Tuesday, March 23, 2021

We finally had ice out in the garden pond and after a cold, dark, winter, look what was there to greet me.

March 23, 2021 - Tuesday morning
40 degrees/clouds/rain/calm winds
Pentoga Road

Why, I ask, am I not in bed cuddled up with Sargie Pants as it's raining, dark and dreary. We slept with the bedroom window open last night, the first time since last fall, and the sound of the rain hitting the metal roof overhead, coupled with the bubbling in the garden pond, made for the best sleeping conditions.

Did I let that entice me to remain between the sheets for an extra hour or two?

No.

My mama didn't have no very bright boy.

Hey, maple season will officially be finished just as soon as we boil off what sap/syrup is left in the evaporator. There should be a couple of gallons remaining and after that, it's a done deal.


Arriving home from my morning stroll on Monday, I lit a fire in the wood box under the evaporating pans before leaving for the maple woods to remove the taps and bags.


The thermometer was already showing the plus side of 60 and the mere act of just being alive was pure pleasure. In the end, all 100 taps, many over a hundred and fifty years old, were removed and accounted for.

Sargie and I did one boil off during the day. Not wanting to waste the opportunity to sit in the sun, I moved the propane boiler outside.

The last of the sap was finally drained from the storage barrels, including that that was overhead feeding the float pan. I hooked up a garden hose and with Sargie's help, began cleaning and rinsing everything used with this year's sap harvest.


The tractor was moved, the hoses coiled and tied, and barrels stacked to dry. Suddenly, the area in front of the barn began to look like something other than Fred Sanford's salvage yard.

To celebrate the beautiful day and end of maple season, we enjoyed a late afternoon four wheeler ride down to the river.

Sargie especially liked it when we hit the muddy road leading to the bridge. Sinking up to its axles, the ATV was shifted into four wheel drive causing mud to fly everywhere, including onto Sargie who was riding behind me.

Whoops.

The snow is quickly disappearing, but it appears there's still plenty in the more shaded places. We turned around and came back home after reaching the bridge.


In family pictures/news, Luke has been doing some last minute fishing before ice out in southern Maine. My second son sent this picture of a large crappie he pulled in this past weekend.

To add insult to injury, he included one of this nice bass.


I'd like to claim I taught the boy everything he knows about fishing, but he far surpassed my knowledge and abilities long ago. I can only take credit for planting the seed.

Nikki sent this picture of Squirt. The nine month old mini girl is now standing and it won't be long before she'll be running all over the place.

I'm heading out the door at first light for my daily hike. On today's agenda is to pick up a million dollars worth of needed brake and auto parts and deliver those to Mechanic Dave who is installing new brakes all 'round on the Kia. He's also replacing the serpentine belts. 

We call this the 300,000 mile check up. After the current fix along with a front end alignment and new set of tires, the old car ought to be good for at least a half a million miles. Up next on the agenda is the old Blazer. At least I don't have to worry about where to spend my stimulus check.

Today's big goal is to finish any and all syrup and get the stainless steel evaporator scrubbed and stored. We're looking forward to putting away the excess jars, filter, buckets, lids, rings, and other processing paraphernalia that's called our kitchen countertops home this past week. Since I'll be on the AT next spring, it will be spring of 2023 before the evaporator and any maple supplies are needed again.

Time to get moving. As Nancy Sinatra once crooned, "These boots are made for walkin',"

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Who is that good lookin' babe on the back of my ATV?!?!

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