Making my Own Maple Syrup

Today I went to a Maple Syrup Festival. If you know me even the littlest bit you'll know that I LOVE maple syrup. I grew up in New England, I settle for nothing less than the real stuff, from a tree. Aunt Jemima doesn't do it for me and I've been known to bring my own maple syrup in to restaurants if I plan to order waffles or pancakes. Eric calls me a syrup snob, but whatever. It's in my blood. My mom grew up in Vermont where she helped with sugaring and tapping the trees on a family friend's farm. So today I got to learn about the whole process of maple sugaring. I learned this as a kid in elementary school. Every March we would traipse out in the mud and sometimes snow to tap the poor lone maple that stood in the front yard. It was a lot of fun and the slightly sweet maple sap was really cool to taste. So imagine my delight when I realized that Michigan makes Maple Syrup too. And that I could make it myself. (Making it myself has become a new hobby, which hadn't really crossed my mind until we moved to WA) So I took notes from the presentations today. It wasn't totally comprehensive, they have separate classes for that, but I think I got enough information to start next year and at least try. Trees that can produce syrup: Sycamore (gives a butterscotch like syrup), Box Alder and Maple trees. Sugar maples have the highest sugar content in their sap at 2%, all others are near 1%. So you need a LOT to make syrup. The ratio is 40 gallons of sap to 1 gallon of final syrup product You tap the trees when you have warm days and cool nights. Tree Diameter to be ready for tapping 10 inches can support one tap +6 inches for each additional tap, but no more than 3 or 4 If you want to be totally natural, use staghorn sumac trees to make the spiles that allow the sap to flow out of the live wood. Thi wood is ideal for spiles because the core is really soft and can be easily drilled out by a small hand drill while the outer wood is hard and stiff. You file one end down to an angle all around so it fits into a drilled hole in the tree trunk and notch the other end to hang a bucket or sap collection device (clean milk jugs work well) When drilling the maple, drill two finger joints into the tree at a slight upward angle, 6 inches away from other holes that might have been drilled. The south side of the tree will have more sap flow because that is on the sun side but big trees can be tapped all around. You can identify a maple by the grey bark that peels up on one lateral side. Not a J peel in a peel from the bottom. You boil the sap down and test doneness using a maple syrup hydrometer. You want 67% density. If you go too far you've just made maple syrup candy, congratulations. Just don't burn the sugar. Now I have a new feature to check when we buy a house. Does it have maples?!?! And possible sycamores. And Staghorn sumac.

The tally so far

I've been keeping a mental tally of how Michigan is shaping up. I suppose it's because I'm skeptical that I will be as happy here as I was in Washington. Either way, here is the score as well as the points I'm judging on.

1. Recycling
Point against Michigan. All recycling facilities are privately owned. If you want to be environmentally conscious, Michigan wants you to work for it and drop your recyclables off yourself. Otherwise, everything goes in the same bin. This is awful, especially when you are a habitual recycler like me.

2. Appreciation of sun
Point against Michigan.  It is a gorgeous day today as I write this. We are the only people at the park. If this were Washington I'd be surrounded by kids grateful to finally have a nice day that's warming! But nope, yesterday was equally barren. It's strange. Where are the stay at home parents?

3. Maple syrup festival
Point for Michigan. I gotta say, this warms my moderately evil heart.  This Saturday I get to revel in delicious, boiled sap sweetness that has a festival devoted to it! Eric thinks that this means that I will no longer be a syrup snob but what he fails to realize is that my snobbery is not a regional thing. It is a fake versus real thing. Aunt Jemima is a fraud and shouldn't exist. My Maple syrup didn't need to be from new England, it just needs to be from an actual maple tree.

4. Board prices
Point to Michigan. It is far cheaper to board a horse here than in Washington, I will grudgingly give them that.

