Category Archives: Vermont

Sugarhouse, Maple Syrup, Vermont Maple, Vermont, Northern Vermont Maple, Tradition

Sugarhouses of Northern Vermont

This past weekend, The Vermont Maple Festival was held in St. Albans, Vermont. Vermont is well-known for producing maple syrup (aka liquid gold) and the tradition runs generations deep. Growing up, it’s one of the things that I remember with fond memories.  Collecting sap and sitting in sugarhouses socializing and embracing what helps to make Vermont, Vermont. In the spring, a sugarhouse is main point of connecting with others, catching up while working and there is nothing in this world like the smell of the sweetness in the air and tasting hot, fresh syrup.

Last year, I went home during sugaring season. This is when the sap is running, the syrup is boiling and the fresh made gloriousness that is maple syrup is sitting in barrels waiting to be sold. It had been quite a while since I had been home during maple season and was lucky enough to have my dad bring me around to some of Vermont’s sugarhouses. He is the World Famous Tim after all.

If you’re unfamiliar with sugaring, here is a quick explanation:

Each spring, when the world begins to thaw from the previously, frigid winter, the sap begins to run from the maple trees. Think of the sap like a sweet, sugar water. The sap is collected and boiled in evaporators using heat generated from wood or oil fires. (If simplified, think of a giant, rectangle pot boiling.) The purpose is to boil out the water to a certain extent and the remainder is maple syrup. Rule of thumb, it takes 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of maple syrup. Maple syrup also had more calcium than milk and is a natural sugar – so it’s good for you! All of this is done in sugarhouses.

So in honor of sugaring season coming to an end and all the hard-working folks out there getting ready to clean their equipment, attend maple shows,  sell their products and wanting a break, I wanted to feature a few sugarhouses that I saw on my last spring trip home. They come in all shapes and sizes, traditions old and new. One thing is for certain – we all can’t get enough of the liquid gold!

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Do you have a tradition in your home state? 

I’m strongly convinced that maple syrup and/or cheese can be put on any kind of food. I’ve yet to be proven wrong.

For a great recipe – check out my recipe for Maple Peanut Butter Pie!

Maple Peanut Butter Pie 002

Tractor, Vermont, Snow, Winter Hike,

If You Haven’t Seen Enough Snow This Week…

New England and the Midwest have been getting pounded with snow and the cold for the last week or so. If they haven’t seen enough, I thought I would share some more. Believe me, if I could partake in all this white greatness, I would. I’d even come clean out your driveways for you!

Here is a little reminder that the snow can be pretty too!

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Today I’m linking up with Communal GlobalThe Jenny EvolutionPhotography Essentials,  and Create With Joy for {Wordless Wednesday}.

Vermont, Hike, Winter, Snow, Forest, Snow Covered Trees, Richford Vermont, Green Mountains

A Winter Hike with Green Mountain Man (and My Favorite Photo of 2014)!

My brother (Mr. Green Mountain Man) and I have a tradition when I visit Vermont, we go on an outdoor adventure. He’s pretty good (really good) at taking me to some of my favorite spots to shoot photos and exposing me to new locations, no matter what season it is. He’s also great at running way ahead of me on a hike and making me feel like I’m a 400+lb person who can’t keep up on a walk. I’m not sure where he gets so much energy! Sometimes I don’t think he’s human (he practically ran up the entire hike up Mount Mansfield).

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This year, we did something a little different – a winter hike. Our first destination attempt was to hike up to the windmills in Eden, Vermont where the view is “incredible”. I don’t doubt that it was but there was no where to park. Good thing there was a backup plan – hiking a trail to a deer camp in the middle of nowhere.

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Mr. Green Mountain Man took this one!

Snow Covered Gate, Vermont, Hike, Winter, Snow, Gate, Fence, Eden Vermont

Completely surrounded by white, glistening trees this is as close as anyone can ever get to a winter wonderland. I’m convinced. The woods were quiet, silent, where you could hear the crunch of the snow beneath every step, the chirping of the birds and the sound of the snow falling from the branches overhead. The sun was shining brightly, making the temperature perfect for a walk. Although it was below 30 degrees, the day was perfect to bask in the beauty of the outdoors.

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We left the truck and began walking on the trail thru the woods. The snow wasn’t that deep, with a small ice crust sitting on top for the extra “crunch” sound with each step. Lucky enough, we didn’t even need our snowshoes. We traveled on. As with every adventure with Green Mountain Man, I hear a “let’s go this way” and off the trail we went. I immediately followed with a “we’ve done this before!”. Our trip just got a little longer. Not much longer as we shortly found ourselves back on the trail.

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The walk led us thru the trees to a deer camp of a friend of my brothers. No running water. No electricity. No plumbing.

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To my excitement, there happened to be a toilet just sitting on the front porch. Although my brother wasn’t enthused (and it took some convincing), my favorite photo of the entire year was born!

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My favorite picture of 2014. It’s perfect!

After a short photo shoot, the hike continued a little farther up and then back to the truck where we parked. Mr. Green Mountain Man made sure we didn’t go the most direct way, circling thru the trees and off the beaten path. (Perhaps we both have that in common, steering off the direct route, him in trees, myself on the roads.) He refused to take a picture of me on this throne previously so I had to settle for this log. He made it quite known that if I was to fall backwards, he was prompt and ready with the camera.

Vermont, Hike, Winter, Snow, Forest, Snow Covered Trees, Richford Vermont, Green Mountains

Vermont, Hike, Winter, Snow, Forest, Snow Covered Trees, Richford Vermont, Green Mountains

I think he was praying that I’d fall backwards…

We made it back to the truck, a little exhausted but both glad we had that chance together. It was such a beautiful day, the weather in the 20’s but with the snow, it was perfect. Our own snow globe!

Vermont, Hike, Winter, Snow, Forest, Snow Covered Trees, Richford Vermont, Green Mountains

Thanks again Mr. Green Mountain Man! You are the best!

Vermont, Winter Hike, Hunter, Green Mountain Man, Hike

Now onto the next adventure, who knows what it will be!

Vermont, Hike, Winter, Snow, Forest, Snow Covered Trees, Richford Vermont, Green Mountains