Although we were in drought, weeks of snow and rain sure has made everything soggy around here. Will has been trying to get our big round bales hauled home from the fields and has been having a hard time getting out of the fields with a full hay transport (7 bales) without leaving ruts in the fields. We’re also trying hard to get the rest of the firewood into the shed and stacked but we prefer to have it dry when we stack it, not sopping. To combat that, Will dumps a pile from the tractor bucket into the woodshed, lets it dry a few days, then stacks it. We’ll both feel better when the shed is plumb full of firewood. Due to multiple tractor breakdowns during haying, we’re running late this year. I had to laugh at our burro, Crystal, watching Will load firewood onto the wood trailer. It was like she was saying “Lucky I don’t have to do that to stay warm all winter. I just go into the barn.”
Our friend, Sherri is here today, helping package seeds. Meanwhile, I’ve been cutting up watermelons for their seeds. This morning, I did several Leelanau Sweetglo, our wonderful orange-meated watermelon and I was pleasantly surprised to find the melons still very juicy and sweet. Of course, I called Will and Sherri to come “help” me eat watermelon and save their seeds. Gee, such awful work! Ha ha. Aren’t you jealous?
David’s leaving for brother Bill’s hunting camp after work tonight. The weekend is supposed to be much drier, and he hopes to get a chance to shoot a nice buck to bring home and process. As the weather’s been so awful, we have only heard one gunshot here. That’s pretty strange. We don’t mind as last winter killed a lot of our deer herd. The snow was record breaking and it lasted much longer in the spring than usual. The poor deer just couldn’t find much to eat and had a hard time even walking through neck-high snow.
We’re trying to get the greenhouse cleaned out of squash, pumpkins, and melons so we can shut off the heat. But, I’ve got a long way to go! Gee, such a problem, having so much food out there… — Jackie
your greenhouse, full of squash looks great!
Hi Jackie and friends!
That watermelon sounds delicious! I just made an arrangement with my next door neighbor to grow watermelon and rambling squashes on part of her yard that backs up to our yard. This will be in exchange for some of said watermelon and squash. After the plants are done then I have to mow the area. I’m hoping to share produce with neighbors who have been so wonderful since we moved to Idaho. Looking forward to getting seeds from your Seed Treasures. Take care
That deal with your neighbor sounds like a win-win situation. Good for you to think of it!!
Yes, the drippy snowy mushy weather has been a pain. Can I ask what your burro’s job is there at the farm? I have heard that they make good guard animals. Is that true?
Nancy
I think they do. When there was a Black Angus farm not far from us, always two burros (or maybe donkeys, hard to tell when you pass by in the car) for coyote “duty”.
Burro and donkey are just names for the same critter. Burro is more of a Mexican/Southwestern name where donkey is used most everywhere.
Besides just looking cute, Crystal helps our mule, Domino, keep our stock safe from wolves and coyotes. They’re both fierce protectors!!
Enjoyed your update as always Jackie!
It sounds wonderful to be eating your own watermelon this time of year. Yum! All those squash are a blessing, aren’t they. Its so comforting to have food to process and knowing what ever happens you and even your family will have food. It’s one of the best feelings in the world I think. That rain is such a blessing. We are still dry here, no rain or snow. It is 22 this morning and supposed to get up into the 50’s. They are predicting 60s again for next week, but the weatherman hinted at cooler temps the following week and possibly some rain. I really hope so. I strongly dislike going into the winter so dry. It makes me worry about frozen waterlines. I hope the wood stacking continues to go well and breakdowns are a thing of the past for you and Will. Prayers for a blessed week.
Yep, frozen water lines are awful! Been there/done that. Ugh. I’d gladly send you our rain. We were in drought, but now we’re above “normal” rainfall for the fall. It makes working outside ugly.
Thank you for your prayers!!
Crystal looks like she’s hoarding firewood, even if only starter wood. My guess is the herd in my area is at least balanced, if not a bit “over”. I’ve seen does at my feeder box during the summer and one recently. I think they and the turkeys are gleaning fields at the moment. Might not be quite the successful deer season in your area but it might restore the balance. Not sure if you have wolves and/or coyotes – regardless, that balance might be a bit on the high side.
Back to your seeding so you can give the greenhouse a rest until spring.
And to all vets, past (I’m a DAR member) and present, thank you for your service.
Crystal seems to like watching us work. Or maybe she’s hoping we’ll stop and hand her a treat or two.
Yes, we have wolves and coyotes, plus other bigger predators. But winter killed a lot of deer. For Will to find three on our land, without looking at all, which were still untouched by wolves or coyotes was pretty unusual.
How’re you processing those squash? Just for seeds and your critters get the rest?
We take out the seeds and either eat the squash or feed them to the cows. The chickens get the littler ones. I have dehydrated and canned squash down in the basement, too.
I hadnt realized you had remarried, I only just started this online journey.
Welcome, then. Yes, Will and I were married in 2011.
Here in our part of Copper River Basin Alaska we had a foot or more of snow then rain on top. It froze up last night. Down the highway to Valdez about twenty miles they had up to seven feet and the road was closed from 65-18 mile. Down on the Kenai peninsula the road to Seward just re opened after more than a day of closure. My grand daughter in law in Moose Pass about thirty miles from Seward had three feet and lost power for about 24 hours! So we were lucky here!
Wow! That’s a lot of snow!!
Better that it’s rain than snow or ice! We woke up to just 1/2″ of ice on the ground yesterday and boy did it make doing anything outside a pain in the neck. Most of it’s gone now, thank goodness, and the weather looks to be cold, but clear, for the next week or so.
I agree with you. Ice is the worst! We had a little freezing rain but then it turned to rain and melted the ice. Thank goodness. Now they’re talking about 50 degrees next week. I’ve got to see that!!
Oh those Leelanau Sweetglo Watermelons were delicious too!!
Yum, yum, yum!!!
Nice greenhouse. Didn’t realize it was so large. Good for you, Jackie. The combination of hearing a little about livestock, husband, friends helping, firewood, and garden, really touched my heart to thank God for just the “taste” of homesteading I have here. We’re 99% dependent on the grocery store, and I so long to be on my own homestead out in the wild, living off our own livestock and gardens/orchards. We still entertain thoughts. I know my longing is idyllic, and know the reality is a lot of hard work. Even at 67, I want this lifestyle.
Yes, it’s a lot of work but we really, really love what we do. Hey, I’m 77! At my age, I can’t do what I could at 67 but I’m still out there, plugging along and glad to be doing it. You don’t have to be out in the wild to enjoy a homestead. A lot of folks homestead on a small acreage or even large lot, just out of town a bit.
I love the greenhouse. It seems to always be full. (It’s 12′ x 16′ and, yes, we wish it was bigger but there wasn’t room.)
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