Fall......"flying spiders" and letting your inner Ninja come out.

I DO love Fall. I am not a betting person, but if I were, I think it is safe to bet that most people love Autumn...Fall. I mean....what is there to NOT love about it? The days are cooler, no more sweltering temps at 8 am. The humidity is usually a lot lower....no more frizzy hair. Yes, one could actually let their hair hang down. The gardens are slowing down...and some things are finished for the season. We can take a collective sigh as we look into the pantry and see those beautiful jars of hard work...row after row of healthy food.

OK, so maybe my pantry is not as organized as I would like it to be, but I know we have been blessed to be able to put food by...for winter. Then, we have the beautiful trees...changing colors...everything goes from lush green to reds and oranges...gold and greens....as we walk around the homestead, the crunching of leaves under foot. The cool air...the smells of Autumn. So the other day, with most of my work caught up, I decided to just take a walk around the place, take in the beauty of fall. I put on a light jacket and with a smile on my face I start walking past the garden....letting my mind just wander. Then....... IT happened. My calm stroll turned into something out of a Ninja movie. I walked right into spider webs. I didn't see them...but there I was, covered in spider webs. My arms flailing...grasping at the air, trying to peel the webs from my head and face....jumping around from one foot to the other....spewing words that would most likely make a trucker blush. Yes....my inner ninja came out. It was me against the "flying" spiders. OK, so I know spiders don't fly, per say....but this time of the year they will climb up onto something high, and spin those little webs, spitting them from their behinds and hoping to catch a breeze to take them off to a " better place" Some days here are almost terrifying as I look out and see all of those webs just floating in the breeze, knowing that each one has a little spider attached to it. Once I calmed down...I look around hoping that no one witnessed this little "dance". Oh, I am sure....somewhere up in the branches..there are 2 little spiders just laughing and laughing. I can imagine the conversation between those googly eyed, 8 legged little creeps. #1 says...." Did you see those moves? I give it an 8" Then #2 replies..."Yes, definitely an 8, you get 2 points for catching that one" Then #1 with it's squeaky little laugh says .. " I didn't know those big old clumsy humans could move like that" Then they both sit there and laugh....and laugh...and laugh. Well, let me tell you little creeps something.... WINTER IS COMING SOON.... The " White Death" will come...and you my little creepy friends...will be NO MORE! BWAHAHAHAHA!! So with my calm mood ripped from my mind...I make my way back to the front porch. I still love Fall...I won't let those little creeps take that away from me...but for now, I will enjoy it from the porch.

Cool mornings..... puts a spring in your step.

This morning, as I stepped outside...the coolness actually shocked me. 42 degrees! I could see my breath. Now, I understand that it is October...Fall is definitely in the air.... but my bed was so warm and cozy....I was not completely awake when I stepped outside....and BA

Busy day....Halloween decorations, pig waters, and home made wine!

Yep....that is how my day went. It started like any other day.....full of expectations of the many things I wanted to get finished. It ended, like many other days....with a sigh. First thing every day is opening coops...feeding and watering the critters...making sure everyone is healthy and happy for the day. The FIRST thing I needed to do was get the push mower and mow the small front yard, before I could put the decorations out. After mowing... I went to get the lawn tractor from the shop, to move the hay bales I needed for decorations. Both of the back tires on the lawn tractor were almost completely flat. So, I get the tire tool and unwind the hose and get the tires aired up. After I put the tools away, open the big doors on the shop, I back the tractor out and bring it around to where the wagon is waiting with 3 bales of hay in it. I went to hook up the wagon, only to find that hubby left the hitch ball on the tractor. So, I walk back to the shop to get a pipe wrench, to remove the ball. After I get that off, and put away, I hooked up the wagon and brought it over to the front yard, by the flag pole. That is where I set up the Halloween/fall decorations. Dropped off the 3 bales, then head back to the shop with the tractor and wagon. Now I need to get the pig water barrel out of their yard and get the nipples off of it. The old barrel has a crack in it..so I needed to rebuild a different one. The new one is a LOT bigger which means I will not have to worry with watering them but once a week or so. I drag the 2 barrels to the shop so I can drill the holes in the new one and get the nipples in it. Here is the old one ( the smaller one) and the new one, and of course...Penny Polkadot watching to make sure I do it right. :)

I have a metal ring for the top and I plan to add screening over it to keep the leaves and bigger bugs out. After getting it set in the place I need it, I drag the hoses over, then go back to the house and turn the water on. The pigs were so thirsty. Poor babies. I filled a few water bowls for them to drink while I filled the barrel. #fatandhappypigs. Drag the hoses back to the house, stopping at the garden to water the beets along the way then get the hose wrapped back up. *sigh* After finishing with the pigs, I turn my interest to the decorations. In the garage I had 2 boxes of Halloween decorations. Some of these are home made, our daughter and I made the Head stones about 10 years ago. Once Halloween is over....I can pull down the ghosts and witches, add a few pumpkins and gourds, and be ready for Thanksgiving! I think it turned out pretty good...what do YOU think?

