This DIY Easter Mini Garden is so sweet and easy to plant.  A mini garden brings days of anticipation and wonder for kids 1-99 as the garden grass sprouts just in time for Easter. This is a great classroom project and brings cheer to a nursing home or sick room.

Easter’s not so far away. For me, Easter brings thoughts of new life and hope…green shoots poking through the ground after a seemingly interminable winter of snow and ice. The anticipation of spring and new growth, welcome after a long winter. The empty tomb in the garden symbolizes hope.

Build it together with your kids, grandchildren or other special kids in your life. Charlie and I planted a DIY Easter Mini Garden several years ago. First we went on a meandering nature walk around the pond, hunting for just the right rock, stones and twigs before planting the garden.

You’ll need about two weeks from planting the grass seed ’til it’s ready. Plant the seed about three weeks before Easter to enjoy it before and after Easter. When the grass is thick and lush, just a few snips with scissors or kitchen shears keeps it in nice shape for Easter.

Materials:

• large terra cotta pot saucer (12″ worked well) for base
• small terra cotta pot (3 1/2″ worked well) for tomb
• Soil
• Small, flat stones
• Grass seed (rye works well)
• Rock (the size of the mouth of the “tomb”)
• Twigs and raffia to make crosses

Directions:

• Place the small terra cotta pot on its’ side in the the saucer.
• Fill the big terra cotta saucer with soil to the lip, anchoring the small pot (the empty tomb.)
• Mound dirt over the small terra cotta pot, leaving the mouth open. (Will need wet dirt to make it “stick”)
• Place the stones into the soil in front of the tomb.
• Mist the soil well, so it’s ready to receive grass seed, then press grass seed thickly all over the soil.
• Place the rock in front of the tomb.
• Use raffia or string to tie together twigs to make rustic crosses, add them to the garden.
• Mist the grass seed several times daily and watch for your garden to sprout!
• Water daily.

Hide a few speckled eggs in the grass Easter morning!

Related post: DIY Spring Monogram Wreath

The post DIY Easter Mini Garden appeared first on Through Her Looking Glass.

I am participating in Influence Central’s Ambassador program on behalf of Claritin®. This program is paid for by the Makers of Claritin® and I have received compensation for my participation. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Smart Allergy Mom ^TM Toolkit

Kids say (and do!) the darndest things. As a proud mama of four boys, you can imagine I have lots of funny stories through the years. The one that comes to mind today happened on a spring morning when I was sitting on the living room floor folding laundry with my then two-year-old Charlie. Charlie was a busy little guy, to say the least.

And even though he had a pile of his own fun toys, he kept grabbing at my neatly folded laundry piles. So I was thrilled when a tiny little ant arrived on the scene and captured his attention.

For a few moments, he stayed busy tracking the ant. Then suddenly there was a quick darting motion. And in an instant, the ant was gone. In Charlie’s mouth! While he was perfectly happy with his mid-morning snack, I let out a little scream, and he followed suit. Ha ha. Thankfully he never had any bad dreams or adverse effects from that extra protein serving.

But through the years he’s had other more serious things to deal with, like indoor and outdoor allergies. It’s tough being a kid and wanting to participate in all the fun kid activities when your allergies get in the way. At various times his symptoms have included itchy throat, runny nose, and itchy eyes.

So last fall I finally took him in to his pediatrician to talk about these perpetual symptoms, and Charlie was diagnosed with multiple indoor and outdoor allergies. He’s allergic to various molds, both kinds of dust mites and Bermuda grass. Who knew? Now he takes Children’s Claritin® when his allergy symptoms act up it’s made such a dramatic difference in his life.

His allergies are under control and he’s able to play and participate in the sports and activities he loves. Children’s Claritin® is the only brand that provides 24 hour, non-drowsy allergy relief products among oral OTC Children’s brands  It provides long lasting relief of runny nose, sneezing, itchy, watery eyes, and itchy nose or throat.

I’ve got a great resource for you today that’s been a help to me, the Smart Allergy Mom Toolkit by the makers of Children’s Claritin®.

