WEATHER: Finally it turned. We’ve had a stretch of sunny warm (60’s) days that drew everyone outdoors to see if the rhubarb was coming up yet, to notice a crocus blooming not in the garden where it should but under the apple tree, to pick up the pail of clothespins in one hand and a… Read More
Get going and then end
WEATHER: Yesterday, Friday April 20th, presented with 4″ of new snow.The temp ranged from 30- 33F. Early Saturday Morning Tanka after a bleak week: Not sullen but Sun. Shadows of apple trees claim the snowy bank. No squirrels, no wind, a raven who strikes the clapboards, retreats. HOW’S IT RUNNING? Once again yesterday the bucket… Read More
Root Drought and the Power of Suggestion
—Chief of Operations
No buds, no sap
“April is the cruellest month, breeding Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing Memory and desire, stirring Dull roots with spring rain.” —the oft-quoted first lines of T.S. Eliot’s poem The Waste Land MORNING LAMENT: “Boy, high today 41. I don’t know what to do,” says Chief of Operations. “This is going to… Read More
This Magnificent Tree, Fred Rogers and Dr. Seuss
This blog mirrors sugar season in that there’s no predicting what course it will take each year. Imagine my surprise and delight in finding the following unsolicited blog offering in my mailbox this morning. NOTABLE MAPLES DEPT: Christian (crew ’15 and ’16) writes: a poem inspired by this magnificent tree, fred rogers and dr. seuss.… Read More
The Life of Kraus
CREDITS: Gnome artist: Ana Lucia Fernandez Photography and Text: Chief of Operations [Editor’s Note: If you hike the Pinnacle, look for Kraus and introduce yourself.]
It would only be a day
WEATHER: April in February, now February in April. Low last night 18, snowing hard this afternoon. HOW’S IT RUNNING? The second intermission began yesterday. Of note earlier in the week was how strong the bucket taps (all five) were running; they outperformed the tubing taps. Usually by late in the season the bucket taps have… Read More
Iskigamigee-giizis
Welcome, April. Crew member Ana shared with us that the Ojibwe of the Great Lakes region call each month a “moon.” March is Onaabani-giizis, or hard crust on the snow moon; April is Iskigamigee-giizis, or maple sugar moon. For more on Ojibwe sugaring from a child’s perspective: .)https://www.glifwc.org/publications/pdf/Iskigamizigan_Supplement.pdf Weather: Nothing to alarm… Read More
Nothing but Smoke and Steam
Hill Report from woods crew wizard Ross Scatchard: Puzzled Doing the line check on KO [lowest line on Keystone] the other day, a couple of the sap lines seemed different from the others. I was in the tired, thirsty, constantly hungry, and slightly cross-eyed state that comes from chasing bubbles and small leaks… Read More
Shades of Possibility
HILL REPORT. from woods crew member Cy Kupersmith: Legs are feeling strong after enough of a break to relieve fatigue but not too long to feel gassed. Great snow for snow shoeing. Predictably soft and not punchy. Weather has been good for one layer. Sometimes two at the end of the day. Sunglasses and a brimmed… Read More
The Nebraska Knoll Blog 