Then we hit five of the seven host sugarhouses, large and small. State of the art and small family run with the best maple syrup ever! I came home with four jugs of all sizes! I had quite a sugar buzz from all the samples. The owners were such great hosts, so eager to share the history of their operations and their products. We went to Corse, Sprague and Sons, Dix, Stevens and Bemis sugarhouses on the open house trail. Morse and Twitchell were not sugaring this time but if they were open, we would have been there!
Because of the very cold temperatures, we barely hit any of the slippery, gooey, slushy mud so that was a bonus. The roads were in great shape but I think it may change very quickly again, very soon! 
Surprisingly, most of the sugarhouses were boiling and oh that intoxicating smell of maple syrup was just everywhere!I had my first sugar on snow today and it was so yummy! I enjoyed the little pickle and maple donut they placed on the bowl and devoured it in no time.
Besides my sugar on snow, I had a tasting of every grade of syrup from each of the sugarhouses, a maple shake, maple ice cream, maple nuts, maple cookies, maple cream and more!
Folks, it's not too late to get up to Vermont as next weekend is the state wide open house for sugaring! (See previous post). You must go! Not to be missed! It is such a wonderful time of year and I met sooooooooo many interesting people running the tours. Lots of snow and photo ops galore! Everyone was in such great moods and so happy everywhere we went. Vermont at it's best!
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh, this is the life!
Thank you VERMONT!!!!!P.S. I think my craving for all things maple has finally been satisfied.......
