And we’re hustling around, trying to get everything done before it hits. Today, Will and Hondo went to Matt’s clearcut again and brought home another load of firewood. That pile is getting bigger and bigger. We can’t burn it this year as it’s semi-green, being cut this spring. But next winter, it’ll be perfect. We’ve still got some dead wood down by the woods to cut and split, to fill up the woodshed completely. I’m hoping our nice weather will hold a little longer, but it doesn’t look like it, according to the forecast. Saturday, the high is supposed to be 30 degrees.
I’ve got bulbs planted in the front flower bed and wood chips mulching over them. The peonies are planted in the new flower bed, along the drive but I still have a few crocus and grape hyacinths to stick in at the end. The rain we had yesterday and last night should help. The soil was very hard the day before yesterday!
Will has the hay yard stuffed full of hay. All the new hay has been hauled home, and we have a lot of last year’s hay left, which the cows still eat happily. We moved them into the winter cow yard as deer hunting season starts this coming Saturday. As I have had (in the very far back past) a mare and colt shot during hunting season, we like to keep everyone close to the buildings during hunting season, just to be safe.
I’ve got to get the onions — which are all trimmed up — in the greenhouse, hauled down to the basement. Boy, we’ll have a lot of very nice onions all winter to go along with our wonderful harvest of potatoes. You can sure make a lot of different recipes with potatoes and onions, can’t you? Yumm.
We’ve been seeing a beautiful Red Fox lately. He’s been sunning himself on the top of a blown down tree’s root ball. I’ve tried to get a picture, but he’s too smart. We enjoy seeing him … as long as he stays down in the woods, not up by our chicken coop! — Jackie
The snow this morning is pretty but ugh. Although I guess the truth is that mosquitos and snowflakes can’t fly at the same time, right? LOL We might get 40 again this week. Here’s hoping. I have some hostas to still get in the ground.
That snow was blowing so hard it wasn’t pretty here. I think mosquitoes and ticks knit their own jackets and hats. I’ve been bitten after snow’s on the ground. Ugh! Yep, I’ve got our walnuts to get planted, hopefully when it gets to forty again.
Looking at your picture of the round bales, I am wondering about how much hay is required for 1 or 2 milking cows. I have 5 acres and am considering getting adding cows to our homestead. Obviously, they would be free to graze when the grass is available but suspect they could browse down that pretty quickly. Would 2 large bales a year be enough and do you supplement with sweet feed or grain? Any ideas?
Maggie
No first frost in October this year. That last happened in 2019 and 2020 and those years both had a big freeze early November. And so it will happen again. Front coming through Sunday so a low of mid-upper 20’s Tuesday AM. Time to strip the pepper plants and make Cowgirl Candy with the last of your Sugar Rush peppers plus what I’ve already frozen for the project. The collards, kale and other brassicas will be fine in the cold and even sweeter. Still, I will pull the tunnel covers over.
Beautiful foxes! Haven’t seen any around here in a while. Y’all hunker down and stay warm with all that wood of yours!
You can bet we’re enjoying the wood stove today and, by the looks of it, for the rest of the winter. Our highs don’t look like they’ll reach above 40, MAYBE, and lows in the teens. That’ll freeze the ground. Our deer season opens tomorrow so we hope “our” deer will stick close and avoid hunters.
I see cold warnings way down to Florida, where they are warning of Iguanas falling down out of trees in stupor, due to the cold. Some of them are pretty big so I’d hate to be clunked by a fat Iguana!
I really feel for the folks who have to work with no pay. They still have to pay for gas and car expenses to go to a from a job that they are not getting paid for. They can’t go get a job to cover expenses like the folks that are furloughed can. They will be needing the food banks I am sure also.
Winter is here in Copper Basin Alaska. High yesterday we 20 but the low last night tas only down to 18 because of clouds and light snow. We have about 2 inches down but at least the ground froze first. W3 had a couple years recently when we had 18 inches on unfrozen ground hi h made more of a mess in the spring. Still need to split and put a couple cords in the shed but it’s at least bucked up and tarped. So far winter looks mild.
Let’s hope it is mild! It was cold today and cloudy. High was 35 but last night was only 17 degrees F. The ground isn’t frozen yet and I’d like to throw some last year’s wild flower seed out here and there tomorrow, before it does freeze.
cute fox! as long as he stays running. and away from the hen house. We had a den for years just down the road. Too many new 5 acre home sites going in. Havent seen much sign any more.
Potato’s and onions, yum . Brings back memories of my moms excellent potato soup, she loaded it with onions and fresh cream .I turn my flock into my garden after everything harvested. They are having a ball. Egg production is Up as the molt comes to a close. Have a few dry beans hanging in the barn, hoping they are useable. Got soaked while still drying in their green (huge) pods. Yes, its sad about the SNAP program. dropped off at our library who is allowing a bookcase to be used for food donations. Sounding like Winter is hitting many folks. Stay warm everyone.
