There was a slight coating of frost upon the grass this morning. As I took Colby out for his morning constitutional, there was a audible bend underfoot. Not quite the crack or snap of a true frost, a November frost, but it is getting there. It reminds me that there is much to do before the ground freezes solid.
Soon I will need to find the heater base to the chicken's water dish, and coat the bottom of the coop with the old heat pads and a green tarp. We have thirteen chickens coming into Fall, and while I know it is likely that Winter will leave us down quite a few, I see no need to assist in that process. Although, I do have a few nasty birds for whom I probably won't shed a tear, should I not see them next Spring...
We need to harvest the rest of the corn and hang them up to dry. Other "friends" have been visiting by moon light, and if I don't quicken my step and get that process underway, I might need to bit that food supply adieu.
Additional raised beds will need to be set to rest for the Winter sleep. Old summer planting, past their prime, will be pulled up and laid upon the beds, only to be tucked in with a layer of soil and chicken manure. Spring will bring us a richer soil, having invited the earthworms to come and parttake in the remainder of that harvest.
It was a long Summer, and so I welcome this process, this coming of Fall, with a hope of renewal. I am ready for the break that it will bring, come October and November, before the heavy snows of Winter arrive. Of course, I will curse these words come January, when I have decided that Winter has already overstayed its welcome and I am itching to dig into the soil. But, for now, I am glad.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Greetings of Fall....
Today, Fall felt like it arrived.
At mid morning, we picked a pumpkin. By mid-afternoon, it was cooked and settled within a pie.
Dinner was a stew of pickings from the garden, with some ground turkey and spices added. Thick and hearty to match the season.
Rows of the garden were finished and tucked away for the winter months. Rain hovered overhead, threatening to come upon us, but thankfully never breaking through. Spring will find us ready next year, raised beds in hand.
The evening ended with a romp over and above those beds by my own pup, fast as the wind with a huge grin upon his face.
Such a blessed good day.
At mid morning, we picked a pumpkin. By mid-afternoon, it was cooked and settled within a pie.
Dinner was a stew of pickings from the garden, with some ground turkey and spices added. Thick and hearty to match the season.
Rows of the garden were finished and tucked away for the winter months. Rain hovered overhead, threatening to come upon us, but thankfully never breaking through. Spring will find us ready next year, raised beds in hand.
The evening ended with a romp over and above those beds by my own pup, fast as the wind with a huge grin upon his face.
Such a blessed good day.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Saturdays...
It is nearly 8am and the kids have just risen. Sleeping in, I say... ;)
Colby and I have been up since 5:30. I have run my two miles, and he has had his walk. We have cleaned the chicken coop (more I than him...) and cared for the guinea pigs. We have walked the garden and harvested the potatoes.
I am now deep within my next cup of coffee.
It has been a good morning.
We are now off for a round of harvesting and baking. I have crust to make for a lunch time quiche, to be accompanied by home fries from this morning's harvest. Tomatoes need to be picked and bought in for the makings of sauce, and green beans will need to be prepped for a round of canning dilly beans.
It will be a busy day.
Colby and I have been up since 5:30. I have run my two miles, and he has had his walk. We have cleaned the chicken coop (more I than him...) and cared for the guinea pigs. We have walked the garden and harvested the potatoes.
I am now deep within my next cup of coffee.
It has been a good morning.
We are now off for a round of harvesting and baking. I have crust to make for a lunch time quiche, to be accompanied by home fries from this morning's harvest. Tomatoes need to be picked and bought in for the makings of sauce, and green beans will need to be prepped for a round of canning dilly beans.
It will be a busy day.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Mornings...
It is 5:13 am, and I have been up since 3:50am. The alarm went off like a starting pistol, and we were off.
By 4:15am, I was hard at work in the kitchen. The giant garden of the summer, which kept me so very busy weeding and planting, is now keeping me tied to the kitchen. Cherry tomatoes are slow roasting in the oven, complete with olive oil and spices. Water is readying to boil to blanch the green beans. And once that is done, as soon as light hits the sky, we are back out to the garden to see what else can be harvested in the early morning hours.
There is no sleeping in during harvest days.
