I continue to wait for the weather to move into syrup season mode. While waiting, there are odds and ends to take care of. Rick or I or both of us have been in the sugarbush every day to check on things, pick up the bags that the wind took off their spiles, start a fire in the kitchen stove to keep the water jugs from freezing solid, complete a minor repair, or clean up here and there.

The days have been clear and sunny, for the most part. High temperatures have been closing in on the 30 degree mark. Overnight lows have been in the low teens. There has been some sap flow on some south facing taps, but the sap in the bags is frozen solid. It will take a few days of decent syrup weather before that ice melts. If we get a good flow before the ice melts completely, we will have to deal with "sap on ice." We've done that in previous years; it takes a little longer and a little more care to empty the bags while leaving the ice and avoiding damage to the bags.

The sugarhouse has been furnished and outfitted with castoffs and extras from our separate homes, such as pots and pans that spouses decided were no longer needed or appropriate in their kitchens. Some items from canoe camping outfits are now pulling double duty in the sugarhouse. A few years back, a paring knife with the tip broke off found its way to the sugarhouse. This week I decided to see if I could reshape the blade into a more customary profile. I brought it home so that I could work on it with the hand grinder and a file. By working slowly I think I was able to accomplish my objective without burning the metal and changing its temper so that it would become quite useless. The blade probably does not have the classic Chicago Cutlery profile, but it is a lot more functional.

The garage sale find of the summer of 2011 was a newer model Coleman gas lantern. I spent $5.00 on what appeared to be a dirty but intact lantern with the exception of two broken mantels. A thorough clean-up and new mantels made for an operational lantern. This newer model is much quieter than the older models that we have been using. The brightness is also adjustable--sort of a built-in dimmer switch. Best of all it lights consistently with relative ease. Our two older lanterns have been very temperamental. Maybe they will be shamed into performing better in the presence of the new young beauty. So far this season, I have used only the new lantern for a short period of time one evening. The old timers are gassed up and ready to go or to be given a go.

The forecast holds promise for a sap flow on Monday or Tuesday--the 28th or 29th. Things are ready.