It’s maple syrup season in Canada, and sugar shacks across the country are boiling down sap into that sweet, gooey goodness. Families flock to maple festivals to partake in this unique tradition. For centuries, maple syrup farms, also known as sugar bushes, have been crafting this quintessential Canadian product using traditional techniques, which many farmers still employ today. 

When my son was a child, we used to visit local farms to experience the syrup-making process firsthand, wandering through maple forests and indulging in pancakes drenched in golden syrup.


During my recent visit to the sugar bush, I discovered that the maple syrup production process is slowing down due to climate change. For optimal sap flow, spring temperatures must drop below freezing at night and rise above freezing during the day. The cold temperature helps the tree absorb water from the soil, while the warmer weather during the day creates pressure that pushes water down to the bottom of the maple tree, making it easier to harvest the sap. However, with one of the warmest winters on record, Statistics Canada reports a five-year low in maple syrup production. Given that Canada produces 85% of the world’s pure maple syrup, with Quebec contributing 91% of that, persistent climate trends could have significant long-term effects on North America’s maple syrup industry.


To support local businesses, take your family to a nearby sugar bush participating in the beloved Canadian tradition of maple syrup harvesting. Don’t miss out—there’s still time until mid-April!




Check out these Maple Syrup Festivals across the province of Ontario: 

Maple Town at Conservation Halton

2596 Britannia Road West
Burlington, Ontario
L7P 0G3
905-336-1158

Maple Syrup Festival at Bronte Creek Park

1219 Burloak Drive
Oakville, Ontario
L6M 4J7
905-827-6911

Sweet Water Season at Crawford Lake

3115 Conservation Road,
Milton, Ontario
L9T 2X3
905-854-0234

Maple Sugar Festival at Brooks Farms

122 Ashworth Road,
Mount Albert
L0G 1M0
905-473-3246

Maple Syrup Festival at Westfield Heritage Village

1049 Kirkwall Road,
Rockton, Ontario
L0R 1X0
519-621-8851

Tap into Maple at  Orillia & Lake Country
22 Peter Street South
Orillia, Ontario
L3V 7A3
705-325-9321

Maple Syrup Festival at Pefferlaw Creek Farms
12300 Concession Rd.6
Uxbridge, ON
L9P 1R2
289-22-5265

Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival at Toronto and Area Conservation
March – April, various locations



Explore more about the Maple Syrup Season and dive into the rich history and facts surrounding Canada's iconic maple syrup here


Discover the delightful tradition of making Maple Taffy on snow and learn how to create this sweet treat yourself here 




Maple Syrup Season


It’s maple syrup season in Canada, and sugar shacks across the country are boiling down sap into that sweet, gooey goodness. Families flock to maple festivals to partake in this unique tradition. For centuries, maple syrup farms, also known as sugar bushes, have been crafting this quintessential Canadian product using traditional techniques, which many farmers still employ today. 

When my son was a child, we used to visit local farms to experience the syrup-making process firsthand, wandering through maple forests and indulging in pancakes drenched in golden syrup.


During my recent visit to the sugar bush, I discovered that the maple syrup production process is slowing down due to climate change. For optimal sap flow, spring temperatures must drop below freezing at night and rise above freezing during the day. The cold temperature helps the tree absorb water from the soil, while the warmer weather during the day creates pressure that pushes water down to the bottom of the maple tree, making it easier to harvest the sap. However, with one of the warmest winters on record, Statistics Canada reports a five-year low in maple syrup production. Given that Canada produces 85% of the world’s pure maple syrup, with Quebec contributing 91% of that, persistent climate trends could have significant long-term effects on North America’s maple syrup industry.


To support local businesses, take your family to a nearby sugar bush participating in the beloved Canadian tradition of maple syrup harvesting. Don’t miss out—there’s still time until mid-April!




