Steaming Drill Bits in Andover - 2014

[R A Powers]

Eric,
Sounds like you have had a frustrating season so far. I hope things smooth out a little bit for you. It looks a little better temp wise over the weekend and next week. It's been along time since we have had single number lows in the middle of March. I still haven't tapped and will not until it looks like at least a week of good running weather. I still have plenty from last year and it probably wouldn't hurt if the trees got a year off. Keep the faith and I'll check in this afternoon to see if you are going to be boiling. Dick

[tuckermtn]

Very busy maple weekend Saturday for us. Was nervous as it was quiet till about 11am, then crazy till 2:30-3pm. Exhausted...
cleaned out of cream by 1pm...made another batch this afternoon and starting another one now.
Boiled raw sap so we could hold enough for tomorrow. made 13 gallons or so today, which brings us just over 100 gallons YTD.
Ben and my brother are out gathering buckets now. will gather tank runs later this evening, closer to freeze up.
Snow squall around 1pm made it look pretty festive...

best of luck to all - hoping for a good Maple Weekend Sunday for everyone...

[tuckermtn]

Very good MW sunday for us. Lots of friends and neighbors checking in today, which I enjoy since the social aspect of sugaring is one of the things that drew me to it. Great chance to catch up after folks have been hunkered down most of the winter.

Sales were about half of yesterday, but total for the weekend is about the same as last year, which was a record for us. Boiling raw sap we still managed to make 30 gallons of syrup over the two days...all medium so far. We sold out of the last of last years B and all of this years borderline Dark A - actually had the TMM crew talking about how we could go about making some more Dark...cook more in the finisher, then dilute back with water I guess...never had that problem before...

Very light sap runs both days...up to 120ish gallons so far...

[tuckermtn]

lots happening Tucker Mountain maple today. My whole family was up helping out, including a bunch of nieces and nephews. Started with about 1300 gallons of sap, and trucked in a whole bunch more. Made 40 plus gallons, and still have a full tanks of for tomorrow. sap has been quite sweet for so far, with loads testing 2.5 or 3.0. Making medium amber.

[tuckermtn]

50 gallons yesterday. Dark amber. RO slowing down, did soap wash last night.

vac pump problems yesterday - hobby releasers hung up, belts burning up, etc...

Good sales yesterday despite the crappy road and poor weather. We have well stocked shelves, but only 45 gallons of bulk stored up...need to make a lot more syrup...

[Amber Gold]

In the same boat. Have syrup on the shelf, but little in storage. Need to change that.

[Russell Lampron]

Me 3!!! The shelves are stocked and only 14 gallons in bulk.

[tuckermtn]

Get you're life jacket on. Sap tsunami warning in central New Hampshire

[tuckermtn]

over 3000 gallons of sap Tuesday (mostly from bought sap) approx 75 gallons of Dark A in 7 hrs. might need a bigger filter press...

gaining on the bulk inventory. lots of help from friends and neighbors hauling sap...

best one day total for us...

[Amber Gold]

3000 gal of sap...nice! How's the new rig working out for you?

And stop that talk about a sap tsunami. I've made those predictions twice now and failed both times. I think Mother Natures senses the optimism and wants to put it down. I will say, the long range forecast is looking about perfect...