Monday Feb 26, 2024

Gorgeous day today! Sadly, enough sun that it will likely make the buds pop a bit more than we would like. The ants and a few bees were noted to be out today enjoying the spring-like weather. (One worker reported tonight that being the kind soul that he is, Brad attempted to save a honey bee from a near drowning experience in a bucket of sap only to be stung. Kind of you to try :)

Since gathering last on the 22nd, the weather has turned a bit more chilly. Sat through early Sunday am was downright cold in the 20's. The sun peaked through to warm things up on Sunday afternoon, but that warmth generated wind gusts over 30 mph so we wisely decided to stay out of the woods. The trees did run on Sunday with an estimate of 300 gallons in the woods. The temperature dipped again during the night to provide a frosty white appearance to Monday morning. 

Bob had a sparkly Monday. (The fun really started on the weekend when he dropped and broke his phone and spent a good deal of the weekend trying to transfer data to a new phone which he also promptly dropped. It survives. ) He attended the dreaded tax appointment with the accountant in the morning. He joyfully helped unload a semi-load of products for his wife's farm project from about 1 to 4 pm. The semi arrived without the usual warning call 30 minutes prior (cutting his lunch break short). The driver entered the homestead with a  53-foot trailer and got stuck in the yard. This necessitated a not so short trip to the farm for some horsepower to assist said stuck truck. Had to use the jeep to fetch the tractor as his truck has a belt issue. Unloading itself went smoothly however the exit from the drive took almost as long as the stuck entrance. So he apologizes to all for the late text today.... but that is what he was up to!!

Everyone commented that we were a small but mighty crew tonight!! The Robinson family came to help Alex, Liz, Ezme, Burke and Mabel) and we appreciate their help! Wish we had more pictures but we were hustling as it became rather quickly apparent this was a good run. Melissa, Muff, Gerri, Brad, Adam, Kelsey, and Bob rounded out the work crew tonight. Bob drove Walle for the south path and then headed up to get a fire started. 

Dave arrived midway, like Superman swooping in to help.We laughed that this was like putting in a player with fresh legs in the 4th quarter of a ballgame, glad to see him!!  He was quickly assigned the driving job but at this point, it was almost dark.  

 Melissa was in charge of morale tonight and Adam noted that her bucket was certainly half full! Bob sent Gerri a text message she did not see until she arrived at the camp. He wanted a roll of paper towels. Melissa chimed in, "hey I have one". Then he wanted a spatula, and she said "hey I have one". then he wanted olive oil and we all rolled when she actually went to look. Preparedness. Didn't have it but hysterical that she thought she might. 

We seriously had good-natured fun tonight but we also got all the gym workout we needed. Walked about as fast as we could for about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Sent Walle to the camp 3 times chuck full. The south path filled the first tank. The north path almost fit into the second and the east filled the 3rd with the deck loaded with full buckets and a last trip up the center to pick up the remaining buckets. 

The trees that were pretty much in their prime had buckets 80-100% full. this makes for slow gathering. We got pretty good at running empty buckets ahead as Walle moved rather slowly through the woods tonight. 

The darkness set in already with most of the east path to go. 

We appreciate Aunt Susan's contribution to night gear lighting. (Bob is still worried about her QVC issues however). It did work well (thinking Kelsey wore that). Does not work well to get your picture taken head-on though! We are trainable, ...went from zero people with headlamps in the dark last week to almost 100 percent this week.

Gerri's new baby chicks died. The first half may have been mass murdered by barn cat Susan, crime unsolved, accused but not yet convicted. The second set simply perished quietly. All of them. So, the morbid conversation tonight was all of the known risk factors/implications for sudden chicken death. Dave shared that he once raised 100 birds and noticed that he was missing some when got down to like 35. (You can't make this stuff up.)

Brad discussed how Kelsey should be driving the farm truck to keep it from stalling out. Dave appeared to be pitching Bob on what equipment he needs to consider purchasing next. Adam worked super hard tonight and fired for some time after returning to the camp. Brad gave him a lot of grief tonight and Dave cheered Brad on. Ezme reminded us that there are only 3 months of school left! wow! 

Certainly, the high point of the evening was Dave reading what he wrote for the blog last Thursday. This oration was well received and of course, commented upon. Gerri appreciates the effort Dave. 

We made cheese sandwiches on the Blackstone tonight. Gerri and Melissa could not figure out how to put 3 slices of different cheese on the bread. Seemed like we left it all on the field tonight and struggled with assembly. Worked out. People ate. Nobody complained. 

Lots of sap in the camp yet at press time. Prayers and Ibuprofen are in order tonight.

Sap Tonight: 1, 110 gallons

Sap To Date: 2,685 gallons ( in 3 trips! ) 

Syrup Off Tonight:

Syrup Off To Date.