It seems like today is one. First of all, the horses and mule got out, then went in the barn, finishing off the calf feed and our pumpkins. Okay… They were gone and had gone into the cow pasture. While Will went to cut another load of firewood, I got a bucket and headed for the cow pasture to see how they got out and put them back in. I got out there and the mule, Domino, was in the cow lot with the cows and no horses. Oh, there they were, back in the horse pasture. Domino had evidently jumped the fence, knocking down the top plank and stock panels. Gotta fix that and get Domino back in the horse pasture. With the ATV I drove into the pasture and found a tree had blown down on the electric tape. We’d had a big windstorm two days ago. I patched the fence and drove back through the North gate and over to the horse pasture, where I dumped out three small piles of grain. (They’d already had plenty of grain!) While the two horses were munching on their grain, I climbed through the fence and let Domino in the pipe gate. Whew!

Don’t they look so innocent? Hey, they were then. This photo was taken during summer.

Then, back to the house and get ready to can beets. (No, I still haven’t got them canned.) But Will hauled in another load of firewood and said he needed to set out more round bales for the cows. Hmmm … it’s already afternoon. So, the beets will have to wait till tomorrow. Luckily, they’re real easy to do. By boiling them for a minute or two with a little of the stem and root on, the skins slip right off like the skins of tomatoes do. And they’re fast and easy to slice up to put in pint jars. Will and I will eat up a pint of beets but not a quart. It’s rainy today so I’d thought I’d spend it canning. But I guess not. Maybe tomorrow?

Meanwhile, my crate of beets look sorrowfully at me.

— Jackie

13 COMMENTS

  1. It seems the more I have planned the more obstacles/challenges crop up. You have to laugh at the prison break of your stock. I’ve learned getting frustrated does nothing but slow me down. When things go smooth I’m suspicious a Grinch is waiting to “surprise” me. One has to go with the “flow” and look forward to another day.

    • That’s the first thing folks should have learned when going to homesteading. There’s always the unexpected and we’ve gotta just relax and figure “tomorrow”. Or the next day. Or…..

  3. I guess I have been doing beets the hard way. I boiled mine all right, but until they were fork tender then took them out, slipped the skin, cut up and jarred them then the vinegar, sugar, salt, some water, a little cinnamon then hwb. Does the hwb cook them to tender?

    • For pickled beets you need to cook them tender as they can in water bath for fairly short time where plain beets need pressure canning and would cook while they are processed!

    • You can also just bake the beets in an oven. I put mine on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake till fork tender. Then slip the skins off, cut, pack in jars with the pickling brine and hot water bath process. I find the baking is less mess for me.

  4. yes, they always look innocent after the fact. too bad about the pumpkin loss.:( hopefully the indulgence of calf grain didnt give anyone a gut ache. on the bright side, they back where they belong. fence is repaired, the beautiful crate of beets are still safe from them to can a latter day. have a Much better day today

    • I was worried about them eating so much too. But, luckily, the horsey angels were looking out for them and nobody got sick.
      Today is more “normal” and I’m in the pantry, unloading the dozens of boxes of full jars Will had piled up everywhere. I’ve got to have room to PUT those beets when I get them canned. Finally!

  5. Jail breaks – not limited to indoor only cats. The beets will still be there in the morning.
    We all have one of those days every now and then. Look at the bright side – in corporate america, events equivalent to jail breaks require paperwork and meetings. No such thing on your homestead.

Comments are closed.