Drip, Drip

It is that time of year. At last, the first tap went in, the first bucket hung, and the first drops of sap fell. It’s maple syrup time.
Now, if it is warm in the days and cool at night, I’ll soon be boiling sap for syrup.
Like a watched pot not boiling, a watched bucket won’t fill, so patience is required, followed by evenings of boiling. The tapping started just about on time – about a week after Saint Valentine’s Day. Tapping ends when the maple buds open or the tree frogs start singing. That final sap run, sometimes called the Frog Run, can yield some very interesting syrup.
Unlike the uniform grade in “stoah boughten stuff,” your syrup can vary in appearance and taste almost daily. It’s always a great discovery to look at the differences in color, thickness, and taste.