Will finished burying the waterline after insulating it well. But even our heavy duty backblade just kicked rocks up when he tried to grade it nicely. However, his friend has a landscape rake that goes on the back of a tractor and Will called him. In an hour’s time, the rake was hooked to our tractor and Will started raking. Wow, what a difference! Not only did the rake gather the big rocks but it also leveled out the driveway like a landing field. Will shoved the rocks over a bank next to the driveway and continued raking. Now it looks ready to blacktop (just kidding).
Driveway_9866
Meanwhile, I’ve been continuing the big job of taking the seeds out of our last tomatoes, squash, and pumpkins for our seed business, Seed Treasures. Besides canning, that sure makes harvest time L O N G! But I’m starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel as most of the tomatoes are done and so is the tomato product canning. Whew! But the pantry shelves are really full and there are getting to be lots of containers full of different seeds.

Hunting season starts here the first weekend in November so we have moved the horses and cattle out of the north forty pasture as it’s the “wildest” of our land and stray hunters could mistake a calf for a deer. Hey, it happens; I have, in the past, had two horses shot by deer hunters. We want to play it safe.

We’re continuing getting ready for winter. Will is going to pull the irrigation pump, which he’s already drained, so it doesn’t freeze in the spring basin. Once pulled, we’ll then drain the entire line so it’ll be ready to go, come spring. (Boy, that seems like a long way off, doesn’t it?) I’ve got to replace the hinges on two gates and a goat shed door so we can move our goats up from the pasture for breeding season and for winter. It’s nicer to have them closer so when it snows bad we don’t have to wade through deepening snow to feed and water them. Lots of little projects and the days are getting shorter. — Jackie

9 COMMENTS

  1. Miss Jackie, I have been a hunter for many years. I understand your reason for moving the stock near the house. I’ve chased “hunters” out of my goat yard….Every year in my state there are reports of cattle,horses, or of people being shot by “MISTAKE” for a turkey or a deer…such “hunters” should remain downtown and not be in the woods or the fields….A few years ago I was in the deep forest in the mountains on a stand looking for deer. I turned around and 150 yards away was a guy with his rifle and scope trained on me. I was wearing a florescent orange hat and vest. I had been sitting on a big log in front of another downed tree. I yelled loud and dropped to the ground behind the log and belly crawled the length of the log, got behind another log and yelled again…when I peeped out he was gone, and I got out of there pronto! If such a one can’t tell a florescent clad man from game they would probably think your calves were elk!!!! Such people need to take a number of courses from the Backwoods Home firearms expert…..Keep safe!!! If you or Will are going to hunt this fall I hope you are successful and are not near any of that breed of “hunter”. Rick

  2. Dallen Timothy,

    All those big odd jobs finished, do make us feel good. There are always so many more on the list that just have to wait. (We do have to sleep once in awhile!) I will take some photos of the pantry soon.

  3. gen,

    Yep, we still have horses. I will always have horses. Besides the horses, we have our mule, Domino, and two donkeys, Moose and Crystal. We’ve had snow flurries but nothing on the ground. So far….. But it’s coming…..

  4. zelda,

    No, there was no noise from the rock rake but Will always wears ear protection when using the tractors as just the tractor noise is something he is leery of. (Besides, his ear “muffs” also have a radio so he can listen to music while working.) Thanks for your concern.

  5. Wow, looks great. I have followed you for years, and enjoy so much reading and seeing pictures of the homestead. Thanks for sharing your life with me and the rest of the folks who drop in online and visit you. Take care

  6. It’s so nice to see your homestead getting tucked in for the winter. It must quite a relief to be getting all that done. Jackie, when you have a moment (really!), please share with us lots of pictures of your bulging pantry shelves. I’d love to see the varieties of products you’ve put up for the winter and the rows and rows of yummy things. Thanks.

  8. The driveway looks fantastic! I don’t remember seeing any recent pictures of your horses, wasn’t for sure you still had any. My friends in NY and Michigan have been talking snow this last week, hope it’s holding off in your area. We’re still in the 80’s for the most part, had to turn the AC back on, the kids were complaining of it being too hot to sleep. (I agreed with them, but the lower electric rates were looking good to me, lol)

  9. Sure hope Will was wearing really good ear protection if that landscaping rock rake was the kind your pull that has the vibrating tines. The noise is a level that is waaayyy loud and causes temporary and permanent hearing damage.

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