Loudon 2007

[Russell Lampron]

I have collected 215 gallons of sap so far. Got all but 40 buckets tapped. Going to do that this am when the grand kids get home.

I hope the sun that is out now stays out for a while and gets the sap flowing. I am planning to gather everything up this afternoon and boil. It will the earliest I have boiled in 3 years.

It's time to get away from the computer. Got alot to do to finish tapping and get ready to boil.

Russ

[3% Solution]

Hi Russell,
Grand children, just what the doctor ordered for sugaring.
Not only that but it gives a nice "old-time" feeling, maybe not "old-time" maybe just a "New England" feeling.
Yup like it when they come over to help!
Oh yeah the two big kids , too!!
Have fun today and happy boiling!!

Dave

[royalmaple]

Russ-

That is only going to take 15 mins to process with that ro you got. Hang on for the gusher today. Or wishfull thinking anyway.

[Russell Lampron]

Boiled for the first time last night. Had 350 gallons to boil in. Got the pans sweetened and made some syrup. Not sure how much yet and I haven't graded it yet either. I was so tired after a long weekend that I left it in the canner for tonight.

The grand children had fun as always hanging buckets. It was too far after their bed time to give them some hot maple syrup but they will get plenty later in the season.

Russ

[Russell Lampron]

The sap didn't run as well as I had hoped yesterday. I ran the vacuum pump all night last night and will be going down the hill to check the sap tank soon. It didn't freeze here last night but I am hoping that we get a good run today.

Getting the loose ends tied up and things are coming together nicely. Only had 2 buckets blow off of the trees last week out of 143. Considering how windy it was a couple of those days that is pretty good. Got to get to work now finishing off the little things that still need to be done.

Russ

[Homestead Maple]

Hi Russ,
Sap didn't run here Sat. and today didn't amount to anything. Trees are still froze for the most part. I didn't get that panel set up yet. Still finishing up tapping. Thanks again for your help Fri. night. Your very helpful and thoughtful.

[Russell Lampron]

Hi Bill,

I ran my vacuum pump from 11 am Saturday until 8:30 last night. Collected 120 gallons of sap at 5 pm yesterday. Also collected 20 gallons from 45 buckets. Off to a slow start once again but I have made 3-1/4 gallons of syrup so far and today should be a good one.

The temporary repair I made on the valve on my RO worked good enough so that I could use it that way for the rest of the season if I have to. If you have any questions about the RO I will be glad to answer them. Glad you came down even though it is a long drive for you.

Russ

[Russell Lampron]

It is Friday night and snowing once again. Where was this stuff in December and January when it would have been easier to deal with. Glad I am on vacation next week. Hope the sap runs better than the 10 day forecast looks like it will. I need to make some syrup for the open house weekend on the 24th and 25th. I only have about 10 gallons on hand now and it is selling fast.

Russ

[Russell Lampron]

Just got back from Royalmaples in Buxton ME. I was headed to his place yesterday morning but the sap was running pretty good here dispite the low temps and strong wind.

I decided it was best to stay here and collect and boil what I could get before it froze. I left my house at 9:20 after boiling in 325 gallons of sap. I got to Matts house at 11:00 and helped him boil until 4:15 am. I got to run his new evaporator and showed him how to fire it so that we could make lots of steam.

His new evaporator is a pleasure to boil with but I missed my RO machine and the pleasure of boiling concentrated sap.

Russ

[royalmaple]

Russ-

Pleasure to boil, come on be honest. You missed that RO way too much. I could hear you talking all the way home. Holy... I'd never go back to that. It's RO or no go. ha ha ha.

Really nice to have the company and help last night, I'm gonna head over your way and I don't know make sure the Ro is working or the syrup is staying canned. I'd say pitch some wood but you'll only gonna use a wheel barrow full for 500 gallons of sap.