Rain, rain, rain, and more rain

March 25, 2021 - Thursday morning

27 degrees/cloudy/windy

Pentoga Road

All I can say is that I'm grateful all the recent precipitation didn't come in the form of snow. Spring storms that drop two to three feet of heavy snow aren't unusual in the UP. In fact, some of the heaviest amounts recorded have come in the months of March and early April.

There's not a lot to tell this morning. Sargie and I had thought about going to Green Bay on Wednesday, but opted to make Rhinelander, WI, our destination. All we really needed were groceries and the thought of dealing with heavy fog and rain made the two and a half hour road trip less than desirable. 

I went for a quick walk before leaving. I might as well have put a blindfold over my eyes and felt my way to Pentoga Village and back.

Home from shopping by late afternoon, we welcomed Macrea who had brought Sadie to stay with us for the weekend. The kids are heading to Wisconsin Dells and the indoor water park for the weekend. Hambone will think he won the lottery.

I was helping Macrea get Sadie's large kennel from their SUV when I bent over at the same time an excited Sadie decided to jump. It's confirmed, Sadie's head is much harder than mine.

Our noggins met and for the first time in years, I actually saw stars. The only damage was a bent pair of glasses and a small cut above my right eye. Both Sadie and I will live to see another day.

Uncle Bobby "The Love Doctor" Love sent this trailer of a new docudrama filmed in one of my old villages in SE Alaska, Metlakatla, or "Met" as it's referred to locally. 

The description that goes along with the trailer is:

"Off the coast of Southeast Alaska lies an island - remote, largely hidden from the outside world and home to the Tsimshian natives of Alaska's last remaining native reserve: Metlakatla. For more than a century, two sacred traditions have defined Metlakatla: fishing and basketball. Witness the improbable journey of cousins Danny Marsden and DJ King, fishermen and stars of the high school basketball team as they lead their team and town in search of their first state championship in more than thirty years - the only thing that will bring life back to an island that has been rocked by unimaginable tragedy."

I spent many days and nights in Met with various interns over the years. Accessible only by boat or float plane, it was always a challenge to get to Met from Ketchikan and even more difficult to get back to the mainland. Heavy storms accompanied by wind and torrential rain are common.

As the old quip goes, "I spent three weeks in Metlakatla one night."

Yup, I sure did.

I don't know what gives with all these movies and documentaries being made about places and people I know in Alaska. Maybe I should have hung around a few more years and possibly been pulled into the show biz glitz and glamor on the shirttails of my friends and travel.

Naw, I hear ice fishing is lousy in Hollywood.

Back to the Upper Peninsula:

Today looks to be one that will be spent inside. I'll go for my morning walk and will most likely end up in the shop at some point. No doubt, Sargie will have a honey-do job or two for me, so I might as well get the day started.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Sadie the Goldendoodle

Scrubbed clean and buffed shiny, the evaporator is officially decommissioned until spring of 2023.

March 24, 2021 - Wednesday morning

40 degrees/rain/calm winds

Pentoga Road

For once in my life, my timing has been almost perfect. We've taken advantage of the last two days to pull taps, finish off the last of the syrup, and clean and store away the maple equipment.

Tuesday began as cool and rainy, but ended sunny and fairly mild. In keeping with yesterday's perfect timing, I left home as the last drop fell and was gratified when the sun peeked out from behind dark clouds before my walk was finished.

Even more perfect was what I found in the evaporator upon my arrival home. I'd left the last of the sap to slowly evaporate during the night. Assuming what remained would need to be boiled off Wednesday morning, I discovered everything had turned to syrup.

What are the chances? Too much boiling and the liquid would either be too thick or have turned to candy. Not enough would have required finishing on the propane boiler. 

Testing the density, the three gallons drawn down were exactly right. It was time to process the last of this year's harvest.

Busy? We were busy. I heated the syrup to the boiling point over propane before bringing it in to pour and seal in quart jars. Sargie and I have the system down to near perfection and we work like one well oiled machine.

Sargie's forcing the last of the syrup through a felt filter.

The last draw down is always the thickest, darkest, syrup. It's also the most desirable, at least in the Milligan family. The maple flavor is the strongest, not overpowering, but definitely there. 

I enjoyed some over vanilla ice cream last evening and belief me, it's definitely palatable.

This year's harvest came to a bit over eleven gallons, more than enough to give to friends and family over the next two years.

For those who have a romantic Norman Rockwell vision of making maple syrup, you should have been here yesterday as we washed, scrubbed, brushed, and polished the equipment. 

