The Sweetness of Spring (maple Syrup)

It has been a few years since my family has really made maple syrup. Oh, we played at it by tapping one tree--just enough to show my children how it was done and give them a chance to taste the “genuine nectar" which also caused the family to divide into two camps. There are those who like real maple syrup and those who don’t. The score is two to four by the way. I will leave you guessing which is which.

With one of the children interested  in making more than just a couple of pints of syrup this year, we upped the ante to eight buckets on varying trees. Not trying for that business level, but definitely willing to put more effort into it than previous years. Grandpa pitched in with a loan of spiles and sap buckets with lids. We are moving up(!) from our years of milk jugs, open buckets, and spiles made from our elderberry tree.

As usual, we had good intentions, but it took us awhile to gather it all together and get out there. The unexpected early warm weather was not helping those who procrastinated either. But we did get out there and collected it faithfully twice a day, even if it meant working by flashlight. Oh the anticipation of the unknown, what will you find? Will the sap level be a fulfilling surprise or a little disappointing? Why is the unknown of a sap bucket something to look forward to, but the unknowns in life bring frustration, worry, and anxiety? Hmmm... I might need to think about that awhile. Even the adults enjoyed the twice a day dose of "Christmas" expectancy that happened when the sap lid was slid back to reveal the contents within. Oh Lord, please help me "see" and enjoy the small daily wonders that You have placed  in Your world for me to discover and find amazement in. Help me not to rush through life and overlook the personal touches of Your love that You have surrounded me with.

Usually we boil the sap most the way down over the wood stove in the basement, bringing it up stairs to cook down once it reaches the stage of careful watching. However the warm weather was working against that plan, and most of it was boiled down in our kitchen. We tried to use the wood cook stove one day, but ended with roasted people long before we ever got to the end of boiling the syrup.

The day with the biggest haul of sap started out with sparks of delight in my son's eyes, and ended with fiery darts shooting from my eyes. I fell asleep and woke up to a house full of smoke caused by the maple syrup I had charred. It was so bad I am still not sure I can save the pan. I was sooo mad at myself for ruining my son's joy, but thankfully he is like his Dad so his only comment was, "It is just syrup, Mom."

We have brought our syrup making season to a close with the total of seven pints this year. The total would of been much higher if mom hadn't of tried to make burnt offerings. The boys got to visit their second cousin's real sap operation which has fed the dreams and plans for next year. Along with visions of using Grandpa's long sap pan that was found in a shed.

There is a sadness in knowing Grandpa's sap making days have gone, but also a joy in knowing that a grandson is interested in not only hearing the stories of old but of working towards carrying on a tradition. Seeing my son hand Grandpa a pint of syrup made from this spring's sap run was truly a moment of sweetness for me.