Maple Overload

Every spring in Monterey, VA they have a Maple Festival.  It is FULL of all things maple.  Chad had to study and it was raining so I almost talked myself out of going.  After some encouragement/begging from the girls, I decided to brave the outing.

The town was about 1.5 hours away up and down and up and down and up again a wind-y mountain.  

Once we got there we went to the local school where they had crafts, goodies, and all-you-can eat buckwheat pancakes with fresh made maple syrup!  Delicious!

.

Hannah definitely got her moneys worth!  She ate 3 big pancakes and I had to convince her to save room for other treats so she wouldn't go back for a fourth!

 Clara like the pancakes plain.  She didn't know what she was missing with the yummy syrup!

 We looked at some cool crafts, sampled some other maple-y treats, and purchased maple suckers.

After we left the school, this is what it looked like outside!  Downpour!  I told the girls we would drive over to one of the places that had a sugar tour (a tour to see how they collect and make the maple syrup)  and if the rain let up we would do it, otherwise we were going to head home.

When we arrived at the farm, there was only a sprinkle of rain.

 This was a maple tree that had been tapped.  The sap was dripping into the bucket.  Hannah looked in it and thought that it was just rain, but the man explained that it really was the stuff that makes maple syrup!

Next we went into this little shack where they had the pots for boiling the syrup.  

By this time it had started raining harder.

 This was the screwdriver tool they use to tap the maple trees.

Then they put it in this big pot thing and boils it for hours and hours.  Here at this farm they then put it in another smaller pot and boil it for even longer.

 The best part!  Free samples made yesterday!  Yum!  

Then it was time to head back to the car.  Of course at this time a monsoon hits!  There was lighting and thunder.  A strong wind that blew my hood off and made the girls not be able to run straight!  We were running and trying to make it to the van and not slip in the mud that was everywhere.  Grace and Clara were crying and Hannah was screaming.  I am sure we were a sight!  

Finally we made it to the safety of the van, but not unscathed...

 We were all soaking wet and windblown!

Of course about 3 minutes after we were in the van the rain stopped completely and there was no more rain the whole way home!

About 20 minutes away from Monterey there was another town that it also part of the Maple Festival.  I had seen a sign for maple doughnuts on the way there and I thought it would be fun to stop on the way home and get one, especially since the rain had stopped.  When we got to the town I looked in the back seat and both Clara and Grace were zonked out asleep!  I guess the storm wore them out.  

That will have to be something to look forward to next year!