A sweet rite of spring

 

SABATTUS, Maine - You don't have to wear your Sunday best when you celebrate this mouth-watering tradition in the Pine Tree State.

I only became aware of the informal Maine holiday after marrying a true Mainer who knew her away around this vast state and its customs.

I learned that it's an event that happens every spring, just like baseball, and life-long residents turn out in droves to attend Maine Maple Sunday, where taste buds come alive over homemade syrup, maple doughnuts and fudge that you won't find at your local grocery store because these home-grown creations are in a class by themselves.

That's what makes Jillson's so unique and worth a scenic ride through long-winding roads and small bridges that cross over small streams.

Some locally-owned farms like Jillson's put on a spectacular breakfast that would have the glutton King Henry the VIII demanding at least four helpings of this enterprise's fresh eggs and sausages. It is a morning extravaganza that features a smorgasbord that celebrates breakfast on a frigid March day.

But expect long lines on a chilly morning as you watch customers overindulge at that breakfast table. But these hardy Mainers and tourists don't seem to mind the long delays as reluctant and well-fed customers trickle out of Jillson's.

After you have had your fill, stop next door and watch sweet-smelling syrup being made and get ready to spend some dough buying syrup that makes pancakes and waffles the perfect meal any time of the day. These farmers work hard to make this stuff so its worth shelling out a few extra bucks to enjoy such fine syrup.

Walking around the grounds of Jillson's offers customers awesome views of the countryside in central Maine. The views across open fields are simply awesome and a quick walk-through of a large barn that houses a variety of animals takes the chill out of a frigid March morning.

It's a sweet tradition, and it is easy to see why families mark this day on their calendars when spring rolls around each year.