FarmerDenise's journal - full on harvest time = busy, busy, busy

[FarmerDenise]

Dace, I haven't had any news on Stepson's friend. I figure no news is good news. After all we are having to rely on stepson asking about him.

Mom and I did more work in the yard. I had offered to cut all the branches off of trees that were scaping the house. When DF saw what I had done, he got upset. He claimed to have purposely grown them all that way so the birds would have a place to hide from the cats. Never mind that I removed branches that were scraping the siding or dead dry ones and these were pine trees that are growing right by the chimney.
Oh well, at least he got over it pretty quickly.

He came out to help do work, but the chain on the chainsaw was loose and he spent the afternoon fixing it. When we came in after dark, my mother started to say how much work she and I got done. I pointed out that fixing the chainsaw was a job well done also. This way DF will hopefuly be able to cut some more unwanted trees or branches down for fire wood.

I went for another walk in the woods just before dusk. I am disappointed that I have not spotted any deer yet. But I do love being out there and only hearing the occasional car go by and otherwise listening to the wind and the birds.

I also found some late mushrooms, but I don't think they are edible, so I left them.

As I was cleaning up one area of the yard, I came across some caterpillars and my first reaction was: the chickens would like this! then I realized, I am far away from my chickens. I am beginning to miss those little fuzzy butts.

 

[lorihadams]

Awww, I miss my chickies when I'm away from home too. Sounds like you are having a good time!

 

[Dace]

I would miss my girls too!

I sounds like you are having a very peaceful time with your folks. I am sure they are enjoying your company. Is it going to be hard ot come home?

 

[FarmerDenise]

The weather has been really nice for this time of year. The days have been sunny and in the 50's more or less. there was a cold wind, but once I got used to it, I was fine. I went for a little walk up the street this morning. The folks had to go to their doctors today, so we went into town, did some shopping after the doctor's visits and then ate at one of their favorite restauants. We got home just at dusk.
I still need to go outside and look at the stars. Last time I tried, it was still too overcast. I am hoping it is clear tonight.

I am ready to go home. It is peacefull here, but I miss my farm life. I have walked in the woods, visited a dear friend and helped my mother get ready for the winter.

When I grew up here as a teen, these woods belonged to us. We could go anywhere. And we rarely used the roads.
Now people get upset, if you trespass. Most of my grandparent's property was sold. The new owners don't appreciate us walking on what is now their property. There are many more houses and people living here now. No more cutting through the woods to get to the other side of the mountain... someone is likely to get upset.... oh well, I guess I can't blame them.
Unfortunately I don't know exactly where my parent's property ends unless I bump into a no tresspassing sign. It is also hunting season and I really don't want to run into a hunter on someone else's property

I have just one more day here. We are all three of us getting haircuts tomorrow. Afterwards we'll have buffalo meat burgers for dinner. I hope to get one more walk in the woods in.

I managed to make one wreath yesterday, when my friend from over the hill came by to steal me away for a few ours. I had a lovely visit with her, her husband and daughter. I talked so much about my chickens that they are now thinking of getting some. I spent the evening sitting with my father watching tv.

 

[lorihadams]

I have two words for you when walking.....BLAZE ORANGE!

I know how it is with all of the population explosion....my great grandparents farm has been plowed under and replaced with a road and luxury homes in a gated community. BLECH

 

[FarmerDenise]

I know how it is with all of the population explosion....my great grandparents farm has been plowed under and replaced with a road and luxury homes in a gated community. BLECH

How awfull!!

Well, I made it safely home. And it feels good to be back.

I have been busy catching up on chores that did not get done in my absence. SO tried to keep up on lots of them, but complained that his son created more work and did not help much around the place. He aslo said all the mooches showed up, when they found out I wasn't here

I got the house sort of in order, cleaned the rabbit's pen and put up his winter house, weeded the winter garden, filled the wood shelf next to the firepalce and lots of other little chores that I do without thinking.

SO shot a turkey last friday with his new crossbow and we cleaned it and refrigerated it for thankgiving dinner. I spent thursday cooking the dinner with occasional help from SO, stepson's girlfriend and stepson. The girlfriend and SO kept offering their help, stepson had to be prodded. I tried to have as much homegrown food as possible. I ground up some of our indian corn to make cornbread, SO made the crust for apple pie and I used apples we got for free for the filling. I had dug up a bunch of carrots and made a big pot of them, we had corn I froze this summer (but SO preferred the canned corn, the stuff I froze was too starchy - note to self, freeze the corn sooner next year ), I made apple sauce - but forgot to bring it to the table , we had a tomato salad with our tomatoes and onions, I made salad dressing with my own vinegar and herbs from the garden, I made gravy using peppers, garlic, onion from the garden and dried mushrooms from a friend, all seasoning came from the garden. I made whipped cream using the real stuff, for the pie.
At the end of the day, we all felt that we had a wonderfull meal and a very nice day. We spent it together - our little family - and did stuff together, and ate food we grew, hunted and made.

Today I plan on cleaning the remains of the turkey, making soup and dogfood and just puttering around.

SO and stepson are off hunting turkey once more, last day of hunting season... I hope they get one each.

Oh, I forgot, on friday we butchered our silkie roo. A friend came over and offered help and we accepted. I saved the feathers, since I was told they are good for making fishing fies.

 

[Dace]

Denise, congrats on your DD's wedding, it sould like you guys did a very nice job.

I am impressed with your Thanksgiving feast! It is so awesome that you grew/ hunted it all! that is truly something to be thankful for!

 

[delia_peterson]

FD, do we get to see pics of the wedding?

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

i was kinda hopin' for pix too.....

what a fun thanksgiving! congrats on all the home grown stuff!

 

[FarmerDenise]

I haven't loaded the photos to the computer yet. I guess I better do that now

I just finished cleaning the turkey, I put some of the better meat aside for another meal (salad or sandwhiches maybe), put the stuff us people won't eat in a dog/cat bowl and put the remaining carcass in a big pot to make broth and soup.

I noticed that the rats have found our apples that FIL had brought over last week. So I tossed the chewed on ones to the chickens and brought the rest inot the house. Now I have to hurry up and make them into sauce and can them.

The weather is just georgeous here today. very warm. I sat outside for a while removing the dried corn kernels from the cobs. The chickens immediately surrounded me. I wasn't fast enough for some of them and they hopped onto my lap to help

I also put clean straw in the nest boxes. I cleaned the rabbits litter box and replenished it with clean straw. Then I went out and gathered some twigs from our various fruit trees for him. I think he is a very happy little bunny right now.

I made some lemonade from lemons we still have, from when I picked them more than a month ago.

After all that work, I still don't know what we're going to do for dinner. The soup won't be done til tomorrow.
Maybe it's time for hot dogs. SO is tired of turkey, so I know he won't go for having turkey sandwhiches tonight.