If you think your child might have allergies, this Smart Allergy Mom Toolkit is a great online resource with ideas and tools to help manage allergies. With this resource you can:

• Track the pollen count in your area
• Read tips to help decipher the difference between cold and allergy symptoms
• Get great ideas for questions to ask your pediatrician
• Learn ways to help minimize outdoor seasonal allergies and indoor year round allergies

Children’s Claritin® is the #1 Pediatrician Recommended Non-Drowsy Oral Allergy Brand for kids ages 2+ and is available in chewables (grape and bubble gum) and in grape syrup. Children six and older can take Claritin® RediTabs, convenient dissolvable tablets that melt in your mouth.

Follow Claritin® on Facebook here!

*Among Oral OTC Children’s Brands

The post The Smart Allergy Mom Toolkit appeared first on Through Her Looking Glass.

Hey friends, it’s been a super busy week around here. How’s it been for you? I’m so glad the weekend is finally here. Exhale.

Today I’m re-sharing the first post I ever published on this blog because A – most of you haven’t seen it before. And B – because you’ll laugh. I hope.

I actually planned to write a new piece for today, but there’s still a ton of baking to do for homecoming this weekend.

Bake or write. Bake or write. Baking won out. Cupcakes. And if they come out great, trust me, you’ll see them here!

So read on and enjoy this little blast from the past!

.

Everytime A Bell Rings

He had an odd, curious look on his face that hot, muggy day. The fan oscillated on high, the windows were open wide. We should’ve shut them hours earlier and turned on the air. Trying to stay cool during the “dog days” of August.

Everyone had shorts on at the dinner table, and I wore a sleeveless linen blouse, trying to beat the heat.

Salad, grilled steak tips and watermelon. That was the menu. And a mountain of icy cold watermelon triangles. We loaded our plates, and I shook the salad dressing.

His eyes weren’t necessarily on me, but intently focused on something nearby. And I recognized that same curious look, the smirk in his eye. And I returned to a day months earlier.

I’d picked him up after school as usual.

“How was second grade?”

“Fine.”

“So what’d you do at school today?”

“Nothing.”

“Surely you did something.”

“What we do at school every day. Learn,” he said, disinterestedly.

“So what did you play at recess?”

“Tag.”

“Was it fun?”

“Not really.”

(Sigh.) “The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”

Well, I was under no grand illusion here. I’d run out of questions, and he was obviously out of answers. I settled in for the quiet car ride home.

Halfway home, I checked the rearview mirror and noticed an unusual exercise in progress. His right sleeve was rolled up high, his little arm flexed like a muscle man. His fist pumped furiously back and forth. Simultaneously, his left hand batted at his tricep. He watched intently, quiet glee apparent. It was odd.

“What are you doing honey?”

“Just playing a game.”

“What kind of game,” I persisted. “Does it have a name?”

He stayed focused, flexing and batting. “It’s called Bingo Wings, Mommy.”

Bingo Wings. I’d never heard of a game called Bingo Wings, but I’m not exactly the person to ask. I’m not really a game person. Plus I always lose. I doubted I’d be good at this one either. But I tried connecting anyway.

“So what are the rules? How do you play?”

“Well it’s easier to play if you’re really old. Like forty or a hundred.

First, you put your arm up like this…… and SQUEEEEZE. Make a big fist and turn your wrist back and forth…… just like this.” He demonstrated.

“And THEN…. you watch the hanging skin and fat wiggle and jiggle like jello. See?” He vainly attempted jiggling his taut skin.

“Where’d you learn that?” I asked flatly.

“From Tommy at recess.” (When I was in school we played hopscotch and jumped rope.)

“I don’t think that’s a very nice game,” I said. “And I won’t play.”

Fast forward to the dinner table. He bit a watermelon triangle and stared hard. He didn’t say a word. He didn’t need to. It was written all over his face. Because as I shook the dressing at the table that night, I detected the same curious, gleeful Bingo Wings look. And I just knew.

Well I’m not a hundred years old. (Not yet.) And I’m usually rotten at games. But apparently I’m first rate at Bingo Wings. It’s an effortless game you can play with your eyes closed. There are no game pieces to lose. The rules are “loose”. Play on your own or with a crowd.

It’s gratifying to finally be a winner at the ripe old age of forty-one.

“Look Daddy! Teacher says, Everytime A Bell Rings, an angel gets its wings.”.

It’s a Wonderful Life (Wings aside, it truly is.)

