With this latest spell of warmer fall weather, we’ve kept busy. Will was so late getting into the hayfields this summer, due to the crazy rainy spring/early summer, he’s late getting wood into the woodshed. So, while he’s cutting logs up, I’ve been busy canning. The last of the tomatoes went into many jars of chili. And I’m also canning up some extra dry beans, Cowboy Candy, Vaquero Relish, Cowgirl Candy, and Gaucho Relish from our abundant peppers this year.
Yesterday we took a break and went to granddaughter, Melanie’s, first birthday party. It’s hard to believe she’s a year old already! And boy is she ever growing! She can crawl like a trooper and is able to stand by herself. Not walking yet, but I’m thinking that will happen really soon. Then, David and Elizabeth watch out! Having two feisty youngsters is sure going to be a challenge.
I cooked up one of the two frozen turkeys I got on sale at Aldis and today I’m going to start canning the rest up. I’ve always done it in pint jars. But this time, I’m opting for half pints as I want lots of smaller dices to use in recipes like pot pies, stir-fries, soups, and casseroles. With a small refrigerator stuffed full, I hate having leftovers to deal with. This morning, I’m going to split wood with Will. Then, this afternoon, I’m canning turkey. It’s a beautiful day out, probably our last warm one. Gotta make good use of it! — Jackie
Happy Birthday Melanie! It doesn’t seem like its been a year since we heard about her arrival. Time really does fly. I have been cleaning out my flower pots and putting up tomato stakes. We are so very dry still and the wind has been blowing a gale the last two days. The forecasters are predicting rain this afternoon and then much colder temps. It has been 80 which is nice, but not normal for here this time of year. I have just been trying to enjoy the warm fall because I know cold weather is coming. Hopefully Will can get the wood all cut and in before the snow flies. Your peppers look so good all canned up. Good eating this winter at your house:) Sending prayers for a blessed week.
Thank you!! We’re having rain today, which is supposed to turn to snow. Yuck!! We’re still working on wood, but today Will’s stacking dry wood in the woodshed and I’m canning turkey broth. Our gardens are still waiting for clean-up. But that might not come until spring. One does what one can do.
Wow where does the time go Jackie Davids family is beautiful.David sure grew up to be a hand so.e man from a string bean boy we knew in Mt.miss you as our neighbor take care Rick and Tacey
We miss you too! Time seems to fly by, doesn’t it? We’re getting ready for winter and it’s supposed to snow tonight. Not looking forward to that. Ugh! But we’re blessed with a good harvest, health and a wonderful family.
Dear Jackie, Will, and folks,
Yes, we are all busy bees and that is a good thing BUT don’t forget to stop and enjoy these
beautiful fall trees. Here in south middle Tennessee, they are absolutely glorious. It is surprising because we are in a drought. We probably won’t have these leaves (or good weather) much longer so don’t forget to enjoy it and breathe deeply this October bright blue weather. They are so beautiful here that they hurt my eyes!
We had those colorful fall trees too and boy did we enjoy them. Now, the trees are bare and it’s fall raining and supposed to turn to snow. We’re like the ant in the ant and grasshopper story, trying to get ready for you-know-what!
I’m enjoying the warm as well. Getting my container boxes winterized and racking leaves for the compost pile.
I love leaf compost! We live right in the woods but can’t rake them as there are too many branches and sticks.
We’ll be warm but windy the next three days. Except for getting the extension cords to heat the two outside water sources and beefing up our wood reserves, we’re in good shape for the winter. We’ve ample amounts of to-be-split for next year. We sell a bit of firewood here and there, the extra cash is always nice. Not getting rich by any means but we have a select group to whom we sell. We don’t advertise any more. One year we sold 26 face cords of wood, it was a lot of work, we had a lot of snow that year. But we had the time and it is an excellent work out to fell the tree, cut, haul, split. I remember late afternoon, we’d just finished splitting and stacking a face cord and a buyer showed up. We sucked it up (had light in our split/stack area) to replenish the rack, cooked something for dinner, and took the rest of the night off.
I see Delilah has the hang of being the oldest child lol.. reminds me of pictures of me (oldest) and my sibling. Always nice to spend time with family.
Better half pushed over a red elm and a good sized oak tree today. At least two to three more buckets full from the oak. Both were standing dead, ready to cut, split (if necessary), and burn. We have a massive standing dead oak that is leaning in the right direction. A good sized branch fell today in the wind. At some point, the branch that is stuck in another tree will break off. If it was going to hit any buildings when it fell, it would be down by now. But we estimate close to two cords of wood when it does fall. For a few years, it produced a nice number of morels. Nothing better than harvesting close, but not too close, to our house.
I envy you the oak firewood and morels!! We only have the oaks that Will brought, years ago, from Washinton state, where he saved acorns that were sprouting on a sidewalk. Now the trees are 20′ tall but not destined for firewood.
We could sell firewood but just don’t have the time. We’re happy to get the woodshed full of split wood before serious snowfall.
Comments are closed.