We love our potatoes and onions so much as there are so many things you can make out of them, from breakfast to supper. We turn the cows into our gardens and they clean up the whole thing plus fertilize while they’re in there.
We are forecasted to have 20 degrees by Monday night. Friday and Saturday will be a cold, cold rain. We got smart last year and brought our Christmas tree & decorations into our garage that is attached to house by breezeway. We did that again this year. It sure is easier to think about decorating when you don’t have to walk to the barn in cold, rain or sleet! I hope everyone gets to hunker down in this latest storm forecast and make a big pot of hot soup. I have canned enough vegetables to feed several families this winter. Yes, Jackie, winter is coming on like a freight train. Be thankful and stay warm. Help a neighbor if you can.
Yup, we always do. We’re giving more cash donations to our local food shelf too. We had 17 last night but the Northern Lights were awesome, as was that big “beaver” moon! I managed to get a few photos I’ll share on the next blog.
I’m looking at a few Christmas tree prospects in the woods, trying to make a decision before the snow’s waist deep. What a though, eh??
Still playing catch-up with last minute projects and hoping the weather will hold just a little longer. You mentioned in an earlier post about SNAP being temporary stopped and those that have a real need for it. Now might be the time to look around and if you see someone in need to share any surplus you might have. That is really the original and best way to help your neighbors
Yup, we’ve always done that even prior to COVID and the present SNAP mess. We hope everyone who can will also donate to their local food shelf as we don’t always know which neighbors may be struggling. It’s not something you talk about to others.
I haven’t seen a fox in years. Years ago they would come out of the woods when I mowed hay to get the field mice. Is Matt on one of those development lots near you? Today we replaced a pump on a son’s outdoor wood boiler. All stoves are working and ready for the cold. It seems any “parts” cost much more. The last of our corn crop is harvested and time to put equipment away. Busy time before the winter slow down. Stay warm!
We have quite a few fox around. We enjoy seeing them but also hope they’ll stay far away from our chicken coop. They have snagged a few escapees who were “free ranging”, out of the yard, in the past. Oh well, I told them!!! Yep, Will’s starting to put equipment “to bed” for the winter and get the last of the firewood in the shed.
We have fox but they are quite elusive – we rarely see them but provide plenty of habitat for them and other wildlife.
Our highs for this weekend are predicted to be in the 30’s and lows around 19. Brrr! I do not care for winter at all, but its part of life, so I just do inside projects as much as possible. We have a lot of fox around here and they sure do make a lot of noise at night at times. I’m not far from a creek and they run along the bottom (as well as coyotes). We lot the sheep every night to keep them safe from coyotes. The last of my chickens were killed by either a fox or hawks. I think hawks, because there were no carcasses found. It’s a beautiful day today and I am taking full advantage before Im spending most of the time indoors. Sending prayers for a blessed week.
We had a low of 17 last night and it sure felt crispy this morning, with white frost on everything. Fox sure do have quite a vocabulary, from those little yips to barks and that horrible screech. Yep, they got a few of our loose birds. All that was left were a few feathers. Thank you again for your continued prayers.
Are there two fox in the picture? One on the left side, standing guard while one plays in the meadow? Maybe you have a couple and will have ‘kits’ in the spring!!
/Yes, there are two. The one on the left, behind the tree, is the mom fox and the other, a teenager pup. We’ve always had a couple of families around here. When we built the training ring, Will shortened it up on the end to avoid disturbing a fox den. Around here, we live and let live, as long as everyone basically behaves themselves.
Tell me about hard soil – tilling leaves into the annual garden was not a success. Hope we get some of the predicted rain so we can try again.
A number of years ago, I read that a farmer a few counties west of me used to spray paint to mark his cattle – he’d lost a steer one year to a trigger happy hunter.
I could live on taters and onions lol. It is funny how sibling and I are so different in our eating habits. I don’t think she’s much fond of either.
Yeah, the two horses I had shot were wearing orange surveyors tape dangling from their halters and tails. Go figure.
We sure love our potatoes and onions a whole lot. It rounds out the diet. And us. LOL
Love the picture of the fox!.Yes winter is on its way. Down in Southern Illinois Sunday night 26 and snow.
Been trying to get ready but today have a bulging disc so I am down and out for a while. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.
Old age finally caught up with me. Oh! Well! Such as life.
Take care and stay warm.
Yep, it’s going in the teens with snow this weekend. Brrr! Too early for me. I hope your back feels better soon. I have two compressed discs plus arthritis in my back, so I know how you feel.
I am in N IL (almost in WI) and while we won’t get that cold tonight, no flakes predicted until Sunday. Gotta roll with the punches when it comes to weather.
The deer are enjoying pumpkins – should ask better half if the fundraiser selling pumpkins still have some. I’d pony up for another three.
The deer are sure going through our pumpkins and squash. A big bunch only lasts about 2 days.