The Inconvinces of Vermont Spring

The other day I posted on the things I love about Spring.  Today I will post on the top five inconveniences of Vermont spring.

 

1.  I am pretty sure the road is trying to eat my car.  I really wish I were joking about this one.  The frost heaves are large enough to eat a whole car and more people then I can count have had to take their cars to the shop to be fixed because of unfortunate encounters with potholes and frost heaves.  Every morning is an adventure as you try to dodge these monsters, while trying to avoid oncoming trafic at the same time.  Traving a road you do not know in the dark is not an option during the spring. 

 

2. The fluctuating temperatures will drive you mad.  One day it will be 40 and sunny and the next day you will wake up to -6. 

 

3. Failure to carry washer fluid in your car can and will result in you pulling over to the side of the road and dumpung the remaining water from your water bottle on your windshield.  I was lacking washer fluid for a day and half which resulted in carrying a bottle of windex in my car and spraying it on the windshield every time I stopped the car. 

 

4. Driving on dirt roads can be an adventure and may result in you having to call someone to dig you out.

 

5. On rainy days, allotting extra time for your drive into work is a must.  There is always a chance that one or all of the roads you use to get to work have been flooded or washed out.  

Change

 For generations, maple syrup in Vermont has been made using the same standards; all that changed this season.  This weekend was the Vermont Maple Open house weekend.  For us, this means traveling to one of the local sugar houses, sampling some fresh maple syrup, and eating sugar on snow(with a pickle, of course). 

During these visits, we will occasionally pick up a jug of maple syrup.  (We go through a lot of maple syrup in our house.)  This time I had forgotten that they changed the grading system to align with the international system that other states and countries use.  This created a problem for me, since I had no idea what I needed to purchase.  Then came the kind lady stocking the shelves who pointed me to the sampling table.  Little Man and I spent the next 5 minutes sampling maple sugar and thoughtfully considering which one we wanted.  Unfortunately, there was a mild disagreement in type and we ended up having to flip a coin.  In the end we walked away with Amber Color with Rich Taste. 

Then we headed off for a wonderfully sticky bowl of sugar on snow. 

Spring in Vermont

 Spring is typically the season I tell people is not a good time to visit Vermont.  With that said, there are many things I love about Vermont in the spring. 

 

For starters, I am a runner.  I love running on the muddy dirt roads.  After sliding around all winter, bundled up like and Eskimo with a head lamp, there is nothing better than the mud under your feet, the sun shining in your face and not having to be bundled up (although today I probably should have worn gloves) after a long winter. My shoes hate me by the end of spring, but I love every minute of it. 

Secondly, there is nothing like spring snow.  This is the season where several of my students are out "sick".  As a teenager, I loved the transition from ski goggles to sunglasses on the slopes.  As a responsible adult, I love throwing my snowshoes in the back of the car and tromping around in the woods with Little Man after school.  It is warm enough that we shed the shells of our jackets, I ditch the snow pants, and the birds are singing as the sun shines though the trees.  You still have that winter beauty, but at a bearable temperature that invites you to enjoy the day. 

 

Then of course, we have the famed Vermont Maple Syrup.  There are not many native Vermonters that use the fake stuff and there is a reason for that.  The real stuff is so much better.  Not only that, during Vermont Maple Open House Weekend, most of the places you visit serve sugar on snow.  Boiled maple sugar, poured onto snow or shaved ice creating a taffy like substance that is wonderful.  It makes suffering though the winter a distant memory. 

Then of course you have the spring seedlings.  The excitement of planning what is going to go into the garden in a few short months.  This year we even have a competition going as to who's seedlings are going to grow into productive thriving plants.  Mine are going to win of course. 

Lastly we have the spring blooms that poke their way through the snow.  I know they are out there, we just can't see them yet under the two feel of snow that is still on the ground.  OK maybe there is still a little bit on winter lingering around this year.