Tuesday Evening, April 14
Sometime during the day Bob and Doris decided that this was the day to shut down their maple syrup production for the year. It suited Japheth’s family (their oldest son) to help, so plans were made to begin gathering buckets and taps before supper.
We are off to the first woodlot – some on the four-wheeler, some on back of the trailer, and a few of us in the pickup truck.
Buckets were removed from taps, taps pulled, sap emptied into the portable tank, and buckets, lids, and taps taken to the trailer Cerwin pulled behind the pickup truck.
Bob, Jeremiah, and Jaden
Cerwin and Wayne
Jeremiah
Japheth, Jr.
Japheth, Sr.
Aimee, wife to Japheth, Sr. – and mother of their nine children
Removing taps with a crow bar.
Moving to a new location.
This woodlot is finished.
Going back to the house for fuel for the four-wheeler.
Ready to go to the next lot.
Japheth, Jr. and Cerwin
They picked up Loraine when they went to the house for fuel.
About this time I decided that if I was going to move to this north country, this is the spot where I would want to build a house.
The trailer is filling up with buckets, lids, and taps.
Cerwin checking out the landscape to see where the truck and trailer will fit through the woods.
Bob showed him where to go.
We’re not finished yet.
Jaden found a chair.
The last bucket.
The last tap.
One hour and thirteen minutes later we were finished.
308 buckets and 385 taps gathered.
The trailer and pickup truck were filled with sticky items.
~~~
Then it was time to eat a delicious supper of tomato soup and pizza which Doris prepared while taking care of the four youngest girls – Lynne, Violet, Lily, and Rose.
My goodness what a lot of work goes into making maple syrup! I’m intrigued that the sap is so clear — I never expected that! It must be the sugar content that turns it such a delightful brownish color!
I was also surprised that the sap was clear. And, yes, they earn every bit of the sale price.
That’s amazing! We have people who make maple syrup around here, but I’ve never visited a farm. Sometimes they give tours. Now we know why maple syrup is so expensive.
Aimee doesn’t look old enough to have 9 children
It was amazing to watch. I agree, Aimee doesn’t look old enough to have 9 children.
It looks like it was such a nice-weather day ~ our weather has turned colder again ~ it was below freezing here this morning ~
We were there at the right time. It is cold out there again too.