Things I Learned in July

1. I learned how to use our new bike rack to transport bikes on the back of the van.  We’ve had some great mini-adventures with our bikes!
2. I FINALLY learned and am remembering how to tell the difference betweeen white pine trees and red pine trees.  I just didn’t grow up in the midst of pine trees, and because in so many ways these gigantic trees look alike, I could never get a grip on how to tell them apart before we went to Big Bay State Park and I read a sign that explained characteristics of each. The kidlets and I practiced identifying many trees on our hike, and I think I’ve finally got it down!  Red pine trees have a more pinkish bark, but that’s not always prominent, so if in doubt you can look at the clusters of needles.  Red pine tree needles come in clusters of 2 most of the time, and white pine needles come in clusters of 5.  White pine trees have such special significance to northern Minnesota.  They are cherished because so much of the white pine forests were logged a bit more than 100 years ago.  It’s good to finally know which trees are white pine.
3. I learned what a privateer ship is:  privately owned and financed ships that joined one side or another during a war during the days of tall ships to beef up naval presence.  They were legally allowed to attack other ships and loot them, versus pirate ships which did the same thing but were not legal.  Privateers were especially important for countries with small navies and in conflicts that were heavily based on trade.
4. I learned about the motivation for the War of 1812:  impressment of shipping vessels by the British to fight in the Neaopolonic Wars in Europe, a desire to expand territories, conflicts with Native Americans allied with Great Britain who wanted to stop U.S. expansion of territory, thoughts of annexing Canada, and U.S.  trading interests in supplying both Britain and France during Napoleanic conflict.  Somehow I really didn’t remember anything about the War of 1812 from history class, and I didn’t realize that part of it was fought on the Great Lakes as well as in New Orleans and all along the coast.
5. I learned that you can order pizza from my favorite pizza place online!  It’s a standing joke in our house how I never order pizza.  Ever.  It’s because I hate using the telephone.  I can barely order food in person in a restaurant, and the whole aspect of doing it over the phone is WAY too much for me.  But now I can order pizza without even picking up the phone, and have it delivered directly to my house!  I am so happy.
6. I learned that this pink flower is spirea:

I have a lot of it in my yard and have been enjoying it for years without knowing what it was.