Wow, we woke up to a LOT of snow this morning! All from what fell last night as it started snowing as I drove home from the theater. I went on a magical trip with relatives to see a Broadway-comes-to-SLC rendition of Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. It was so amazing! As we left the downtown theater to go home with the throng of theater goers, it was raining, and then the rain turned to snow. It felt so communal to leave that amazing play with other people, knowing that we had shared in a wonderful story about faith in God and redemption symbolizing redemption from Christ, as we headed to our homes. I’m so grateful to God for Victor Hugo creating such a beautiful story.

Then, how fun to wake up to a winter wonderland! What was even better was that my 15-year-old got up at 7:30 AM and shoveled the driveway and walks, without being asked. I’m so pleased I have such a thoughtful son! Later when we did Morning Basket for school, he fell asleep to take a much-needed nap. :-). So, I let him sleep while I exercised while I watched RootsTech, then came back so we could finish.

Speaking of Morning Basket, we recently read the book shown above, Sugaring Time, together for MB time. It’s the time of year when maple syrup is gathered. Every year, I like to read books about that in late February and early March. It sometimes feels as warm as a spring during this time. We had a few days like that over a week ago where it was 60 degrees. Then we get days like this wherethe temps plunge, and I feel like we live in Vermont with a blanket of snow everywhere.

It’s this kind of book that helps me remember that cold is fun and it’s fun to live with it in February and March, as it is what helps makes maple syrup. When you read the book above, you will learn about how it’s the cold that helps maple syrup happen. When the days warm up, to over 40 degrees, but then get below freezing at night, then the maple tree sap starts to flow.

I love this book because it shows the process of harvesting maple syrup from a sugar bush of maple trees in Vermont. I also love it that it shows a family and neighbors involved in the process, from Grandma down to a toddler that falls sleep in her arms while watching the dad work in the maple syrup shack. I also love that I can tell the photos come from the 1980s, my late childhood and teen years. It goes step by step from starting to put the spigots and buckets on the trees to tap the sap, all the way to eating the syrup on pancakes. You see the family load up the equipment on a sled, pulled by horses through the snow, wending through the sugar bush. It feels straight out of Farmer Boy. You learn about terms like “aproning” and the grades of syrup. So fun!

Here’s what amazon.com says about the book:

“In lyrical prose and black-and-white photographs, Lasky’s book depicts the Lacey family of Vermont making maple syrup…A rare kind of nonfiction, informative yet as easily read as fiction.” (School Library Journal)

I highly recommend the book so that you and your children can learn where maple syrup comes from. Here are some fun videos to watch as well.