Monday, March 3, 2014

Did You Have To Bring The Accordion?

A large number of people were around the area from yesterday's post, including over at this campfire, where two musicians were playing.


The accordion's a bit smaller than what I'm used to- my dad plays a larger one, and generally he plays polka music (growing up I made a habit of scurrying off to the furthest reaches of the house when that thing started up). I'm not sure what instrument the bearded fellow was playing, but it was a percussion sort of thing accompanying the accordion, something like little wooden sticks. They were playing folk music.


They did draw the attention of those looking on.


This is a treat for a Canadian winter, and it was at the Taffy Brothers demonstration area in the park. Trays of fresh snow and ice are set out and replenished regularly. Hot maple syrup (heated up in that large pot from yesterday) is spread out.


And then the syrup is rolled up with a popsicle stick for maple taffy candy. Quite simple, but very tasty.



34 comments:

  1. It looks like such a fun event! I've never tried cold maple syrup!

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  2. They do look tasty. Is the syrup like this chewy... or frozen solid and crunchy? Inquiring minds want to know.

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  3. I'd love to try that maple taffy candy. Winterfest looks like a delightful party!

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  4. simple,savoureux,ca donne envie ;o)

    bonne semaine !

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  5. Ugh! I think I would pass on the taffy. And, no, I won't go into the details why. :-)

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  6. I have never had maple taffy, did you taste some?

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  7. The yellow snow that IS safe to eat!
    I see the guys are from Quebec.
    Jane x

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  8. Ciel: it certainly is fun.

    Stuart: it is still warm when you get it so it is chewy.

    Elaine: it is an ideal way to get through winter.

    Audrey: merci!

    Revrunner: I think I can imagine!

    Gill: yes I did.

    Jane: perfectly safe! I assumed that remark might come up.

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  9. That maple taffy candy looks awfully good!

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  10. Jane: You have to admire the maple tree with its ability to give us tasty maple syrup in the spring and absolutely beautiful leaves to look at in the fall.

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  11. It's looking quite pleasant and cosy overthere with the musicians.
    I didn't know you can eat the syrup of the maple tree, I only know it has wonderful leaves in the autumn.

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  12. oh, that looks yummy! and i agree, that accordion is quite small and almost looks wooden.

    we have something in common - my father played the accordion, too - a button type - and played polka music. :) i used to dance a mean polka.

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  13. I've never seen anything quite like that maple syrup taffy. Looks yummy.

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  14. Now that is wonderful ! My dad played the accordion all though a bit fancier then that he also was pianist . Wonderful photos . Although cold the sun is shining and that makes it just that little bit easier to bare . Thanks for sharing . Have a good day !

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  15. @Norma: it is!

    @Jane: indeed!

    @Jan: maple syrup is one of life's great pleasures.

    @Tex: I've heard the accordion used in ways that don't involve polka. At least these two musicians wisely went in the folk music direction.

    @Sharon: it's scrumptious!

    @Country Gal: my dad has had three accordions down through the years. One of them was very fancy indeed.

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  16. Yum that maple syrup candy sure sounds good. We used to call the small accordions just squeeze boxes I am sure there is a more scientific name. LOL

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  17. Being from the Midwest of the U. S. A., I love accordion music. My oldest brother played both the small one and the one with a keyboard. He played everything from polkas to popular music. The maple syrup treats look inviting. Thanks.

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  18. Accordion music AND taffy on a stick! Wish I were there!

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  19. Oh lord, I need that maple candy now!!

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  20. That's a very cool accordion and I would try one of those candies right away! :-)

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  21. how fun to listen to live music and i think i've seen something similar to that candy on little house on the prairie!

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  22. I like the sound of a well-played accordion, but I might feel have felt differently as a teenager if I had grown up with one in my home. :)

    The maple syrup candy looks tasty!

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  23. @MB: I think I've heard another name for it once in a CD liner note.

    @Mari: thank you!

    @Halcyon: very much so!

    @Cheryl: wait til you see tomorrow.

    @RedPat: that seems to be the consensus.

    @Krisztina: it's very, very, very tasty too...

    @Jose: they were quite popular!

    @Tanya: that wouldn't surprise me.

    @EG: there's a columnist, Arthur Black, out west who once wrote a piece skewering accordions.

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  24. So, did you sample the maple candy too, William? And, I agree with accordian polka music which has never been a hit with me either.

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  25. I've been off the blogging circuit for a few years, but good to see so many new blogs. Accordions to me are so evocative of France, so you caught me by surprise with this post. Love the sound, and never tasted taffy. I'm enjoying this long overdue blog catch up.

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  26. Nice. looks like a great time. I am sure the taffy tasted great.

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  27. I've never seen that done before with the taffy, looks fun and delicious. I liked the photos of the accordion players also. I used to love going down to the pub on a folk evening when I lived in England. Everyone would get a chance, if they wanted to, to sing their favorite folk songs to the patrons. It was all very informal but so much fun. A great memory!

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  28. It there was maple syrup taffy, I could probably suffer through the accordion music.
    (oh my, I miss Basic Black, still after all these years...)

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  29. You are making me dream of Quebec maple syrup, William. :) Great post and photos, and I love accordion music!!! Thank you so much for sharing these photos.

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  30. I like the photos with the two musicians and also the idea with the maple taffy candy, simple and effective!

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  31. Oh the maple taffy looks so yummy!!! I love music that is unexpected! You don't like Polka music?!!! I grew up with it; my step-mother is Polish and her family loves a good Polka

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  32. @Beatrice: the candy's yummy!

    @Jane: thanks for stopping in!

    @Lady Lilith: just marvelous.

    @Denise: I've heard an accordion more like this one used in folk music.

    @Hamilton: his column ran in the paper where my parents lived for a few years. I liked his sense of humour. I don't know off hand if he's still around.

    @Linda: it'll soon be syrup season again!

    @Karl: thank you!

    @Kathy: it's like fingernails on a blackboard kind of music!

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