Very cold overnight.  Down to -3.   Sunny today but only reached about 32.  Tomorrow and Wednesday warmer weather is forecast with highs maybe reaching 50.   Changing weather is normal in March, but these swings seem more extreme than normal.  Everything is still snow covered and pretty.  But with much warmer weather melting will commence and the brown mud will return.   Later in the week is settles down to 40s and 20s.   We are expecting sap.

Into the wood around Noon to bottle.  Ice in the evaporator.   The milk cans with water have ice.   Even the battery powered clock stopped for 7 ½ hours do to the cold.  Got the syrup in the finishing pan and started the burner.   In the bottling kitchen the stove did not light.  Must be ice somewhere in the lines.  But the burners on the bottling pan worked so we could continue.  Warmed water on the bottling pan.   We bottled 24 quarts and 1 pint. 

We have 19 ½ gallons total for season so far.   Our average is 60 gallons.   So we are about 1/3 the way there.    We are hoping to make more than 60 gallons, but our average over the years is 60 gallons which accounts for both the good seasons and the poor seasons.