Our grape harvest

Our Concord grapes were beautiful, delicious and plentiful this year. But because they have seeds, I wasn't quite sure what to do with them all.

Researching my options, I ruled out buying canning supplies and making grape jam. It just seemed to require too much of an investment of money and time for the few jars that would be produced.

I decided to freeze some. But after cutting several bunchs of the small grapes in half and removing their seeds, I decided this required too much work and time. I did get one full container in the freezer.

Ultimately, the solutions presented themselves:

I took several bunches in for "junk food" day at work. Although they didn't fit the category of junk food, my co-workers with dietary restrictions were happy someone brought something they could eat.

My son entered a bunch in his school's harvest festival, winning a red ribbon.

My husband took several bunches to a colleague who made grape jam with them. We ended up with one jar; the colleague got two.

And the birds polished off the rest.

Perfect Duluth day

We rode our bikes to Uncle Tim and Aunt Sally's house on Park Point this afternoon for a beach and barbecue outing.

The wind coming off of Lake Superior was strong, so we put lifejackets on Sam and his younger twin cousins and let them have fun jumping the huge waves. Sam struck out paddling and kicking over them, a testimony to his recent swim lessons.

Racing Mom on the bike ride along the Lakewalk back home, Sam and Daddy almost won.

At the cabin

Due to Tom's teaching schedule, Sam's t-ball games and swimming lessons, and my upcoming conference, we aren't able to get away for summer vacation.

So, we spent three days on Sweet Lake instead. Easy meals out on the deck...swim races to the diving platform...a gentle swim and float on the sand-bottomed Lake Owen...a canoe trip across Sweet Lake...an evening ride on Uncle Thom's pontoon boat to chase turtles and tour the sunken "ghost" ship...the adventures of a 6-year-old sleeping in a bunk bed for the first time...a quiet soak in the clawfoot bathtub...

It feels like we've been gone a month.

At the helm

We've been playing tourist since Grandma Edna's arrival.

So far, our outings have taken a maritime theme: a tour of the Duluth-Superior Harbor aboard the Vista Queen, a walk on the Lakewalk down to the Aerial Lift Bridge, and this visit to the Lake Superior Marine Museum.

The best part, so far, was looking straight up while we sailed under the Aerial Lift Bridge and out into Lake Superior.

Tours of the S.S. William A. Irvin iron ore carrier, Split Rock Lighthouse and Great Lakes Aquarium remain on our list.

Half a century

In today's mail

A postcard arrived in the mail today from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture issuing notice that an aerial application of a biological insecticide to slow the spread of the gypsy moth will occur in my area the week of June 13.

Seems a tad late, considering yesterday's posting.

Invasion battle begins

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture began its attack against gypsy moth caterpillars in our neighborhood around 5:30 this morning.

I was awakened by the loud drone of this plane that delivered the weapon of choice: Btk, Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki. The soil fungus activates spores in the stomachs of caterpillars that eat vegetation upon which it has been sprayed, causing the caterpillars to die in seven to 10 days.

The official government fact sheet on Btk reports it is relatively harmless to humans and pets, though they recommend staying indoors up to 30 minutes after the spraying, waiting for the dew to dry before going outside, washing your hands after being outside, and washing any skin that comes in contact with wet spray.

Another aerial attack is likely to come later this summer. It would drop synthetic pheromone chips that confuse male moths, making it difficult for them to find female moths and mate.