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Category Archives: Outdoors
Taking Volcano Building to the Next Level
How to build a volcano with Plaster of Paris
by Kiah and Milo
(special thanks to storm the castle)
Here we go…
First, get a cardboard box and cut it how you want it. It is helpful if you keep the sides up a little and the back at least as tall as the volcano. This will prevent a huge mess and allow you to draw a picture on the back of the inner workings of a real volcano. You will also want to cut a hole on the bottom of the box so you can remove the plastic bottle for cleaning later.
Next, take a plastic bottle and wrap it in a plastic bag (so it doesn’t stick to the plaster of paris).Lastly, cut out a bunch of cardboard strips to place around the bottle like Milo is doing.
Place the strips in a fashion that looks similar to a volcaco and tape them all together.
Next, stuff your cardboard volcano with wads of newspaper.
Begin to mix your plaster of paris according to the directions on the box. We mixed it 2:1 (plaster:water)
Measure the water…
Add the water to the plaster in a big tub.
Mix away…
After the water has been added to the plaster, be sure to work quickly as the plaster will set up quick! Begin to dip strips of newspaper in the plaster mix and then carefully place pieces on the cardboard volcano. Try to keep them as smooth as possible while overlapping them different ways.
Keep mixing up plaster of paris in small batches until you have enough to cover your entire box and volcano.
Let the plaster sit until it is completely dry…about a day or two.
Then get out the acrylic paints and have fun! Paint scenery if you like…we used red, yellow, blue, green, brown, and grey.
Voila! This volcano is ready for action! We will take out the bottle from the plastic bag, put the bottle back in the volcano and add the ingredients for a great explosion!
For the explosion, we suggest you do it outside the first time!
Here are the ingredients for those of you that just can’t wait for the next volcano eruption post…
1.Take the bottle out of the volcano and fill it just about full with water.
2. Put 4 or 5 drops of Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Soap or any dish soap right into the water.
3. Add 2 Tablespoons of Baking Soda to the water.
4. Put the Volcano over the bottle so it is in place and ready to go.
5. Pour some vinegar right into the volcano bottle and watch it Erupt!!
Volcano Building Basics
Science is so much fun! If it were up to Milo and Kiah, they would do science all day, every day!
Here are the directions to build a simple, yet effective volcano…
First, you will need a tub to put everything in and a pint-sized mason jar (or any jar for that matter) to hold the “volcanic” ingredients.
Next, follow Milo’s instructions: Please note that we only had apple cider vinegar on hand…it is recommended to use white or distilled vinegar. Also, any dish soap will work, in this instance, we used Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds.
Once the “volcano” has been built and packed around the jar, Milo also says you can ”add some prettiness if you want, like stones and little trees”.
Finally, gather around with friends, follow the steps above, and Wah Lah!
We found that the “explosion” happens rather quickly, so if you add a bit more vinegar at the end, you will get a second explosion!!
It is All the Same Disease of Consumption
Eagle Rock could just as easily be the place, it is all the same disease of consumption.
A Christian could find the answer in Chronicles 7:14
Same problem: and the same solution, but the solution seems so far out of our reach.
Subject: A letter from Chief Arvol Looking horse – A great Urgency
To All World Religious and Spiritual Leaders
My Relatives,
Time has come to speak to the hearts of our Nations and their Leaders. I ask you this from the bottom of my heart, to come together from the Spirit of your Nations in prayer.
We, from the heart of Turtle Island, have a great message for the World; we are guided to speak from all the White Animals showing their sacred color, which have been signs for us to pray for the sacred life of all things.
As I am sending this message to you, many Animal Nations are being threatened, those that swim, those that crawl, those that fly, and the plant Nations, eventually all will be affect from the oil disaster in the Gulf.
The dangers we are faced with at this time are not of spirit. The catastrophe that has happened with the oil spill which looks like the bleeding of Grandmother Earth, is made by human mistakes, mistakes that we cannot afford to continue to make.
I asked, as Spiritual Leaders, that we join together, united in prayer with the whole of our Global Communities. My concern is these serious issues will continue to worsen, as a domino effect that our Ancestors have warned us of in their Prophecies.
I know in my heart there are millions of people that feel our united prayers for the sake of our Grandmother Earth are long overdue. I believe we as Spiritual people must gather ourselves and focus our thoughts and
prayers to allow the healing of the many wounds that have been inflicted on the Earth.
As we honor the Cycle of Life, let us call for Prayer circles globally to assist in healing Grandmother Earth (our Unc’I Maka). We ask for prayers that the oil spill, this bleeding, will stop. That the winds stay calm to assist in the work. Pray for the people to be guided in repairing this mistake, and that we may also seek to live in harmony, as we make the choice to change the destructive path we are on.
