My father occasionally spoke of school being called off in the early spring in northern Vermont so that the children could help with the maple sugaring. He said that, at the end of the day, the children would be given a small amount of hot, semi-boiled-down syrup to eat off of a handful of snow.
I suspect that sounds more charming than I would have actually found it to be. A handful of sticky, melting snow after trudging through the woods all day carrying sap buckets on yokes is an idea that makes me rather like the modern world's conveniences.
So true, Matthew, about the conveniences. But sugar-on-snow, as it is called here in Vermont, is still popular. But I agree, I'll take my ice cream from the store and be happy with that!
My grandfather made this for us when we we children. He learned to do it from his mother. I seem to remember that it couldn't be from the first snow. Does anyone know why?
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Lovely. The bottle opener as a zipper pull is a nice touch on the vest. GLH
ReplyDeleteIs that Armand's younger brother, Rusty Hammer?
ReplyDeleteHis name is Rusty, yes, but that's not his brother. It's his cousin, Rusty Gates.
DeleteAiken
My father occasionally spoke of school being called off in the early spring in northern Vermont so that the children could help with the maple sugaring. He said that, at the end of the day, the children would be given a small amount of hot, semi-boiled-down syrup to eat off of a handful of snow.
ReplyDeleteI suspect that sounds more charming than I would have actually found it to be. A handful of sticky, melting snow after trudging through the woods all day carrying sap buckets on yokes is an idea that makes me rather like the modern world's conveniences.
So true, Matthew, about the conveniences. But sugar-on-snow, as it is called here in Vermont, is still popular. But I agree, I'll take my ice cream from the store and be happy with that!
DeleteMy grandfather made this for us when we we children. He learned to do it from his mother. I seem to remember that it couldn't be from the first snow. Does anyone know why?
DeleteWhat wonderful photos. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteIs it possible to find out the make of his vest?
ReplyDeleteIt is a fleece lined wool vest that I bought from L.L. Bean years back. It didn't work for us so I gave it to him.
Delete