Bloggers are tired so this is the catch up day! Sunday (the 19th) was cool and gloomy with essentially no run. Monday the 20th was cooler than expected although sunny. Brad and Bob spent the better part of the day at the camp getting more lids around and stacking some wood in the camp. It was decided not to gather although there was a little run. Tonight was the first meeting for 4-H for the year-wow time flies!
Tuesday the 21st (Cody's 20th birthday!!!! We missed him today in more ways than one!) presented a big run of 494. Chris, Winston, Brad, Bob, and Dale gathered about 5 pm. Kelsey was off at FFA and Gerri showed up late with dinner at 730pm. Sue P.and sidekick Nicholas came for a visit. Brad's luck with not getting stuck came to an abrupt end in the new "big hole" just behind the camp. (Brad wants to remind everyone that statistically speaking he is still doing well!) This was resolved with moving a small tree under the steel wheels. Dale expressed concern about the 4 feet the front end lifted off of the ground, but it did come back down as the physics teacher driving it out predicted. Grandma Wilson has asked Brad to start wearing a helmet while driving as she and Susan B. are also concerned about the "wheelies" with the tractor. Chuck started a fire early so Bob was tucked in bed by 1130 pm.
Total Sap: 1714
Total Syrup: 38 gallons
Ash Wednesday Feb. 22nd: This was a warm day with temps in the 40's and some sun and gentle wind. There was a nice steady drip in the woods tonight although the temperature began to drop and it started to rain later in the evening. There was actually 1 gallon more today than yesterday (495). (That gallon seemed like a lot more than a gallon.) Lucky for us we recruited Curtis and Dan and John S to help Bob gather. Gerri, Brad and Kelsey and Chris showed up late after piano lessons but in time to help finish. We are tapped and gathering about 2-3 weeks ahead of schedule so the number of hours of daylight are limited. It is amazing how this encourages you to hustle up and walk faster-we are all in agreement the forrest is not so enchanted after dark. It is a broken leg just waiting to happen!!! Brad met his foe the "big hole" with a completely full tank of sap and was a little slow coming through but the third try was the charm (and getting the 3 clowns off the back of the trailer was helpful as well!). There were few pics taken tonight as everybody is tired. Bob and Chuck are not looking so good - as of press time at 10pm there was a lot of sap left (10 inches in the upper tank) and the boiling was not going quickly tonight-raining and humid. However, very thankful to have the sap to collect! Sorry about church Cathy, we will do better next time!
Total sap: 2209
Total syrup off at "press time": 48 gallons
Conversion (not counting what hasn't been boiled in yet): 46 gallons of sap to 1 of syrup).
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