Maple Sugaring 2020

I had meant to publish this blog post back in the middle of March, but with everything that had been happening to the world (and still happening), plus I was having a hard time uploading my pictures, I couldn't find the time to publish this blog post. I guess late is better than never.

The last time I tapped my maple trees was back in 2013. Seven years ago! Can you believe it? It feels like it was last year that I tapped my trees, but seven years had passed. Life had gotten busy (e.g. broken and mended relationships, marriage, children, and raising of said children), but that's not to say that I hadn't thought of or asked my Mr. Man to tap our trees during those seven years.

This year, I had to tap my trees. So, I made an initiative and kept it in the back of my mind. When Valentine's Day came around (that's how I keep track of maple sugaring time), I reminded my Mr. Man and told him that it was time. We used the same methods as before, but this time I got stainless steel chafing pans to burn down the sap, which worked great. (Last time, I used an aluminum pan that left a slight aluminum aftertaste in the syrup.)

This year, due to an early spring, was a really long maple sugaring season. One of my maple trees is dying, so we were down one tree, but we still got enough sap to make syrup to last through the year. It's not too much work, but it can be time-consuming, especially with toddlers underfoot.

Like in previous years, we made do with what we had and used food-grade plastic piping to tap the sap. Plastic gallon jugs collected sap. Once we got enough, we boiled the sap using a propane tank or over an open fire. Once the sap got close to the syrup stage, I brought it inside the house and finished it off. Lastly, I canned it.

After all that work, I'm thinking about the future. One of my maple trees is dying and I'm thinking about planting a sugar maple to replace it in my yard. I'll just have to figure out where to plant it. At the same time, one of our neighbors said that we could tap their maple trees next year, which is a possibility, but I'll have to think about it some more.



We've been enjoying our syrup on pancakes and in other ways. I hope you are doing well and staying safe in your little part of the world.

Staying Home and Staying Safe

Since this pandemic, I've been home with my boys. My Mr. Man is also working from home and we've quarantined ourselves. Unless necessary, we don't go and see anyone, nor do we let anyone come into our home. It's been tough on us and on our boys, who want to go to the store or the playground. They just want to be out. 

Even with the early spring, despite the several snow storms in the last few days, it's not enough to keep my rambunctious toddlers busy. They've had too much electronics, have played with all of their toys, and read all of their books. They miss playing with others, going out, being at the playground, and just doing what they use to do. They ask to go to certain places and it's hard trying to explain to them that there's a pandemic going on and we need to stay home to be safe. Of course, they've accepted much of what's happening around them without too many issues. Of course, they're also going a little bit crazy from the isolation.

Who knows how long this is going to last. I'm just counting all of my blessing, sending out love to the world, and continuing to stay home to stay safe. In these uncertain times, I hope that you too are staying safe.

Tuesday's Tune: Dancing By Myself

 This song popped up on a YouTube page I was looking at. It's a song that was originally released by Robyn and had a fast beat. Yet, I prefer this version of the song by Calum Scott.

Now, I hadn't listened to this song or its lyrics before. So, when it showed up, I thought, "Why not?" Well, this song brought back some memories. Memories that I hadn't expected. Memories of a lovely man.

Once upon a time, a long time ago, I was in love with a lovely man. But I broke his heart and I had to let him go. Imagine my surprise, one night, when a friend sent me texts telling me that I had to get to a party that she was at. She said that he was at that same exact party and I needed to come.

Of course, I wanted to run out and go to that party. I wanted to see him and be in the same vicinity as him. Yet, I held back and stayed home. (I think he may have met his future wife at that party that night.) No matter how much I missed him, I knew he wasn't coming back. I knew I'd be dancing on my own. If I had gone, it would've been another opportunity to only say good-bye again. We weren't going to leave the party together. You see, I had already told him that I'd let him go and I wanted him to be happy. He'd already made up his mind to move from me, so he didn't need another reminder that I'd broken his heart.

Am I regretful for not attending that party? No. In hindsight, we both ended up with the person we each needed to end up with. It's just funny how this song brought up memories that I hadn't thought of in a long time.

Does this song remind you of anything or anyone in particular? What do you think of this song?

