Noticing.....

A few days ago Dave and I drove a few miles north to visit with a quilting friend and her husband. They have a Roadtrek too so we had fun comparing notes and sharing favorite trips. As we were standing in her front yard she pointed to her neighbor's maple tree. There was a blue plastic bag hanging off the side. She indicated that they had just tapped the tree and the day before the bag filled with a gallon of sap!

I don't know the process for making maple syrup and frankly, for some unknown reason, always associated it with the New England states. I'd never seen a blue bag anywhere in our area so it was a "stand out" moment.

Driving the same route a few days later I noticed two more trees with bags filling with pre-syrup.

I wonder if the people living in these very nice homes have school-age children who are enthused about making their own syrup for breakfast pancakes and waffles. 

It was just a fun new thing to watch for and maybe another signal of spring in the Midwest. Sandhill cranes and maple syrup gathering.....robins are moving lower on the list.