Bill's SugarShack

[Bill'sSugarShack]

With temps the way they are today n Fri figured i'd better start thinking about sugaring season.
After looking at long range forcast, decided to hold off on tapping. Just work on getting equipment ready.
Got door of sugar shack shovled out..pan set in place..(need to level)..went to find tubbing n buckets i use...n found that after putting them to soak in a bleach/water solution in the holding barrel after last season, i forgot to go back and dump it out....so now it's all one big block of ice...oh well...lol

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Taped 13 of my 15 taps after work today...will do other 2 Thur..

COME ON BIG SAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[3% Solution]

Yeah ok Bill so your ahead of me again this year.
However, Friday is the day for us to tap.
:lol:

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Almost have enough to haul home n boil..but will proby hold it n boil Sat...not to worried about sap spoiling..half of it is frozen in barrel any way..

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Fri brought home my 20 gal of sap..
Boiled this morning for n hour n ran out of sap. Kinda hate 1st boil in a way...takes half the sap just to fill pan and preheater...just get a good boil going, and sap is at the stop firing point.
Oh well, 1st boil for 2011 under the belt....COME ON BIG SAP!!!!!!!!

[Mac_Muz]

Me too! I gathered in apx 18 gallons of sap and the trees quit running, before that last rain, and the trees are making sap to speak of since.

The storage barrels are iced well inside and are in snow banks so will keep, but I just hope the sun will come out and we can get a real sap run.

I got 37 buckets out and don't understand.

I got a new virgin lot with 26 buckets there in what would be the sun if there was any... I am getting to be un-happy.

Seems like everyone else is getting plenty of sap.

maybe i should quit tappin phone poles eh? :evil:

[3% Solution]

Hey Bill,
At least your getting sap!
The rest of the week looks good!!
Have fun with it!!

Dave

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Went over to gather is evening n was kinda surprised to see more than i had expected..another gal per tap..will boil in AM (vaca day Mon).

[3% Solution]

Hey Bill,
You better gather in Newport, was running good on the hill this afternoon.

Dave

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Dave.
Kinda hate this time change..means i'm gathering n hour earlier.
I got them at 2 but must have just started running cause wasn't that much. Will double check then in am on way into work to be sure there not running over..

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Checked buckets on way into work this morning...good thing 2 of them were almost running over.
By the looks it ran all night with no freeze.
Hauld home most sap yet..
Boiled till most of it in the pans..
Finished off 1 1/2 quarts...it's a start.
Was the lightest in color i've made in a long time...flavor was as i've been hearing...BUTTERY! almost taste like butterscotch!!

[adk1]

hey, that is awesome. ist syrup. what are you gonna do with it

[Bill'sSugarShack]

hey, that is awesome. ist syrup. what are you gonna do with it

Had a little on ice cream for bed time snack...lol :-)

[3% Solution]

Going to make you fat Bill!!!!
LOL

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Going to make you fat Bill!!!!
LOL

Everyone says i need to gain weight anyways....lol

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Boiled down what sap i had...finished off 4 quarts.
No freeze last night...hopfully it will tonight!!!!!!!!!

[3% Solution]

Bill did you get any run on Park street yesterday or today??
It's going to button up pretty good tonight!
Glad your making syrup.

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Bill did you get any run on Park street yesterday or today??
It's going to button up pretty good tonight!
Glad your making syrup.

Ran a little Fri..
Didn't go look on Sat..where it didn't freeze I don't think there would be much..
Looks like it froze Sat night...will probly go over late Sunday to check it..

If you happin to see em near full, call me...lol 542-3215

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Brought sap home n boiled this afternoon...another 3 quarts...so at 2 Gal for 2011.
At 2/3rds of 2010's total...so looks like i should beat last yrs ........

[3% Solution]

Keep going Bill.
I am at 56% of last years.
I am thinking it may start again this weekend.

[Bill'sSugarShack]

With as cold as it has been i've been pleasently surprised how good sap has been running..
Hauled home 25 gal in 3 days..
Boiled long enough to get it into pans...will finish off what i can in AM....

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Another 1/2 gal finished...

[3% Solution]

Hey Bill,
You right beside Hanover St.??

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Nope..I'm over near the out door pool..

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Hauled home the biggest load of sap yet this season..boiled and finished off enough to tie last yrs total...with another REAL SWEET batch almost there..n still coming........

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Be busy boiling Sat...have 50 gal to boil down.
Should begin boiling by 8am if anyone wants to stop by...

[3% Solution]

I would, but I am going to be up against it too!!!
Darn what a year!!!
bet your having fun!!!

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Just finished a 6 1/2 hour boil...another 6 quarts plus finished...so at 4 1/2 gal so far for 2011..

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Just finished off another 3 quarts...at 21 quarts. New record for the trees i'm curently tapping...

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Way weather and buds look, I pulled my taps this afternoon.
Working on boiling down as far as i can now. Will finish it off on turkey frier Fri.
Did finish off 2 more quarts today.
Guessing i'll end up around 6 1/2 gal for season...let ya know for sure later.

[3% Solution]

Did ya get much sap on Park Street today??
How was it running?

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Only about 5 gal from the 12 taps..

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Well finished boiling everthing down (hate the last never ending boil on turkey frier).
Here's totals for 2011 season...
14 taps
33 days taped
211 gal of sap
6 1/2 gal&1/2 pint of syrup
32.47:1 sap/syrup
Boiled for 35 hrs..(that dosn't take into count cool down time..only actual fire time).

RECORD YEAR here!!!!!!!!!! :-)

[Hop Kiln Road]

Excellent! I've got you at .4732 gal syup per tap, no suck, no squeeze. It is these small feet on the earth operations that give all the rest of numbers true perspective.

[Backyard Sapper66]

Sounds like you had a very productive year, good to hear it. Your sugar content was pretty high which is great. Now you can start your plans for next years changes (that is if there are going to be any). It was great following your progress. Have a great "off season".
Doug
:)