presence... simply because my forays out into the landscape are my own personal way of seeking out... and finding Solitude.

    The Landscape for "Me" is my place for meditation and reflection. It is a place where "I" feel safe... where I
    never fail to find stimulation and renewal.

    "He leadeth me beside still waters. It restoreth my soul..." Simply that!

    Thanks for your presence and comments Bridget. I deeply appreciate both!

    Good Painting and Writing!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  4. Good Morning Katherine!... How nice... to hear from "You" again!

    Thanks for the encouraging comments about my "snow paintings"... and for not ranting at me as many would... due to their exasparated feelings about Winter being such a much prolonged nuisance!HAHA!

    The time change really disrupts all of our clocks... one way or another... which is why I am up... and writing this comment back to "You" at 5:50 am... well... really 4:30 am if we go by Saturday's clock! HAHA!!

    Time will heal everything they say. But that will take a few extra days to really believe it! HAHA!!

    Good Painting!... and "Sweet dreams"!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  5. Hi Bruce, I love all those rustic buildings. What is the purpose of those little raised structures on the ridge-lines?

    I understand now your comment on my blog about 'robin snow'. For us robins are synonymous with deep winter.

    All the best,
    Keith

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  6. Each of these pieces is simply singing to my heart, Bruce. I love them all. Funnily enough, I was watching Iron Chef America last night and the not-so-secret ingredient that had to be used in every dish was maple syrup. There was a mini lesson in the grades and even a maple sugar that the chefs used. I was so glad for the timely show and am more intrigued than ever. I first read of the tapping of maple trees in some school lesson somewhere way back when I was in early elementary grades. I've always been interested yet never took the time to learn more. I am hopeful to do the research to find where I can go here in IL to watch and learn and taste!

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  7. Hi Keith!... Thanks for stopping by! Great question! Leads me to think that perhaps another post to better explain the common features of these structures known here as sugar shanties... houses ... shacks... all describing the same structure... might be of value!In Quebec... thety are known as les cabanes du sucre. (sugar cabin or hut)

    On most shanties... the cupola, located on the ridge of the roof line is baffled... or left open to allow the build up of steam/vapour created during the boiling off process to escape the interior of the shack. This ventilator then is usually located directly over the pan where the sap is undergoing boiling.

    There is a HUGE amount of steam or vapour released and it is HOT! Getting rid of it is essential.

    In the more elaborate and modern operations the baffles may be opened or closed... much like venetian blinds. Closed during the part of the year when there is no production.

    Robins mean many different things... in other parts of the world. Now... we both have it straight for our two worlds. The value of blogging!

    I'll add another cube of "maple sugar"... just for you Keith! Thanks for the inspiration!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  8. Hi Sherry!... Thanks for visiting again... and for sharing your own experiences here! You have brought some information into the blog that is very pertinent and critical to understanding the historical reason for, and value of the maple syrup gathering tradition in North America.

    Well before European contact, indigenous peoples were using maple syrup in their cooking. It, along with certain wild herbs and berries were used effectively to add taste to an otherwise banal diet gained through their hunter-gather traditions.

    When European settlers arrived and settled alongside these peoples, they were influenced and adopted maple srup and sugar making into their European cooking. What has occurred since then... is Canadian/ North American fusion of the two cultural cooking practices.

    Maple sugar is created by boiling the sap past the liquid stage and the resulting "heavy" syrup was poured into carved wooden wooden molds and allowed to harden. It was later removed and could be stored for use in the family kitchen... whenever a sweetener was desired. In earlier times, this form of maple sweetener was the only sweetener available. Cane sugar was not available in these northern settlements and colonies... and was too expensive if it was at all available.

    Today, in Canada... and in my own experience, maple syrup was used by my Mom and Grandmother in baked beans and in the creation of puddings and pastries. We also traditionally had maple- smoked ham for Easter dinner. Very sweet... and tasty. It is now available commercially for most of the year.

