Maple Syrupping

Sorry for back-tracking...but I was looking through my pictures and there are so many things I have to post...UGH! If I only had the time to do this everytime we did something super-cool...well...there just isn't enough time....

But I digress....

In March, when Teresa came to visit on her Spring Break, we decided to join in on a spring tradition here in MN, we went and tapped a Maple and learned the "traditional" method the American Indians used to create maple syrup and then finished the whole experience off with pancakes and maple syrup made from the process! It was too cool!

Here is Dominic helping with step 1...tapping a tree,Followed by Teresa and Jr looking for a full bucket that had been collecting the sugar water to get burned down to become syrup.

In order to burn the water down, you have to learn how to start a fire, right? Well, here is Dom & Gianni trying to do just that....Here are Dominic Jr and I watching the burning off of the waterThen we went and heard the American Indian legend of how maple syrupping began.This would be Dominic Jr working on a S'more from the big campfire, a sort of pre-pancake treat!

Finally into the lodge to have a few pancakes with yummy (and pure) maple syrup, followed by crafts.

Here is TT with her kakuk (according the legend, the holder used by the crows to put water into the Maple trees). Everyone loved the experience!