You may also enjoy: Nuts About Her

The post Everytime a bell rings… appeared first on Through Her Looking Glass.

So what is an opu anyway? The cute Hawaiian children’s book, There’s a Monster in My Opu, by children’s author Karyn Hopper will give you the scoop. Karyn, pictured above at a recent book signing, is a busy wife and mother of four who somehow finds time to write children’s books on the side.

Originally from New England, Karyn and her family live in Hawaii on the main island of Oahu in Mililani.

Karyn, sharing There’s a Monster in My Opu with children at the local library.

Karyn’s been a dear friend since grade school, always super talented in speech and music. So I was fascinated to hear of her new endeavor writing children’s books.

In 2006 she published There’s a Monster in My Opu, a simple, fun and colorful introduction to local culture in Hawaii. And if you visit Oahu, you’ll definitely recognize some of the local places mentioned in her book.

Here’s a pronunciation/translation guide (courtesy of Ruth Miyagawa) for some words and places from There’s A Monster in My Opu:

opu – (oh-poo) stomach

Haleiwa – (ha-lay-ee-vah) surfing town on the North Shore of Oahu

pau – (pow) finished

haku – (ha-koo) head

Matsumoto – (mot-sue-moe-toe) mom and pop store on the North Shore

lychee – (lie-chee) a sweet, small fruit with rough red skin, and tender white flesh surrounding a capsule-shaped brown seed

shave ice – ice shaved off a large frozen block into a paper cone; flavored syrup is poured over it

Then in 2013, Karyn published Malia in Hawaii: Celebrating All the Parts of Me. Surfing or dancing, parades or hula, noodles or sushi? Malia likes them all!

Malia in Hawaii is the story of a little girl with a long name, and an even longer list of things she likes to eat and do. The main character Malia Sachi Ging Ging Lee explores the food and fun of her Hawaii home.

THLG: So Karyn, please tell us a little about yourself.

Karyn: I’m originally from New Hampshire — part Yankee, part island girl, a strange and marvelous mix.

THLG: What do you miss most about living on the mainland?

Karyn: I miss fall — I love the changing leaves. But more than that I love the fall culture — hay bales, fall flowers, hot apple cider, the pumpkin patch, and apple picking. Did I mention apple cider donuts?

THLG: Oh yes, apple cider donuts are high on my list too. So what do you enjoy doing with your family in Hawaii?

Karyn: Outdoor adventures: hiking, going to the beach, surfing, stand-up paddle boarding.

THLG: Sounds busy and decidedly tropical for a New Hampshire girl. Got any hobbies?

Karyn: I’ve been wondering about my hobbies lately — can that include car pools, kid sleepovers, and supervising homework?! I love to sing, write, play the piano, go on adventures with my family, travel.

The Hopper Family

 THLG: So Karyn, tell us, how did you end up in Hawaii?

Karyn: I moved to Hawaii to teach at a Christian school in 1994, and fell in love with another teacher. We got married and have 4 kids, 2 girls and 2 boys.

THLG: So when did you publish your first book?

Karyn: In 2006, when I was pregnant with baby #3.

THLG: Ummm…wow. What made you decide to write a children’s book?

Karyn: I specifically love children’s rhyme — I get a rhyme and rhythm in my head, and can’t get it out ‘til I put it on paper. I tried writing a chapter book and it was a disaster. I don’t think I have the attention-span for anything longer than 20 pages or so!

THLG: Anything interesting about the book writing process you want to share today?

Karyn: Books are a tough sell these days. With bookstores going out of business, and e-books on the rise, the children’s publishing business is changing. People ask me how I got my first book published. I went to the local library and wrote down all the Hawaii publishers I could find. I sent out several copies of my script and got a publisher!

THLG: Good for you, love it. Anything else about the books or book writing advice?

Karyn: I think you have to find your niche, even in writing. There are so many types of writing—find the type that you enjoy, that you’re good at, and start with that. Don’t try to be something you aren’t.

THLG: Don’t try to be something you aren’t. Good advice. Many thanks Karyn, for giving us a little snapshot of your life in Hawaii. I loved catching up on your family and your children’s books. Sure hope you’ll write more. (In your spare time.)

