On my walk I see this plastic tubing all through the trees on a section of the woods. I know that this is a time saver and helps those with the bigger operations. But I am not a fan of the plastic. I think a good old bucket is best.
The sugar houses just had their open houses for people to see the process. It takes 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup.
There is nothing like pure maple syrup none of that fake stuff for us.
A couple of new potholders to show you.
And just so you don't think that I have given up rug hooking.
in a few weeks I start a three-day class, so I am pulling wool for the pattern I am going to hook.
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We went out for dinner on St. Patrick's Day I was happy to get corned beef and cabbage. Not my husband's favorite dinner.
As we were going over the menu on the bottom it states that they will add 3% to your tab for those who do not get tipped. (cooks, dishwashers, etc.)
Hmmmm Now when we go out, we tip well. We both figure if you make the decision to eat out you tip well or stay home. But the tipping thing has gone a bit too far, I think. Now if you didn't see the small print on the bottom of the menu you tip on the added 3%. I know it is not a great amount but really you are tipping on a tip.
I would love to hear your thoughts.
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We are expecting snow a little tomorrow and plowable on Saturday.
Hello Spring Is That You?
Have a great week!
16 comments:
I agree with you on the tipping. Some places put the tip on here and the waiters don't always tell you and they get tipped twice. Some places add money for using credit cards. Some places only take credit cards. It is weird.
I have a friend up north that makes her own maple syrup and I have seen the process. IT IS A LOT OF WORK! That is why it is so expensive.
Sandie
We had a beautiful day, sunny and 5 C, snow almost gone. More snow tomorrow. Spring…please!
Wow, didn't know it took so much sap to make one gallon of syrup.
I don't eat out and am YEARS behind the times. Thought there was an enormous increase of the hourly wage in all states. Guess it will be another few years before I eat out again.
My mom was the most frugal person ever, but we always had genuine Vermont maple syrup. I cannot eat that sugary stuff they call syrup.
Yes tipping has gone crazy. I was at a local pizza place last month. When my bill came, the price was higher than the price stated on the menu. It was only $.50, but it was the principle. When I questioned the waitress, she said there was a disclaimer on the menu that prices could be higher because it is costly to print new ones. WTH???
I agree - I don’t see plastic tubes here but every tree has a plastic bag on it. Bring me good old sustainable sap buckets please! And tipping - yes those people behind the scenes are working hard too - but for manage to put small print at the bottom is pretty sneaky. Just think of all those customers who didn’t notice it.
I agree with the tipping, they need to pay the staff a fair wage to begin with instead of depending on tips. Larry always tipped well years ago when we would go out to eat once in awhile but for me it makes the tab too expensive and I can cook better at home smiles.
we love maple syrup too I make Larry homemade pancakes once a week so he uses on his pancakes.
rug hooking retreat-sounds fun.
I think the world agrees with you about tipping. It's out of control. Tipping is for good service and while I feel for those who aren't tipped, they should be paid and rewarded accordingly on that end of the business. I don't like to see the built-in tip, either. I much approve of the European model of paying well and no tip assumed. If you want to leave something behind for something exceptional, it's appreciated.
I'm amazed at how you did those potholders! Nice! And I'm with you on "traditional" maple syrup collection.
Finally, for whatever reason, blogger isn't sending me notifications when you (and about five others) visit. So if I miss replying to a comment, forgive me! Nothing personal! It's always something with blogger!
About tipping, as a dishwasher many years ago for part time work, we were given a small percentage of the waitperson's tips. The 3% isn't much, but really, it feels a bit on the greedy side.
I can understand how you feel about the plastic tubing vs just using a bucket, but also wonder about whether it must might be the best way to tap more trees. We are hoping to go to a local pancake house next week and as you said, there is nothing that beats maple syrup on them!
On the tipping issue, we make sure to tip well for good service and always tip regardless, however, it may be a bit less for poorer service or no service. Also, we tip on the food/beverages only and not on the full amount with tax included. Tipping on tax seems ridiculous to us. Also, it is quite interesting to now see tip jars in places where food is only being picked up.
Syruping is done here - one of the earliest seasons I can recall. I prefer the metal buckets too but most all are using plastic bags here. My family did a lot of syruping but not for commercial resale. I think it's one of those things where once you have the real syrup, you don't go back to pretend syrup. I agree with you - and the others - that tipping, like grades in school, has gotten out of hand. It is an erosion of meritocracy. One of my first jobs was as a cocktail waitress. I was paid $1.10/hr plus tips. It certainly "inspired" one to work hard for those tips. The rub was, however, that we were required to claim tips at least in the amount up to minimum wage even when we may not have made that much because business was slow, etc. It may have seemed unfair but, in the long run, it worked out. Now every time you pay for something - even a purchase from a deli, etc. they are asking if you want to add on a tip. Part of me wants to say "for what? Handing me the machine to slide my card through?" Yikes, I feel like I'm beginning to sound like those old people who say "Back when I was young...." LOL. Love the new potholders! And curious to see what you'll be hooking up with that yummy wool. ~Robin~
I dont believe the 3% was for the staff. Our credit card company started charging the extra 3% to all credit card purchases. More and more businesses are notifying customers of this. Your pot holders are so sweet and remind me of the ones I made when I was a kid. Janice
Thanks for telling about the plastic piping. If the syrup is collected using plastic, which has been in the news a lot lately for degrading into product, what is the plastic doing to all this "natural", "organic" syrup. More and more sellers are offering their products in glass due to customer push back. I buy my "pure" syrup in glass, but had no idea about the plastic being used. There is probably a similar story behind many products.
I resist tipping, even though as a hungry student I waited table, because as was mentioned, it should be for service and not part of the general wages of everyone in the place. Some places just put a tip amount as a line item on the bill and you have nothing to say about it which I think puts the whole issue of posted prices under false advertising. Colleen
Are you being buried under snow like we are?
We are at 13 inches so far and still snowing it can stop any time now!
Cathy
Acornhollow.blogspot.com
We have a good friend who brings us maple syrup each year and it's so good. You'll see those tubing devices here too. Malabar Farm just had it's maple syrup festival. I used to go back when it was a small event but now it's always packed with folks. It's a free event so I understand why it's so busy now. I agree with you on the tipping. We always tip good and having additional cost makes me mad. Maybe the restaurant should pay the workers better who don't do the jobs that get tipped. It's pretty expensive to eat out these days! I hope your snow melts quickly before Easter!
very cool that you're taking hooking classes. Agree on the maple. We get ours from down the road. I love baking with pure local maple. Right now there's a blueberry fig bake with spelt banana and real maple, sitting on the table.
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