Monday February 29, 2016

Day #11

Leap Day! Brad came home from school to check the woods, he thought there might be 300 gallons so he figured we should go get it. Bob sent out a text that this would happen asap.

Chuck showed up early to clean out the fire pit, he filled an entire wheel barrow that Brad soon emptied. He said this extra duty kept him from gathering the Sandhill forrest. Bob and Brad headed north through the woods soon joined by Muff. Adam caught up a little later and finally Dale and Karen. They found 280 gallons. Finished before dark. 

Chuck had to leave to assist Sue with a wardrobe snafu and quickly returned. They lit a fire and quickly boiled in tonight's haul and home by 9:10pm. Brad was off with James celebrating their love of moving furniture.

We had Aunt Dorothy's soup and Baldosser hot dog's for dinner--sent Brad to steal those yesterday! Nothing says Christianity like sending your kid into your neighbor's home to steal food on the way to church.

Bob is beginning to recover from the respiratory plague, no naps all day today, ....however just beginning to fight with the SAND in the syrup. There is a fine grit in the syrup--you can't see or taste this---but it plugs up filters quickly. 10 gallons completely plugged 2 new filters. This makes the final filter process really slow. We left 4 gallons in the filters last night as we ran out of patience...good thing as it was still sitting there tonight. Bob reheated the syrup and tried again with new filters.

Brad claims that tonight he saw 4 bald eagles about 15 yards of the edge of the yard at the farm. No video of this although he reports he tried!

Thanks to our helpers tonight!

Total sap today: 280 gallons
Total sap to date: 2,555 gallons
Total syrup today: 9.5 gallons
Total syrup to date: 47.5 gallons