MAPLE SYRUP!
I'm spending my last 5 days in Canada in 65 degree wet rainy springtime mudpuddly weather and I kind of love it. This is the first year I actually spent most of the winter in Canada so I paid my dues to be able to watch springtime unfold. The rich brown mud and dead grass will soon be sprouting with the green shoots of the brightest most fragrent flowers of the year. I've tapped the last of the maple trees and have been boiling all weekend to make maple syrup. For those who don't have a chance to enjoy this process, the maple trees are tapped for the early spring sap which is clear and watery with a slight sugary taste. That is boiled down until 96% of the water has evaporated (an all day process) and what's left is a dark amber coloured liquid that tastes great on pancakes! If you boil it down too much, you get maple sugar, which is great on ice cream.
Although the syrup could be purchaced at the grocery store for much less than the time it takes to make... there's something magical about the process. What I like the most is the feeling of connection I get to the people who enjoyed the land before me by following this ancient springtime ritual.
In 5 days I'll be drinking young coconuts and enjoying guava butter on toast, but until then I'll be having a great time mucking around in the wind and rain looking around for signs of spring.
Here is my interpretation of sap collecting:
For those who are in the area, here are some upcoming shows:
WYLAND NORTH SHORE- ALL GIRL'S SURF ART SHOW- APRIL 11-12
Wyland Gallery, North Shore in Haleiwa will be holding a women's surf art show in conjunction with the Tidal 9 Women's Pipeline Pro. SHINN along with other female surf artists will be around the gallery on the 11th-12th, painting, meeting, greeting and...eating. If you're in the area, stop by to check out the new work and snag some pupus.
*JUMPING FLEA- CHINATOWN BOARDROOM, HONOLULU - APRIL 1ST*
Along with a select group of surf artists, SHINN is proud to have been chosen to paint a custom ukelele for the JUMPING FLEA show at the CHINATOWN BOARDROOM GALLERY. The show will be up for the month of April.
Show Dates
April 1st - 25th, 2009
Opening Reception
Wednesday April 1st, 2009 6 - 8 pm
Gallery Hours
Tues. - Sat., 11am - 4 pm
Chinatown Boardroom
1160 Nuuanu Ave., Honolulu, Hawaii 96817
808.585.7200
www.chinatownboardroom.com