The tapping of the sugar maples

Today we tapped the first sugar maples at the cabin! The sap is definitely on the run! Maple syrup, here we come!
The rest of the trees will use tubing rather than these lovely spiles, but it will be a lot easier than trudging up & down that steep hill with sloshity buckets of sweet sap.

final sugar

pics from canning our first batch of syrup this year...

at a good boil

about to boil over!

filtering

filter spiral

final sample jar...grade A fancy?

boiling

some old spiles

our elegant arch

arch from the other side

...and sugaring begins

buckets drying in the sun




ZGrrl helping out


ZGrrl & Papa tapping


sap!


sweet & tasty!


Buckets hanging...


Stay tuned for exciting sap-boiling photos! They're pretty sweet!
No more puns. I promise.