Considering this past weekend was Maple Weekend in Vermont, I find it appropriate that I touch upon my roots.
Some of my earliest memories take place on my grandparents old farm, just down the street from where I grew up. To give you a sense of how young I was, they sold the farm when I was three. The fact that I have memories of this beautiful time amazes me. (Especially considering I have a hard time remembering things from last week.) Each spring they would tap the trees, hang the buckets and boil that sweet sap.
One of my earliest memories was in the middle of the woods. My Pepere had a wagon with a huge sap tank hooked up to the tractor. We were going thru the woods, collecting the sap from the buckets to bring back to the sugarhouse. I happened to fall off the wagon and just saw them driving away. I started screaming, I mean – I thought they were going to leave me out there! Who in their right mind would leave such a cute little girl?! Then my Uncle Mario came and swept me up and brought me back to the wagon. Aww memories.
Then there are the memories of hanging out in the sugarhouse. Sitting on my great memere’s lap, surrounded by great aunts, great uncles and cousins. The heat from the wood stove, keeping the sap boiling and the chill in the air from the cold Vermont winter outside. Having that first taste of hot maple syrup, piping fresh! Close family and friends gathered together, passing the time, telling stories and catching up on life. Sugaring season is a season of its own. It’s special in so many ways. It brings people together and bring everyone the sweet treat of maple syrup.
Maple Syrup is made throughout the Northeast, Canada, as far west as Minnesota and as far south as West Virginia. When the snow starts to melt, the sap starts running and you better believe that the sugarmakers are getting excited.
If you are around the maple syrup region, be sure to keep an eye out for open houses, festivals and if you are really interested just stop by a sugar house. Sugarmakers are proud of what they do and I’m sure that they wouldn’t mind showing you around and teaching you about how they make the stuff that we all love! And if you are lucky, they will pour you a cup of hot, fresh maple syrup!
Oh this makes me sad…did I miss maple fest in St. Albans?!?!?!