Travel Log

Folks, if there's one thing that gets ol' Jacob's underdrawers in a twist it's litter. Back in my day, there was no such thing as trash…namely because we had less stuff to throw away! Think about it…the rise of packaged goods in the 20th century means that some parts of the good ol' U.S. of A look like a garbage heap.
April is Keep America Beautiful month. The Jacob Bromwell company is dedicated to keeping our beautiful country as litter-free as possible, year-round. The Keep America Beautiful site has some tips to help us all from being litterbugs. Some of those tips include:
*Choose not to litter.  Make the commitment now to join with thousands of other Americans to not be a litter-bug.
*Use a car litterbag.  When it is full, empty it into a trash and/or recycling receptacle.
*Set an example for others, especially family, co-workers, friends, and children by using trash and/or recycling receptacles and not littering.
*If you see litter, pick it up.
*Pick up after your dog as you walk through your neighborhood.  Use newspaper delivery bags, "scoopers", or other easy-to-use methods to clean up after your pet.
*Make sure your trash cans have lids that can be securely fastened or use bungee cords to hold them in place.
Don't be a litterbug. Keep America looking beautiful! Visit the site for more tips.

 

March 8, 1820

 

The calendar is saying that spring is only two weeks away, but someone needs to tell Ol' Man Winter that. For today we awoke to at least a foot of the frosty white stuff...and just when my cousin and I were talking about picking up seeds at the local general store for spring planting. So, when life gives you snow, you make maple snow taffy! You see, March is Maple Month and when that sap starts to flow I get a hunkering for that sweet stuff we call maple syrup.

 

So today I took my cousin's children, Abraham and Cora, out behind the homestead and we made delightful maple syrup taffy on the fresh, clean snow. All you need is some maple syrup, a pot suitable for heating it at a high temperature, a candy thermometer, freshly fallen, clean snow and a pie pan to pack it in. Just be sure to take care and do this carefully, as the syrup gets hot--mighty hot! Check out the directions here courtesy of The Kitchn on how to make this fine treat.

 

January 30, 1819

 

If this diary has seemed a little quiet lately, it's not for want of trying. One morning we all awoke to the chills, fever like a hot poker, achy bones from head to toe…oh, no! The demonic flu struck my cousin's household and spread through us like a flame set to dead crops on a dry summer's day. In between fits of coughing, there wasn't much we could do except keep the fireplace alit and drink hot toddies. This soothing elixir was a godsend and even my cousin's wife Virginia made the little ones sip them straight through to the bottom.

 

Even if you're in tip-top shape, imbibing this lemony drink will help those bitter cold winter days go by a little faster. See the recipe for yourself at Refinery29. By the way, this warm-me-up--or others such as hot chocolate or coffee--makes for perfect sipping from my Classic Tin Cup.