Making maple syrup is a long, steady job, a few intense weeks of collecting, boiling down, and bottling.
While the sap boils, there is time to enjoy the inimitable scent of maple steam,
and time to enjoy a mug of chai tea steeped in hot sap.
Little ones are kept busy with stories and games of fetch-the-stick with a friend's dog. If there are musicians about, there might be some sharing of traditional Appalachian tunes, traded for a Canadian tune or two.
The magic moment arrives, where the bubbles look just right: the syrup is ready to be filtered...
...and bottled!
This is beautiful. Reminds me of Little House in the Big Woods.
ReplyDeleteLOVE the photos. (I always say that, I know) but really, so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWe must come next year to lend a hand!
Mmmm, we've been enjoying some fresh syrup from my dad. His shack is a little more rustic than yours...one side is open and one of the side walls is made of firewood, so the longer the boiling continues, the shorter the wall becomes!
ReplyDeleteMom always jokes about the fact that there was always a 26 ers of whiskey(maple syrup) on the table at 7:00 am our house when I was little. I just put 2 new 26 ers in the freezer for next winter!
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