That's Jimmy, my watch chickadee, guarding the area while I grade assignments and boil sap.

April 22, 2014 – Tuesday

33 degrees/cloudy/windy

Pentoga Road

After two of the nicest days we’ve experienced since last November, it appears the respite from cold temperatures has temporarily ended. The next several days are forecast to be cold and windy and there’s even a chance of accumulating snow on Thursday.

The geese must think spring is coming. They're heading north.

I spent all of Monday either collecting or boiling sap. The trees didn’t really run, but a few more gallons were collected. More importantly, over a hundred gallons were boiled.

Mike and Paul stopped in again, mostly to keep me company. Old Ken, a fellow walker who lives a mile away, stopped by later to visit. For a while, we had a good, old-fashioned, sewing circle going around the boiler.

Mike is learning the craft of making maple syrup and even though I’m planning on hiking the Appalachian Trail next spring, he’d still like to tap my trees. I’m all for it. Mike owns eighty acres, but very few maples.

I’ve also been wading through the mountains of final projects. The weather has been so nice that I’ve had my laptop outside, alternating tending the boiler and grading papers. I either add sap to the pans or wood to the fire after reading each assignment.

I hope a lot of students get busy today and tomorrow. There are quite a few empty places in my electronic grade book showing that many have yet to do their required work. I worry about them and I’m not sure why. If they don’t have enough pride and gumption to complete their work, why should I lose any sleep? I do. It must be the old school teacher in me.

I’m going to finish boiling down today and should have several gallons of syrup processed by this afternoon. I think I’ll pull the taps tonight or tomorrow. With the weather forecast as it is, gathering sap and making syrup appears as if it might be a hit or miss proposition and suddenly, there are many other projects to be done. I’ll have met my goal of processing several gallons, more than enough for our needs.

Sargie didn’t get home until later on Monday night and closes the next two days. She’s a busy girl.

After a long winter, the woods are beginning to show signs of life.

Time to get this uploaded and start the propane burner. There’s syrup to can today!

After all, a man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

Assuming I pull the taps, this will be the last full bag of the season.