Neighbor Mike (Jambo) and Germaine on a mission to gather sap.

March 29, 2018 - Thursday
27 degrees/clouds/calm winds
Pentoga Road

Naturally, just as I sat down to write and upload this morning's blathering, the internet went out. I can write, but that's about it until the web becomes available again.

This just came across my computer screen: 

Special Weather Statement

Weather Updated: Mar 29 4:00AM

Issued by the National Weather Service

For Iron County, Michigan

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT UNTIL 5PM CDT THU ...ACCUMULATING SNOW POSSIBLE FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY... A PERIOD OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT FRIDAY THROUGH AT LEAST EARLY SATURDAY. ALTHOUGH SNOW TOTALS ARE STILL HIGHLY SUBJECT TO CHANGE IN SUBSEQUENT FORECASTS, CURRENT ACCUMULATIONS LOOK TO APPROACH AND QUITE POSSIBLY EXCEED 5 INCHES AREA-WIDE. THESE SNOW TOTALS ARE HIGHLY DEPENDENT ON THE TRACK OF THE RESPONSIBLE SYSTEM, SO FORECAST DETAILS MAY CHANGE. KEEP UP TO DATE ON THE LATEST FORECAST INFORMATION AS TRAVEL THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND COULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED.

You might know. Taylor and Nicki are hosting the Mighty Milligan Easter gathering on Saturday in Foster City. We'll just put the old Blazer in four wheel drive and make our way through the snow.

I just had an inspiration....

Over the river and through the woods

To Taylor's house we go

The Blazer will strive

In four wheel drive

To get us through the snow OH...

Never mind. It was there for free and thought I'd give it a try.

Wednesday was a busy one on Pentoga Road. After the usual early morning stroll, I returned home to work on, what will be, the new strawberry bed by the barn. The first thing was to finish removing the two middle pyramids.

Thankfully, the frozen ground had melted and it was simply a matter of prying them out of the ground. 

An outside workbench was set up utilizing the flower box and four wheeler. It certainly saved walking around the barn and into the shop to make each cut.

I'd hoped to make a three-tiered octagonal strawberry bed, but once the boards were laid out, it just wasn't practical. So much for my artistic touch.

I ended up making the base a simple rectangle. 

The power nailer Sargie gave me last year was a godsend. Once the measurements were made and the boards cut, fastening them together was a matter of a simple touch. 

I'd hate to get a finger, hand, or foot in the way. The results would be like getting shot with a high powered rifle.

The base will be filled with dirt, then a smaller tier added, that filled with dirt, and finally, a third tier. Why the design? So this old man doesn't have to bend over so far to pick the strawberries!

Neighbor Mike and his lovely bride, Germaine, came down late in the afternoon to help gather sap.

With the thermometer showing 56 degrees, the sap ran and we ended the day by gathering close to forty gallons.

Wednesday was Germaine's first time pouring water from bags into a bucket. She poured like an old pro.

We've gathered less than half the sap that is needed to reach our goal for this year. The next ten days don't look promising, so I'll store what we've collected and wait until it runs again. Only three or four sunny, warm, days are needed and we should be able to finish up gathering for the season and begin boiling.

Three of the barrels are filled to the rims and the fourth half full.

Sargie's off today. With the weather turning bad, I'll work in the shop this morning then see what she wants to do for the rest of the day.

I have an Easter project to finish over the next two days and I hope to work on the strawberry bed sooner rather than later. With heavy snow forecast, who knows?

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Despite the weather forecast, hanging sheets out on the line and having them dry before they can freeze is a sure sign of spring.