While I was outside wrestling with the evaporator pan and stainless steel pot, Sargie was washing and scrubbing the kitchen. It was a day of hard and not very pleasant work.

Sargie later came out and helped to put everything away. 

I'm not sure what's on today's agenda. On the spur of the moment, we talked last night about driving down to Green Bay for household supplies. Rain is in the forecast, not that we'd melt, but, well, we are rather delicate.

Otherwise, we could go to Rhinelander or Escanaba or we may just stay home. I have a million and one half-finished projects going in the shop.

Hmm, while I stress over today's activities, I think I'll pour another cup of coffee and think deep thoughts.

My latest? Should I go for my walk in the rain? After all, I might melt. You know, being that I'm delicate.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Sargie's hauling a load of barrels to the storage container. I walked/trotted along behind to keep them from falling over.

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?!?!

Springtime on Pentoga Road

March 22, 2021 - Monday morning

50 degrees/cloudy/windy

Pentoga Road

Pleasant surprises come in many packages. One arrived yesterday in the form of maple syrup, that that was boiled down after drawing off twice from the evaporator.

I'd been somewhat disappointed in the quantity of syrup so far this season, but Sunday afternoon's boilings turned the corner. Coupled with the five gallons previously processed and that that's left in the evaporator, we'll have made our ten gallon goal with possibly a surplus.

After today's final processing and clean up, maple season will officially be over for 2021.

Sunday morning began with my usual walk. It was good to see Neighbor Matt out walking his pups. Matt's an educator in Milwaukee and along with his wife, own a camp at the edge of Pentoga overlooking the Brule River.

With this past week's warm temperatures, the snow is all but gone, even in downtown Pentoga Village.

I fired up the evaporator after arriving home. It's amazing how much water dead, supposedly dry, wood can hold. The ash that was burned yesterday has been dead for at least three years, yet once the fire became hot, sizzled for the first few minutes before igniting.

Boil? You don't know the meaning of the word. Determined to boil as much sap as possible, I kept the water roiling all day. At one point, I was in the woods looking towards the house and thought the wood shed had caught on fire. Thankfully, it was the smoke, initially dense due to the damp wood, coming from the flue.

Hambone was soon up and around. His favorite cereal is Crunchy Nuggets, a high fiber variety mostly eaten by adults. Grandma Sargie had bought a box of Cookie Crisp as a special treat. In the end, Hambone said he'd rather have the high fiber cereal so you can guess who ate the presweetened Cookie Crisp.

It's true. Older people really do revert into children as they progress in years. I can only hope and pray the reverse process halts before I get to the diaper stage.

Mel and Macrea arrived early in the afternoon. Grandma Sargie and Cheeks immediately found each other and spent much of the day glued together.

Of course, Pawpaw wasn't going to let his youngest granddaughter escape without receiving some special attention. I worked my Pawpaw magic and had her smiling and almost laughing before, just like that, she suddenly fell back asleep. 

Hambone was happy to show his daddy how to gather sap. With Macrea's help, we did our last collection of the season yesterday afternoon, a meager ten gallons. With the warm temperatures, the sap had quit flowing.

I used the snowmobile one last time in the south woods and found myself driving on leaves rather than snow. Seems the remaining vestiges of this past winter had disappeared during the day. Thankfully, Macrea had taken the four wheeler via the road and was able to haul back what sap we collected.

Sargie pulled out all the stops for last night's supper by making a huge batch of barbecued ribs. Those, along with fresh asparagus and mashed cauliflower, plus vanilla ice cream smothered in hot maple syrup, made for a fantastic supper and dessert.

The kids and pup left late Sunday evening for home. 

Mel has feeding Cheeks down to a science. One might say both are eating "cheek to Cheeks."

Today's going to be a busy one. With rain and chilly temperatures in the forecast for the entire week, I'm going to bring the taps in this morning while the last of the sap is boiling in the evaporator. I anticipate at least two, possibly three or more, boil offs to process what syrup is left.

Mechanic Dave called yesterday afternoon saying we need to pick up brake rotors, pads, everything brakes, plus three serpentine belts for the Kia. Guess I know where this past stimulus check will be spent.

OK, time to get this day started. After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

 

March 21, 2021 - Sunday morning
31 degrees/partly cloudy/windy
Pentoga Road

The name of the game on Pentoga Road continues to be sap, sap, sap, SAP! We're either collecting in the woods, boiling, finishing the stuff, or canning syrup. That's what our lives have become this time of the year.