    We have a national late winter treat aptly called "The Beaver Tail. It is a longish, flat kind of pastry/pancake that is deep-fried and drizzled with maple syrup. The production of this mouth-watering treat came out of Quebecois Spring festival traditions. It is now very commercial... and appears throughout Canada at various Winter/ Spring celebrations.Cool!....EH? HAHA!!

    I will "tap" out one more post to add some details which are inspired by your input and my Scottish blog partner, Keith Tilley. By all means visit his wonderful site - it's very interesting... and Keith is a master in plein air watercolouring! You can link to his site by clicking on his icon directly above my comments today!

    Good Painting and Writing!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  9. beautifully written! and your paintings are just incredible. thank you for sharing them with your thoughts of spring bruce. wonderful!

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  10. Bruce, I agree with Suzanne. Your work is truly incredible. Oh yes spring is on the way. When we are in the thick of summer I know your snow scenes will keep us cool.

    Thank you for sharing your wonderful words and amazing paintings.

    All the best to you
    Joan

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  11. Hi Suzanne!... ALWAYS a pleasure to have you visit! The gracious compliments that you offer are all the more meaningful... coming from an artist/peer with your own incredible talent for writing and for painting as well!

    Thank you for taking the time from your busy schedule to visit and comment!

    Spring is indeed in the air at last. The sap 's runnin'... everywhere! I was offered a job in a local bush for the run... which will likely last from four to five weeks. During the run... it is essential to boil contiuously day and night to maximize the production.

    Neither the trees nor the weather offer leisure or down time. The smaller producers are now finding it difficult to find people willing to do the "grunt" work... even for an eight hour day.

    I would have jumped at the opportunity,... but I have a "special treat" coming my way that's SWEEEEET! That'll be the subject of my next post! Stay tuned!

    Happy Spring to "You"... and Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  12. Hi there Joan!... Great to hear from "You"!

    Thanks ever so much for the encouraging and uplifting support that your comments always bring! Much appreciated!

    Spring is indeed... in the air!... LITERALLY!How comforting and welcome to hear the Canada Geese and their honking as they pass over our Gallery in the early morning... and back to the mill pond at Rumble's Mill again in the late evening! Their Happiness and Joy... is only surpassed by my own... in hearing their voices once again!

    Hey! Just a thought! Maybe I'll make a Winter post in July... to cool off my Followers! It'd save on their air conditioning bills! HAHA!! COOL idea Joan!

    Good Painting and Happy Spring! Get "out there" Girl!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  13. I love the way each painting is different even though it is the same sort of scenery with snow. A beautiful collection of works over the time you have been visiting the maple season. Some super compositions, homes, barns and sheds.

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  14. Hi Caroline!... Hope that Spring has managed to creep into the Highlands... as it seems to have here... and in other places in thew blogging world!

    We still have lots of that white stuff... but the sap gathering is well underway now! I hope to get out to a couple of sugar bushes tomorrow!

    Thank "You" for the very gracious comments. These pieces represent many visits and "Sweet" experiences... couldn't resist that pun! HAHA!!

    Good Painting and Happy Spring to you!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  15. Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful!!
    My favorite....the Red Barn in the snow.
    Be still my heart!

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  16. Hi there Mary!.... Thank you! Thank you!... Thank "You"!!!

    Having a peer as talented with colour and expressive ideas and brushwork as "You"... respond to my work in such a way is a high honour indeed! Thank you once again!

    Be still my heart???... Never! Like yours Mary... my heart is filled with joy and hope every time that we pick up a brush... and especially... on location!

    Good Painting! Happy Spring!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  17. Hi Bruce! Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving such a nice comment. Now I get to see your blog. Your watercolors are very nice and your sketches are super. I love this group of sugaring paintings. All of them are great. You can tell it's a subject dear to you.

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  18. Hi there Stephanie!... Thanks for visiting "The Sugar House!....HA HA!!

    Tis a sweet time of the year to "out there"! Wouldn't miss a trip to the bush to kickstart my Spring!

    "How sweet it is!" HA HA!!!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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