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

[FarmerDenise]

We had brought a very large bucket of sweet corn into the house so the rats wouldn't get into it. Last night I got worried that it might sweat and get moldy, so I suggested to SO that I stack it on the mantel above the stove. I am sure glad I did that, because it was starting to mold. I caought it just in time. It looks a bit funny on top of the mantel, but it was the best place to put it to keep it dry

Hey gal I think you need to make one of these corn dryers

I would need a LOT of them. I saw a cool Indian corn dryer at the Iroquois museum in NY

The sun is out today, It is about 72 here and we are working up a sweat.

Got the first load of laundry hanging up, picked a mess of tomatoes, and peppers. Found enough purple queen beans for dinner and need to clean out the henhouse.
Got another load in the machine. SO is turning the garlic patch. He hopes to get the onions planted tomorrow and maybe even the garlic.

It's back out to work for me.

 

[dragonlaurel]

Cool dryer. Thanks for posting it.

 

[FarmerDenise]

When we went to the museum, I asked for permission to take pictures. I was told that I could for personal use only. So I wanted to make sure everyone knew that I took the pic at the museum.

If anyone is ever in the upstate NY region, you should really try and visit this museum. They have wonderfull displays and the people running it are really nice and it is lots of hands on stuff.

I have learned a bit about being self sufficient from the museum and the people who work there. They are very knowledgable about the Iroquois ways.

 

[Ohioann]

I visited that museum several years ago and learned so much. The staff and volunteers were very friendly and informative. I second the suggestion to visit if you are in the area...

 

[FarmerDenise]

It is warm today. I am wearing a small tank top and had to put shorts on. SO is shirtless.
We figure we'll work on our tans and do some fall clean-up at the same time. He is cutting down the broom corn stalks, after I harvested the remaining broomcorn. I still have to bundle it for drying. He is bundling up the stalks, which we use to line fences for privacy and shade. Sometimes we use the bundles to provide temporary shelter for the chickens. They really like hanging out under the stalk bundles.

My big job today is to thoroughly clean out the hen house. It stinks to high heaven in there, even though I cleaned it out about a month ago. It is that time of year. The wet weather makes it all stinky. After this clean up, we use wood shaving for the litter. It makes a big difference with the smell. I had to take a break from it though, the dust was getting to me.

I realized that the grass is growing under the eletric fence and causing it to zap the ground. So I will need to remove all the grass from under the fence too.

I also refilled the tomato sauce pot. We had some of the sauce for dinner last night after I added some ground meat to it. So I wanted to fill it up to the top once more and am letting it simmer for today. I might try and get it canned this evening, after I vote.

I am loving this weather right now and am enjoying the opportunity to work outside and get stuff harvested and cleaned up before the next rain hits.

And how about those Giants. I wished I were in San Francisco for this. That city knows how to appreciate their teams. I always lived on a hill when I lived there. After any major win, the city just goes wild. During those games, the city streets are deserted. It is a great time to go to museums and parks and such, because you will be the only one there
I used to love hearing the people cheer and hoot and holler in the streets after our team won!!!
Guess I'll watch the parade on tv at least for a little while. Got too much to do here and need to take advantage of the sunshine.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

boooo! cleaning out the hens house! boooooo! which reminds me that i should do the same!

enjoy your warm weather!

 

[FarmerDenise]

I voted. Then went back out and did more farm chores. I just cannot believe how warm is is today. I just now finally put a long sleeved shirt on.
We were watching the sunset. It is so beautiful.

The chickens were fighting for position on the roosts. I changed things around a bit, when I put the "furniture" back in. But everyone is settled in now.

I also had to pull up the grass under the electric fence. I decided to do that from inside the goat pen, since I hadn't spent much time with my girls lately. They had to be right there to see what I was doing. Then they started climbing in the rubbermaid container I was using to catch the weeds I was pulling out (for the chickens). I would move on and have to pull the container with a goat inside of it They also needed to climb into my lap as I was kneeling and get under my arms and push each other away. Silly goats I got lots of hugs and smooches in

The broomcorn heads are hanging in the dog pen to dry. we noticed that we still have lots of produce out there. We just don't eat as much as we used to. We also don't have as much company. I bring a box of produce to DD about once a week and we give some to FIL and the neighbors.

I got so much done today. It feels really good. Now I wish I had a wife to fix us dinner with all that good food we grow.

I guess it is up to me and SO. Since I still want to pressure can my spaghetti sauce tonight, it is SO's turn to fix dinner.

There are just not enough hours in the day for me to do all the things I want to get done.

 

[Farmfresh]

There are just not enough hours in the day for me to do all the things I want to get done.

Amen sister!

 

[TanksHill]

It was hot as heck down south yesterday. I hid in the house it was staying pretty cool. Today is supposed to be hotter. What happened to fall? Oh that's right its only Nov. Maybe we are going to have Oct's heat now.

I really wanted to try and get my fall garden in better shape this year. I did get some garlic in and if it tried there may still be some peppers and squash. But I just can't seem to get out there.

uggg.

Enjoy your day!

 

[FarmerDenise]

I ended up visiting an old friend today. We clicked like as if we hadn't spent all that time apart. Our paths had taken us down different roads for a while and I just decided to call her and visit.

We kept finishing each other's sentences. It was really fun.
She has been GF for about 5 years and has come up with some wonderful recipes that she is trying to market. I hope it works for her. I have had her cooking before and she is a superb cook. I'll keep you all posted

I finally got my spaghetti sauce canned today. I stood in front of that pressure canner for 2 hours, watching it. I was afraid if I left it for so much as a glimpse at the computer, the pressure would go way up, so I grabbed a book and read, with my eye on the gage and adjusting the temp every 10 minutes or so.

At least we will have 4 quarts of nice spaghetti sauce with meat.
SO was getting uptight about the sauce simmering on the stove for days. I kept adding blendered tomatoes to the pot to fill it up and then let it simer down again. Otherwise I would have been lucky to can 1 quart of sauce today

I think the next tomato product I'll can, will be stewed tomatoes. It won't have to sit and simmer for days.

We had the most beautiful sunset today. I could only see a little bit of it out the kitchen window (since I was bound to the pressure canner) Red and purple skies with bits of blue and back yard trees silhouetted black against the setting sun.