A rhubarb day
Our little grandsons are ready to go when we arrive to pick them up for a day at the Rhubarb Festival in Lanesboro. The four year old remembers the petting zoo from last year, while the two year old is just excited to see his grandparents, and always up for anything at all.
The cooler is packed with the makings for my entry in the rhubarb tasting contest, and the stroller and diaper bag are in the car, so we set off. Our plan is to switch off between one of us serving at the tasting table and the other roaming around with the boys.
As we pull into Lanesboro, the town is hopping on this gorgeous June morning. Cars and people with smiling faces are everywhere. We pull into the parking lot near Sylvan Park to drop off the heavy cooler before searching for a parking place somewhere many blocks away, when a truck pulls out from the perfect parking spot. It is funny how such accidents give us a feeling that it is going to be a great day.
As we begin setting up to serve the Rhubarb Shrub beverage I concocted, a familiar face turns up to say she is volunteering and would be happy to take over for a while. She was a former staffer at Lanesboro Local who is in town for a few days. She will pour the shrub into hundreds of tiny cups and explain to folks coming through the tasting line about the old-fashioned drink. Little did we know how helpful her offer would turn out to be.
Our first stop with the boys was the petting zoo. The amazing porcupine brings a shout of recognition from the older boy, as he recognizes it from his favorite television show. He is happy to pet the goats and sheep, and even agrees to feel the back of the alligator, after noting a stout rubber band around the animal’s jaws. We buy a little of the feed for sale, and nothing could be more fun than watching a boy get up his courage to let a lama twice his size lick his open palm. The little one is thrilled to pinch some seeds and toss them toward the excited goats.
Next we sit down at the rhubarb art tables, and proceed to paint a rhubarb leaf with bright colors, then flip it over to make a print. Fun!
We wander for a while amongst the craft booths, then spot the food truck. With grilled cheese sandwiches on the menu, it is clearly time for kids’ lunch, even though it is only 10:30.
We then catch sight of the playground, and swinging and zip-lining ensues. It is almost impossible to keep one’s eye on rambunctious boys climbing and sliding in every direction, and at one point we are both circling the playground, anxiously calling out for our momentarily lost grandson. Those two minutes are definitely not fun for us.
We check in at the tasting, and my husband takes over from our volunteer, while I bravely set out with both boys. They must sense they outnumber me, because even though one is in the stroller, the other begins to trot away, following his nose to see all the exciting things. Food is the answer so we quickly purchase some rhubarb strudel and ice cream, and settle down by the pond.
After our long day, we pack up and head for home, with sleeping boys in the back of the car.
Rhubarb Shrub
A shrub is an old-fashioned drinking vinegar made with fruit, sugar and vinegar. Zingy and refreshing, a shrub is just the thing on a summer day. Here is my version.
Make rhubarb syrup, sweetened with maple syrup. I use a steamer-juicer pot to collect the pure rosy-colored rhubarb juice from a couple gallons of chopped rhubarb. Add 1 cup maple syrup to each 3 cups rhubarb juice. Add 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar.
[Alternatively, cook a heap of chopped rhubarb in a pot with a little water until totally softened. Strain. Add a cup of sugar plus 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar to each 3 cups of resulting juice.]
Serve over ice with a good splash of sparkling water or club soda.
You could add a shot of tequila for special occasions.