Check out these Maple Syrup Festivals across the province of Ontario: 

Maple Town at Conservation Halton

2596 Britannia Road West
Burlington, Ontario
L7P 0G3
905-336-1158

Maple Syrup Festival at Bronte Creek Park

1219 Burloak Drive
Oakville, Ontario
L6M 4J7
905-827-6911

Sweet Water Season at Crawford Lake

3115 Conservation Road,
Milton, Ontario
L9T 2X3
905-854-0234

Maple Sugar Festival at Brooks Farms

122 Ashworth Road,
Mount Albert
L0G 1M0
905-473-3246

Maple Syrup Festival at Westfield Heritage Village

1049 Kirkwall Road,
Rockton, Ontario
L0R 1X0
519-621-8851

Tap into Maple at  Orillia & Lake Country
22 Peter Street South
Orillia, Ontario
L3V 7A3
705-325-9321

Maple Syrup Festival at Pefferlaw Creek Farms
12300 Concession Rd.6
Uxbridge, ON
L9P 1R2
289-22-5265

Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival at Toronto and Area Conservation
March – April, various locations



Explore more about the Maple Syrup Season and dive into the rich history and facts surrounding Canada's iconic maple syrup here


Discover the delightful tradition of making Maple Taffy on snow and learn how to create this sweet treat yourself here 




Read more »



After the clerk checks your ticket and opens a massive door for you to enter, enchantment unfolds. You know you are in a special, breathtakingly beautiful place. And you are not alone. Your gasp of astonishment harmonizes with the collective one of all who traverses the threshold. The next moment, an expansive “library room,” stretching nearly 80 meters, rises 20 meters above your head, slowly unveiling its grandeur. Soft, dignified light embraces colossal, ornate wooden bookcases guarded by giant mobile ladders. Marble columns topped with gilded artistry hold this baroque jewel that is crowned at its centre by a magnificent dome and numerous frescos around. 
The books in this library aren’t the sole protagonists; approximately 16 statues and 12 busts of the Austro-Spanish Habsburg family, carved in marble stand around the room. Emperor Charles VI’s “Hercules Musarum” statue is prominently positioned beneath the dome, surrounded by four magnificent celestial and terrestrial Venetian globes. It is a journey back to the glory of the Habsburg, who were passionate collectors of books and manuscripts. 

The Prunksaal, the central structure of the old imperial library (State Hall in English), resides at the heart of the city as part of Vienna’s Imperial Palace. In 1723, Emperor Charles VI commissioned architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach, famous for his work on Schonbrunn Palace, to construct the Court Library. This collaboration led to the creation of one of the world’s most beautiful library rooms and Europe’s largest Baroque Library house.  

As a passionate admirer of books and art, I effortlessly lost myself in a magical realm of words, knowledge, culture, artistry and aesthetics. 
I could easily spend an hour only gazing at the incredibly detailed ceiling paintings of the apotheosis of the Emperor by court painter Daniel Gran. He worked four years on them. I could marvel for hours at the 128 historic bookshelves and cabinets, containing 200,000 leather-bound tomes, which I could only imagine, encompass ancient philosophy, history, mythology, manuscripts, musical scores, atlases, and maps—a treasure trove of European intellectual heritage and culture. While these fragile and precious books can’t be read on-site, glass display cabinets showcase rarities from the library collection and artifacts linked to the ongoing exhibition in the Prunksaal. The hall is thoughtfully divided into 'war' and 'peace' sides, echoing the original arrangement of the books, as depicted in the wall frescoes.
Indeed, the visit might be a quick run-through since it is just one elongated room. I chose not to rush through. Even though I stepped into the library late in the day, I took the time to savour all the splendour this place has to offer right until a voice reminded all the visitors that it was time to bid farewell. 

Amidst the vast knowledge within this magnificent hall, an awestruck silence is demanded. 
The library’s solemn atmosphere creates both a sense of privilege and connection. As I sat on the chair in genuine admiration, it was just me, my camera and the rich history of human enlightenment. The people in the hall suddenly disappeared as I quieted down in the middle of centuries-old words and ideas that have been navigating the world, serving as "gates to the future."

Who would dare disrupt the peace of these books, mastery and timeless beauty?