I know that I have scarcely a post to my name these days. The summer has run away, and taken me with it, caught up in its warm rays and growing days. But, I will be back soon with updates and pictures - so much has happened. The baby chicks are now nearly full grown, and (I think) even saw fit to lay an egg. We adopted a puppy, who is my new gardening (digging!) companion.
There is so much to write, and so little time. So, until I can get back again...
By 4:15am, I was hard at work in the kitchen. The giant garden of the summer, which kept me so very busy weeding and planting, is now keeping me tied to the kitchen. Cherry tomatoes are slow roasting in the oven, complete with olive oil and spices. Water is readying to boil to blanch the green beans. And once that is done, as soon as light hits the sky, we are back out to the garden to see what else can be harvested in the early morning hours.
There is no sleeping in during harvest days.
I know that I have scarcely a post to my name these days. The summer has run away, and taken me with it, caught up in its warm rays and growing days. But, I will be back soon with updates and pictures - so much has happened. The baby chicks are now nearly full grown, and (I think) even saw fit to lay an egg. We adopted a puppy, who is my new gardening (digging!) companion.
There is so much to write, and so little time. So, until I can get back again...
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Thursdays....
So, I have been MIA for four weeks now. No posts, no writing, nothing. I know.
It has been a crazy four weeks. I am glad they are over. I tried to write about them last night for a post, but it was just too much to say, and too small a period to say it in. So, we will just say it has been crazy, and move forward.
'K?
Good.
So, anyways. It is Thursday. During the summer, this is my extra day off. So, given that it is a day off, it only seems natural to rise at 4:15am, pack the husband and send him off to work, do a 2 mile run, and then weed the insanely large garden for ages....and then tend to the wee ones when they rise...right? Right?
No, I didn't think so either. But, hey - at least I squeezed a shower in there, too.
So, let's see what the rest of the day bring, shall we?
It has been a crazy four weeks. I am glad they are over. I tried to write about them last night for a post, but it was just too much to say, and too small a period to say it in. So, we will just say it has been crazy, and move forward.
'K?
Good.
So, anyways. It is Thursday. During the summer, this is my extra day off. So, given that it is a day off, it only seems natural to rise at 4:15am, pack the husband and send him off to work, do a 2 mile run, and then weed the insanely large garden for ages....and then tend to the wee ones when they rise...right? Right?
No, I didn't think so either. But, hey - at least I squeezed a shower in there, too.
So, let's see what the rest of the day bring, shall we?
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
A late start....
We are off to a purposeful late start to the morning.
Well, not totally purposeful. We did not mean to forget to set the alarm clock, which should have awakened us at 4:30am instead of 5, but the husband was still out the door on time and I still got my run in without child related interruptions. Which is a good thing, as this mom does not begin to wake until the first mile is behind her.
We have decided that the kids will not be attending their school-sponsored all-day field trip today, so there is no early to rise incentive today. My son awoke around 6:30, and my daughter just graced us with her presense about 20 minutes ago. She swears that she was up all night - didn't get a wink of sleep....but the lady who checks on her each night knows better ;)
The extra sleep agrees with them. Voices are lower, there are secret giggles...they are getting along. Gone is the rush, rush, rush, of the weekday morning. We will stay, right here, until about 9:15, and then will pack a bag and load van. Once in town, they will hop in the truck with my husband and head for a (relatively) nearby ice cream factory for a daddy-sponsored field trip.
It will be delicious, I am sure.
I will stay in town to work in the office, enjoying the peace that the post-tax-season environment brings. Work is still plentiful, but not back breaking. Enjoyable in many way, I venture to say. And a very good chance of pace from the weekend gardening marathons....
My hands are just beginning to heal from last weekend. My sunburn? Well that is another thing. Damn sunblock - it just can't keep up. And the garden is only about a quarter of the way in.... Memorial Day weekend will provide many, many hours to hopefully plant the rest.
Hopefully.
But, until the busy-ness sets in again, I will rest and enjoy. Soak in this peace and have another cup of coffee.
And enjoy.
Well, not totally purposeful. We did not mean to forget to set the alarm clock, which should have awakened us at 4:30am instead of 5, but the husband was still out the door on time and I still got my run in without child related interruptions. Which is a good thing, as this mom does not begin to wake until the first mile is behind her.