5. Pi Day
Point against Michigan. Only the teenage bagger boy at the grocery store knew it was Pi day. (This might be unfair, no one in Florida or WA state ever knew it was Pi Day either.
6. Meat
Point against Michigan. The Kroger that I rely on currently for groceries (a relative of Fred Meyer, a store I quite enjoyed in WA) has a sorely lacking meat department. I waited for 15 minutes to get service in seafood (with 3 pages in the meantime and I ended up having to go find someone myself) They also don't even have cases of meat, just packaged already waiting to go. This also means that there are no stuffed burger patties made on site, just frozen ones. FWP maybe, but I enjoyed having that luxury.
7. Middle of the week activities for young kids
Point against Michigan. None of the parks or museums have toddler activities during the week. Everything is on the weekend!!  NOOOOOOOO.  Additionally, there is very obviously a lack of stay at home parents in the area. I did find a moms group for stay at home parents but there's yearly dues and they're super organized, which kind of scares me away because the moms that gravitate toward REALLY well organized (like, having an executive board and committees kind of organized) are usually not the type of people I get along well with or feel comfortable around.
8. Maple Syrup
Point to Michigan. I'll be able to make my own!! I'm excited. The amount that I'll be able to collect and boil down will probably just about equal what I use through the year, so that's pretty awesome.

In Michigan

I'm feeling a lot more level headed now that I'm with Eric. I'm housebound, since I'm still waiting on my car to arrive, but that should be in the next day or so. Then I'll be applying for a position at the state park down the road to work in the Stewardship department. I'm cautiously optimistic. I'm also going to be contacting a daycare for Kaylee to attend. I hope they have openings, that would simplify me applying for this job.

Our belongings arrived this morning. The same team that packed up our house unloaded everything. We are spread between the front garage, attached garage and space in the house. Stuff that I will need next month is easily accessible, and all the irreplaceable items (viola, violin, saddle) are accounted for and safe. The one thing that didn't survive seems to be the router, but we bought a new one today and it works beautifully.

Kaylee is adjusting well, though she had a bout of stomach virus that left me frantically doing laundry. The time change (both distance and spring forward) hasn't really imposed on us at all, so that's nice.

It was frigid the first couple of days and by yesterday, warmed up to the 40s F. The St. Clair River in the backyard was completely frozen over and now, today, it's free flowing again. Spring is clawing its way into Michigan. It makes me happy. The sun makes me happy too.

But people are still crazy and are driving out onto the ice of the lakes. I really hope someone is monitoring the thickness because the moment I start to see slush, I really don't think it's safe anymore.


Going somewhat backwards in time

Playing in the snow despite the cold

Worn out sick, asleep in Dad's lap

Cars on the lake ice

Happy to rediscover her trampoline (and the piano!)

Saying goodbye to the Cascades

Alaska provided a coloring book and crayons!

Sunrise over the Cascades as we drove to the airport early wednesday morning

Video blog

Tour of the house in progress: 

I haven't had much downtime, but this is why. I wanted to record the house and how better than with video?

We still have another day of painters, cleaners, carpet install, trash removal and power washing in the back.

My brain needs this right now

Because I was working on the stairs and went, phew, glad it's monday. Then went, OH SHIT IT'S NOT.  FUCK.  Movers are here in 2 days.


BEFORE Movers

1. Laundry as much as possible
2.  Pack clothes for plane
3. Pack carry ons
4. Label paint cans as permanently as possible
5. Nail in trim for repair in the bathrooms   
6. Pick up rental car on Thursday 9am
7. My car leaves Friday
8. Give away as much food as possible
9. Wash recliner chair with urine metabolizer because Kaylee is a potty training toddler
10. Clean car out before Friday
11. Bring saddle home :(
12. Get last trunk out of the hayloft and super consolidate rest of barn stuff.
13. Call realtor to coordinate letting painters in Wed/Thurs
14. Fix downstairs bathroom sink cabinet with spacers and epoxy
15. Bring slide to Cheryl

Packing List for plane

• Tiny tv computer and HDMI cable
• Yarn and crochet hooks in carry on
• books
• Kaylee occupying items - roller backpack for her plus new items
• Kindle fire
• Leap Frog and all games and cord
• Checkbook
• Personal Documents - passport, SS cards, birth certificates etc
• Car charger
• Wall charger
• Both cameras
• Gwyn's registration documents

AFTER MOVERS

1. Finish painting laundry room behind washer/dryer and above cabinets
2. Finish carpet removal Sat/Sun
3. Buy paint for upstairs bathrooms and trim
4. Monday take carpet to the dump! Plus any left over trash
5. Sunday evening dinner with Trudy and family in Duvall
6. Anna and Elsa meet and greet Tuesday at 4
7. Let painters in Monday/Tuesday
8. Remulch garden
9. Say goodbye to Gwyn
10. Cry my eyes out

Rainbow Place

A friend of mine pasted a facebook status about saying goodbye to a home for the first time in his life, one that he started raising a family in. I started crying, just reading it and imagining driving away from our house for the last time.

