Letters from the Homestead: Treasures

Welcome to the Letters from the Homestead series where I share stories of our life on the homestead. I hope you can connect to these snippets from our simple life here in Wisconsin.

March 10, 2024

“I found something,” Danny said as he reached the top of the hill.

The children and I hurried over to him.  We were out on a walk searching for treasures in my grandparents’ relatively untamed forest.  It’s one of our favorite places to be- the home to a blueberry bog, a wonderful blackberry and raspberry patch, and a small lake.  

“What is it?” my son asked as he looked at the crumpled up bit of metal on the ground.  Earlier in the week, my son had found a very old pail in this same area.  When we asked my grandpa about it and who he thought might have left it there, he revealed that a man who lived by trapping once lived on this ridge many years before his uncle, and then father, owned it.  That places us back to the late 1800s early 1900s.  He said he could remember the ruins of an old cabin that are now long gone.  But the fact that another had chosen to have a home here on this ridge, the one that we were now walking on, so many years ago intrigued us all and we were hoping that we might find more treasures.

“It looks like an old teapot,” I answered.  How exciting! Another tangible piece of evidence that helps us remember that we are not the only travelers who have wandered this trail.  We all gathered around to examine it closer.

“Look here!” I said as I noticed another bit of black metal hiding beneath the evergreen tree.  I took a closer look as I tried to put together what it was I was looking at.  “It’s part of an old cookstove!”  

There, almost covered with the old tree, was another treasure:  An old cast iron cookstove.  Time and the elements had done a number on it, and it was broken and battered.  But it was still a treasure to us!  An amazing artifact to make us imagine what it was like to live out here in the woods all alone so many years ago.

It’s a lot of fun to go for walks in the woods.  They reveal wonderful things to us- sometimes physical and sometimes just in relationship with our family.  Winter gives us the luxury of time to do that.  But I can sense that the time of business is drawing nearer.  The longer days and the warming weather are telling me that it’s time to start thinking about getting seeds started, getting the garden ready, and preparing for the hustle of the summer months.

The maple syrup season is about over.  I won’t admit it’s completely over yet- we’re waiting to see what happens this week.  But more than likely, it’s over.   The trees near the bottom of the hardwood hill have budded out, meaning that the sap will produce a more bitter syrup than what is desired.  But it’s been a good year.  We have around 58 quarts of maple syrup for ourselves, which is more than our goal of 52 quarts.  What a blessing to have that harvest!  Our family will be able to enjoy maple syrup all year long without restrictions.  

We didn’t have that luxury with some of the other foods we preserved last summer.  Though we rationed it out, we ate our last bag of applesauce last week, which means no more until we can make it again in fall.  My mother kindly offered up two of her own homemade bags for us, which the children gleefully accepted!  I was a bit more reluctant- I understand the work that goes into that applesauce, and I am so appreciative of the gift!  We’ve also gone through all of our ham lunch meat from our pigs, which is sad too.  Our other preserves are still hanging in there, but are definitely dwindling to the last jars on the shelf.  All things to note for our future growing seasons.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.  I hope it has found you well, healthy, and happy.  How was your week?  I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

Until next time,

Sadie

Read last week’s letter here.