We have decided that the kids will not be attending their school-sponsored all-day field trip today, so there is no early to rise incentive today. My son awoke around 6:30, and my daughter just graced us with her presense about 20 minutes ago. She swears that she was up all night - didn't get a wink of sleep....but the lady who checks on her each night knows better ;)
The extra sleep agrees with them. Voices are lower, there are secret giggles...they are getting along. Gone is the rush, rush, rush, of the weekday morning. We will stay, right here, until about 9:15, and then will pack a bag and load van. Once in town, they will hop in the truck with my husband and head for a (relatively) nearby ice cream factory for a daddy-sponsored field trip.
It will be delicious, I am sure.
I will stay in town to work in the office, enjoying the peace that the post-tax-season environment brings. Work is still plentiful, but not back breaking. Enjoyable in many way, I venture to say. And a very good chance of pace from the weekend gardening marathons....
My hands are just beginning to heal from last weekend. My sunburn? Well that is another thing. Damn sunblock - it just can't keep up. And the garden is only about a quarter of the way in.... Memorial Day weekend will provide many, many hours to hopefully plant the rest.
Hopefully.
But, until the busy-ness sets in again, I will rest and enjoy. Soak in this peace and have another cup of coffee.
And enjoy.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Stubborn baby chicks....
The baby chickens refused to get in the coop tonight.
Simply refused.
I don't know that reason - maybe a rude feathered lady. Something. But I tried to tuck them in at 8:30, and then at 8:45, to no avail. So, then, when I just heard some peeping outside the door to the chicken yard, I opened it slowly and pounced. Scooped all three up and tossed them right into the coop.
Well, not tossed, exactly. But, it probably wasn't so comfortable.
But now, they are safe. Annoyed, but safe. No skunk snack here. Done.
And the night is nearly done. The kids are watching a movie upstairs, the husband is watching Swamp People or the like downstairs. And I am here. Done. Or at least waiting to be done. And asleep.
Tomorrow promises to be a busy day. I will arise with the sun to get an early morning run in, and then head for the garden. More seeds to go in, more ground to till. Then T-Ball plant sales, team picture days, and general kid-related running about. I will need all of the sleep that tonight will bring. It will be a long day...
Simply refused.
I don't know that reason - maybe a rude feathered lady. Something. But I tried to tuck them in at 8:30, and then at 8:45, to no avail. So, then, when I just heard some peeping outside the door to the chicken yard, I opened it slowly and pounced. Scooped all three up and tossed them right into the coop.
Well, not tossed, exactly. But, it probably wasn't so comfortable.
But now, they are safe. Annoyed, but safe. No skunk snack here. Done.
And the night is nearly done. The kids are watching a movie upstairs, the husband is watching Swamp People or the like downstairs. And I am here. Done. Or at least waiting to be done. And asleep.
Tomorrow promises to be a busy day. I will arise with the sun to get an early morning run in, and then head for the garden. More seeds to go in, more ground to till. Then T-Ball plant sales, team picture days, and general kid-related running about. I will need all of the sleep that tonight will bring. It will be a long day...
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Busy....
It has been challenging remembering to get online. The days been taken over by so many things. By the time I have completed by to-do list for a given day, a new one has begun.
We finally got some new chicks to add to the flock. I purchased 3 pullets from a breeder in a nearby town. That trip alone was eye opening. I drove to a part of a familiar town that I was completely unfamiliar with - I didn't even know section an area existed, but there, on the side of a mountain was the most beautiful sheep farm. The green rolled on for acres, sheep dotted the field in the way you read about in story books, and their hen house was an actual little house. So beautiful - I think I fell oh-so-slightly in love.
The garden has been moving forward, more and more raised beds being created each weekend. I am worried about keeping up with it all once we have passed planting and moved on to the weeding strange, but, well, you don't know until you try. And try we will.... Dandelions are already popping up with a vengence.
The plants that had been growing full force in our dining room have been moved out to the garage to be hardened off. The tomato plants average about 18 inches tall, and I am very excited about them. We have been watching the weather closely, and I think that next weekend may be their weekend.... For planting that is.
So far, onions & potatoes are the only items that have been actually planted in this years garden. Asparagus is coming up, but that was planted years ago. Garlic went in last Fall, and we are hopeful that will be popping up any day. Time will tell. We are getting very tired of purchasing our produce from outside sources. It will lovely to begin our grocery shopping in the back yard once again.