Hambone has been a great help. Just as with the Pennington boys decades ago, he's eager to learn, wants to help, and is a quick study. Honestly, I haven't seen a youngster catch on and work so hard, yet have so much fun, since my sons were young. It's refreshing to see that playing video games hasn't replaced everything of value from the old days.

Just goes to prove my theory. A youngster will always rise to meet higher expectations if one spends enough positive time and effort to teach him. On the other hand, he'll be more than happy to sink to those expectations of a child, or lower, if left to his own devices. 

Riding with Grandma Sargie back from the south maple woods

I was most impressed when Hambone grabbed a bucket and took off into the woods on his own to begin gathering sap. Anyone who has ever carried five gallons of water can attest to the work that is involved.

And just like the Pennington boys of decades ago, Hambone learned that a guy can get mighty thirsty while collecting sap, but thankfully, the nearest drinking fountain is just a sap bag away.

After his bucket became too heavy to carry, he became Grandma Sargie's or my "bag boy." We'd hold the bucket while Hambone poured.

The day wasn't all work and no play. Everyone knows that the woods is full of interesting treasures, things that can't be found in video games or on television. Hambone found a small branch that he thought would make a great walking stick. He also found another that would make a great poking stick for planting garden.

I taught him the word, "dibble," the official name for a garden seed poking stick. 

Oh, he was proud to know that new word and pretty soon, came up with a special stick that could serve  as a walking stick AND a dibble. Leave it to a six year old boy with an active imagination.

Between collecting sap and boiling, we found time to play a game of wiffle ball. I made the mistake of showing Hambone how to twirl, ala Casey at the Bat, and he became more interested in that than actually playing ball.

Thankfully, the bat is made from plastic and didn't hurt too much when it thunked him on the head.

Hambone also received a lesson on pruning fruit trees and helped me prune the two apple trees in the garden. With last summer's excessive rain and warmth, both had really grown.

The Macintosh - Before

After

The Wolf River tree also received an extensive haircut. Though there'll be fewer apples this year, those that are harvested should be larger.

Evening came and it was time to boil down the second batch of syrup for the year. Drawing several gallons from the evaporator, I placed the large stainless steel pan over the propane burner and we waited and watched as the watery syrup slowly became the rich, thick, sticky, liquid we love to pour over pancakes, ice cream, waffles, and biscuits.

It seems like we waited for hours, and literally, we did. Well, at least for over an hour as the last of the water evaporated.

Hambone learned that there are a few advantages to waiting, watching, and learning. His favorite activity became swiping the sweet liquid with one finger from the hydrometer and sticking it in his mouth.

Grandma Sargie about had a fit. Hambone had earlier been playing in the dirt and Grandma insisted he go in the house and wash his hands before sticking his fingers in his mouth.

I invoked the Pawpaw injunction and told her that there are a different set of germ rules when putting up maple syrup. The Pennington boys used to simply brush their hands on their pants before sampling any maple syrup. All grew up to be big, strong, healthy, men. I assured her Hambone would be no worse for the wear in doing the same. (It's similar to the ten second rule when one drops an edible goodie onto the floor.)

I sent the boy to the house for a couple of table spoons. If a lick from a finger was good, a swallow from a spoon can only be described as absolutely heavenly.

A walking/dibble stick and a spoonful of fresh maple syrup

Can life get any better?

It was time to move the syrup to the processing stage in the kitchen. Once again, Hambone discovered the sweet sweet advantage to making maple syrup.

We use a measuring cup to dip the syrup from the bucket into the canning jars. There's always a bit left when finished, just enough to have a final sip or two.

From what I hear, when I was outside yesterday afternoon, Hambone handed Grandma Sargie her head on a platter playing Uno. 

The sap quit running Saturday afternoon as the temperature approached sixty degrees. I'm uncertain if it got cold enough last night to cause it to run today. If not, we'll boil what sap is in storage and see how many gallons of syrup are processed.

I was hoping that we might pull the taps later this afternoon and call an end to the season, but it appears we may try extending our efforts one more week. I plan to be hiking the Appalachian Trail next spring, so we're doing two years worth for friends and family.

Hambone will be heading home today as he has school tomorrow. Poor kid. He learned how to swing a bat this weekend, collected sap and boiled much like the young man he's turning out to be, made a dibble/walking stick, beat Grandma Sargie in a cut throat game of Uno, and even hopped up and cleared the dishes after last night's supper.

There are some things that can't be learned by playing video games and in the classroom. 

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...