maple syrup at murphy's landing

We spent Saturday at Murphy's Landing for their Maple Syrup demonstrations. We loved it. We got to tromp around the woods, tap a tree and see the whole process from start to finish. Below you can see them 1. hand drilling the hole 2. pounding in the tap 3. collecting the sap 4. boiling it down in the evaporator.

Did you know it takes 40 gallons of sap from a high-producing sugar maple to make one gallon of syrup? Some trees don't have as high of a sugar content in the sap and it may take 80 gallons of sap from those trees to produce just one gallon of syrup! Suddenly the fact that pure maple syrup costs so much made a lot more sense.

They had live music and storytellers to tell of how they tapped trees in the past. They showed how they boiled the sap in large kettles over a hot fire during pioneer times. And most interesting was how Native Americans boiled their sap to make sugar. Without metal pots or pans, they hollowed out a tree into a trough...kind of like a canoe and put the sap in there, and carried hot stones from the fire and put those into the sap to evaporate the water. I was so impressed by this process to make maple sugar!

 

Ivar got to taste some maple syrup and found it very delicious.

We had this event on our calendar for months and all of the promo materials had everyone bundled in their boots and mittens, but we were in tshirts and flip flops. The early warm weather was great for us but has been terrible for maple syrup production in Wisconsin and Minnesota this year. The local news just aired this story on Friday night about the Maple farms that are calling this season a bust.

my 31st birthday

A few weeks ago Rory asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday. I told him my dream is to have a picnic at Lake Harriet but since I am a March baby I recognize a picnic may never be in the cards. Then I got all excited about having a July baby. That baby is destined to have picnic parties as long as I am the event coordinator.

But then Wednesday rolled around, and the five day forecast looked very, very promising. And so a picnic party was planned.

I got to Lake Harriet over an hour before everyone to ensure I got the best picnic tables, and as it turns out, I was the only one in the twin cities who had planned a lake harriet picnic yesterday. So we got those awesome tables, the ones I look at all summer long filled with families and food and footballs and frisbees and franks. (And other things that don't begin with the letter f.)

It was perfect. And so windy. Crazy windy. Both families were there, my mom made my chocolate bunny cake, we had lots of pregnancy craving foods of mine like deviled eggs, store-bought potato salad and ruffles with french onion dip, and the lake literally opened up during the course of my party.

I would love for this to be a tradition. My father-in-law Madison said he'd be there next year, snow or rain. So look for us. It might just be the two of us huddled on that hill next March 18th, but my hope is to have another picnic party for my 32nd.

Two things to note from the pictures: The one of my sister Annika and Rory with Ivar walking was a super funny moment as Svea, Ivar's big cousin by 6 weeks was trying to help him walk by pushing him from behind. You can barely see her. Second thing: Look at that second to last picture. I have always thought Annika and I look very different for sisters, but something  is happening as we get older. I can't get over how alike we look!

remember this list?

This picture is from my 30th birthday. A lovely, lovely day full of Shannon-made details.

So apparently last year I made a list of 30 things to accomplish in my 30th year.  I hardly remember doing so. But since I turn 31 on Sunday, it seemed time to check off the items accomplished. The funny thing about this list is that I wrote it in haste. I was just trying-to-get-a-blog-post-out-fast. So some are inspired, and some feel like filler. Even a year later I can sniff out the filler. Here's the update:

1. New hair color and style  (a couple times. done and done)

2. Host a Favorite Things party (nope. didn't do it. still would LOVE to though.)

3. Join the Y (joined and dropped our membership six months later... I loved the classes though)

4. Learn how to use the manual mode on our camera (ugh. no. I want to be able to take amazing pictures so badly. This might be the year for a class or workshop...)

5. Make a small quilt (nope.)

6. Keep a prayer journal (I did for a while)

7. Use my water colors (I did!!!)

8. Join a creative arts club (I still want to!!!)

9. Create a place where Bible can stay out all the time (sort of. it's on a book shelf...not open though.)

10. Make modge podge art scenes (done.)

11. Collect frames for wall collages (I have so many it's ridiculous.)

12. Print pics, fill frames and hang on the wall (I cannot believe this has been on my mind for a year now. Must accomplish this asap.)

13. Paint the bedroom (done!)

14. Make this kind of bread (I did! And it was decent. I need a second go around)

15. Pick color scheme for wardrobe overhaul (back in maternity. if it fits, I wear)

16. Finish and print 2010 digi scrapbook pages (yup.)

17. Make lemon ice and eat it with my sister (no! tragedy!)

18. Get a consistent plan together for visiting Mount Olivet Home (nope)

19. Honor the Sabbath (pretty good)

20. Eat more veggies (yes. I love snow peas. All the time.)

21. Write and mail letters by hand (lots and lots of thank you notes. does that count?)

22. Introduce Ivar to Lake Superior (Yes. a definite highlight of my 30th year of life.)

23. Make cupcakes with large decorating tip (hmmm...don't think so.)

24. Try a few new soup recipes (Yes. LOTS!)

25. Find a monthly mom's group (even better...weekly. adore it.)

26. Keep writing (good job, Becca!)

27. Make a picture slide show for Grandma's party (not quite. but I posted so much on this blog...)

28. Present my 'Passing on the Faith' workshop (a variation. felt good.)

29. Frequent the library (all the time. it's our favorite place to walk to)

30. Grow fresh herbs (in the garden. can't wait for fresh basil in the garden again...)
 
Reflection: Not too bad. A few stand out that I still really want to accomplish: a favorite things party, lemon ice, printing pictures and putting frames on the walls, photography class. But not too bad all in all. Good job, 30 year old Becca. And way to eat more veggies. (filler!)

springtime

I have had people ask, "Why do you live in Minnesota? How do you handle the winters?" And the truth is, often in the middle of winter we will ask ourselves these very questions.

But the weather this week is the reason we live in Minnesota. Spring got a jump start and the celebration, joy and jubilee around here is something to behold. We had a subway picnic last night at a still ice-covered Lake Harriet wearing shorts and tshirts and the entire city was out there with us, running the lake, walking, celebrating the warm sun.

Rory was out working in his garden on Tuesday with Ivar and came in after having talked to two our our neighbors about their plans for their yards. One was grilling steaks as they talked. Rory commented that it felt like winter had never happened. They all picked up where they had left off in the fall, ready to plant trees, plant gardens and be outside.

With the early warm weather in Minnesota, we are also keenly aware that we could still get another snowfall before this season is past. We all know this, and it's why everyone is so intent to sieze the day.

joy boy



Ivar discovered the buttons on the air purifier and then found the fan on the side. He does this daily...whips his head around in the breeze, letting his whisps of hair blow in the wind. He brings us so much laughter and happiness and joy.