I also have a light on the flag...this stays on all night.

I forgot to get pics of the front porch...there are ghosts hanging between the posts. While I was finishing up...I looked up to see the UPS guy backing down the driveway. Hmmm, I wonder what is coming in today? I am expecting 3 packages. I was so excited to see that it was my new wine bottles, corks, and corker. WHOOT! It was so hard to finish up the decorations, I wanted to go rack my wine! I stayed true..and finished up..then rush inside with my bounty. After sterilizing everything...I bottle the wine and get the corks set in. This is my first tie making wine...and there were no instructions on exactly how to get the corks in the bottles. The first few I struggled with...then I remembered a video I watched the other day....I didn't soak the corks. Well, the wine was already being siphoned into the bottles so I didn't have time to let them soak too long. After wetting the corks, they went in MUCH easier. Here are my first 6 bottles of home made wine.

I guess I could have strained it a few more times...to make it a bit more "sparkling" But after letting a friend taste test it...she said...."This is your first time making wine? You did GREAT"

After cleaning the kitchen up...I put the wine in the basement where it is cool and dark. Next week I will start designing the labels. That will be fun. I want to try to design something with Heavens Door Acres on it. After cleaning up..time for a break. Hubby came in from work and we went to dinner. Today we celebrated our anniversary. 35 years. When hubby and I were young, we met at Frisch's Big Boy restaurant in Hamilton Ohio. This is where we go every year for our anniversary dinner. Not the same one, in Ohio, but one closer to us. We enjoy the food....and the memories. Now I am sitting here with my coffee...contemplating what I need to do tomorrow. Pick Brussels Sprouts, pull and pickle the beets, pull and can the carrots....I wonder what I will actually get done tomorrow. For now...it is time for bed.

A crispness in the air....Fall is here.

This morning...it is cool outside. Temperatures in the low 40's. Last night it rained quite a bit...so the dampness makes it feel even cooler outside. All of the animals seem to be enjoying these temps....however they, like me, are in a wild flurry of busy, preparing for what comes next. W I N T E R We just had our last 5 ricks of firewood delivered...that makes 15 ricks. I am hoping this will be plenty to keep us all toasty warm this winter. I don't know about where you live, but for us here.... the Farmers Almanac is saying "stock up on wood!" Well, ok, not exactly those words...but just look!

This is what they had to say.... "According to the Farmers’ Almanac, the winter of 2015–2016 is looking like a repeat of last winter, at least in terms of temperatures with unseasonably cold conditions over the Atlantic Seaboard, eastern portions of the Great Lakes, and the lower peninsula of Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, most of the Tennessee and Mississippi Valley, as well as much of the Gulf Coast. Read more at http://snowboarding.transworld.net/news/farmers-almanac-winter-forecast-2015-2016/#kOBy55rTq8k9XTwj.99" Check it out here... http://farmersalmanac.com/weather-outlook/2016-winter-forecast/ So with this in mind...I have made a few changes in the "winter quarters" for the critters. Mainly the poultry. I have moved them into the smaller coop...and I am working on the fenced in yard areas....this should help keep them warmer this winter. At least I am hoping! The smaller coop has lower ceilings so this should help. For the pigs, I am looking for something to make a flap for the front of their huts. Something rugged..and "pig proof" Is there such a product out there? I was thinking if I could find some old stall mats....maybe nail them up and cut them into wide strips. This should help keep the winds out...and the heat in. The trees are starting to show their fall colors...this makes me happy. I really DO love winter.....just not the work it takes to keep all of the animals warm and watered. I just love snow...and baking...and a warm fire. There are still a few things that need "tweaked" before the snow starts flying...However, I am feeling pretty good about where I stand. Firewood stacked in? CHECK Pantry full ? CHECK Hay stacked for winter? CHECK Animal housing winterized? Almost...still need to put the plastic over the windows and get the water trough heaters out and ready. Like I said....just a few more things to finish up....and then I will be able to get into " winter mode" Keeping the wood stove going....baking all of those goodies I have so wanted all summer long, but didn't bake because of the heat...and preparing for the Holiday get together's with friends and family, and catching up on some reading. I miss reading...summer time there is no time to sit idle and read. Are your "winter preps" almost finished? What do YOU do to prepare?

Everyone loves Fall....right?

