Looks like a small break in the brutally cold temps, combined with some fresh snow being predicted for tomorrow (6-9" locally), I may finally be able to get in the woods tomorrow with the sled and harvest some firewood for syrup production. We've got another cold snap for pretty much the entire week so still no tapping trees yet, but I can try and get a bunch of wood for the evaporator this weekend and through next week. I hope.....lol
We are in for possibly up to a foot this weekend. Dark here today with light snow on and off all day. (yes we he bought bread eggs and milk this morning LOL). Have fun on the sled scotty
I didn't make any last year due to poor timing and too many tree jobs lined up, but the year before last I boiled off 1000 gallons of sap which made a little over 20 gallons of pure PA gold!! I still have some left, I'm hoping for at least 10-12 gallons this year, more if I'm lucky. But so far it ain't good, the mega-cold is screwing it all up. I usually have my first boil on Valentine's day, I haven't even been able to tap yet!!
I have some vids of the process on youtube, hoping to get better footage and more edited video this year.....
I think I'm going to start getting my taps in this weekend, if it "warms up" like they're predicting. The snow was almost up to my knees when I was out there surveying last weekend, so it might be slow going. Looks like 40 degree days might be another 2 weeks away, but I just need to get out and play in the woods.
Well I'm inspired, and even though it's only 8° here this evening I decided to go out and work up a sweat....at least the wind isn't howling!! Cut down 7 small (8-10" diameter) snags, all white oak and cherry. First load back to the house...
Nope.....standing deads, most of it bark less and bone dry.... It's for the evaporator, it'll be fine.....lol
Got three heaping "sleighfuls" (I think that's a word!?) cut and hauled in this evening, that'd probably last me one day of cooking. It's now close to 0°, my mustache is frozen and it's time to call it a night. I'm excited to get out in the morning! I've got a couple widowmakers to drop tomorrow.....I'll try and video the process.....we'll see how bad it's snowing when I do them. .
Nice loads of wood! I am jealous between stitches in my back and the weather I won't be getting anything done tomorrow. Are you all getting any snow? We are in the 4-10" range starting tonight.
What happened to your back? Yes we're s'posed to get 6-9", starting early tomorrow morning. I'm planning on cutting at least 12 more loads and then taking the kids sled riding.
Minor surgery and have a 3-4" incision right between my shoulder blades and I'm not supposed to lift over 10 pounds for the next two weeks. Pretty sure I have over done it this week already plowing and trying to shovel snow. Not real sure which is worse the surgery or listening to my wife yell at me and call me stupid and hard headed every time she catches me doing something I'm not supposed to...... I just can't take sitting around and will at least be hauling some wood and plowing tomorrow. It was about a week ago and actually feels pretty good now. It was a bummer for my daughter though as she wanted to go sledding and it wasn't happening since by the time I got the drive plowed and dealt with every time it snowed I wasn't feeling it.
For me I have been taking it easy . I just do a little bit and when it bothers me I stop. They already cautioned me about ripping the stitches out and I would rather not have the setback that's for sure.