Icelandic Sunrise

Iceland, Taken September 15, 2019

Books of 2019

1. Lethal Licorice---Amanda Flower
2. Premeditated Peppermint---Amanda Flower
3. City of Ink---Elsa Hart
4. Assaulted Caramel---Amanda Flower
5. Jade Dragon Mountain---Elsa Hart
6. Plainly Murder---Isabella Alan
7. Murder, Plain and Simple---Isabella Alan
8. Plain Murder---Emma Miller
9. The White Mirror--Elsa Hart
10. Plain Killing---Emma Miller
11. Minimum Wage Magic---Rachel Aaron
12. The Governess Affair--Courtney Milan
13. Valley of Dry Bones---J.F. Penn
14. House of Dreams: The Life of L.M. Montgomery--Liz Rosenberg
15. Lady Luck Runs Out---Shannon Esposito
16. The Coroner's Lunch---Colin Cottrell
17. For Pete's Sake---Shannon Esposito
18. The Witches of New York---Ami McKay
19. Thirty-Three Teeth---Colin Cottrell
20. Greensmith Girls---Raven Snow
21. The Hazel Wood---Melissa Albert
22. Love Story---Lauren Layne
23. Midsummer Night's Mischief---Jennifer David Hesse
24. Bell, Book, and Candlemas---Jennifer David Hesse
25. Yuletide Homicide---Jennifer David Hesse
26. Samhain Secrets---Jennifer David Hesse
27. Mayday Murder---Jennifer David Hesse
28. Disco for the Departed---Colin Cotterill
29. Anarchy and Old Dogs---Colin Cotterill
30. Once a Wife---Patricia Keelyn
31. The Bride Price---Mai Neng Moua
32. 13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don't Do---Amy Morin
33. Shop till You Drop---Elaine Viets
34. This Will Only Hurt a Little---Busy Philipps
35. Murder Between the Covers---Elaine Viets
36. Someday, Maybe---Lauren Graham
37. Kindred---Octavia E. Butler
38. Criminally Cocoa---Amanda Flower
39. The Night Tiger---Yangsze Choo
40. Bewitched and Betrothed---Juliet Blackwell
41. Wicked Fox---Kat Cho
42. Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune---Roselle Lim
43. Enchanted, Inc.---Shanna Swendson
44. The Wedding Party--Jasmine Guillory
45. Caught Dead Handed---Carol J. Perry
46. The Overdue Life of Amy Byler---Kelly Harms
47. Casting Spells---Barbara Bretton
48. The Graveyard Book---Neil Gaiman
49. Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe---Heather Webber
50. Curse of the Pogo Stick---Colin Cotterill
51. Bird Box---Josh Malerman
52. The Bookish Life of Nina Hill---Abbi Waxman
53. The Alchemist---Paulo Coelho
54. Spin the Dawn---Elizabeth Lim
55. Prince---Afshin Shahidi
56. The Garden of Small Beginnings, Abbi Waxman
57. Gods of Jade and Snow---Silvia Moreno-Garcia
58. Autumn Alibi---Jennifer David Hesse
59. The Dinner List---Rebecca Serle
60. The Lost Night---Andrea Bartz
61. Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts---Kate Racculia
62. The Plastic Magician---Charlie N. Holmberg
63. Rosie's Travelling Tea Shop---Rebecca Raisin
64. Hexes and Exes---Raven Snow
65. Part-Time Gods---Rachel Aaron
66. If the Shoe Kills---Lynn Cahoon
67. Dressed to Kill---Lynn Cahoon
68. Murder on Wheels---Lynn Cahoon
69. Tea Cups and Carnage---Lynn Cahoon
70. Hospitality and Homicide---Lynn Cahoon
71. Rockets Dead Glare---Lynn Cahoon
72. The Girl with Ghost Eyes---M.H. Boroson
73. The Vine Witch---Luanne G. Smith
74. Grave Destiny---Kalayna Price
75. The Matchmakers of Minnow Bay---Kelly Harms

I read a lot of books in 2019 (at least compared to my previous reading lists). I don't even know if I've listed all of the books that were read in 2019 and if any more comes to my mind, I'll update the list at a later time.

The book that made the most impact on me and one that I'd highly recommend that you read, paul Coelho's The Alchemist. It's a little book, but it's a fantastic book about following your dreams, having faith, and just believing in yourself.

I hope you had a good reading year in 2019. Now, it's time to get cracking with new books for 2020 (it's been a slow start for me so far).

Are there any books you'd recommend based on what you read in 2019?

Follow-Through 2020

Each year, for the last several years, I've chosen a word to guide me through the year, rather than make New Year resolutions. This year, I've chosen the word(s) follow-through/follow through. (When the word is hyphenated, it's a noun and when it's not, it's a verb.) Regardless of how it's spelled, I've decided that 2020 will be the year where I will follow through on all the things that I've started or thought about starting in 2019.

