ýThis I Rememberý

About the Book

A huge yellow 'First National Bank' calendar hung, I don't remember where, but visible for all to see. So when February was torn off, we began to tease my dad about the start of sugaring. He patiently would explain to us why we had to wait for warmer temperatures. If it froze too hard at night, the bark on the trees would split where the spouts were in and sap would ooze out, resulting in each tap having to be driven in further or re-tapped. Neither of which was good for the tree

We younger ones, stood by the sweet steaming pans watching the bubbling sap boiling down to syrup, checking the thermometer to see if it was 'syrup' yet. It had to be carefully done to prevent scorching. My dad would let the syrup boil down to a waxy thickness. Then, let more sap back in.

About the Author

Mildred Taylor was born May 27, 1917 in Pierrepont, N.Y.
In 1940, after attending the Northrup School #14, Canton High School, and Potsdam State, Mildred married Everett Howard, an attorney from Lake Placid.

She then returned to the one room school house, Northrup School #14, where she taught until it was centralized. Mildred then went on to teach at the Brick Chapel, and finished up her career as a junior high Social Studies teacher at the Canton Central School. During this time, her love of children and teaching led her to sponsor several clubs and functions as well as mentor young minds.

After twenty six and a half years of teaching, Mildred retired. Having adopted two children, Martha, and Edward she transitioned from teacher, to homemaker, and remained very active in the Canton Methodist Church.

Mildred now resides in beautiful Waitsfield Vermont, near her two grandchildren, Jennifer and Jason.