Thursday March 20, 2014 (gathering #8)

Weather today is cooler than one would think with a breeze at times. The sap appeared to be running really well as we finished collecting tonight. This was not a big run, but felt we should grab what was out there as they needed to boil off the remains of last evening. This was another busy weeknight.

Chuck picked up Brad after school and the two of them took the forklift to the woods and moved a new crate into the camp with smaller pieces of wood to use along with the larger planking. This seemed to resolve the fire issues of last night with much quicker boiling this eve (lack of rain helps too :).

 Dale, Karen, Gerri & Brad gathered the south and north path while Chuck stayed with the fire in the camp. Dan gathered the middle swath and helped us around the East end. There were only 175 gallons but the buckets were heard to be dripping so it will be interesting to see what there is tomorrow.There is still an impressive amount of snow on the north side of the woods and just outside the woods.  

Chuck manned the camp alone for the first half of the night as Bob was at the church with many neighbors helping to prepare sausage patties for the consignment sale this coming weekend.

Gerri jinxed herself by mentioning that nobody has gotten stuck the whole season. On a quick run home for syrup filters, she ended the streak. She eventually managed to get the truck out but there was an massive amount of mud on the truck and every nearby object.

Standoff. I am warm by the fire and my friend Chuck. Mom. I really don't want to go home.


This is what the end of each day lately looks like at the Rines. Lola knows to wait at the door if she sees somebody putting on Carharts. She immediately gets IN the truck when you say the word "woods". And she knows the command "get in the tub" and thank goodness patiently waits to be attended to. Baths are not up to the Parks girls' standards, but usually goal is usually to turn the chocolate lab back to a shade of yellow!

 

Interesting fact: dirty dog from the woods smells like a wet dog. Clean freshly bathed dog ALSO smells like a wet dog. Miss you at bath time Kelsey!

Total Sap today: 175 gallons + 11 Sandhill + 2 quarts Karen's tree that nobody is sure is a maple
Total Syrup today: 9 gallons
Total Sap to date: 2415 + 125 gallons Sandhill
Total Syrup to date: 51 gallons