I love our house. It's far from perfect but it was the first place we could make our own and really match it to our personalities. And for crying out loud, the street name is Rainbow Place. Isn't that just the epitome of awesome?! In the land of numbered street names, it's pretty rad, let me tell you.

We were able to start to really see our vision for being a sustainable, renewable family come to fruition. The flooring we installed was eco friendly bamboo and cork and remnant tile. We were looking into getting a rain barrel. We used a push mower, then an electric, no gas. We built raised garden beds to grow fruit and vegetables to eat.

We installed FUCKING SOLAR PANELS.


Now, nothing prevents us from doing this again. But I feel invested in this house. I feel like we're leaving it too early. And the one thing I finally admitted to myself as I cried into my pillow was this:

I don't want to go.

Everything logical about the move makes it the right thing but my heart is just aching. Maybe it would be easier if Eric wasn't gone already, 2000 miles away loving his new job. Maybe if I wasn't faced with the prospect of being without my horse for 2-3 months. Maybe it's the stress of being a single parent for longer than a day or two. I don't know.


I was hoping for a pick me up tonight. The barn was holding a farewell party for me. Dani couldn't make it, her work ran late and then she had other things that I knew she was going to have to get to. There's a big horse show that a group went to. One person is in Michigan for a wedding. Everyone had other things to do.

It hurts. And I hope it didn't show. I made shredded beef with some of the grass feed 1/4 cow I bought last year with a friend. It was amazing. I brought dinner rolls. One person brought banana cream pie. Two others brought cookies. 8 people showed. 4 of them were kids, one of the four was my own.

I kind of suspected, because it was potluck and the sign up board for what people were bringing was pretty damn sparse. But I made a damn good shredded beef in the crockpot. My house smelled fucking AMAZING all day. And everyone who had it loved it. And it was just enough to feed the people who were there, so in the end that was good. 

I'm going to the tack sale tomorrow to try and find some things to outfit my eventual barn with. I've got some significant cash but I doubt I'll spend it all. I might try and snag a buddy saddle if the price is reasonable. Maybe a pony saddle :D I also consigned some of my stuff. I hope it sells.

I'm thinking saddle racks and bridle racks, a whip holder, mounting block. Who knows. Pitchfork would be awesome. We'll see. But NOT BRIDLES FOR GWYN. Or halters. I have plenty. Self, DO NOT BUY THOSE THINGS. A lunge whip, though, that would be okay. Somehow I lose them to barn gremlins. Maybe tiny riding pants for Kaylee :D Ooo!

Then sunday Kaylee goes to daycare. And I go for a one last hurrah trail ride with Cortney and Blaine. This will hopefully be the redemption for tonight's downer. I really hope.

And maybe locking the door and leaving the keys will be okay. Because I need to embrace the new adventure that awaits and realizing a childhood dream of waking up and seeing my horse out my window. That would ease my heartache.

House Progress and Reading

New color on the right, old white on the left. I love how fresh it looks, perfect for a laundry room, in my opinion. I'm going to have to write it down so I can  use it again!

I spent the morning doing a second coat of paint where I had painted on monday. It was a little frustrating to redo it, but the paint just doesn't cover well, I found. I used a different tool to get coverage and it went MUCH faster. I taped off more of the rest of the room and cleaned out the rest of the cat supplies to really start airing it out and cleaning to get rid of any lingering cat smell.

Guys, I even cleaned the top of the cabinets. (But I need the paint tape to stick, haha)

Then Eric called and we talked about his third day of work and crazy early morning (he was awoken by a drunk guy knocking repeatedly on the door at 3:30 am) I found plane tickets for me and Kaylee. It's further into March than I would have preferred, but the price was hard to argue with. Now I might get to see some of the progress from the painters! Maybe even the carpet!