There’s a Monster in My Opu is available for purchase at besspress.com (under Children’s Picture Books)Malia in Hawaii: Celebrating All the Parts of Me  is available from Amazon.com

You may also enjoy: Virtual Safari in South Africa

The post Monster in My Opu appeared first on Through Her Looking Glass.

What will I do when I’m 100 years old?

Great question, and so glad you asked. First of all, even though longevity runs in my family, it’s never even occurred to me that I might survive to be 100, be a centenarian. What with stress, preservatives, chemicals in the water, pesticides and pollution, I’m reminded at every turn that my days are numbered.

But the reason I’m even thinking along these lines is that one day last week was the 100th day of school for Charlie. That doesn’t mean a whole lot to me and might not to you either. But apparently for today’s students, the 100th day of school is cause for great celebration. So great that some schools have students bring in collections of 100 items to celebrate. Like a hundred M & M’s or a hundred paper clips or a hundred marbles. They do word problems based on the number 100. They even have parties with brownies and ice-cream and cupcakes. No fair. They didn’t do that a century ago when I was in school. (This is gospel, I kid you not. I actually went to a one room school house in the country, learned to read from a McGuffey Reader. Yeah I’m ancient.)

Charlie (3rd grade) was pondering these soul searching questions about what his life will be like when he is 100 years old:

“When I am 100 Years Old”

by Charlie, age 8

Wow. He doesn’t aim high or anything. My first thought: study hard in school kid. So you can get a good job, buy that castle, achieve those lofty retirement goals.

(So what will I do when I’m 100 years old? Have no idea. That, what I’ll look like or where I’ll live. But now I have some good ideas…)

So what’ll you do when you’re 100?

Related post: Every Time A Bell Rings

The post When I Am 100 appeared first on Through Her Looking Glass.

(True story, unfortunately.) It was a zippity-doo-da New England spring day….the kind you only dream about in the dead of winter. Birds sang, the sun shone, the azure sky was dotted with lazy cotton ball clouds. It was 2004, the first spring in our new home, and we reveled in each emerging perennial.

The red tulips were in their glory, and I eagerly anticipated a spring bouquet.

Spring Massacre by allie taylor

That afternoon we departed for the boys’ little league game, stopping on the way home to pick up pizza. Pulling into the driveway, I immediately noticed a transformation in the tulips. Their heads now drooped, the stems flopped over. With a sense of foreboding, I exited the car and closely inspected a bloom. It was covered with a chalky white film from stem to flower. Very dead. Horrified, I dashed from flower to flower in the front and back yards. They were all wilted. All dead.

“They’ve been chemically altered, killed,” my husband Jon announced ominously.

Killed? Why murder tulips? And who would commit such a heinous crime?

He stepped into the breezeway, tripping on a can of insect repellent as he went.

An empty can of OFF! He sternly faced both boys, four and six, said slowly and deliberately,

“Does anyone know (pause) what happened (longer pause) to your mother’s tulips?” There was a protracted, guilty silence.

“Well boys, Mom and I are hungry and we’re going to enjoy pizza in the dining room.”

“You,” he said to one,” may sit at the kitchen counter. And you,” he eyed the other, “may sit on the living room sofa.

“When someone decides to tells us what happened, you may join us at the dinner table.”

It was a dismal dinner as we contemplated the deceased tulips. Ten slow minutes ticked by, then the sound of tentative little footsteps approached. He peered sheepishly around the corner.

“M-E,” he spelled out.

“M-E what?” I said.

“Me did it.”

“Me did what?”

“Me sprayed the tulips with OFF!”

“Why?” I slowly whispered, my blood at a low boil.

“Because it was really fun to spray the can.”

Spring still comes with reflection on “what might have been.” Rather “what should have been.” The poison seeped deeply into the bulbs. Though the foliage still appears, they never bloomed again. We won’t soon forget the day the tulips died.

And him? He lived to see another sunrise. But he was poorer. We charged him by the stem, the sum total of all the birthday money he’d just gleefully stashed in his piggy bank. (The itemized bill included the can of OFF!)

The post Spring Massacre appeared first on Through Her Looking Glass.

