We were so busy, but we took time out to remember the Veterans who serve and served our country. Both my late husband, Bob, and husband, Will, were Vietnam Marine Corps veterans so I truly understand the sacrifice men and women make when they choose to serve, both in the field and years afterward.

Yesterday I was so busy seeding out some more winter squash. I felt so blessed when I did some new-to-us Hopi Orange squash. These very rare, ancient squash are bright red-orange, with a small point on the blossom end and very thick orange meat. I can’t wait to eat one! It took me a couple of years searching to find a source of these seeds. Fortunately, despite the poor growing year, we did harvest nine nice squash and will have seed to add to our website (but not the catalog) this year so we can share them.

These are rare Hopi Orange squash.
We still have a big pile of squash in the entryway! Get to work, Jackie!

Will’s bad luck continues to follow him, it seems. He used a single bottom plow to plow a ditch along part of our driveway. He left it beside the drive and did some road work on the drive. When he headed home, he put it in the bucket of his new big Kubota. On the way back, he hit a bump, and it dropped out and disappeared under the tractor before he could hit the brakes. Long story short, he punched a hole in the sidewall of the rear tire’s sidewall. Ouch! Fluid began pouring out the hole, as they are filled with beet juice, instead of calcium chloride, that causes the rims to rust out. He made it home, then started searching for a new tire … $1,000 plus! Fortunately, a tire place in Virginia (the town) works on big tires and said they’d send a guy out to check it out. It turns out that, hopefully, they can repair the hole, add a tube, and we can get by much cheaper. I hope, I hope…

Hondo watches for “dangers” while Will and I split firewood.

After both Will and I had been at various jobs separately, just before dark, we teamed up and split another load of firewood. I have to laugh at both Hondo and Sarge. Both dogs seem to think it’s their job to protect us while we work. They both keep a hawk eye on the whole job. — Jackie

11 COMMENTS

  1. We had -15 last night in the Copper Basin, Alaska! When I bought my TC30 New Hollander tractor about 20 years ago the dealer advised me not to have the tires loaded as there is no one who works on tractor tires closer than 200 miles. It is 4wheel drive and I use it mostly for plowing snow and hauling wood. Once in a while I wish I had chains when the occasional wet heavy snow comes around. I wish I had better luck with winter squash, even with started plants transplanted to the hoop house my best year was 3 golden nugget squash

  2. There’s constantly something on the farm to fix and it’s NEVER cheap!! I hope as well it’s the cheaper side for your fix.

    I can’t wait to see what you think of the new pumpkin/squash, I’ve been wanting to try them as well. Our favorites are the Hubbard and the Delicata (so much like a sweet potato).

    We’re getting good heavy showers today and the newly plowed garden is almost black. We’ll be adding wood ash too it as we clean out the stove this winter. The weather is so messed up we don’t know what to expect next with the crazy temps.

    I’m already checking out seeds for the next season. Lots of work to do to our small greenhouse before spring and I’m learn new ideas throughout this fall from a Facebook GH link that has the same kit we bought four years ago. The wind wreaks havoc on ours all the time so we’re planning to sturdy it up with 2×4’s and thicker poly throughout.

    Take care!!
    Rita

    • We are sure glad we built our permanent greenhouse a few years ago. The only thing we wish is that it had been BIGGER!! Boy, can we ever fill it in the spring and at harvest time. You’ll have to try Hopi Pale Grey and Arnie’s Golden Buttercup. Those are a couple of our favorites. Arnie’s is smaller, a two person squash that, I think, tastes the most like sweet potatoes and Hopi Pale Grey is the BEST, IMHO.
      We’re still without snow and I’m fine with that. I’d rather have rain but I wish it would kind of quit for awhile.

  3. My great aunt moved to Virginia after she sold her home to her daughter and family. She was a hoot suffice it to say.
    The tire place is old school – repair when you can/it makes sense. I doubt if they’d repair if not safe/long lasting.
    Truth be told I’m surprised Mittens and Buffy aren’t out there supervising (along with sly guard duty too as despite getting along/detente with the canines, felines rule, just ask them).
    Our weather is just nuts – we’ve barely had a killing frost. I have the outside water heaters set up but have had no need to plug them in. Predicted overnight low on Nov 22 is only 31 – just unheard of for us.
    Resistance, survival, revival – tis my mantra these days.

    • You bet cats think they rule. And, at our house, they pretty much do. Mittens was having her afternoon nap and Buffy was scared of the guy’s big truck. Sarge thought it was great though. A new “friend”!! Such a guard dog, huh?
      We’ve got crazy weather too. Rain instead of snow. But I guess that’s around the corner. Can’t complain though. We’ve saved a lot of firewood.

  5. poor Will! hopefully his ‘luck’ will turn sooner than later. beautiful squash. i had only 1 Hopi grey, looking forward to opening it up. Delicato squash outdid even the zucchini!
    seeing all your new varieties , cant wait to get my order completed an sent off.take care(Better care Will!)

    • I’m sure hoping Will’s run of bad luck will soon be over too. He’s not a happy camper when these things happen! Delicata squash were Mom’s favorite. The one thing I didn’t like was the short storage life they have. We try to grow ones that mostly last all winter without babying.

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