Well, we made maple syrup again this weekend as we had collected about 10 gallons of sap during the week. Mike modified his barrel stove/evaporator set-up by cutting an opening in the top of the barrel...
...this allowed much more heat to the bottom of the evaporating pan, and as you can see below, the sap boiled nicely...
Last weekend it took us 12 hours to boil about 6 gallons, making just over a pint of syrup. This weekend, with the modification of the stove, it took only 6 hours to boil down 10 gallons of sap, and we ended up with 2 pints of maple syrup...
It makes me so happy to look at these jars and so thankful for all the work Mike did to make it happen. We probably won't be making any more syrup this season, but hopefully next year we will do it again.The weekend was dreary and rainy so I also did a little sewing ~ Simplicity 4589. Spring always inspires me to get sewing some summer tops and skirts...the fabric was found at Walmart, and though I don't ever seem to wear yellow, the yellow and gray 'cherry blossom' print just appealed to me...
Today, though spring hasn't officially sprung, and there is no doubt we will see more snow, I have been busily spring cleaning:: ~ washing walls and surfaces with hot water and some of Mrs Meyers lavender soap
~polishing the wood furniture with homemade lemon oil
~cleaning windows with white vinegar
~and opening the windows and doors, if only for a few minutes when the sun peeks out.
Hope your weekend was a good one!
Hope your weekend was a good one!