Sugaring off

Maple sugar heating pan

Photo credit: Ronald C. Yochum, Jr.,
Creative Commons

'Twas an early spring day, when all through the woods,
Many creatures were stirring; they were there for the goods.
The tin pails were hung from the tree trunks with care,
In the hopes that sticky sap would soon be there.

The children were bundled all snug in their coats,
While pleas for sugarbush treats escaped from their throats.
But mama gathered them all when she said with a clap,
“Now you settle down or you’ll go home for a nap.”

Then, alongside the cabin there arose such a clatter,
They sprang to the heating pan to see what was the matter.
Evaporating water takes more than a flash,
Toppled trees for cords of wood must burn to ash.

Pour a taste test of syrup on new-fallen snow.
Twist a wooden stick to catch the cooling flow.
When, what to their wondering eyes should appear,
But golden taffy or as the French would say, tire.  

thegreatcanadiangiftcompany.com

Next came a driver and horses for hayrides. And quick, 
Climb on that sleigh or that wagon, could it be St. Nick?
More eager than beavers the feasters they came,
And they whistled, and shouted, and called treats by name.

"Now, butter! Now, cookies! Now, ice wine and candy!
On, Croque-Pop™! On, fudge! On, sugar and jelly!
Grab what you can! It’s a sugaring-off crawl!
Now eat ‘em up! Eat ‘em up! Eat ‘em up all!"

The griddle produces pancakes, bacon and sausages,
Cauldrons of baked beans holds stirrers as hostages. 
Meals drizzled in natural, maple syrup for flavour,
No one leaves the shack without jugs of syrup to savour. 

Cool nights and warm days cause maple magic to happen,

Tubes connect the trees as the producers start tappin’.
Oh, there's nothing more fun, and I'm sure that's the truth,
Happy springtime to all, and to all a sweet tooth!

YUMSOME and quintessentially Canadian!

Maple cream cookie floats in zero gravity.

Photo from Chris Hadfield's Tumblr feed.


When was your last cabane à sucre or sugarbush adventure?