I look back on 2019 and it's a year where I've set myself up to start so many projects. For whatever reasons (i.e. a lack of time, lack of belief in myself, the first steps I've made are only the beginning in a very long term project, etc.), I know that there are still a lot of unfinished projects that I want to see finished. So, it's my good intentions to follow through on as many of these projects and finish them or get the projects to the next level. It's time to follow through on what I've started and the momentum I've built so far.

I know it's going to take a lot of focus, concentration, and hard work, but I know I can do it. I just have to keep myself accountable or figure out a way to motivate myself even more than before. I think just knowing that I will be using this word to guide me in 2020 it already a good step.

I hope you are doing well. Did you make resolutions for 2020 or do you have a guiding word? Care to share?

The Little Things

I don't innately forget, but it is good to be reminded that the important things in life are all about the little things. For me, it's trying to be present with my children, appreciating all that I have, and finding contentment in the moments that are easily dismissed and forgotten.

 

Noticing the snow falling on the last of the roses.

I have a dear friend with ALS. She's been bed-ridden for the last two years, if not longer, in a facility. I try to go see her once a month. I saw her yesterday and I'm reminded again that it's the little things in life that I need to be grateful for. She's surrounded by caring people and lots of good vibes. I love her and only wish the best for her, especially considering her condition. At the same time, I came home feeling so blessed and loved.

Seeing this beautiful winter sunrise.

I am grateful to feel the sun on my skin, the breeze in my hair, the touch from my children and husband's kisses and hugs, having the ability to be mobile, having independence, and so much more. I'm really happy with my life and what I have. I'm truly blessed and loved. And I'm glad that I can appreciate it.

Watching my children enjoy newly fallen snow.

So for today, I just wanted to pass along the message that you slow down, be present, and appreciate all the little things in your life. I hope you have a great day.

What little things and moments are you grateful for?

Potty Training: Update of my Oldest

I'd written an update back in January of this year regarding the potty training of my oldest. I'm glad to finally report that as of the last two weeks, I can say that he's 90% potty trained. He doesn't know how to wipe his behind (his little short arms barely reach his bottom), but he knows how to run to the toilet when he has to pee or poop. I'm so glad I didn't give up on him.

I had almost given up on him and his potty training. I'm telling you, this kid didn't mind if he soiled himself. He could sit for hours in his dirty pants, underwear, or diaper. Some parents online had said that they gave up and only started potty training again when their child showed interest, but my oldest didn't seem to show any interest. Really, he'd rather play than take time to go to the potty. Despite pulling my hair out and frustrated that he didn't want to potty train, I felt that if I gave up then I'd have wasted all of my time trying to potty train. I knew that my son knew how to go to the potty but he was lazy. So, I kept at the potty training.

Then last month, when the weather turned really cold, we found a hand-me-down fuzzy pajama pants and gave it to him to wear. He loves those pants. He lives in those pants and would never change out of them unless we made him. Well, after several pee and poop incidents that deprived him of his pants (because it needed to be washed when he had his "accidents") he realized that he needed to pee and poop in the potty in order keep wearing his pants. That pair of pants are a God-send. I'm just so happy that they were the motivation he needed to finally potty train.

Now it's on to the butt wiping stage, but I feel as if I've already crossed the hardest part of potty training. Onward and forward we go.

Do you have any potty training tips, especially for little boys?

The Dark Hedges

Northern Ireland, Taken on September 2019

Embracing Motherhood

I was reading a book this morning and in it the main character talks about how her mother embraced motherhood, it was her mother's purpose in life. This nugget of a thought stopped me in my tracks. I wondered to myself, have I embraced motherhood? To be honest, probably not. Maybe I should.

I don't know if the very act of having children and raising them is me embracing motherhood. I love my children and they both are at a fun age where everything is still knew to them. At the same time, I'm also wanting to travel and hike, which is hard for them to do for a long enough time at their young age. I do long for the days of alone time and quiet time spent reflecting and writing. And maybe, these longings and my stay at home isn't exactly me enjoying motherhood.

I told myself that I would embrace motherhood. I don't know what that means. I don't know if I should enjoy potty training more. I do know that I need to be more present with them. I probably need to be more grateful for this precious time that I have with them. They both are already getting so big and independent. I do know that I miss them when they are gone and they miss me when I'm gone.

If you have any suggestions for me about embracing motherhood or even parenthood, let me know.