Saturday, March 20, 2021

Receiving a quick lesson on how to swing a bat, Hambone's listening to Jambo's every word.

March 20, 2021 - Saturday morning
24 degrees/clear skies/calm winds
Pentoga Road

It's a quick write this morning as I need to get the fire lit under the evaporator, check if the sap ran late into last night, and text Brother Yooper Mark to see if our usual Saturday morning walk is still on.

Mark and I walked early Friday morning. Though the temperature was in the low teens, the rising sun quickly warmed the air and made for a perfect beginning of the day.

I had just finished using a heat gun to thaw the hoses leading into the evaporator and getting the fire started when Holly and Ross pulled into the drive. Neighbor Wade came along later with Jambo arriving shortly after.

I enjoyed the brief guy time as it reminded me of Coffee with the Grandpas years ago in Sitka. 

Putting Ross in charge of keeping wood fed into the firebox, Jambo and I soon took off for the woods, eventually bringing in untold gallons of sap. With a very cold night, coupled with a day in the fifties, the sap ran and ran and ran.

Between collecting sessions, Ross helped as we removed the undercarriage that holds the plow onto the four wheeler. No longer able to use the snowmobile in the woods on the north side necessitates putting the four wheeler into action. The undercarriage hung down several inches making driving over rocks and stumps difficult.

It soon became time to boil off our first batch of syrup that had been in the boiler for well over a day. I didn't draw much, just enough for an initial taste.

First step was to pour it into a large stainless steel pot on the propane burner for a controlled boil.

The process then became much like making candy with close attention paid the boiling. Too much results in too thick of syrup or even candy. Too little makes the syrup watery.

When it's the exact right time, the syrup is taken into the kitchen and poured through a felt filter to remove any impurities.

Still boiling hot, it's poured into quart, half gallon, and pint jars, capped, and set upside down to seal. Yesterday's quick boil off produced just short of one and a half gallons.


Jambo helped to collect last night. Ross and Holly departed late in the afternoon and soon after, Grandma Sargie left to get Hambone. 

It was fun watching one of Grady's favorite people, Jambo, interact with him on how to swing a ball bat. A retired teacher, Jambo is a former high school baseball coach and obviously has a way with children, young and old alike. Soaking up the lesson like a dry sponge, Hambone's at the age where he can't receive enough positive, male, adult, attention. 

It's back to the woods today. In my dreams, I hope we might wind the maple season up this weekend, especially since it's to rain and be nasty this next week. Only time will tell. We'll do a huge boil-down tomorrow afternoon and see how many gallons are processed. I know there are several sitting the evaporator.


Hambone will be with us this weekend and will help to collect sap. Though still sore, Grandma Sargie is feeling better after her tumble. 

Time to get the day started.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

That's my boy.
Just as he's done since he was a little baby, Hambone snuggled up beside me last night to watch tv. After a long and hard day outside, Pawpaw may have dozed off a bit.
 

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