January Journal

Hi all,
Here we sit chomping at the bit!!!
Knowing what's just around the corner.
Can only wait,it's not going to get here any quicker.
It could be 4 weeks or it could be 6 weeks.

Dave

I have a sugar house!! Or at least a right pretty frame of one. We went from a stone base to framed in 9 hours. Not bad especially if you factor in the 3 extra lumber runs.

It was hard not to tap a few today, it was perfect. While fixing up the wood pile I saw a nice buck that was no more than 100 yards from my back door. I also saw a very confused woods frog in the bush, he was moving really slow.

Dan and paddy how close are you guys to tapping? I'm thinking I will tap around presidents day weather permitting. I'm pretty much ready just need to clean buckets and taps and were off to the races!

Today was a very good day. I got all the rafters up and put up pine boards over the whole roof. Tommorow I will paper it. This way it is water tight and I can put the metal on when I finish the building. Hopefully I will get most of it finished over the long weekend. I also got a 3X5' flat pan from the local sawmill for $5 he hasent used it in a while but it will work for me. I will concentrate the sap on it outside then bring it into the sugar shack and boil it down with the half pint. I can't wait till tapping time.

I was in the bush today cutting Beech trees for the 2011 heating and evaporating season. The wood is frozen solid. No chance of a run up here unless this spell goes on longer than the current forecast

It's only been a degree or two above freezing the past few days and that's all that is forecast for the near future so we're holding tight. It always gets warm for a spell in January so the batteries are sitting on the shelf for another 6-7 weeks!

Even with a week of good weather in March last year I still got diddly so with the sun this low in the sky it would never thaw out the trees. I am betting that it will be somewhat like last year. One week of good sap and 5 weeks of wishing. Actually last year I spent a lot of time wishing for a freeze at nights once in a while. Spent years wanting winter to end and now wishing for it to stay. Go figure.

Started building my evaporator today. Yes, I know I am late but that is the way I always do things. I won't tap until Presidents day weekend anyway so I think I will be ready by then. Will work all day Sunday on it so I should put a dent in it. Building a arch for a 2x3 pan but making it longer so upgrading in the future won't be a problem. Found out today there is going to be a lot of cutting of angle iron involved. Will post pics this week.
Paul

Cleaned the head and collection tanks yesterday. Also, hauled wood next to the sugar house. Will clean buckets and taps this week. It's been above freezing for about 3 days. Hopefully tapping in the next couple weeks.

Funny thing just happened. There is hope for one of my five children yet! Out of the blue my Nine year old daughter justed asked me "Dad don't you think it is warm enough to start and tap?" She is about the only one that brings up maple around here kinda cool. Well her mother brings it up now and then but it's not so cool when she does it.