Well the luck of the Irish is with us it seems as the Spring weather is cooperating this year for the start of the 6th Annual Spring Shop Hop. Yea, it's a little chiller than the 60 we had the other day but the daytime temperatures seem to be staying above 32 and we are happy for that. With the sudden higher temps also came the running of the sap soooo new Maple Syrup is here along with the specialty pancake mixes. This is always an event full of anticipation in our household, not that I'm not sweet enough as it is. Legend has it the first maple syrup maker was an Iroquois woman who didn't even know what a historical find she had. One late-winter morning, the story goes, Chief Woksis, her husband, headed out on a hunt, but not before pulling his tomahawk from the tree where he'd thrown it the night before. During the day the weather got quite warm, causing the tree's sap to run and fill a container sitting near the trunk. The woman saw the vessel and, thinking it was just water, cooked their evening meal in it. The boiling that ensued turned the sap to syrup and wowed the chief with its sweetness. Thus began the tradition of making maple syrup and major recipe swapping. We are giving a free gift with qualifying purchase during the shop hop and one of the gifts you can choose is a maple syrup stick to take a little bit of sweetness with you on your journey and give extra energy along the way. Come on out for the fun and be sure to say hi!