As we pray, we will fully understand that we are all connected. And that what we create can have lasting effects on all life. So let us unite spiritually, All Nations, All Faiths, One Prayer. Along with this immediate effort, I also ask to please remember June 21st, World Peace and Prayer Day/Honoring Sacred Sites day. Whether it is a natural site, a temple, a church, a synagogue or just your own sacred space, let us make
a prayer for all life, for good decision making by our Nations, for our children’s future and well-being, and the generations to come.
Onipikte (that we shall live),
Chief Arvol Looking Horse
19th generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe
Northwood Alliance, Inc
6063 Baker Lake Road
Conover, WI 54519
phone: 715-479-8528
fax: 715-479-8528
http://www.northwoodalliance.org/
nwa@nnex.net
More articles re: Eagle Rock
http://keweenawnow.blogspot.com/2010/05/hot-day-at-eagle-rock-before-arrests-of.html
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indiancountrytoday.com%2Fhome%2Fcontent%2F95060709.html&h=b36e0
American flag is hung upside-down on top of Eagle Rock as a sign of distress. Photo by Keweenaw Now.
Deep Fried Peeps
So, what do you do with those nasty left over peeps no one wants to eat after Easter anyway?
Well, if you happen to know a potter (which we do.), and if he happens to be firing his wood-fired kiln (which he was)…we highly suggest bringing the peeps!
Thanks to Ryan Dalman and his family with Dalman Pottery…They taste much better kiln fried!
Below are some of Ryan’s lovely pots. For further inquiries, he may be reached at dalmanpottery@gmail.com
Sugar Loop 2010 – From Sap to Syrup
From Sap to Syrup…
Mojo and Rad boilin’ down sap. This is an all day process of feeding the fire and adding sap. It takes a little over 40 gallons of sap to equal one gallon of syrup.
We bought a new stainless steel pan this year…it’s so lovely!
Thanks to Paul at
stainlesssteelcreations
for such a nicely made pan.
Thanks to Paul at
stainlesssteelcreations
for such a nicely made pan.
Sap at a rapid boil.
Kiah and Ona call it a day and make the trek home.
We transport the remaining sap to our outdoor kitchen. Here we boil it down on the stove. We take it to 119 degrees, then strain it from the faucet into jars.
The jar on the left is from the “first run” batch. The jar on the right is from the 2nd run.
This painting from our dear friend, Jen, sums it all up…Maple sap is such a blessing! Making your own maple syrup sure makes you feel “connected” because you know right where it’s coming from!Sugar Loop 2010 – From Maple Tree to Sap
From the Maple Tree to Sap…
Maple Trees are a blessing!
We tapped 70 trees this year beginning March 3rd and untapping April 5th.
Following are photos from our Sugar Loop Day 1 thru Day 4…Tappin’ Trees:
Make a hole in the tree at an upwards angle (about 10 degrees) with no more than a 2″ depth.
Hole waiting for a tap…the sap is already drip, drip, dripping.
Kiah digs in her bucket for a tap.
Milo hammers the tap into the hole.
Diggin’ out the arches.
Collecting firewood for the upcoming fire.
Don’t forget to taste the sweet sap right from the source!
Look for our next post “From Sap to Syrup” in the next few days.
Look for our next post “From Sap to Syrup” in the next few days.
Let’s Go Sledding!
Here is our sled trail…it’s about 800 feet long and oh so fun!
Let the Flow Begin!
Maple Sap flow, that is…
Our family tapped 50 maple trees this year and are now awaiting the warm days and coldie nights of March.
We will check our buckets daily and dump the delicious sap into storage containers. When we get enough sap stored, we will pour it into the sap boiler…to be boiled down into yummy, yummy maple syrup. We are hoping to make enough syrup to last us the year and to give away as gifts. Kiah (age 
and Milo (age 5) are taking notes on which trees run the best! 
If you have a maple tree in your yard, or near you that you can tap, I highly recommend it ! Even if you do not plan on making syrup, the sap alone is wonderful to make tea or coffee or to just drink. If you do tap, be sure to do your research and also offer up a blessing or thank you to the tree in return for it’s delicious sap.
Our sugar bush loop is great for skiing or just walking…one could get “lost” in there for hours!
My neighbor Jen and I like to do what we call “Tai Skiing” – this is were one of us leads the other, no talking…just listening to the sounds of nature and trying our best to quiet our minds. We may ski fast or slow, do a little ballet skiing, or whatever tickles our fancy! Then, when we come to a place that calls the leader to stop, the leader takes a few moments to lead a particular stretch, or deep breathing, or a series of movements, or just stops and listens. After our little session, the other person leads the next section of the trail.