The Running of the Sap

No I am not taking up the decathlon.

This week was March break and children are off from school. "J" and I took the opportunity to visit our old university friends in Coburg.

I always enjoy our visits but the last few have been tinged with sadness as I am constantly reminded that our “happy” family unit will soon be no more. The balance enjoyed between the two couples will be gone, will our visits be separate from now on.

I am the one who has transgressed the norm and broken the suburban détente. I am sure we will remain friends but the old allegiances and balance will no longer exist.

Still there was much laughter and good food. Even a side trip to pick up some fresh maple syrup. A rustic operation on the edge of the forest the air fragrant with the smell of maple candies. I pulled out the camera to capture the scene for this blog and was offered a tour of the facility by one of guys running the still?

Unlike the old bucket and cauldron the sap is collected by an intricate series of gravity fed plastic tubes. He took great pains describing the process and I quickly realized that I would not have had this privilege prior to September 30^th when I went full time. Womanhood, it has its privileges.

The plastic lines only natural enemies being bears and squirrels, the later gnaw them the other use them like straws to drink the maple sap.

I bought a bottle of syrup and one mind blowingly sweet maple candy to try. The other gentleman manning the operation remarked to my friend, “she has a sweet tooth doesn’t she?

I had been feeling rather morose and this proof that I was passing made my day.

Hugs,

April

I see your bear and raise you a Godzilla: