The Good Day All Thread

Good morning everyone !! I may have Spring weather this week with highs back in the 70'sf ( I don't know centigrade, ) We had nice weather here in S. Georgia during February, highs in the 70's daily, then March came along which gave us highs in the 50's for two weeks. I'm hoping to get my wash out on the line. OH, that reminds me, I have to go get the wash in !!

 

Netty— that sounds so exotic…tapping maple trees. I will say that I am a big fan of maple syrup on pancakes. I would be fun to see a foto report on here showing a few steps.

Well, I’ll bet you are looking forward to going back to work. Doing the work and seeing your colleagues. The first day may be a tad awkward, but after that you’ll be rolling right along.

Fingers crossed that you do not see those rabbits again.

 

Ooooooooohhhh Netty! I'm so excited to see this and hear more about it. How many trees do you have? This is a rare gem indeed for us on the other side of the Great C.

I have two sugar maples as a gift from a friend's Father's farm in Quebec. They were saplings/suckers, only 8 inches tall. Sugar Maples are unheard of here due to the climate. These two are sheltered and seem to have found their niche. There was six, but two have persevered so far. I planted them 24 years ago. They are only about 6 - 8 inches diameter, so tapping won't be in my life time I don't think. But you never know!

 

Good Thursday morning all. Currently -7°C and clear. I slept in! I must have needed the extra sleep.
Another busy day ahead... a friend is coming over this morning to pick up/drop off some things and have a short visit. I have someone from my buy/sell page coming to pick something up, and I'm also headed over to DH's workplace to pick up some more of his things. Then later this afternoon, we are headed to the rink for a short session. I'll also need to check the buckets of sap and empty as needed. I did my errands and shopping yesterday afternoon, so that usual Thursday job is already done. (just when you thought you had figured me out I changed my routine haha). I would like to start burning the branches in the yard, but that might have to wait.
@Sjoerd and @Melody Mc. I have 3 old sugar maples left here, from the original 5. I have never tapped them until this year, and I probably wouldn't have if my kids could get to their own sugar bush. It's been a fun experience so far, and I am lucky that I don't have to do any boiling of sap but will still benefit from it - they will take the sap home and boil it down over there.
I was told they were able to get 5 of their 35 trees tapped yesterday and will get to more as the snow melts. I'll try to get some pictures when the sap starts to run again. Its been cold, but will warm up a bit today and that should get it running again.
Have a great day all

 

Good Friday morning all. Currently -5°C and clear. There is still a big beautiful full moon out there, and there was a lunar eclipse last night. Sadly I slept through it all, but apparently the "blood moon" was gorgeous. Weatherman says to expect highs of 10°C today! That should get the sap flowing!
I'm having my family over this afternoon. They are going to help me with some things around the house and garage and have a visit. The weather is improving, the snow is melting, and it will be time for me to head back to work very soon! It will be nice to have all these little jobs done before then. It should be a great day, and productive!
Have a great day all

 

Oh Netty— what an interesting process that is. I shall keep an eye out for the pics.
BTW— with tapping the sap, is that something one only does in the Spring, or is it possible in the winter as well?
I really do find it interesting. It is a “garden job” that not many gardeners can talk about doing.

I have seen tapping processes before, but that was in Malaysia ant the trees gave “latex”. Also quite interesting.

 

Good Saturday morning all. Currently 7°C and overcast. Weatherman says we will be getting lots of rain in the next 2 days.
We are off to the rink this morning, until noon. Then the grandkids are coming over while their Mom is out with a future bride looking at dresses. SIL is coming with them and I'm going to put him to work around my house. It will be a fun day!
@Sjoerd There is a small window of opportunity for collecting maple sap. It has to be cold at night (between -5°C to -8°C) and warm during the day (above zero, ideally between 4°C and 8°C). The season lasts only about 4 weeks at most.
Have a great day all

 

Netty— oh, I see. Gosh, one can learn so much here.
You are having a lot of family fun, aren’t you.

 

Good Sunday morning all. Currently 10°C and raining. It rained all night, and the snow is disappearing. Its so warm out that the snow piles are actually 'steaming'. Theres a lake down the front of the property and the sump pump is working overtime. Ahhh, spring is in the air! Mud season is here and poor Thunder is hating being toweled off every time he goes outside!
Yesterdays plans were changed last minute as the grandkids woke up with fevers, so it was a quiet afternoon. Instead, I spent some time in my greenhouse cleaning and preparing soil for seed planting that I will begin today. Its going to rain most of the day, so it will be a day of inside jobs and cleaning.
Have a great day all

 

Last week the contractor's team removed our deteriorating Trex deck and concrete patio. They installed a gravel foundation, for cement to be poured soon. No more flammable and somewhat unstable deck, and cracked patio. Under the patio, there will be a pipe for my drip irrigation line, to the patio planters and rose garden. No tripping over hoses and (I hope) less or only minor watering by hand. . I like those ideas.

Other than some minor landscaping changes, and some cleanup and moving one large rose bush, I've done all I can for wildfire risk mitigation. Much more than the websites consider a minimum, except I can't cut down a neighbor's gigantic cypress trees.

The concrete contractor backed over one neighbor's mailbox, and parked where, if cars tried to pass, they would have driven over another neighbor's lawn. Boy was he irate! (unjustifiably - the easement has right of way for 30 feet, but I choose not to argue). I smoothed over things with the mailbox neighbor and we had a nice long getting-to-know-you-better talk. For the irate neighbor, I called his wife and extended my apologies. All this is why I stay away from people (except you nice stewbies).

Oh well! Tonight we're watching another episode of the Doctor Blake mysteries, I enjoy those a lot. Very well written and acted.

 

Good Monday morning all. Currently -3°C and overcast, with a sunny high of 2°C expected. Most of the snow melted in yesterdays 15°C with rain, and for that I am glad. Now I can see exactly what work needs done out there. I have a lot of small tree work needing done ... pruning of the fruit trees, trimming of the cedar hedge, clearing of the undergrowth of the mature trees, and removal of several diseased / unwanted trees. All of this work will be done by myself with help from my son (who works in the tree removal business). Equipment will be key in these projects, so getting out the saws and tuning up and sharpening them is on my to do list in the next few days. I'm excited to get started working outside!
Have a great day all

 

Sorry Daniel that those kind of things do seem to cause a bit of confusion and mistakes can happen .
It was very helpful that you kept your cool and managed the issue with calmness and patience. Smart move.
Sending good vibes to you and for the rest of your projects to go smoothly . Hugs for the strength and compassion you shared that day.

 

Good Tuesday morning all. Currently -1°C and clear. Weatherman says its going to be a great day ... sunny with highs of 11°C expected.
I'm planning my day to be mostly outside, taking advantage to the great day and getting some yard cleanup done. Now that the snow is almost gone, it has revealed lots of branches and dog poop to pick up. And its also revealed that brush pile from last year that didn't get burned. A busy day ahead!
Have a great day all

 

Good Wednesday morning all. Currently 8°C and sunny. Its a beautiful morning, the birds are singing and there is just a slight breeze.
Today our puppy, Thunder, is celebrating his very first birthday! We are going to take him to the park, and give him a special dinner. He also has a gift bag with all the typical dog gifts to open. It will be fun! And because it is such a beautiful day, he will be thrilled to spend it outside!
Have a great day all

 

Happy BD Thunder..