December Journal

[Sugarmaker]

Maple tax time is here, Getting the books in order for 2009.
Sales were down a little in 2009 but only because our production was short this year too. Expenses were high as usual with containers and equipment purchases topping the list. Records show that we made a little money, but I am always amazed at how much we spend on this hobby I try to roll some dollars back into to equipment upgrades each year. The candy machine and the large Hobart mixer will aid in producing value added maple products. Mileage was up in 2009, as I hauled home a lot more wood this year.


The crew is in to the late muzzle loader/archery season and we saw one whitetail Sat. afternoon while hunting in Crawford County. We usually have 3 to 8 guys in our group and have a good time doing some small drives and pushing deer to each other. Also with lots of standing in the road drinking coffee and trying to decide what patch of woods to drive next.

Regards,
Chris

[jrthe3]

chris i will call on wielder monday he was out of town visiting with family

[Farmboy]

Today I went with my grandpa to get shiplap siding for my sugar shack. We are ready to finish he shack. I plan on getting the roof on this week I hope. We unloaded it and that was as far as we got today because it was snowing.

[Dave Y]

Farmboy.
you dont work in the snow? It sure beats rain!

[dano2840]

moved probably 3 1/2 cord of wood into the shed today, went and maid an appointment for my moms car to fix brake light and inspection ( that was pointed out by the state trooper a few days back and i was fined $94 for) and o 2 sensor, oil change. but The trooper origanally pulled me over for doing 64 in a 50 ( was watching the 3 deer in the field to the right of the road OOPS) but he said im going to be leinient and not get ya for that because that would put points on your licesence but im ticketing you for the inspection sticker being out of date, i said thank you officer have anice day

[Farmboy]

Farmboy.
you dont work in the snow? It sure beats rain!

Yaa we do but i was feeling under the weather today.

[Thompson's Tree Farm]

Dano,
Smart young man. A loose lip would have cost you big time. Yes sir! and Thank you officer. go a long ways to easing your relationship with the highway patrol

[PATheron]

Been working on the lines pretty hard as of late. Any time in between holiday get to gethers Ive been putting the hammer down pretty good. Looks like Ill have mainly all the line in as of next weekend. Then its hook up time and that should be fun. Got to run some more lines to releasers, set up tanks, etc. I really think there is going to be some really good BIGSAP this year. Ive got lines running everywhere. I think once I get everything ready I might go through and really get things tightened up. Check all my saddles and everything I can think of. Also need to make sure Ive got my maines pitched pretty good to. Had to really go fast to get everything together. Talked to a guy at my plumbing store that may be my all time new hero. He was making syrup over the hill from me and I thought he was running a handfull of taps on a homemade rig, which is great. Well, I was pricing a big tank off him today and he told me he was running 2500 taps on a huge flat pan he bought off some guy. I asked him if he sold any of the sap and he said no. If theres not something Im missing Ive got to say Ill tip my hat to that dude anyday. Anyone runs 2500 taps on a flatpans got my attention. Parker cant say that that guy doesnt WANNNNNNNNNN IT! Theron

[gator330]

PATheron,

I dare say if I told you I have 50 acres of untaped virgin maple you may try to run a line from here to PA to get there sap!!!! So I wont. And your right about the guy with 2500 and a flat pan. That to me is just plan NUTS!!!!

[maplemat1]

just a reminder that tommorrow night tuesday at 9 :00 on discovery channel dirty jobs will be at someones sugarhouse!!!!!!