I am continuing to run, training for a 5K that may or may not happen. That isn't really the point anymore. I am finding that in running, the thoughts racing through my head each and everyone straighten themselves out and make sense. So, it is 2 miles every morning and 2 or 3 miles nearly every evening. It is a good thing.
It is Mother's Day today...but it really doesn't effect our household. A few well wishes and token gifts - it is hard to get your heart around a holiday that really doesn't exist outside of Hallmark. So, the day will filled with some cooking and cleaning, along with a visit from some friends. I may dig through my seeds packets and see if any should go in today - seeing as how the skys are providing us with a nice light rain and some warm-ish temps.
But, for how, I think that it is breakfast time.
We finally got some new chicks to add to the flock. I purchased 3 pullets from a breeder in a nearby town. That trip alone was eye opening. I drove to a part of a familiar town that I was completely unfamiliar with - I didn't even know section an area existed, but there, on the side of a mountain was the most beautiful sheep farm. The green rolled on for acres, sheep dotted the field in the way you read about in story books, and their hen house was an actual little house. So beautiful - I think I fell oh-so-slightly in love.
The garden has been moving forward, more and more raised beds being created each weekend. I am worried about keeping up with it all once we have passed planting and moved on to the weeding strange, but, well, you don't know until you try. And try we will.... Dandelions are already popping up with a vengence.
The plants that had been growing full force in our dining room have been moved out to the garage to be hardened off. The tomato plants average about 18 inches tall, and I am very excited about them. We have been watching the weather closely, and I think that next weekend may be their weekend.... For planting that is.
So far, onions & potatoes are the only items that have been actually planted in this years garden. Asparagus is coming up, but that was planted years ago. Garlic went in last Fall, and we are hopeful that will be popping up any day. Time will tell. We are getting very tired of purchasing our produce from outside sources. It will lovely to begin our grocery shopping in the back yard once again.
I am continuing to run, training for a 5K that may or may not happen. That isn't really the point anymore. I am finding that in running, the thoughts racing through my head each and everyone straighten themselves out and make sense. So, it is 2 miles every morning and 2 or 3 miles nearly every evening. It is a good thing.
It is Mother's Day today...but it really doesn't effect our household. A few well wishes and token gifts - it is hard to get your heart around a holiday that really doesn't exist outside of Hallmark. So, the day will filled with some cooking and cleaning, along with a visit from some friends. I may dig through my seeds packets and see if any should go in today - seeing as how the skys are providing us with a nice light rain and some warm-ish temps.
But, for how, I think that it is breakfast time.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Coming back....
So, we are joining in with the Yarning Along with Ginny and Tami's Amis' Work in Progress and Ambassador Crochet for the first time in ages...and I am happy to be coming back.
At the moment, I am working with some natural tone wool yarn for use in making a cardigan. I am hoping to make it similar to the one the I made my daughter in the winter...one which is still in her closet, folded and waiting for use.
This is a project that I am only using to hold time as I await the real prize. The prize which is beautifully dyed wool from sheep at a farm that my friend manages with her family. Never before have I been about to have any connection to the fiber I use, and this, I am cherishing.
As I have blogged in the past, my friend is Katie from West Bay Farm in Maine. I would encourage anyone looking to support a small business to give her wool a try. They don't have a fully working website for yarn sales, but if you visit their FaceBook website and send her a message, she would love to chat. She does some dyeing ahead of time, but enjoys custom orders. At the moment, I am eagerly awaiting an order of two skeins of a green and purple color blend which will be crocheted into a lacy shawl. In the picture above in a scarf done in her aqua and purple color blend.
As for the literary side of this blog...well, I am at a bit of a stand still. I am back to the stage of re-reading old favorites...currently being, well....the Twilight series. Yes, I know. Crazy. I just haven't found any thing else that I feel like losing myself in at the moment. I would, however, love some suggestions. What are you reading? Any good story lines out there?
So that is all on this end. I look forward to doing some blog hopping now and seeing what everyone else in doing. Want to join me? Head on over to the Yarn Along with Ginny, Tami's Amis' Work in Progress, and Ambassador Crochet.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
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