(click on each image to see it in detail) 


When in Vienna, I highly recommend spending time in The Austrian National Library. 
If you have already been, please share your experience in the comment section. 




STATE HALL OF THE AUSTRIAN NATIONAL LIBRARY

Address:
Josefsplatz 1
1010 Vienna 

Website:

State Hall of the Austrian National Library



After the clerk checks your ticket and opens a massive door for you to enter, enchantment unfolds. You know you are in a special, breathtakingly beautiful place. And you are not alone. Your gasp of astonishment harmonizes with the collective one of all who traverses the threshold. The next moment, an expansive “library room,” stretching nearly 80 meters, rises 20 meters above your head, slowly unveiling its grandeur. Soft, dignified light embraces colossal, ornate wooden bookcases guarded by giant mobile ladders. Marble columns topped with gilded artistry hold this baroque jewel that is crowned at its centre by a magnificent dome and numerous frescos around. 
The books in this library aren’t the sole protagonists; approximately 16 statues and 12 busts of the Austro-Spanish Habsburg family, carved in marble stand around the room. Emperor Charles VI’s “Hercules Musarum” statue is prominently positioned beneath the dome, surrounded by four magnificent celestial and terrestrial Venetian globes. It is a journey back to the glory of the Habsburg, who were passionate collectors of books and manuscripts. 

The Prunksaal, the central structure of the old imperial library (State Hall in English), resides at the heart of the city as part of Vienna’s Imperial Palace. In 1723, Emperor Charles VI commissioned architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach, famous for his work on Schonbrunn Palace, to construct the Court Library. This collaboration led to the creation of one of the world’s most beautiful library rooms and Europe’s largest Baroque Library house.  

As a passionate admirer of books and art, I effortlessly lost myself in a magical realm of words, knowledge, culture, artistry and aesthetics. 
I could easily spend an hour only gazing at the incredibly detailed ceiling paintings of the apotheosis of the Emperor by court painter Daniel Gran. He worked four years on them. I could marvel for hours at the 128 historic bookshelves and cabinets, containing 200,000 leather-bound tomes, which I could only imagine, encompass ancient philosophy, history, mythology, manuscripts, musical scores, atlases, and maps—a treasure trove of European intellectual heritage and culture. While these fragile and precious books can’t be read on-site, glass display cabinets showcase rarities from the library collection and artifacts linked to the ongoing exhibition in the Prunksaal. The hall is thoughtfully divided into 'war' and 'peace' sides, echoing the original arrangement of the books, as depicted in the wall frescoes.
Indeed, the visit might be a quick run-through since it is just one elongated room. I chose not to rush through. Even though I stepped into the library late in the day, I took the time to savour all the splendour this place has to offer right until a voice reminded all the visitors that it was time to bid farewell. 

Amidst the vast knowledge within this magnificent hall, an awestruck silence is demanded. 
The library’s solemn atmosphere creates both a sense of privilege and connection. As I sat on the chair in genuine admiration, it was just me, my camera and the rich history of human enlightenment. The people in the hall suddenly disappeared as I quieted down in the middle of centuries-old words and ideas that have been navigating the world, serving as "gates to the future."

Who would dare disrupt the peace of these books, mastery and timeless beauty?


(click on each image to see it in detail) 


When in Vienna, I highly recommend spending time in The Austrian National Library. 
If you have already been, please share your experience in the comment section. 




STATE HALL OF THE AUSTRIAN NATIONAL LIBRARY

Address:
Josefsplatz 1
1010 Vienna 

Website:

Read more »


I Worried 

I worried a lot. Will the garden grow, will the rivers 
flow in the right direction, will the earth turn as it was taught, and if not how shall I correct it?
Was I right, was I wrong, will I be forgiven, 
can I do better? 
Will I ever be able to sing, even the sparrows can do it and I am, well, hopeless. 
Is my eyesight fading or am I just imaging it, am I going to get rheumatism, lockjaw, dementia?
Finally I saw that worrying had come to 
nothing.
And gave it up. And took my old body
and went out into the morning,
and sang. 
                                                                                                                                                          ~ Mary Oliver



