Steve’s Blog

30 years ago I boiled down some maple sap for maple syrup, but haven’t bothered since.  Having a bit more time now, I tapped 4 trees here on the farm… its a small operation.   We’ve boiled down about 16 gallons of sap so far and we have about 5 pints of syrup to show for it.   Actually that is a pretty good ratio. The average is 40:1 so we’re well ahead of that.. ie 5 pints vs 3.  It tastes great.  Of course you can buy it, and while its not exhausting work, it does take quite a while, so the hourly rate is pretty low.   On the other hand, I am doing other work at the same time, or Linda and I are just sitting by our little sap boiler and enjoying the springlike weather.  We watched a red fox hunting rodents in the hay field, and yesterday a sharp shinned hawk flew right by and landed in the tree in front of me…. don’t think it even knew I was there.

Yesterday I loaded up the van with  a bunch of old electrical wire, that was left from many jobs from the past, (pieces that were too short or that I tore out of spaces that I remodeled).    I took it to the local scrap metal yard where it weighed in at 196#, so at $0.90/# it was well worth the drive.

Over the last couple of days we had a juvenile Cooper’s hawk in the barn.  It got in there by itself, so I figured it could get out again by itself, but after a couple days, I started to have doubts.   I think it got focused on the one opening in the peak of the gable end which was covered with hardware cloth.  the open air feel or something just prevented it from considering the two large open doors.   I removed the hardware cloth cover and it left immediately.  Before I got the window screen out, it was swooping in very close and even brushed my back, so I did have some concern as I perched there on the ladder that it might sink its claws in my back just to make sure I had the proper respect.  But it ended well for me and the hawk….  but prior to this visit, we had two pigeons…. not anymore.

Jan 26 and yesterday’s rain, and warm snow melting temperatures, pushed Flint creek up to around 600cfs which is a respectable fun level to paddle this gem.  This morning the temp was below freezing,  but I knew I’d kick myself if I didn’t get out with the boat.   I pulled out the gear, since this is a local creek, I can dress at home.  So I’m putting on my neoprene socks, wool socks, and neoprene booties and … man there is some kind of burr or something inside with my left foot.  Its going to be a long trip if I have to put up with that aggravation the whole time… so remove the bootie, wool sock, and neoprene sock… and out pops a wasp.  Probably not very happy with me ruining his winter accommodations.   Paddled alone which meant I provided my own shuttle, ie drop off the boat, leave van at take out, and ride bike back to boat.   Managed to find the biggest hill between phelps and the boat, but the ride was nice.  Evidence of icedams that blew down the creek yesterday, but all clear today.  Only two strainers, one of which I portaged and the second was high enough over the water that I could sneak under it in one spot.   Surfed, and played and thoroughly exhausted myself.   The way it should be.

Spent some time today emptying some old file boxes.  Sort of a retirement moment.  Over 20 years worth of job records…. receipts, notes, plans, invoices, etc.  Only once I was able to save someone some considerable money and aggravation because of my record keeping habits…  village did not have records of a permit and inspection of a project (causing problems at the time of sale), but I had signed proof.  I don’t think of myself as obsessive-compulsive, but I am a hoarder.  You never know…. And then there are the personal receipts for just about everything going back over 20 years.  OK, so I don’t trust that the IRS won’t come knocking.   Admitting I may be a bit over the top, I think I’ll have a little bonfire and shrink the pile.  Was kind of fun to go through and see the incredible number of jobs… some good memories, and some having a bit of an adrenaline response.

Oct 24th I blogged about an oversight brought to my attention by the IRS, and I dutifully paid the $32 that I owed.  I didn’t calculate the late penalty & interest (it was from 2 years prior) since I assumed the IRS could (and would) do it without my help.  Well in the tradition of Xmas miracles, they informed us that we owed them $2.51, but they “reduced your account balance to zero because the amount owed was so small.”    Maybe its the beginning of a trend.

Over a year ago, Gerry donated time and his truck to help me pick up an old upright piano that had a ‘free’ sign on it.  I had plans to build a wind chime out of it, which has yet to materialize.  Today I was working on our bedroom which has been waiting to reach a finished state for many years, and I had the inspiration to use a panel from that piano to make a sort of headboard for our bed…. and the price was right too.  All I actually needed was a shelf to hold the TV remote.   A little elbow grease to restore the finish and voila!

While looking at old photos, these caught my eye.  We started building our current home in 1979.  Backhoes and dozers did exist back then, but I was young and bit off, so we dug down for the foundation with the team of horses and a slip scoop…. pretty much the same tools used more than 150 years before that to dig the Erie canal.  Dan is driving the team and I’m manning the scoop   The other photos are an ‘aerial’ taken from the silo of the above project, and that’s Jody on the right with cousin Ryan on the left horse.

Another bonfire with good food, and good people.  Gerry and Don got the smoke ring cannon going pretty good, but it was difficult to time my digital camera shutter to the fast moving ring.  Dan’s bale twine ball weighed in at 72 pounds and put on quite a light show, looking more like a meteor when the wind blew just right.  Flames from the door panels shot 20′ into the air, and fortunately no one called the fire dept.  There was the Iwo Jima moment as we lowered and raised the gin pole for repairs… I’m glad for everyone that was able to attend.  It was great fun.

I started calling him T Rex when he was born in honor of his mother’s nasty temperament, but Linda started calling him Teddy Rex due to general cuteness.  Can’t disagree.