On a whim, I decided to tap our trees a few weeks ago. It turned out to be exactly the right time. Just a few days later, the sap started to run.
Making syrup was something Matt liked to do. I didn’t tap trees last spring, but this year I decided I wanted to share the experience with Ellie.
We also need to replenish our stash. Matt started making Ellie a waffle in the morning, and it’s still her breakfast of choice.
Ellie has been in on every part of syrup making so far. Drilling the trees, collecting the sap, eating the sap right from the tree.
As I strain the sap, she inspects the cloth for dirt. Then as it’s boiling in the pot, she calls, “Use the ‘mometer!” (Our first batch of syrup burnt when we were distracted watching Frozen.)
She holds the strainer as I pour the finished syrup into jars and then swipes her finger around the bottom of the pan to lick up the sweet drips left behind.
Syrup making became a fun tradition for Matt and me, and I’m having more fun carrying this on with Ellie.
Home on 129 Acres 
What a great experience for you to share! I would LOVE to do something like this, and it would have been amazing to do with my kids. My oldest grandson (age 7) and I read Little House in the Big Woods together, and his favourite chapter was the one where they sugared off. Later I bought some maple sugar for him to see what it tasted like. How cool to get something so delicious FROM A TREE.
I love that part of The Big Woods. It’s been so long since I read that book, but that has stayed with me. I would love to make maple sugar. I haven’t looked into how to do that yet. For now, we enjoy licking the pot.
You could also try the snow taffy, if you have any snow still. I think they boiled syrup to the soft-ball stage and then poured curlicues onto the snow. After it cooled, they wound it up on a spoon or a stick or something and ate it. It was apparently wonderful!
I remember that one too. I’ll file it away for next year, as our snow is long gone. We are having perfect syrup weather right now with cold nights and warm days, but that means the snow is done.
Oh I remember that too! Those books are so wonderful! I need to re-read them!
They sure are! Some of the material on Indigenous people needs to be taken in context now. I had to skip and/or reword certain passages for my grandson. It’s shocking (and good!) how much things have changed, even since I was a child, when that language was not even questioned.
This is something I’m noticing and considering when I’m reading to Ellie as well.