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It's supposed to be in the high 30's today, but it doesn't feel like it yet. It's a nice break from the cold, but it isn't a January thaw around here.
You guys further south are going to have some nice weather, but we're locked in winter until some time in March here.
Spent some time today getting my sugar shack ready(10x10 leanto). It's kind of hard shoe horning a 30" x 8' evaporator in it,but I'm gonna have to make do. Built a little roof on the end to run the stack up through, hung a tarp around the one side, have an old door set up on barrels for a counter, it ain't pretty but it'll work. I got permission to tap about 40 big roadside sugars,
this year and about 20 on another property, gonna try for about 70 taps in red maples on my land.
Hey Paddy, How close are you to Penns Creek? I try to make it to Poe Paddy every couple of years to depress myself with my fly fishing skills. Sure is some beautiful country. My dad took me there close to 40 years ago. One of my favorites for sure!!
DanW I'm about two miles north of Penns Creek in western Union Co. Actually I live right on the east end of Paddy Mountain, hence the name.
I know what your talking about with the fishing,not a better stream in Central Pa. I grew up along Penns Creek,spent many a day swimming, fishing and ice skating there.
I am hopeing you never swam and ice fished on the same day. If so your a better man then me.
It tried to rain here all day today and stayed above freezing. Was damp but at least warm. Hopefully get some stuff soldered up tomorrow.
Man I am liking this weather. Snow pack is disapearing. Something I need. Gonna get the sugarbush paths plowed out this weekend before the cold sets back in and make the snow a big block of hard pack. I never took the test buckets down from the fall tapping joke and went for a stroll this morning and dang if the sap was not running. Really makes a maple producer think should I or shouldn't I. Hmmmm I gotta ask what would Patheron do????????
Well it is rather mild out today. Just had a bagel and read the Saturday paper. Gotta go pile more slabs in the sugarhse...should have been done in the fall, oh well. A 12 pack, 2 family members and a couple hours is all I need.;)
Theron probbably has a half million taps in already and 300cfms of vacuum going. That or he fell asleep and the rest of use have a chance to beat him to the sap. I doubt it's warm enough to even think about sap untill the end of Feb here. The forecast says it should stay reasonably warm untill Feb or more now so am hopeing we don't get the big cold again. That and if the roof melts off I like to do the chiminey mid winter just for safteys sake. Better safe then sorry.
Went for a walk and checked those buckets again a little while ago and dang if the sap ain't dripping like crazy. One bucket was half full. Was very suprised cause there still is alot of snow on the ground but I am guessing since the ground is not frozen the sap is running. What does a man do? The weather looks like there is a potential for 6 days of nice weather by the end of the month.
Five weeks from when I tapped last year. By the weather today you would think they should be in. Few things to do yet mostly just clean and tap. Nothing that couldn't be done in a morning and then tap that afternoon. So I feel good to go. Tryed out the horses and sled this morning just in case the tractor is out of order for sap pick up. Was a nice sleigh ride, had about 10 friends and family on it... I'm going to walk the line in the morning give it a good once over. Need to get in shape for season...