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Well I made a big enough woodshed 2 bundles of slabs made 2 1/3 rows.
Looks like serious snow for wens, I really have no idea how I'm going to pull off the planned expansion for feb. The bush I want to tap is in a serious hole, and the snow lasts forever, so the good news is it will really run late. I'm thinking buds and snowbanks at the same time.
Yes sir!!! little snow tues. big snow wed. 1-2 ft again!!! Geez man we aren't gonna see grass until june!!!
Got the wire harness for the tractor and rewired that this morning actually went very well. its so nice when that happens.
rePlumbed the Vacuum to the releaser. done.
rePlumbed the head tank to the evap with 1-1/4 pipe.
Started to cleanup and organize the sugarhouse.
All is left is to re plumb the pump from the storage tanks to the head tank and that should be it for the sugarhouse.
The usual pre season stuff cleaning everything flooding the evap with water to get all the dust out and stuff and and stocking with wood. cleaning tanks etc.
In the woods just have to finish about 10 drops, put in 2 more saddles, a 3/4 inch valve at the star sap ladder and put the tubing in that star ladder shouldn't be too bad I have just been putting it off a little because its not easy getting around in the woods. Probably take care of tomorrow before we get that next blast of snow!!!
Finished up one neibors woods today. Now all I need it a tank for there. I cleaned up some stuff in the sugar shack today too. Also I started putting my evaporator back together. I'll finish that up this week and then next week I'll borrow my buddies snow shoes and put up tubing in my other niebors woods and at the farm down the street. I need to get going so I'm ready for the season.
Had our annual work weekend, Went to the sugar shack/hunting cabin on Friday and got the cabin heated up, plowed snow where we pile our wood, then put 425 bags on holders in the late evening. Saturday and sunday my 2 brothers joined in and we cut pallets and put the rest of the bags on the holders (575). Ended with a mountain of cut wood/pallets. (hope we run out, that would mean happy times). 3rd weekend in Feb. will be our next work weekend with washing equipment and putting evaporater together. Got our new middle pan this past week, our old stainless pan ( 5' x 5' ) only had small ripple like flues, maybe 7 feet of surface area. Our new pan has 7 inch cone shaped flues and 24' of surface area. Should up the gph big time. Good amount of snow in the woods, no frost.
Dill, with the good crew we can git 'r dun in a few weekends. With it being in a hole you can get away with tapping it later?? so that gives us some more time. I guess as we get it done, tap in each mainline and we may just be working in the woods during the season addig more taps.
I spent Saturday at Bellows Falls and got a lot out of it. Great topics and looking forward to going again next year. Sunday was a bust for getting sugaring stuff done, but I pick up my hood w/ preheater from Bill Mason. Looks great and can't wait to get everything mounted.
802Maple stopped by on his way back north after operation mushroom cloud completed out at Therons. He gave the 'ALL CLEAR' that the RO is plumbed correctly and ready to concentrate some sap. Just about ready for sap. Have to set releaser and clean bulk tanks one last time. Couple more tweaks here and there and bring on the sap. I am not looking forward to tapping buckets with all the snow on the ground this year, luckily most are roadsides access is pretty good.
Last one for January!!
OK my legs are shot. Started by running 1.5 miles at the gym this morning. Snow shoed for an hour with the wife mid morning took her back off the trail and of course I had to lead and break in a new trail..never easy. Rested a bit had some lunch and saw a coopers hawk take out titmouse at the bird feeder that was exciting!! there is nothing left just an 18 inch cicle of feathers.
Headed back out on shoe shoes to get the rest of my little stuff done on the tubing!!!
Then accross the street to put up the tubing in my neighbor's woods. goona add in a few more taps over there maybe next week. Maybe another 10-15 on gravity or so see how much tubing I have left.
Alomost ready!!!!
Actually is working to support my foolish habits like sugaring. LOLQuote:
Originally Posted by Randy Brutkoski
I had a great time down in PA seeing Jim's new evaporator, meeting Maplewalnut finally, (that is a great operation you have there) keep up the good work, and then great conversations with Sarah after the meals she served to us. Theron is one lucky guy to have a wife like her, to put up with him, she has Sainthood in her future. and oh yeah there was also Theron and 4 wheeling to the cull bush. I thought maybe we were going to die. After working with him my new saying might just be, "we probably won't die". RC and Dave were fun to work with and of course the glue to the operation, Therons dad, Gary. Thanks everyone it was fun.
worked hard Saturday and got the siding on the shack addition. Just need to throw up the ceiling to keep in some heat on the new side..decided to use the 1.5 inch foil foam underneath the ceiling, hoping the mice wont chew the foil side.... unlike Theron i don't think I'lll be able to sell any to the local utility.
out of the blue flue is hitting this evening... hope it's a mild bout.