Uff - Sugaring Season

[helwen]

Good weather yesterday and today, so I've been moving more stuff out of the sugarhouse. I realize to anyone reading my journal that it seems like we've been doing that forever, but most of the time it's only me moving things, and I can only carry so much at a time. The other reason is that most of the time we can't use the minivan because of the slope getting up from the sugarhouse back onto the road -- too icy, no can do. So, I'm hand-carrying boxes and stuff. It's usually colder in the morning so I only put in 30-45 minutes then. In the afternoon I put in a couple hours or so. I'm definitely not speedy, but I'm building up my stamina again.

fitzw started going up on the hill yesterday, clearing the pipelines of snow, ice, and fallen branches. There are two layers of crust here now, with snow in-between. It's quite the job, trying to break through the lower layer especially. Tomorrow's supposed to still be decent weather, so he's calling in one of the nephews to help. Also today he was on the roof of the sugarhouse, clearing the snow off of the section William's most concerned might not hold -- more snow, freezing rain, etc. expected tomorrow evening/night, so the load needed to be lightened.

On the plus side, while it's certainly taking longer to empty the sugarhouse, I'm getting plenty of exercise. If you want practice walking on uneven surfaces, going up and downhill over snow, slush, and ice, and in and out of a barn with varying thicknesses of hay on the floor will give you plenty of it. Nothing like what fitzw's doing, of course! Me, I'll stick to the snowbunny courses for now :D

Comments

[flidaisairmid.livejournal.com]

think of it as walking a huge obstacle course !You get in walking, you get in isometrics ( tensing those muscles trying to keep your balance and stay standing) you get the mental focus trying to watch the step ahead so you don't slip and kill yourself. We have the same thing here this year with the amount of snow and fluctuating temps. It's compacted snow, covered by ice and a layer of water that melts and freezes. makes walking to the car or anywhere else a real adventure. Add sacks of groceries , and it's Disneyland !

Slow but steady gets the job done- no need to feel guilty about it !

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Yes, that layer of water that melts and freezes can make things especially exciting!

My main concern is making sure the sugarhouse looks decent by the time boiling starts.

L has said that tomorrow he'll get one of the old sleds out for me -- it's a little too heavy for me to carry out of the barn over the mud that's on the east side of the barn, but once it's on the snow I should be able to use it.

Just think though -- my moving stuff and your grocery shopping are free -- no gym membership required :D

[flidaisairmid.livejournal.com]

Yep- free is best ! My "gym" membership also includes scrubbing floors, using a carpet sweeper instead of a vacuum cleaner and chopping lots of veggies. If I had a garden, that would be better than an eliptical machine I think .

Of course, we do miss out on the personal trainers or the gym mates wearing the latest fashion in workout wear. But we have the squirrels and the geese- maybe we just need to listen to them a little better. Can you hear it ? That fast moving squirrel to the right is saying "You can do it ! push Push Push !!! Show me what you"ve got !"

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Can you hear it ? That fast moving squirrel to the right is saying "You can do it ! push Push Push !!! Show me what you"ve got !"

LOL!

[fitzw.livejournal.com]

Nothing like what fitzw's doing, of course! Me, I'll stick to the snowbunny courses for now :D
Yeah, that hillside is more of a triple black diamond at the moment... :-P

[lady-jade-01.livejournal.com]

Yeah, my little bit of walk to work is "snowbunny course" in it's way...except when there's snow on the side of the road and the cars don't want to move and one must jump outta the way before one may plant and step out of the way...sheeesh.