Maple Sugaring

I can feel it. Spring is coming - just 21 days. As the earth warms here, the sap rises, and that means it's maple sugaring time. The naturalists at the Environmental center (and Shuts Environmental library we frequent) give maple sugaring demonstrations every year, and we finally made it over to Central Park to learn a bit about the sweet, yummy stuff.


Suitable sugar maple trees (at least 10 inches in diameter) in the sugar bush (stand of sugar maples) were marked with string. The children in the group were asked pick out one of the untapped trees. (You can see tapped trees with plastic jugs collecting sap.)

The guide drilled a hole through the bark and about 1" into the sapwood and inserted a spile. Owen tasted the sap, but I was sitting on the ground nursing and missed the chance.

Trees scar over after the tap is removed.

In commercial operations, they can use lines to collect the sap from a group of trees.

The sap is boiled to evaporate the water. It takes about 40 gallons of sugar maple sap to make a gallon of syrup. The large, shallow pan allows ready evaporation because the maple tea (patially reduced sap) has a large surface area.

Afterwards, everyone enjoyed a sample of maple sugar made from the park maples.
Caedmon got a ride in a blanket since I left the wrap at home.

Owen got in a bit of puddle jumping

and playing while we were there too.

Vegan Black Bean Soup

We recently adapted this recipe for a yummy dinner enjoyed with some of Abram's students. We served it along with Lancaster Carolyn's kale salad. Yum!
Vegan Black Bean Soup
olive oil
1 1/2 onions, chopped
6 cloves of garlic, crushed
9 c. bean juice and water or veggie stock
6 c. black beans (soaked overnight and cooked until tender)
3/4 c. rice
1 c. chopped bell pepper
small hot pepper, minced
2 stalks celery
2 carrots
6 T. red wine vinegar
1 1/2 T. chili powder
1 1/2 t. cumin
1 t. oregano
1/2 t. ground black pepper
salt

In a large pot, cook onions in olive oil until tender. Add garlic and cook 1-2 minutes more. Add remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Simmer until veggies are tender (~30 min.) or longer. Serve with avocado, sour cream (vegan or not), and chips.

Caedmon's Doings

Caedmon's been . . .
pushing up - what an string boy!

Cooing to anyone who will listen

riding on my back more and more

grabbing anything he can get hs hands on - table cloths included

snuggling every chance he can

Visiting Cousins

How nice it is to be near family - well sort of near. Jesse and his family recently relocated to Maryland - a short 2 hour drive from us. This weekend, we finally made it down for a wonderful visit.
Rossitsa made two wonderful meals. The kids played beautifully. The adults talked. I just couldn't have asked for a better day.
Owen and Kalina had a ball playing the whole day. We are entering a new phase I hope (fingers crossed). Pity I didn't get a shot of the dynamic duo in action.
Caedmon soaked up lots of snuggles - especially from Kristiyana.

Iliyah wanted very much to "hold the bebe." He couldn't get enough of it. What a sweetie!

He was super cute eating mango after the kids came in from playing in the cold.



I'm hoping for another weekend date with the cousins soon!

What Owen's Been Up To

Owen's been
making lots of play houses (I can't even recall what this one was - maybe a castle?.)

snuggling Caedmon

cooking with Mama and Daddy - Chopping is his favorite job.

hanging clothes to dry

finding trash - I mean treasures

painting blue. . .

. . . skies

sewing a gnome


building and, um, climbing? getting?

constructing Egypt on the back porch

drawing in the sun (Yes, it still exists!)

and
winning our newest game, Castle Keep

Family Game Night

We've been having a family game night on Wednesdays since we returned to PA from our holiday travels. Tonight we played Carcassonne, and we have also enjoyed Memory (pictured above - the Dr. Seuss version), Guess Who, Bendominos, Hi Ho Cheerio, Camp, Old Maid, and Charades.

Thriftin'

Trip to Goodwill:
gas . . . $3.79/gallon
set of white dishes that match ours . . . $5.97

coin sorter . . . $0.97

seeing Owen dump the coins and sort them again . . . priceless