Hi friends, hope all is well in your neck of the woods, wherever that may be. Perhaps green shoots are coming to life, pushing up from the earth, trees are blooming. I hope so, and how nice for you! (I do mean that sincerely, I can’t wait for spring to arrive.) Here in New England, we’re still waiting for Old Man Winter to calm down. I’ve been asked what I did to tick him off. My reply: If only I knew, I’d stop!!!

Hudson and Jon 

It’s March, and things are still cold, snowy, wintry and icy here. Last night 3-5″ of snow was forecasted. We did get some snow, but it turned into an icy mix overnight. Thankfully it was above freezing this morning, so the roads were fine.

Jacob and Charlie tobogganing with Gigi in Rhode Island

So I’ve been thinking that some of you probably didn’t get to toboggan this year, maybe didn’t even get a sledding run in. That’s too bad. Tobogganing is such a fun memory of mine. I remember tromping through the woods (lovely, dark and deep) as the littlest kid with my big brothers and sisters, climbing up the interminably long toboggan run, then racing down lickety-split. It’s a pretty long run, and fast. And now as a parent, I wince thinking of all the trees and branches we flew by without incident. Our guardian angels were definitely working overtime.

The Christmas after we moved back to New England in 2004, I went to the local L.L. Bean Outlet to see if they had any wooden toboggans. Lo and behold, they did! I was thrilled, bought one for the boys for Christmas. Back then there were just three boys. Now five. (Yeah, I’m counting Jon.) All they had in stock were eight footers, so I jerry-rigged it into our old Volvo wagon, and it hung out the back window. I felt like Santa Claus on his sleigh. (Or Mrs. Claus.) It’s been a lot of fun these many years!

Following are two short clips so you can get in a virtual toboggan run before Spring arrives officially. Have fun, scream all you want. (My boys sure did.)

Take two: here’s Jonathan….

Would love to hear your fun sledding/tobogganing stories and memories today…

You may also enjoy: Baby It’s Cold Outside

The post Virtual Toboggan Ride appeared first on Through Her Looking Glass.

A Pandemonium of Parrots? An embarrassment of pandas?

I’m a word person: fascinated by unusual appellations and semantics. Maybe you are too? Perhaps I take after my mom. She’s a word person, writer, and Scrabble aficionado. (Seriously, she could play the word aficionado. That, and land every X, Q and Z  in the bag on a triple letter space.)

So I was pretty excited when a creative gift giver gave Charlie this unusual Christmas present last year: Collective Nouns Flash Cards from A to Z. I wasn’t excited ’til he opened the box, because I didn’t know the treasure inside. Then I was thrilled by the creative artwork and amazing compilation of collective nouns for twenty-six animals, A-Z, by Woop Studios. Clever: that’s exactly what these cards are.

The other night after dinner we had so much fun. Pulled out the cards and explored the creative collective nouns together. Here’s what’s amazing: while Hudson can’t articulate many words, he knows his entire alphabet A-Z. On one side of the card is a large alphabet letter, and on the other, a collective noun for that letter. So I held up the card with the letter, and with great excitement Hudson yelled it out. Then we all guessed what collective noun might be on the reverse side. We didn’t have many correct guesses. Thought I’d share them with you today, see if it rings your bell too.

Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start…(I think I’ve heard that somewhere before…)

A – Aurora of Polar Bears

B – Bale of Turtles

C – Caravan of Camels

D – Down of Rabbits

E – Embarrassment of Pandas

F – Family of Porcupines

G – Galaxy of Starfish

H – Hum of Bees

I – Implausibility of Gnus

J – Journey of Giraffes

K – Kaleidoscope of Butterflies

L – Leap of Leopards

M – Movement of Moles

N – Nest of Crocodiles

O – Ostentation of Peacocks

P – Pandemonium of Parrots

Q – Quiver of Cobras

R – Raft of Otters

S – Shiver of Sharks

T – Troubling of Goldfish

U – Unkindness of Ravens

V – Venom of Spiders

W – Watch of Nightingales

X – Exaltation of Larks

Y – Yoke of Oxen

Z – Zeal of Zebras

Here’s a couple more fun ones: a CRASH of rhinoceroses and a HERD of moose.

Surely there’s a little (or big) person in your life who’d be delighted by this set of large, sturdy and artistic cards. (Maybe even you.) They’d be a great educational birthday gift, perfect in the Easter basket. The cards measure 6 1/2″ wide by 8 1/4 ” high and are heavy duty cardboard. They’d be sweet framed in a playroom, classroom or nursery.

