Maple Sugar Festival

Maple Sugar Festival

Deep in the heart of McHenry County Illinois, lies a little known wood. It's name is simply lovely, Coral, Coral Woods. It is nestled in a small neighborhood, some 40 minutes from our home.
We went there today, Cole, Kiah, Ben and I along with some friends from our homeschool group. There was the Rathe's (nice family with the sweetest girls.), and the Temples, (also a very dear family and good friends to us), there was the beautiful Barnes girls (mother and daugher, who are absolutly lovely both inside and out!) Mrs. Temple's friend Amy, and her children. Mrs. Jaeger and her three delightful boys came as well, and were so good on the hike, truly they are The outdoorsy family! (She has just the brightest smile always, absolutly always!) Of coarse the Steurers came, including the MR. and his sister and her boys! It was a delightful troop! Great Fellowship is such a blessing from the Lord.
We were escorted about the trail by the MCCD staff, and taught all about Maple syrup. Could you believe the weather? It was a true sugar snow! (just like in the book, "Little house in the Big Woods", by L.I. Wilder) We've had all this warm weather recently, but yesterday, down they came. Big beautiful snow flakes, down down, and they stuck! Like a little gift from heaven. Oh how it made the childrens eyes spark with excitement. Some even built a snowman waiting for others to arrive. Who would have guessed it to snow? Today, it was so lovely, to walk in the snowy woods and hear the snow crunch beneath ones feet, and listen to the history of maple syrup. We even were so blessed as to be able to taste some too! Look at these precious pictures...
After we all had a taste, which wasn't very much, really, it seemed as though they could have giving just a bit more, but well we were thankful none the less, for it was good, fresh, maple syrup. After, Mr. Steurer prayed over us all, and blessed our rides home, it was very nice. Mr. and Mrs. Steuer than invited the Cornforths (that's us) to eat pizza at their house! Well, any time with the Steurers is a fun time, so naturally we accepted and had a delightful visit. Ben even found a basket, and climbed in, which prompted Joshua to do the same, but it wasn't quite big enough for two 1year olds! So sweet! Well, another wonderful homeschool day, praise be to God.