Full September

volunteer 'sunshine' in our garden

When the State Fair ended and our schedules returned to 'normal,' I felt a little giddy, like a big load had lifted. Yeah; that was short-lived. Garden harvest and fruit preservation season waits for no one, and with my upcoming trip to NE taking a considerable bite out of the month, I can't afford to dawdle. I finally procured a lug of so-so peaches, and have been picking our prunes to freeze and dehydrate. Since these won't wait, making applesauce will have to. I'll lose most of the apples on our first-to-ripen tree, but should have plenty to sauce from the others once the stone fruit is put up and I'm back from my trip. The limiting factor? My ability to stand for extended periods. Nothing 'cripples' me like standing; my knees stiffen and my sciatica screams. So I adapt my work to sitting at the table when possible, and take icing breaks when it's not. (This is also why I'm so behind on skirting fleeces.)

I've been helping a little with the firewood, but Rick has been doing the lion's share. Last night he got a bunch of the split hardwood moved into the new woodshed. The woodpile has been Poppy's obsession for days, as well as some cabinets in the shop. Apparently varmints are afoot, and we have to physically drag her inside to get her to stop her fruitless hunts. (Then she moves from window to window, bark-screaming when she sees a Western Gray Squirrel scurrying around preparing for winter.) The obsession seems to have affected her ability to focus in agility class, so I'm limiting her freedom on class days.

before any of the wood had been moved inside

AHA! A California Ground Squirrel scurried out when I approached to take this photo.

Yesterday morning Bitsy was unusually cuddly; it was loverly. 😍 Some of the sheep need bigger coats and I should go through the flock to check feet for needed trims. Just add it to the list....

That's it for now from . . .

Fair September

The first day of September was the last day of the Oregon State Fair. I drove down Thursday, August 28, but when I arrived Rick was in the middle of treating a horse who had gotten loose, slipped and fallen on the pavement, so the majority of my time there was assisting him with vet work. Afterwards we dashed over to catch the end of the Battle Between the Breeds competition, got falafel and salad for supper, walked through my favorite building, and just started taking in the photography exhibition when that building closed. I hoped to go back to the Fair one more time, but it didn't work out. So the following are my last photos from this year's Fair.

The Battle Between the Breeds competition. I was too overcommitted to volunteer.

The Morgan team, which won the class. Stella would have been black horse #3!

The Mustang team, some of whom are my riding buddies. The person at left works for Rick.

We sat and watched this entertaining mix of skills while we ate.

And on to my favorite building! Entries were down this year.

Loved this representation of how many people each farmer feeds, and the quilts in the background.

Artistic, all-edible cake decorating

"The Beat Goes On" marching band, always a favorite feature.

With September has come a shift in the weather. Not every day is relentlessly sunny and hot now; summer is faltering and fall is summoning change. That makes September fair as well! Yes, the days are getting shorter – and I am running out of time to find and freeze some peaches. I also need to continue making applesauce and start dehydrating our prunes. Our older tree lost two big branches this year due to heavy fruiting. We're working on firewood; Brian has cut and brought home two loads, and Rick has been dropping dead firs in our lower pasture. It's hard work putting up our abundant blessings for winter, but it is also satisfying.

The first load on the ground and split; the second load was removed and split Monday.

This morning's sunrise shining through the gaps from removing dead firs.

Chuckie says, "Take time to pet the barn cat."

My sister texted me the following photo and daycare note, perhaps from among the things the neighbors found and sent after my mom moved. There are more photos she wants me to help sort through when I visit and more daycare notes; what 'treasures' await? 😉

I was not a comely child!

Hilarious last sentence! Mom thinks I was not yet 2 1/2 at this time.

That's it for now from . . .