You may be able to find these locally. If not, they’re available on Amazon.com here: Collective Noun Flashcards from A-Z

The post Pandemonium of Parrots appeared first on Through Her Looking Glass.

A truly beautiful and monumental thing happened just this morning. Only Hudson and I know about it. It involved three people, but only two of us “get it”. It’s after lunch now, and I was just pairing up winter boots and gloves by the side door, vacuuming up the salt and grime that comes with winter around here. Tidying up, thinking about what happened today, and my eyes filled and spilled. I stopped vacuuming for a second, looked straight down. So the wet would fall straight down on the L.L.Bean water hog door mat, not ruin my mascara. (I’m just that vain.)

Glimpse of Sunshine by allie taylor

On my fridge door,  five years now…

Hudson and I headed to his music therapy session this morning, just like any other Thursday morning. We were running late, as is often the case in winter. Hudson is resistant (understatement) to hats, coats and mittens, a difficulty in the Northeast. With below zero temps here this morning, these were non-negotiables today.

Music and speech therapy are ways we attempt to encourage speech and communication for Hudson. Children with Down syndrome and other special needs often have difficulty communicating. With Hudson’s fifth birthday rapidly approaching this spring, he can say maybe ten words (or an approximations of ten words). Milk is “elk”. Music, “ick”. Cookie is “ookie.” All very important words in his world!

Surprisingly, Hudson’s actually a little social butterfly who manages to get his point across quite well, but mostly without words. He points, gestures, signs, has a vice grip finger-lock he engages, then gently drags you along where he wants you to go. It works some of the time, but as you can imagine, often frustrates him and us both, as we try to guess his wants and needs. Let’s just say, it’s not a long term workable strategy.

So this morning, hand in hand, we’re walking together across a long snowy parking lot to get back to the car after saying goodbye to Christina at music therapy. Hudson is entranced with the snow on the ground, but concentrating even more on his little suede Stride Rite fire engine boots. The boots are six years old now, a hand-me down from his big brother. The captivating thing to Hudson about the boots is, that at the right time and with the right “stamp”, he can make the little red engines light up. The tiny built-in batteries are old now, mostly dead. But every once in a while with a little luck, the lights still engage. So Hudson is very busy stamping, prancing his way along to the car for the desired effect.

Along our route, a nice lady wearing all black, and a pair of knee high black leather boots, crosses our path. She flashes a radiant smile to Hudson stamping his way along, pleasantly says hello to us. Hudson looks up from the boots, takes the chewy tube* from his mouth, waves, and very clearly and appropriately says a two syllable, halting “Hel-lo” back. He glances up, smiles at me. He gets it. I’m overwhelmed, speechless. (Rare.) She keeps walking, oblivious to the gravity of the communication that’s just taken place, but cheerfully throws back over her shoulder, “Nice to see the sun today, isn’t it?”

Communication for our children is something we take for granted. We often assume they’ll one day be able to express their wants and needs in an often harsh world. But it’s different for parents with special needs children. Because we don’t know if our children will ever be able to communicate or express themselves clearly. But I’m overjoyed and thankful for this fire engine boot-stride of progress today.

She was right on. It’s nice to see the sun today. We all need that Glimpse of Sunshine now and again. To give us hope.

*A chewy tube is used by individuals like Hudson with sensory issues who crave oral stimulation. A chewy tube provides that, and also builds up the muscle tone and strength of his jaw, helping prepare him for speech, feeding and overall motor skills.

Related Post: Glimpse of Sunshine: Part 2

The post Glimpse of Sunshine appeared first on Through Her Looking Glass.

I grew up in the beautiful back woods of Rhode Island. Our retired neighbors, the Pecks, lived on a hundred acres next door. Mr. and Mrs. Peck were an endless source of entertainment, wonder and companionship for me as a child. He, a retired engineer with striped engineer’s hat, shock of white hair and mustache. And she, with two long white braids in keeping with her Cherokee heritage. Of great shock and interest to me, she skinny-dipped at 5:30 a.m. each morning to the island in their pond. She invited me once. (NO THANK YOU, Mrs. Peck!!!) But always unusual conversation, kindness and interesting observations in their home. Mrs. Peck was often taking a pan of cookies out of the oven as I’d arrive for an impromptu visit. She made wonderful peanut butter cookies, always welcomed me in. She also taught me how to knit when I was only six.

