I am blessed to have a group of friends whom I have known for over 20 years. We call ourselves the Crew. We are scattered throughout New England but make it a point to connect a few times a year. One of these times is the annual boil off. It is hosted by A and H. They do all the tapping. We simply show up with food to share and enjoy the day. This year the day consisted of many snow activities due to the fact that they have had 2 nor’easters in a row. This provided a fun day for the kids to sled, snowboard, and be outside. Little Girl tried snowboarding and loved it. She was actually pretty good. Time to get her a board and a helmet and hit the hill. It was a little chilly but that a did not stop them!
The “men” kept watch” over the boiler. It is a 3 well system that helps the water boil off and the end result is syrup. It takes a long time and lots of patience. Once it gets to a certain point they move it inside to finish on the stove top. Strain it through cheesecloth and you have high-quality syrup!
While the men were watching the women were chatting. Setting up the snacks and lunches. There is always more food than we know what to do with! Even though it is winter we picnic outside. A is very gracious and opens her home to loads of dirty boots and small children. One and all are welcomed! Every year we seem to meet new friends an connect with old ones!
As sad as I am that this boil off has now passed we can change gears and look forward to this summers activity with the Crew! It sounds like this year we are going to try our hand at camping! Already my husband is scouring the for sale adds looking for a pop-up camper! I can’t wait to see where the Crew takes us next!
Do you have a Crew? What activities do you do?
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Wow, your so lucky to live in such a fabulous place that enables you to do things like this. #Anythinggoes
How lovely that you’re all still doing things together as “The Crew”. There’s nothing better than long lasting friendships like that #lgrtstumble
That’s something I’ve never heard of, what do you do with the syrup? Cute little girl snow boarding photos! I usually eat with my crew too 🙂 #LGRTStumble
We put it on pancakes! It is the best!
This is amazing! I love how you all make a day of something so simple! The kids are gonna grow up and have such fond memories of these boiled syrup days! I’m looking forward to hearing all about your summer trip!
Thank you for sharing this with us at #TriumphantTales. I hope to see you back next week!
Popping back from #dreamteam
wow, how exciting to experience skiing, looks so much fun X #pointshoot
Wow what a fabulous tradition to have! I’ve always found the making of maple syrup fascinating, and it is just so cool that it can be made just like that, as a group of friends. Love it!
#PointShoot
What a fantastic way to spend a fun day with friends! Thank you for linking up to #PointShoot ?
This sounds like a great way to catch up with friends. I look forward to hearing about your camping adventures.
#FamilyFun
What fun! I don’t have a frIebdship crew like this from years gone by but we are developing a little Mummy gang now and our partners are just getting used to one another too. So we might have adventures together soon enough! Thank you for linking up to the #familyfunlinky
What a great tradition! #explorerkids
Never heard of such a thing before – we learn loads through reading blogs #TriumphantTales
Now a boil off sounds like great fun – love the snow and great that the little ones got to try out snow boarding. #ExplorerKids
Usually, we don’t have snow and it more of spring play. But the snow was fun this year. Adds a different kind of play!
That’s so cool that you have a crew! I want to be in your crew too! Looks like a lot of fun to be had here. The syrup boil off sound really interesting. I don’t mind picnic in the snow, but I do if it was snowing with cold wind gust. That’ll probably kill me. lol!
Thank you very much for linking up with us on #ExplorerKids
Ah this sounds like a wonderful tradition! And lovely that you embrace the winter and the snow! Enjoy the summer camping trip! #bigpinklink
What a fab tradition! I’m completely intrigued about the syrup in the making. Is this a sweet syrup for pancakes or something quite different? It all looks very exciting and fancy having space for a bit of snowboarding! Now that’s what I call a get together 🙂 Thanks for joining us for the #DreamTeam xx
What a fun and fabulous tradition! We went on a small tour of a maple sugar shack near us to see the whole process and it smelled so good. Thanks for sharing with us at Love to Learn. Pinned.
We don’t have a crew, this sure does sound fun! We have a sugar shack within a distance you can drive, and it is fun to stop by when they are making syrup, they give tours, and of course, by some maple syrup! This sure sounds fun!