I officially hired the painters, and I need to officially hire the handy man as well as order carpet from Home Depot. 

I also bought a ticket for May to return to Seattle for a quick weekend to help with a horse show that I promised I'd do. 

Kaylee was upset going to bed last night so I hung out in my room just in case she decided to leave her room with one of my new library books. I've been curious about this ever since it came out but didn't know anything that would convince me to buy it. Thank you Public Library!

I read this book in one sitting guys. In an hour. Kaylee was in bed before 8pm, I was done by 9 pm. I Could. Not. Put it. Down.   And then when I finished I just kind of sat there processing the story. It's so hard to describe, but it's achingly beautiful, well written and enchanting. I wanted it to be thunderstorming so I could go outside naked and dance in the rain with the lightning and thunder crashing around me. I want to hike out into the middle of nowhere and just be. That's how this book made me feel. It's everything I want to write myself as a fantasy author (it is fantasy, I didn't know that for some reason)  Oh it's just lovely. Neil Gaiman nails it again.

This is officially my favorite book. I will be buying it. No joke. I need to have a copy on my bookshelf. 

And then, I present you with, my kid. 

She's hamming it up for the camera, she could see herself.

Her version of closing her eyes.

Cuddling together in my bed before bedtime. 

House Progress!

The sunset from tonight. Just gorgeous!


Today I made progress on my home projects!! Kaylee went to daycare and I painted. I got tired of cutting in, though I did do some of that today and went for the large area painting. I used a different roller than I have previously and was unhappy with the results. I will need to do a second coat. I made a trip to Home Depot tonight to acquire appropriate materials.  The second coat should be quick and not a big deal, it's just annoying to realize.

I also cleaned out the cat area so the laundry room can start airing out. Watching property brothers has made me paranoid that buyers are going to walk in and go "ewww, animal smell"  I don't want that!!!  I still need to vacuum up more of the plaster dust and then mop to get it all gone, but soon I'll be able to add a corner to my painting area. That's exciting. AND, since the cats are now in Michigan with Eric, new litter won't be tracked over the room after every time I sweep!!

I also pulled up more carpet while I waited for Kaylee to come home. Tomorrow I'll move the boxes that are in the living room over onto the exposed subfloor so I can tear out more carpet. It's really satisfying to get that awful thing out of the house. My goal is to just make a big pile of it and have someone come and bring it to the dump for me.

Kitties!

The cats have a clean bill of health. They will be flying in cargo with Eric on Sunday. Both have lost weight! Ford is right at a perfect BC, Velociraptor is still a fatty but he's losing slowly, which makes the vets happy!

The plumber is out right now to fix the sink that they installed and is leaking. The pipe isn't even connected!!

My pretty boys.

Progress

Things I bought and sold this weekend

Bought

NEW SADDLE!!!!!!

This is probably the thing I'm most excited about. Also featured is the saddle pad I made myself!









Lamp for the downstairs bedroom!

We had some funky lighting that Eric doubted would make a home inspector happy, so for 10$ at Home Depot we came home with this tonight. I even installed it myself!









Sold
An elliptical
Our queen bed frame
The matching dresser
A rotating DVD tower
2 2x4 IKEA expedit bookcases
1 4x4 IKEA expedit bookcase

Less successfully, I listed my fish tank with no bites (hahahah) and a free grill that's pending to an interested party.

Thank FSM for Buy Nothing and FB Garage sale groups. I've made almost $400 in cash.

We were also super productive in the house. Aside from getting stuff out of it that we didn't want to bring to Michigan, we managed to install the rest of the baseboard trim in the downstairs bedroom and get the light fixed. Eric also hung the rest of the closet doors, only to realize that they'll come down again anyway for the carpet installers. LOL. Oh well.

This seriously looks SO much better now. It's ready to go trim from Home Depot, no painting required. It looks pretty sharp!

In less than happy news, Eric will be in Michigan this time next week. I'm calling the movers tomorrow to get as early a date as possible so I can go with him.