I mean.....what is there NOT to love....right? Temperatures in the low 80's to upper 70's.....lows in the 50's. Mornings are brisk enough to put on a jacket while doing the morning chores then by lunch time you are pealing off that jacket and again, by evening chores...grabbing that jacket again. A light morning rain leaves the air smelling of fall leaves...a smell that awakens childhood memories of playing in leaf piles...Halloween...and then, the coming of Christmas. Almost everyone I know.... loves Fall. Then...... reality hits...WHAM! WINTER IS COMING! A slight wave of panic washes over me for a brief moment. My "grown up " mind kicks in..... Do we have enough fire wood for winter? Is there enough Hay put up to keep every critter fed? How much straw will I need to keep everyone warm and dry? What do I need to do to the gardens to "put them to bed" for winter? So even though I truly enjoy Fall....Autumn...whatever you may call it..I am now in "preparing for winter mode" They Hay is stored...most of the firewood we will need is stacked...and I need to get a few extra hundred pounds of feed put up, in case we can't get out to get more. Some areas of the garden are done. Tomato's are finished, so I will get that area cleaned out and get the old bedding from the barn in there. As each area finishes up, I will try to get it all covered. Once the winter sets in, and lays a blanket of white on the garden, the bedding will then work it's "magic" to enrich the soil. So, get that work finished up before winter sets in...but don't forget to enjoy Fall...go for walks in the woods...or parks..take in the beauty of the colorful Autumn leaves. Slow down...watch the critters of the woods pack away their stores for winter. Enjoy this season...while it lasts.

Finally some relief from the heat!

The last 8 days we have had temps in the 90's with high humidity and little to no breeze. To say the least, it has been miserable. Very little has been done outside....just the main essentials of feeding and watering...and watering....and watering. All of the animals have been hiding in the shaded spots...not really wanting to eat much. Even the chickens when I let them out in the morning...they will mull around for a bit, but then head straight to the thicket to take cover from the sun. Today however....we have a cold front moving in. Rain...beautiful...wonderful rain! I can almost hear the ground sigh. The high today is supposed to be 78 degrees. Yes, we are liking this weather. This morning after morning chores, I stopped at the garden to take a peek and see what was going on in there. The strawberry patch has completely been taken over with weeds. I decided to start in on pulling weeds and finding the strawberry plants. The humidity is so high out there that even moving slowly makes you break out in a sweat. I was able to get one row cleaned out pretty well. Once I get it all cleaned out....my plan is to lay down a layer of cardboard and top it with the stuff from the barn. Hopefully I will get this finished before winter sets in. I had to stop with the one row because my back was really hurting. I walked over to the green beans and saw that there was quite a few out there needing picked. I got to work picking them when suddenly I was gagging....weird...I didn't feel sick to my stomach...then I realized the odor. It sorta smelled like castor oil. STINK BUGS! They are really thriving this time of year...and because I was picking in the garden, I guess upsetting them, they were stinking up a storm! YUK! I hurried through the rows...picking as fast as I could. I was able to get about 3 quarts after cleaning and snapping them. This time of year I start putting the green beans in quart jars. I can about 60 pints for us, then the rest in quarts to have when company comes for dinner and to send over to our son's. Those grand babies LOVE grandma's green beans. The owner of the feed store in town, where I buy my animals feed, told me last week that his sweet corn should be ready in a few weeks. He plants about 3 acres of sweet corn. Once he gets what he needs for his family, he lets a select few people come pick what they want. He told me I would be allowed to come get corn in a few weeks. I will hopefully be able to put up at least 60 pints, and a few dozen in the freezer. Then I will put up a few quarts for our sons family too. Once winter sets in.. I will get busy canning the tomato's I have in the freezer.

So, NOW summer wants to show up?

Jeesh. Last month, August, we had temps in the 70's and 80's.....maybe a few days in the 90's. Strange for August. Now we are in September...and we are having a full week in the 90's. But we know, soon, we will have our fall like temps...and I for one can't wait. The gardens are finishing up....but still giving enough to keep me a little busy. Now, those pigs.....jeesh. Everyone tells me just how smart pigs are....well...I beg to differ. Remember I made a waterer for them? Well, they still have not learned how to drink from the nipples. So, with the temps in the 90's today....my plan is to make sure the barrel is full today with cold water....then take peanut butter and smear it on the nipples. THAT should work.....right? I mean, they should go biting on the nipples trying to eat the peanut butter...and realize water is coming out. I plan to wait until later this afternoon, when they should be good and thirsty. Hope this works....because I have no idea what else to try. Wish me luck! I have been off of work for 2 weeks....and trying to get things ready for fall. Of course that can't last forever....back to work soon. Then I will be pulling double duty again. I better go eat my cheerios'