Jany 30—­More snow with strong east wind.

Feby. 9—­After ten days of stormy weather, today is fine and bright.  The snow is over three feet on the level.  Impossible to work in the bush.  Gordon is preparing for sugaring, making spouts and buckets.  I have to get a kettle to make potash and will buy one now, for it will serve for boiling sap.

Feby 14—­Rain, snow sinking fast.

Feby 18—­Went with the three boys to Toronto and bought potash kettles. 
They cost $12.

Feby 24—­Sun is gaining strength and days are lengthening.  Can see the snow wasting in the sun.  In the shade, freezing hard.  Are doing good work in the bush.

Feby 26—­Snowing thick and fast, but not cold.

Feby 28—­Sky without a cloud and mild.  Gordon tapped a tree or two, but there was no sap.

March 6—­Roused by a hallo so hearty that nobody except Jabez could utter it.  The fine weather had made him tired of the town and recalled the sugar-time of his youth.  He picked out the maples to be tapped, those most sheltered and facing the sun, and quickly their bark was bored and spouts inserted.  In the afternoon there was a fair run.  By that time the large kettle had been slung and the fire started.  It was a big play for the youngsters, and their shouting, when Jabez poured sap on the snow and it turned to candy, might have been heard a mile away.

March 11—­Jabez left, taking as part of his spoil a jar of syrup and a lot of cakes of sugar.  Under his teaching Ailie quickly learned to sugar off, and did it over the kitchen fire in the biggest pot.  Sent cakes as presents to Mrs Bambray and Mrs Dunlop.

March 12—­All tired after the week’s sugar-making.  Surprising what a quantity was made, due to the Aulds and Brodies helping, who got their share.

March 18—­Have had no sugar-weather this week; frosty with strong winds, and some snow.  Allan, with help of Mr Auld, began hauling boards from sawmill, which we will need for barns.

March 20—­Gordon awakened us by shouting ‘A sugar snow.’  There had been a light shower of it during the night, and the air was soft.  Holes were rebored and there was a fine run of sap.  Likely the last, for there is now hard frost.

March 25—­Have made preparations for the sacrament.  Weather has been fickle, sometimes snow, then rain, but always blowy with cold nights.

March 26—­Fair overhead but sleighing heavy.  Got to Toronto in time and had a solemn and, I hope, a profitable season.  Recalling past occasions, Ailie was much affected on taking the cup in her hand.  She was anxious about there being no word from Scotland.  Before leaving Toronto I went to the postmaster and got a letter.  It was from her sister, whose husband had a rented farm at Lochwinnoch.  They have decided to follow us to Canada, and ask that I look out a farm for them.  They hope to have over a thousand dollars after paying their passage.  When we got home Robbie’s news was that he had seen a robin.