Tapping into Spring and Maple Syrup Season!

Happy Tuesday morning, everyone!  Just in case you forgot, I am here to announce the arrival of something glorious!  You know?  The thing we've been waiting for since January?  The precise day I've been anticipating for weeks now?  It's SPRING, beautiful, invigorating, refreshing SPRING! 

In our neighbourhood this morning, the sky is blue, the sun is shining, and the birds are singing.  I could not have asked for a more perfect first day of Spring!  We have been rewarded with mild temperatures, sunshine and blue skies for the greater part of the last week, although, it is highly unusual for this time of year.  But you know what?  I am not going to complain.  I'll take it! 

One of the earliest signs of Spring in our province of Ontario, is the tapping of maple syrup.  Last week we took the girls and my mom for a visit to Shaw's Maple Syrup Bush.  We have been visiting this lovely sugar bush for the past four years, ever since we moved north to Barrie.  

Shaw's has been producing maple syrup since 1904.  It is a family business spanning over 100 years!

Our first stop, was a visit to the pancake house, where they serve breakfast with choice of pancakes, french toast, sausages, maple baked beans, and of course, their delicious fresh maple syrup!



We opted for the silver dollar pancakes and pork sausages.  Do these look like silver dollars to you?  Now imagine how big the large pancakes are! 

 

This photo was taken inside the building where the sap is boiled.  This is a shiny new machine, purchased just recently.  The sap is being boiled up top, inside, where the lid is open.

Here is a closer look inside, where the sap is boiling and slowly turning into maple syrup.  It was hard to capture due to the intense steam, but you get the idea.

This is the bottom of the machine, where the maple syrup pours into, once it has been completely boiled down.
Did you know it takes approximately 40-50 gallons of sap to make just one gallon of syrup? 

Back outside, the girls and Daddy are making maple taffy on snow!

Yummy!

 Out in the sugar bush, you can see plastic tubing is connected from tree to tree to collect the maple sap.

Here is a peek at the maple sap inside one of the buckets.

Fancy a horse and wagon ride through the maple farm? 

What a beautiful morning it was!

I just love the look of this wood pile, don't you?

This photo was taken from our car, as we were leaving the sugar bush.  There were actually five deer altogether.  A couple ran across the road to the other side and two others ran away.  This sweetheart, stayed for a photo! 

This ends our tour of Shaw's Maple Syrup Bush.  I do hope you enjoyed coming along.  I love the maple syrup season and look forward to it each and every Spring!

Wishing you all a happy, healthy Spring season!