Sunday, October 06, 2013

Satisfying Sunday

A sunny Sunday before the rain moves in again had us all in high gear today. Rick and Brian were gone most of the day getting oak firewood at a client's house, before coming home while it was still warm enough to seal the top of the chimney where we've had water leaking in.
All that wood is now tarped to keep it dry until we can get it unloaded.

I spent all morning in the garden. My plan was to pick everything that could be harvested, but I got sidetracked pulling weeds. Eventually I did pull all the carrots and rhubarb, and found a cucumber, an eggplant, a bell pepper and a giant zucchini. I was excited to see how well the kale has come back with the cooler weather, and there's a nice little patch of volunteer Swiss chard as well; I plan to work both into the menu this week and will pick them as I need them. What didn't get touched were the tomatoes, unfortunately, so I still need to clean out the split and spoiling fruit for the chickens and salvage the good ones for us.

Speaking of chickens, this was yesterday's haul:
The first eight-egg day we've had in quite awhile!

I'm hoping this means that some of the older hens have finished their molt and will be contributing regularly again.

Perch has been integrated for quite some time and the broody Buff has finally given up her dreams of motherhood. I am worried about Buffy, our white Easter Egger. I don't think she has laid since the sexlink pullets started producing, and acts egg-bound some of the time. But not all the time, which doesn't make sense.

Anyway, I spent the rest of the day working in the kitchen, attending a neighborhood baby shower, and getting in a fair-weather ride on my handsome horse.

Seems like I spin my wheels all week trying to get a few things done while homeschooling my son; thank goodness for days like today!

That's it for now from . . .


6 comments:

Maureen said...

Sounds like a great schedule... better than driving to and from work and stuck inside all day. Sigh.

Sandy Livesay said...

I can see you'll be totally ready for winter with the haul of wood coming home to be stocked.
Beautiful harvest, nice and colorful. How on earth did you get your kale to survive with no bugs attacking it?

Michelle said...

I agree totally, Maureen; did you have to go to a desk job yesterday?!? :-/

Sandy, that was what surprised and delighted me so! By mid to late summer I had given my kale up to a terrible infestation of aphids; I thought the plants were goners. But it looks like we'll be enjoying it once again; hurray!

Mary Ann said...

You are always so busy! I'm going to go catch up on Lance's blog finally!

Susan said...

That firewood will sure come in handy this winter - and look at that rhubarb! Mine has been gone by for weeks. I love my kale and try to keep it going for most of the winter. I will have to work a little harder on my hoops this year - they are not sturdy enough. Glad you got to catch up a bit!

farmlady said...

Getting ready for the cooler weather and looking forward to garden chores being over are met with mixed feelings. I will miss the vegetable garden but not the watering, weeding and keeping track of the rodents who find all the tasty veggies. I'm looking forward to the quiet part of the year.
That zucchini looks big enough to stuff. Ours are gone.
Have to go to the farmer's market soon... while folks still have some to sell.
Take care.