It has turned into a great year for maple syrup production. The year started strong but quickly went into a constant pattern of poor weather: Too cold, too windy, snowing, raining, etc. There were a few days in a row the gusts were recorded at 30 mph and I’m pretty sure I have a bucket or two that some squirrel is now using as a nesting site. No idea where they went so the buckets were replaced. I’ve come close to perfecting my bottling. I finish the syrup and pour it into a glass container. I then set up the filter and prefilter in this interesting wire rack setup made…
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The sap season is going strong. Had a few windy days that knocked over my tent to the point where this will be the last year it gets used. I have it patched up enough to get through the season, but there will be no folding it back to where it fits in a box. Oh well. I believe I lost 3 or 4 buckets during the same wind storm. Replaced the buckets, rehung all the ones that I could find, and had to put the taps back into the trees as most came off with the lid. For some good news I collected 50 gallons of sap the next…
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This past Sunday – February 20th – I put in my 50 taps to prepare for maple syrup season. Even got a few drops of sap in the buckets while doing so! The weather this week is looking to be perfect: Above freezing days and below freezing nights. I’m hoping to have enough sap by mid week to try out the new reverse osmosis. I have the odd habit of calling my sap buckets, sap traps. No idea why? It rhymes and makes me smile I suppose. I’ve been thinking of adding 15 to 25 more taps this season. If the reverse osmosis works as well as advertised, I would…
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It’s been a good long time since I’ve made a good home brewed beer. I used to love making it, but it was also easier when I had folks that drank all I could make. Back in college I made over 100 gallons one year. Hundred and five to be exact. It was because I could… and because the legal limit was 100, so being in college and being me, that extra 5 was to show the man he couldn’t contain me. I had a few new home brew toys that have gone unused and unloved for too long. I went online to a supply shop and picked up something…
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We adopted Penny almost 13 years ago along with her kennel (not litter) mate who lived to 12 years old. The two were inseparable and went on many adventures together So we had to make sure we celebrated Penny’s milestone of making it to 14 years old with some “pup”cakes. I made them on Sunday and even had one myself. They are dense, but perfect for a dog with banana, peanut butter, and some sliced carrots. One removed spleen and well spent money later, Penny is still with us and enjoying her best life. We surely can’t ask for more from you. Happy Birthday old girl!
