february Journal

Getting to be pretty much go time. Going to be warm here today and then its up and down next couple weeks. Typical Feb for us. Hope everyone is getting pretty well ready. Guys up north seem to be usually a month later start than us but soon everyones gonna be getting sap. Be fun to see how everyones hard work this year pays off. Ive been bustin getting ready and Im pretty close. Made a decision last couple days that makes me feel pretty good. All done expanding for a couple three years probly so the setup I have now is the setup Im goiing to have for a while. Im pretty happy about that becouse Ive been full bore for two years and looking foreward to a break. Once this year is over all Im doing is a bunch of wood. Ive got a lot down in the woods and want to get a couple years ahead. Then next year all Ill have to do is a little mending in the woods and drill and make syrup. Ive got some property Ive bought. Its real nice with a good part of my sugarbush on it and also with a real nice pond on it too. I want to take my syrup money and pay down on it as much as I can especially with times being tough. Other nice thing about this year is no house projects to do. So once I make syrup the kids and I are full time fishin and huntin. Hit the wood hard in the fall and syrup time again. Hope everyone starts gettin the sappin weather. Keep me posted on all BIGSAP. Theron

Theron you beat me to it. I was just going to start a February journal and you already have it started. It's pretty hard to keep ahead of you.

Got some tinkering and tweaking stuff to do but if the weather turned favorable it wouldn't take me too long to start making syrup.

Hey Russel,
Only one thing I can stay ahead of Theron on and that's my age. Unfortunately that can be a drwback, not an advantage.
Doug

Guys- Heading out now to hook up the 1.25 to the releaser and system across the road. Wish me luck. Were going to see if anything is tight over there. Theron

Good day all,
Well here it is February 1st already, time sure flies now doesn't it Doug!!
PA he's off and running like a rabbit this morning!!! :-)
Russ and I are looking at the clouds thinking "what the .........??"
Doug he's figuring his advantages and disadvantages.
Me, I'm thinking "Doug's right", but I feel great and that's what matters!!!!
Well anyway, got to go get some supplies Thursday so we can get everything set up and going in the sugarhouse, pans and EEU set ready to go.
Then we're waiting on Mother Nature and she can be grindy at times!!!
Soon we'll all be saying "I wish this sh*# would just slow down for a day!!!!
Stay safe guys!!!

Dave

I haven't got much done last few days. I have been south for the last two days. Went to Cumberland/Frostburg Md. Family matters. I am going to go hit the sugar house today and maybe walk my last mainline. I still need to put up some pipe I took down last year and put my bucket collection system backup in the woods. While i was away I had my truck in the shop. ball joints ,bearings and rotors. heavy duty trucks can be a bear to work on.

3%- it kinda funny what this hobby does to you.we wait all year for this and then in the middle to the end of the season we cant wait for it to be over. well less than a week till i tap so i got to get some jugs and fill the propane tank. everybody a great season.

nate

Feb journal is my favorite, cause I know I'll be tapping this month. It may be late Feb but I almost always tap in Feb
Keith

3%,
I feel great too! I love what I'm doing and when I'm busy, it is relatively easy to overlook the aches and pains. Kinda nice now to be able to blame my age for not getting something done (always have been a procrastinator). I sold my cows in May (Great move) and it has been nice to focus my energies on the woods and sugaring. February is a great month in the woods here. Days are longer and the sun is warmer. Daytime temps usually stay cold enough so I don't get wet and the roads are usually frozen in pretty good. My Grandpa loved it too, always said it was the bast sledding of the year.
Doug

Right there with you Brookledge... it's almost go time! I was out in the woods today and it's starting to get that "sugaring time" feel to it... it has a certain smell to the air when it gets a bit warmer like today... you go out , take a deep breath and say..... MMMMMMM Smell like sap season " !!!!!