Yes you too can tap the sap from your maple trees.  It’s surprisingly easy.  There are a lot of good guides on the ‘net, but the first thing you gotta do is get spiles, which are the little spouts you pound into the maple tree to access the sap.  I did this all last Friday (the 18^th) when it went up to 60 degrees.

This is the spile, another closer-up pic is below.  You can see my high -tech maple sap gathering device (old milk jug).  I will have to boil it down on the trash burning thing in my backyard.  40 gallons of sap makes one gallon of syrup.

See the sap just about to fall off the spile?  I took a cordless drill, with a 7/16th inch drill bit (kind of big), drilled about a 3 inch hole, tapped the spile in.  Because it was 60 degrees that day the sap came running out.

It’s kind of hard to make out the jug on the side of this tree…this one is big enough, I put another tap on the other side.

I’ll let you know how the boiling-down process goes.  I’m still trying to find out if you have to can this stuff or since the sugar content is so high, you can just stick it in a pretty bottle and give it out at Christmastime!

And The Winner Is…

Sorry Pittsburgh, I’m still on your bandwagon.  Maybe that’s a good thing?  Looking at my record this season (I’m embarrassed to even post it) I find a prime example of futility and failure.  You could have made a living, a good living, but going against me.  “That prognosticator says this, so bet that!” should have been a winning model.  One constant this year was the Steelers.  I usually picked Eagles Steelers and Giant games because they seem to be the teams of dominant interest in NEPA (although there are strong pockets of Dallas, Green Bay and strangely Viking fans in the area).  The Steelers brought home the bacon for me every week.

I break down the game this way:  More experienced quarterback, proven running game and  and experienced defense.  Say what you want about Big Ben, but he consistently stands and takes more hits than any other QB I can recall, except Randall Cunningham, and maybe Vinnie Testaverde.  His style of hold the ball until the play unfolds most likely has shaved a few years off the back end of his career.  Yet he’s  accurate and seldom makes bad decisions.  When he does it still ends up well for him. See his prayer to Santonio Holmes against the cardinals to win Superbowl XVIII.  NFL channel has been showing a special including footage of ben tossing the ball, knowing immediately it was a bad idea, then raising his arms to signal touchdown.  His expression says it all: relief.

I think the difference between these teams will be special teams.  Both teams are not known for stron special teams play.  You’ll recall last year’s game turned when Hank Baskett ham handed an onsides kick.  Scott Norwood’s infamous “push” to end Superbowl XXV another special teams “oops.”    That comes dwn to coaching and preparedness, and I give that nod to Mike Tomlin.  When it’s all said and done, Tomlin may even edge out Chuck “most under rated coach in NFL history” Knoll as the best of al Steeler coaches.

Some prop bets I found entertaining Include:

How long will Christina Augilara hold the note on “brave” in the National Anthem?  Over/under is six seconds.

What will Fergie be wearing when halftime show starts? Skirt/dress, Pants, shorts, thong/G-String

Will a punt hit the scoreboard? (personally I hope 5 punts hit the scoreboard every time they play in that stadium.

What coor will the gatoraide be that drenches the head coach after the game?

If there’s a picture of someone holding the lonvardi trophy on the cover of USA Today Mondya morning who will it be?

How many time will Jerry Jones be shown?

How many times will Brett Favre be mentioned?

How many times will the phrase “lockout” be mentioned.

More Points, Lebron James total or Steelers in first half?

What happens to the Dow Jones on Monday?

By the way, if you actually make a wager on any of these there are help lines for you.

Steelers are three point dogs in this game.  No sweat.  Put your fries in your sandwich and pick the Steelers.

Enjoy the game

The prognosticator