Maple Sugar Sunday is a tradition here in Maine. In the Spring, if the weather cooperates, we have warm days and cold nights - that makes the sap run. We planned and plotted and chose 4 sugar houses to visit, making a large loop from here and back.
Our first stop in West Minot was a bust!! They were offering a free pancake breakfast - I believe everyone in town was standing in line - we passed. From there we went to Hebron, to a place called "Cabane a Sucre Bergeron" -loosly translated I believe that says "Bergeron's Sugar House" - my French is a bit rusty but you get the meaning. This was the Maine Maple Producer's Association Class Award Winner in 2008 for maple syrup quality and taste - I tried this year's batch - can't help but think they'll do it again!! We were treated to crepes and coffee there. BUT, we were still hungry, so we drove to Mechanic Falls for breakfast!! From there we went to "A Wrinkle in Thyme Farm" in Sumner. We were also treated to a snow squall - very pretty and very wet but oh so picturesque!! This farm uses only wood fired evaporators. The photos from top, firing the evaperator, straining the "product" and the proverbial "Hole in the Barn Door" in the shape of a Maple Leaf!!
From there we headed toward home and our last stop at Jillison's in Sabatus - another bust. TOO MANY PEOPLE!!
We had a truly wonderful day and it brought back fond memories as a child when we kids would tromp into the woods with our dad to tap the maples, hang the buckets, and then gather the sap, fire up the wood stove and boil it down in the kitchen. It takes literally "gallons" of sap to make a quart of syrup but it is oh so worth it!!
Oh, did I mention I bought a quart for that award winning syrup? I Can't wait to make me some pancakes!!
