Cold overnight again. Single digits maybe 8. Sunny during the day. Up to 35. By Noon we got a little melt. Some trees tried to run. But when it gets so cold it takes time for them to warm up.
Prepared the kitchen for bottling: started the propane gas, washed the filter press, brought over bottles, filter aid and other supplies for bottling. By 2:30 PM we were finally ready to get the syrup on the finishing pan. Takes about 2 hours to reach a boil and finish. It starts about 30 brix and needs to get to 32 brix for finished syrup.
We bottled 16 quarts and 26 pints: 7.5 gallons. One pint bottle broke. Likely a flaw in the glass that caused it to break when the hot syrup hit it.
We hope to collect tomorrow before the snow moves in. We are forecast to get 2”-4”. And then it stays below freezing for the next few days. And another chance of snow on Monday. Not exactly the weather we need.
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