It is unusually difficult for me to write in these increasingly complex and uncertain times we are all living in. My thoughts are messy. Emotions are messy. The truth is messy.  
I worry. I worry about my health, the safety of those I love, am I a good enough mom, friend, wife, daughter, citizen... Am I able to keep my ego in check? How is the world facing the challenges most of which we humans have created by ourselves? I worry about the flawed human reasoning and the growing lack of basic critical thinking. What kind of Earth will our children inherit? 
But then, I breathe out. Breathing out is calming. It encourages peace and insight. It helps me pay attention to my surrounding, reminding me that even in troubling times, there is beauty, kindness and joy in the world. 

I step outside and a tapestry of beautiful autumnal leaves hugs my walking feet. I walk forward with each footfall placing distance between me and the world of news stream, social media and phone calls. The seasons are changing. And the more I contemplate the changes, the more I grow appreciative of all the autumnal wisdom and generosity that pour unrestrictedly through me.  
Light.
Darkness.
A balance. 
Letting go.
Fleeting nature of all things...

Autumn tucks acorns in my pockets and faded hydrangeas in my arms. Autumn blows a fresh breeze in my eyes and puts a pumpkin-carved-like smile on my face. Autumn fills my kitchen with the smell of baked pears and my heart with a desire to create. 
The calming power of the natural world makes me tune in to my senses, slow down and pause. I am fully in this moment. The clutter of my mind begins to withdraw. The negative inner conversations switch off. There is nothing but the sounds of the season, the bounty of autumn, the simple beauty of small things, the whisper of simple everyday rituals, the comfort of home, the awakening of hope...

I am at home. I arrange a foraged bouquet in a vase, cook pumpkin soup and take a long warm bath. I light a candle, turn up the music, drift away in the calmness of dolche far niente to find my own STILL in the chaos of life. I am breathing out. 








Still Life


I Worried 

I worried a lot. Will the garden grow, will the rivers 
flow in the right direction, will the earth turn as it was taught, and if not how shall I correct it?
Was I right, was I wrong, will I be forgiven, 
can I do better? 
Will I ever be able to sing, even the sparrows can do it and I am, well, hopeless. 
Is my eyesight fading or am I just imaging it, am I going to get rheumatism, lockjaw, dementia?
Finally I saw that worrying had come to 
nothing.
And gave it up. And took my old body
and went out into the morning,
and sang. 
                                                                                                                                                          ~ Mary Oliver



It is unusually difficult for me to write in these increasingly complex and uncertain times we are all living in. My thoughts are messy. Emotions are messy. The truth is messy.  
I worry. I worry about my health, the safety of those I love, am I a good enough mom, friend, wife, daughter, citizen... Am I able to keep my ego in check? How is the world facing the challenges most of which we humans have created by ourselves? I worry about the flawed human reasoning and the growing lack of basic critical thinking. What kind of Earth will our children inherit? 
But then, I breathe out. Breathing out is calming. It encourages peace and insight. It helps me pay attention to my surrounding, reminding me that even in troubling times, there is beauty, kindness and joy in the world. 

I step outside and a tapestry of beautiful autumnal leaves hugs my walking feet. I walk forward with each footfall placing distance between me and the world of news stream, social media and phone calls. The seasons are changing. And the more I contemplate the changes, the more I grow appreciative of all the autumnal wisdom and generosity that pour unrestrictedly through me.  
Light.
Darkness.
A balance. 
Letting go.
Fleeting nature of all things...

Autumn tucks acorns in my pockets and faded hydrangeas in my arms. Autumn blows a fresh breeze in my eyes and puts a pumpkin-carved-like smile on my face. Autumn fills my kitchen with the smell of baked pears and my heart with a desire to create. 
The calming power of the natural world makes me tune in to my senses, slow down and pause. I am fully in this moment. The clutter of my mind begins to withdraw. The negative inner conversations switch off. There is nothing but the sounds of the season, the bounty of autumn, the simple beauty of small things, the whisper of simple everyday rituals, the comfort of home, the awakening of hope...

