Maple Sugaring

Well, it took a while for the weather to warm up enough that the maple trees decided to start releasing that lovely sap, but it has begun! 

Around Quebec, you can head to a sugar shack starting the end of March which is a place out on a farm that you sit down to a big meal (typically all you can eat) loaded with maple syrup on and in everything. Then you head outside and toss syrup into the snow for a toffee tire and head home on one incredible sugar high. And while I am sure that would have been a pretty neat experience, particularly considering all the hype about those sugar shacks and that several sugar shacks have other things like sleigh rides and trains, we were pretty anxious to experience the real maple sugaring. You know, buckets on trees, boiling syrup, the smell of a wood fire - the Little House on the Prairie edition. 

After looking and looking, through all the sugar shacks in our vicinity, none of them seemed to offer that opportunity we were looking for then Jason remembered that one of his coworkers had his own little maple farm that he had started harvesting maple at last year. We asked if he would be willing to welcome two adults and two curious toddlers to his farm and he happily obliged.

Alain, Jason's coworker, was such a great host. To begin with, we were all so happy to drive out of the city. It was such a nice breath of fresh air to roll down our windows and enjoy the sunny warmth of oncoming spring. The kids were quiet as soon as we crossed the river out of the city; they just sat and watched the hills roll by. We arrived to Alain's farm to be greeted by a very kind dog and cat. The kids, who don't get a ton of time around animals, weren't too happy about that and had a minor freak out. But then it was on to learning about Maple and all was good.

Alain showed us how he boils the maple, collects it from the trees, the importance of the temperature, let us drink some straight maple (it is so SWEET straight), he let us try some sap before it was boiled (tastes like thick, slightly sweet water), and then let us go visit his horses. 

I love maple, but getting to make friends with his horses kinda blew the maple bit out of the water. Love those horses. Jason remarked how at home I looked and it sparked a conversation about moving outside of the city which is an idea that I'm not sure will take root any time soon (I love the daily convenience of the city a bit too much..). I sure would love a little getaway cottage though! 

Back on topic though, we loved getting to learn about maple and are so grateful to have had an opportunity to get to know Alain and his family a little bit better. And, of course, before we left the kids thoroughly enjoyed splashing around in the mud. It was a morning that we are sure to remember (and we brought home a few treats to help us remember it by). Thanks, Alain!

And now for the pictures :).