Luckily, we’ve nearly ended our harvest, with just a bit of potatoes to dig. The rest is inside and cozy. Will wanted to turn the heat off in the greenhouse as all we had in there were some squash and onions. So, he brought in the squash, and I began seeding out the Costata Romanescos. This zucchini type squash is our very favorite summer squash, bar none! They have a sweet, nutty flavor, even while young, fry up wonderfully with a few onions and maybe bacon bits. We make many summer meals out of them. And, with the fragrant orange meat, they also make a good baking squash when mature. At maturity, they develop great size and orange stripes. They also keep longer than some winter squash like acorns.

Here’s our squash pile that’s left. Costata Romanesco are the long, striped ones, lying on top of our Hopi Pale Greys and the orange ones are a new-to-us rare Hopi Orange.

I’ve been working like mad to get the rest of the peppers seeded out and turned into various recipes, chiefly “candy” and relishes. I have tons of canned peppers and also dehydrated ones. I had planned on canning up the first carrots yesterday, but I got busy (gee, how could that happen?) and won’t do it until tomorrow. One thing we learned early on in our homesteading lives is to be flexible!

Here’s another batch of Cowboy Candy, cooking down.
Aren’t the chopped Sugar Rush Peach hot peppers pretty? They made wonderful, not hot relish too.

It’s election day and I hope each and every one of you will get out and vote. I know Will and I are going to the polls this afternoon. When you come home, be sure to pray for no violence in the country after the results have been tallied. We’re very nervous about that possibility, regardless of who wins. Stay safe! — Jackie

9 COMMENTS

  1. Boy, your cowboy candy in the pot looks SO yummy delicious! How do you resist eating it all before canning! Must try the Cosata! Hope you get lots of seeds. Working already on the new seeds order.

  2. I love those beautiful squash! I raise butternut squash to keep over winter. Last year I used my last one in April, so they keep well for me. We have been getting some much needed rain and finally the ground is getting muddy and we have some standing water. We were so extremely dry and it was getting serious as far a drought goes. I am so thankful for the moisture and not going into cold weather with dry ground. I really pray that people will act like adults following the election. Everyone has a different opinion, but that is what makes America the best place in the world to live. We get to exercise a right to choose our leaders and even if it doesn’t turn out like a person wants, the majority chose and we need to respect that. I am stocking up getting ready for holidays and canning things for my daughters as gifts. They like that as much or more than any gifts I buy. Sending prayers for a blessed week.

    • Thank you so much. How right you are. Right now, we’re just keeping on, keeping on. I canned up another big turkey and am doing carrots today. I can’t affect the politics, other than vote, which we did. But I can do everything in my power to make sure we’re warm, well fed and have adequate supplies, no matter what the future may bring.

  3. Yes, pray for peace and no violence. I long for quiet peace and harmony in my old age. Just remember to be thankful for the privilege of voting and worshiping.

    • That’s for sure. Every night I pray for innocent people all over the world who are suffering and will suffer in the future. It’s awful that there’s so much hate and violence in the world!!
      We just do what we can do, in our small way.

  4. I’ve voted along with my wife. There are only 232 potential voters in our township-there was 30 plus waiting at 7am. We’ve had 3 inches of rain last Sunday and will get another 3 today. The ground is soaking it up. Many years this would have been snow. The squash look pretty. I’ve stocked up enough for the 4 sons families that live nearby. I pray for no election violence. My 9 hens have taken a break -only one/day vs previous 8-9 eggs. So it goes- I do have 4 natural hatched and 8 incubator hatched for the future. I’m done with the garden except for placing compost. I’m now doing small engine repair/winter prep. Stay warm

    • We’re praying for a non-violent future and doing all we can do to help make our small world around here better. Our chickens are also on winter vacation. I get maybe an egg or two every day but that’s okay as I stored up a bunch in the basement, to last till spring.
      Our weather’s turned nice again after a lot of welcome rain. Our trees were even beginning to show signs of much stress. Now, they’re happy again. I’m canning today and Will’s bringing in more wood. We’re really grateful for the wonderful fall weather so far!

      • Question about storing eggs in your basement…do you just leave them unwashed and store them in bins at room (basement cold) temp? I’m thinking this is the case, but checking if you use any tricks. Thanks for all your great advice!! Linda in SW Montana ps…our son and daughter-in-law just moved to Helena and he loves trail running in the Elkhorns. :) Isn’t that where you used to live?

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