April 3, 2014 – Thursday

24 degrees/cloudy/calm

Pentoga Road

It’s a short one this morning as Sargie and I are heading to Green Bay fairly soon. I want to purchase another bank of solar panels and the coupon I have for a hundred dollar savings expires in the next few days. These panels will be used to power the shallow well pump for irrigation in the garden. Failing that, it will be added to those already on the house for our personal use.

I started emptying the freezer in the garage first thing Wednesday morning. I’m not sure I understand the science behind why a freezer doesn’t work in freezing weather, but I’m here to attest that it doesn’t. I had to empty the freezer above the refrigerator and the large one downstairs, then sort, clean, and begin again. In the end, I found three large garbage bags of old vegetables, some old meat, etc that could be thrown to the animals in the woods.

I had to wear snowshoes to take the old food back into the woods. Thankfully, there was a light crust on the surface as under those tracks is about three feet of snow.

I worked most of the afternoon cleaning the barn. It’s not nearly done, but a dent was made in the mess. Another day or two and I’ll have the barn and shop ready for another summer of projects and work.

Yooper Brother Mark stopped by on his way back from a meeting and we had a wonderful conversation. I was grateful for his company.

I only collected about nine gallons of sap yesterday afternoon. The day started at 11 above zero and the sap didn’t run until late afternoon. I think yesterday’s high was around 40 degrees, so no doubt, the sap ran into the night.

Yesterday evening was spent reading and grading final projects for class. I officially got caught up before bedtime, so I’m feeling pretty good about that. My thoughts are already turning to this summer’s session and those of next fall. Just like real life, the academic years go faster and faster as one marches through life.

There’s a large winter storm that’s to arrive later this evening with the promise of 6 to 16 inches of wet and heavy snow. This is truly the winter that just keeps on giving. Oh well, it is what it is and there’s little doubt that everyone who lives in the North Country will appreciate the warm temperatures of this coming summer. 

Time to get this uploaded and then think about heading south. After all, a man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

Whoops, wrong place. I had several trees that were real producers last year, but have been dry during this current season. It didn't make sense and in looking very closely at one, I saw that I'd pounded the tap into last year's hole that hadn't scabbed over, but was dry. You can see sap running down the bark from the hole I drilled for this year. I made the fixes and all the trees are now producing.