Update time:Well, according to the calendar it is now spring. In reality? It's not spring. Not yet. Not even close. We still have about 2 to 3 feet of snow on the ground. (more coming tomorrow night too) That's about 1 meter's worth for the rest of the world. And, it's not even close to being "warm" yet. Although, for winter temps ya might make an argument that it IS warming up. A little. Not a lot. But enough to start getting things done around here. First up, we tapped a few maple trees around the yard. It's been at least 5 years since the last time we made natural Maple Syrup. The last time we did this, we had 3 MASSIVE trees that we could run taps from. Those monsters are gone, sadly. But it was a matter of public safety that they HAD to come down. You don't really want to wait and see where nature decides to drop a giant that's 6 feet across, and nearly 100 feet tall. Two of the trees were split right down the middle. If you didn't like the shape of your arm, just stick it between the tree's halves...and snap! Instant broken/adjusted to new parameters- arm. Or leg. Or hand. Not that I or my family and friends are into that kinda thing. But it only takes one dummy to think...gee, I wonder....and then they do it. Aaaaand yer home insurance has a new (and dumb) claim. OR, the trees would have fallen on the greenhouses next door. Or a vehicle. Or someone unfortunate enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. So we had them taken down before there were problems. Much to the angst of some of our extended family and neighbors. Tree huggers! (but we love em all any way, hahaha) But ya, production won't be the same without those monsters. That's OK, we are not making syrup for a commercial venture. It's just for our own use among family. If I can get a few gallons made up, that's enough.
