In Vermont we enjoy talking about the weather because there is usually a lot of it and, honestly, sometimes not a great deal else to talk about.
Spring has been slow to come this year. We finally had a break last week and got out for a lovely long walk in Maple Corner where Red Osier and Watercress simply could no longer wait for warm weather.
And, seeing steam coming out the roof vents, we spent a very pleasant hour with a local sugar-maker at Fitch’s sugarhouse. The smell of the boiling is something no photograph can show!
An additional treat was to have 96-year old Mr. Fitch stop in and tell me about the origin of the Red Oaks on the farm, an unusual species in the Kents Corners area; he said they were brought up from Boston in the saddlebag of the original settler. The biggest descendent on the road today is a mere “child” according to him; he clearly remembers as a teenager the “Mother Oak” being a good three feet in diameter.
But last night and today Spring said “Sorry! I’m not ready!” Ice, sleet, snow—crazy weather and not over yet. A few sad Crocus are peeking through the ice. A great day to enjoy the Forsythia in full bloom—inside! Maybe Spring will come next week.
Still Learning To See 
Hi John,
I really enjoyed seeing these photographs and feeling the story they tell. Thank you!
Kelley
On Sun, Apr 15, 2018 at 8:22 PM, Still Learning To See wrote:
> John Snell posted: “In Vermont we enjoy talking about the weather because > there is usually a lot of it and, honestly, sometimes not a great deal else > to talk about. Spring has been slow to come this year. We finally had a > break last week and got out for a lovely long walk” >
Thanks, my friend. The story should be much better next week!
But you DID photograph the cerebral smell of the boiling sap; you caught it in your friend’s face shining through the cloud of fragrant steam. that is one awesome photograph and so is the one of Mr Fritch leaning back to share a story or two.
Thanks! Yes, it was a magical time in that steamy place.