Gained a daughter-in-law!

Congratulations to Jared and Chandra!!  :)

 My boys are grown up!!

Crazy Times!

The past few weeks have been packed with busy-ness.  With the cold/chilly then hot/humid weather yo-yo'ing and toss in a freeze here and there; we got the last of the tomatoes canned.  I still have some 'cool weather' crops in the garden growing.  Soon I will let the chickens lose in there so they can eat weed/grass seeds and whatever goodies are left behind. I'll let them do some 'winter work' for me! ;)

It's a bittersweet thing when the freezes come; we get a reprieve from some work, but after a week or two I'm ready to start gardening/canning again!  Instead I shall make grand plans for the garden next year.....like I do every year!  (Never works out that way, but as they say:  It looks good on paper!!) HA

Our freezer is packed full now and the shelves are overflowing with canned foods grown here and the neighbors'.  Patrick and I have worked very, very hard this year and the results are plenty of food put up.  It's a labor of love I guess.....I like to eat so I labor away!   
Grow it, tend it, harvest it, put some work and imagination into it, then can/freeze it, and eat it! 

Now we are turning our attention to Kyle, he'll be leaving soon (November) for basic training; and Jared's upcoming wedding.  That is a work in progress with the planning! ha  Jared is home on leave now; but I haven't seen him much.  He and his fiancee are busy seeing friends and getting last-minute things done for their wedding as well.  Ah, young love!  :)

That's it in a nutshell--once things have settled down I will have more time to write/update my blog on a regular basis!  :)

Where does the time go?!

A Combine harvesting beans.  It's been very dusty around here lately!!

 

 

I can't believe it's October already--time sure flies!  The weather is cooler--we have a couple of hard freezes coming in the next day or two.  The garden will be done--I'll see if the brussels sprouts and cabbage make it. 

It's always a tinge of sadness, but then again some relief of constant putting something "up" when it's ripe.  Even with the heat and drought this summer, the food that came from our little place is always a Blessing.

 

I planted what wheat I had left for the chickens in a 'winter plot' for them.  It's always a treat when they are penned up in the coldest time of the year.  (When its bitter cold and/or snowy I pen them so they are more protected from the elements and predators.)  I'm experimenting this winter and will let them into the garden area so they can 'clean up' and hopefully eat lots of grass/weed seeds. :)

 

Dolly isn't doing so well--her digestive system isn't what it used to be, and she's having a hard time getting up when laying down.  She is 18 after all, no spring chicken!  The steers and Nessa are just fine--ornery as ever!

 

We actually heard some thunder, but doubtful we get any rain here.  We are at least 10" below 'normal' rainfall this year so far.  This winter will be an interesting one--I don't mind the snow, it's the bitter cold that I disdain. I have heard so many wives' tales about what it's supposed to do this winter, and it seems they tend to contradict each other.  So who knows what it'll be like!  Time will tell....the good, bad or ugly!

 

 

Jared will be home on leave in a couple of weeks.  Kyle has Drills again soon.  Amazing how much in the past couple of years the "boys" have grown/matured.  I guess that means I'm getting old! ha

Patrick has been doing some projects around here--at his pace as he can get stuff done.  I did get the lawn mowed (finally). 

Now I'm off to harvest what is left in the garden so we can get it preserved in one way or another. :)