A herd of deer grazing in last year's soybean field

April 9, 2018 - Sunday evening
26 degrees/partly cloudy/calm winds
Pentoga Road

Despite this morning's frigid below zero temperatures, today warmed up nicely, into the mid 30's and sunny with little wind.

I got wild today and strapped a five pound leg weight onto each ankle before taking a six mile walk. I forgot I was wearing them until I reached Heartbreak Hill. Hauling heavy feet up the steep incline definitely increased my heart rate.

I noticed a few bags had run yesterday so once home, I grabbed a bucket and took off for the woods. Unfortunately, one of the buckets I use was filled with sap collected two days ago that was frozen solid.

As cold as it's been, I was surprised to find several of the bags full to overflowing. Off course, their contents were solid ice.



With Hambone due to arrive Monday evening, I went around the outside of the house and knocked all the icicles down. Many were large and heavy and I don't need any crashing down on the little guy.

These icicles are just inches away from one of our bedroom windows. If they don't fall on their own tomorrow, I'll reach through from the inside and break them off before they grow long enough to touch the glass.

I collected around fifteen gallons of sap and ice chunks today. The trees are ready to run hard. They are not only temperature sensitive, but the length of day also governs their seasonal growth and sap flow. The sun is telling them it's time to set buds. The only thing prohibiting that is the temperature. Once it warms, things will happen quickly.

A sixth barrel filled with mostly frozen sap

The end of the day was spent digging out the fire grate used in the boiler.

Every country person I know has some place where they store (hide?) large objects that may be useful, yet not too good to look at. One of my places is behind the wood shed.



It took well over an hour to dig down to the grate and in the end, I broke the thing while trying to pry it from the frozen ground.



I'll see what Home Depot has in the morning when I ride back to Iron Mountain with Sargie. If I can't find one or if they are too expensive, I'll simply do without.

Sargie closes tomorrow which will make a late day for her. I'll get the oil changed in the Kia at Jiffy Lube while in town, do a bit of shopping, then get back home and begin collecting and boiling. The temperatures are to rise into the 40's this week and I hope to wrap this whole maple sap/syrup thing up in the next week.

It's time for bed. Monday marks the beginning of what should be a very busy week.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

It better warm up pretty soon. I have tomatoes, peppers, and flowers ready to transplant into four inch pots. Problem is, if I can't keep them in the outdoor greenhouse, I'm not sure where they'll go. I'll worry about that next week when the maple season is finished.