I am at home. I arrange a foraged bouquet in a vase, cook pumpkin soup and take a long warm bath. I light a candle, turn up the music, drift away in the calmness of dolche far niente to find my own STILL in the chaos of life. I am breathing out. 








Read more »


"Autumn suits you perfectly," a friend of mine wrote to me the other day when she saw photos from my everyday walks into the woods. Since the beginning of the season, I can't get enough of the simple beauty that surrounds me wherever I go – from the gorgeous golden colours of the leaves to the perfectly shaped, raised from seeds, ready to be picked squashes in the garden. The seasons change so effortlessly, without prompting, that if I am not paying close attention, I might overlook all the wisdom the Earth is offering to me each and every moment. 
I believe no other season teaches us so many profound lessons about life than fall does. And as I approach into a deeper season in my own life, I believe Autumn is my season. 
Knowing that each season is a journey of change and personal growth in preparation for another season in life, I feel that now I am right here where I would like to be, willingly trusting and appreciating the experience of the moment, letting life be life. 
I love the autumnal gentleness in the air, those misty rainy days when I can sit at home and watch the pearls of raindrops caught on golden leaves shining like crystals on the poetic light, unafraid of falling. A book in my hands. A blanket over my feet. An aroma of sage and butternut puree from the kitchen. A feeling of being warm, comforted, calm and sheltered. There is real beauty in ordinary life, in taking the living slowly and making space for the change.
In a wonderful essay, The Beauty Of the Ordinary, Pico Iyer reminds us of the autumn's special, golden lesson – "to cherish everything because it cannot last". "Autumn days," he writes, "are reminders of how much we cannot afford to take for granted, and how much there is to celebrate right now."
The older I get, the more I am in tune with this wise, golden, ordinary Autumn. 
I am completely open to the enduring lessons of the falling leaf. To learn humility and resilience from its ending. To cultivate an attitude of respect and gratitude. To see the magic in the little things. To stay whimsical and ordinary at the same time... 
In nature's timeless forms, I contemplate that nothing lasts forever and perhaps, the art of life lies in its ephemerality. 
I find that liberating. 




Golden Autumn



"Autumn suits you perfectly," a friend of mine wrote to me the other day when she saw photos from my everyday walks into the woods. Since the beginning of the season, I can't get enough of the simple beauty that surrounds me wherever I go – from the gorgeous golden colours of the leaves to the perfectly shaped, raised from seeds, ready to be picked squashes in the garden. The seasons change so effortlessly, without prompting, that if I am not paying close attention, I might overlook all the wisdom the Earth is offering to me each and every moment. 
I believe no other season teaches us so many profound lessons about life than fall does. And as I approach into a deeper season in my own life, I believe Autumn is my season. 
Knowing that each season is a journey of change and personal growth in preparation for another season in life, I feel that now I am right here where I would like to be, willingly trusting and appreciating the experience of the moment, letting life be life. 
I love the autumnal gentleness in the air, those misty rainy days when I can sit at home and watch the pearls of raindrops caught on golden leaves shining like crystals on the poetic light, unafraid of falling. A book in my hands. A blanket over my feet. An aroma of sage and butternut puree from the kitchen. A feeling of being warm, comforted, calm and sheltered. There is real beauty in ordinary life, in taking the living slowly and making space for the change.
In a wonderful essay, The Beauty Of the Ordinary, Pico Iyer reminds us of the autumn's special, golden lesson – "to cherish everything because it cannot last". "Autumn days," he writes, "are reminders of how much we cannot afford to take for granted, and how much there is to celebrate right now."
The older I get, the more I am in tune with this wise, golden, ordinary Autumn. 
I am completely open to the enduring lessons of the falling leaf. To learn humility and resilience from its ending. To cultivate an attitude of respect and gratitude. To see the magic in the little things. To stay whimsical and ordinary at the same time... 
In nature's timeless forms, I contemplate that nothing lasts forever and perhaps, the art of life lies in its ephemerality. 
I find that liberating. 




Read more »
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