Mr. Peck designed their amazing three story contemporary home, complete with a working dumb waiter he let us kids ride up and down. There was a metal spiral central staircase connecting all three floors, a human anti-gravity machine (hint: hang by your ankles), and double decker porches overlooking the enormous man made pond he designed and built by damming the wetlands.

Photo courtesy of Clarke Ryder

The wooded island in the middle of the pond housed a gazebo. Rowing out solo for a picnic and afternoon island explore was always an exciting adventure.

Photo courtesy of Clarke Ryder

A small scale beautiful wooden covered bridge (above) led to a cabin on the far side of the pond, just out of view in the picture. A zip-line we called “the trolley”, complete with antique metal tractor seat was mounted between two tall pines. Mr. Peck often walked the periphery of the pond, tossing in breadcrumbs along the way. Schools of fish swam along, following behind Mr. Peck, the Pied Piper. The pond froze hard and thick in winter, and we skated there often.

When the sap ran in early spring, I’d often ride the wooded trails with Mr. Peck to collect it. I’d hear his tractor motor back in the back woods and hunt ’til I found him. He drove the tractor, hauling a trailer behind with big clean garbage pails for collecting the sap. I’d hop on and off the back, dumping maple sap from the collection buckets into the gigantic pails. After the run, we’d head to the sugar house by the pond where Mr. Peck would crank up the stove to boil sap for syrup making. It took forty gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup. Hot and steamy inside the sugar house, if you looked up, you couldn’t miss the suspended shell from a two hundred pound snapping turtle. Mr. Peck himself shot it on the island. (No one wants to be chomped by a two hundred pound snapper, least of all his skinny-dipping wife!) In short, Mr. Peck was a Yankee Renaissance man.

Every so often the Pecks would invite our whole family over to enjoy Maple Sugar on Snow. It was a neighborly, family thing to do. And I remember thoroughly enjoying the camaraderie, feeling especially important that I’d made such a valuable contribution in helping to collect the sap.

The recipe I’m sharing today is different than the one we enjoyed with the Pecks. Their Maple Sugar on Snow,  involved boiling maple syrup to a very high temperature, then pouring over fresh snow. The snow cooled the boiling syrup quickly, making taffy like strands of maple delight.

This past week a friend kindly shared her recipe for Maple Taffy on Snow, an old French recipe from her grandparents. Maple Taffy on Snow has maple syrup, plus a few more magical ingredients. Like brown sugar, butter and vanilla. What’s not to love? With the newly fallen New England snow (and more forecasted!), now’s a great opportunity to enjoy this fun, old-fashioned family tradition with yours. A great across-the-generations activity, making Maple Taffy on Snow is perfect after sledding, skating and snow angels.

Gently boil the four ingredient syrup mixture for 5 minutes, stirring.

Drizzle over several pans of fresh, clean snow.

The taffy will harden slightly, looking like this.

Now it’s time to grab some forks and dig in!

There were lots of volunteers to help.

And not a complaint. (!)

Print

Maple Taffy on Snow

Maple Taffy on Snow. Soft maple taffy hardens on snow. An old-fashioned French tradition.

Course Candy

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 2

Author Allie Taylor

Ingredients

• 1 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

• Boil all ingredients slowly, at a low boil for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Fill several large shallow pans with fresh, clean snow.
• (9 X 13" or roasting pan works well)
• Drizzle liquid taffy mixture onto the snow.
• If it stays on the top and slightly hardens, it's ready.
• If it's too hard and sticky in your teeth, it's overcooked.
• Eat immediately, right out of the pan with a fork.
• Best shared!

We made quick work of two pans of delicious Maple Taffy On Snow, a nice lunch appetizer (!) yesterday. Hope you’ll try this recipe. Do you have any fun maple syrup, Maple Sugar on Snow or Taffy on Snow memories? Please share them today!

Related posts: DIY Vanilla Bean Maple Syrup

 Sugar Bush Farm

The post Maple Taffy on Snow appeared first on Through Her Looking Glass.