February — quietest month. Snow. Cold. Little work (fields sleep). But: maples wake up.
Josiah taps the bark. Inserts spout (tin, grandfather's from great-grandfather). Hangs bucket. Waits. Drip. Drip. Drip. Clear sap. Slightly sweet. 2-3 gallons per tree per day.
Boiling
Sugar shack: small cabin, huge kettle, fire. 40 gallons sap → 1 gallon syrup. 8-12 hours continuous boiling. Steam. Smell (caramel, wood, winter). Whole family at the kettle. Children add wood. Mom brings lunch. Dad stirs with ladle.
By evening: 1 gallon syrup. Dark, thick, warm. First pancake with new syrup. Tradition. 200 years. Taste: like winter kissing spring goodbye.