We went for a walk today to a place I used to go as a child. There are huge rocks for climbing on and a rushing stream to play in. Also snakes, which are a lot less fun than the rocks and the stream! This time around we had dogs, kids, and even a doll. It was quite the walk!
We came back with wet feet, scraped legs, and sore muscles. Country life is good.
The sun is shining and the kids were out! Look what else came out for the first time!
Eve lost another tooth today. The top, right canine. These days it is so much more mundane than it was in the early days. I knew she had a few loose ones in there, but she told me last night that her tooth was about to fall out. I felt it and boy was she right! She wanted a treasure box from school though, so she didn’t wiggle too much. Today she said a friend taught her out to get them out (“Just twist and pull. Easy!”) and she got her treasure box. :-)
The tooth fairy usually brings her gold dollars coins, which she never spends, but she said tonight that she was hoping for a dollar bill so she could add it to her doll savings. I told her she can add the gold coins too, but she said they are way too pretty to spend. :-) The tooth fairy left a crisp dollar bill with a red heart stamped on it. I hope that’s not too pretty to spend!
Last month we tapped two maple trees in our front yard. We had high hopes, but the weather didn’t cooperate and the sap flowed slowly.
Today we finally had enough sap, and time, to boil!
Forty minutes into the process.
We started with 20 cups of sap. It took about four hours to boil it down to the 219° “aproning” stage.
Checking for doneness. The book says it should slide off the spatula in a smooth sheet, or "apron" when it's done. Not there yet.
Done! I think. Maybe a tiny bit over done.
It goes very quickly from done to candy to burnt. If you don’t watch it closely at the end you can ruin the whole thing. We all watched it together. :-) I think in was supposed to be scooping the foam off the top, but I missed that part so I hope it doesn’t matter too much!
We have maple syrup!
It’s pretty thick and viscous and cloudy. I filtered the sap before boiling and filtered the syrup before putting it into the bar, so I’m not sure if the cloudiness is sediment that will settle overnight or if it’s the foam I didn’t scoop off. Either way, it tastes delicious!
160 oz. of sap and four hours = 4 oz. of deliciousness and a fun family project!
We had a busy weekend! Easter fell just after Eve’s birthday so we did a little celebrating of both. Friday afternoon we had friends over to play (and my bestie over for tea!), Rosy came to visit, and Alan and I went to a late-night dinner party. We were all tired by the end of Friday, but that was just the beginning.
First tree climb of the season, I think.
Saturday included a trip to GemStar, cake baking, egg decorating, painting, and more. Then Alan brought home a movie and is grownups were up until midnight! That made two nights in a row!
Rosy was in need of a few original pieces of artwork so she commissioned two little painters.
Boring mommy made them move to the table because painting on the floor was just too messy!
While they painted I did a little creative work of my own.
Oh yes, and Easter basket filling, of course!
Pretty table, all ready for Easter morning..
I like my own decorations. :-) I was excited to find these sugar eggs on Etsy. I have find memories of them in my own Easter basket as a child, and the eternal question as to whether or not to eat them.
Sunday was Easter, so we started the day with candy for breakfast. Of course. The egg hunts, a trip to the playground, a little birthday party, and early bedtimes!
There was no question for Eve. Sugar? Eat it!
We had the usual Easter egg hunts. The kids still love looking for eggs!
My masterpiece! Eve's final cake for this birthday. As usual it was an ever evolving project. I love how it came out.
We did a few outdoor egg hunts as well, but it was chilly out there!
There is still a fair amount of snow on the ground too! We were hiding eggs in snow banks.
Daisy ran from window to window trying to keep track of everybody outside.
Daddy attack! :-)
Mad dash for an egg Alan hid up high. :-)
Good thing Rosy was here. She took us on a walk to the playground to shoot some hoops.
Aunt Katie and Popcube came over for awhile to hang out and eat cake. Eve was pretty wound up by this point!
This giant slab of cake didn't help matters much.
It's not perfect, but I'm pretty proud of how the cake turned out. I love the vivid colors! Rainbow parties are great!
Alan sliced it in an odd way. This looks like a cake tunnel. Yum!
After cake the kids proceeded to flail around on the floor, wrestling and laughing like sugared up wild ones! The crash came about 15 minutes later, but some alone time and iPad time helped settle everyone down.
That about (almost) wraps up Eve’s 8th birthday and Easter 2015. Now for a few weeks of sugar detox!
The temps hit 60 and everyone gets excited!! Heatwave!
Jeesus goes to second grade. I hope she comes home again!
I was looking for a recipe on my blog and came across this post from almost four years ago instead. It made me laugh out loud, literally! I have no recollection of that event, despite how clearly excited I was. Sadly his new-found taste for pasta didn’t last long. It sounds like a good meal though. Maybe I should try it again. :)