First Day of Fall

 The first day of Fall was officially September 22nd this last week....but all week long we hit the upper 80's and 90 on a couple days. Its not quite feeling like sweater weather except in the cool of the early mornings. This week....plants having been growing like crazy, animals have just acted crazy. We've schooled, we've hiked, we've relaxed and we've gotten homestead projects worked on. Its been a good week.

 Photos from the farm....

Winter beans are growing strong.

We've finally gotten the new chicks and duck to stay in their area....I think. Instead of wandering the yard, ending up in the garden or the backyard or where ever else they are not supposed to be.

We've named a few more of them as well:

The Duck is Britta, the only Rooster of the bunch is Otis. There's a tiny bantam brown hen named Betty Lou and a white a black tiny bantam named Mary Sue. 

All the Rhode Island Red hens (3) of them are the gals from Petticoat Junction: Billie Jo, Betty Jo, Bobbie Jo.

Now we just have 3 girls left to name! Whew!

One of the 'Jo's'

When Ro-Ro wants to go inside she has a sad face. She sets her chin first on the dog bed and then looks to see if we are watching.....

Then she moves to the porch and sets her chin on the step....looking oh so sad...saying please let me in guys. Little does she know that next weekend she's moving outdoors to her big girl pen!

Rusy

Ernie

Link. We're keeping MaryAnn (momma kitty) and this little one who we are pretty sure is a girl, but either way we named Link. A huge sweetheart who loves pets.

Scarlett

We were next door working on Ro's pig pen and this girl just wanted to be close.

Sunday morning hike....

Baking time. Pretzel dogs and pretzel bites for the kids.
 Easy peasy great tasting recipe for soft pretzels here:

Homemade Pretzels

Awaiting on Fall to feel like fall but enjoying everyday to its fullest. Blessed and thankful.

Mid-September

 As we hit mid-September we know its going to be October before we know it. Its still been in the upper 80's nearing 90 but the weather indicates we should be on the cool down for Fall in the next few weeks. All the seeds are in the ground although it would have been better to get a sooner start than September but none the less the warm days and cooler nights have been just right for everything to sprout. Animals are doing well and always a joy as is the outdoor work and gardening. Pens are being finished and prepped for winter, new chickens are settling in. Life is busy around the house but the busy of our home brings huge blessings. Daily life is never a bore around here!

Life lately....

Sweet MaryAnn kitty....

Baby girl kitten #1 got fixed last week and is recouping inside and getting lots of love. Pretty sure we have a loving home all set for her too!

Scarlett pig has decided its more comfy to sleep UNDER the bed vs on it.

Sweet boys in the early morning together.

The front garden is still producing. New flowers are still blooming daily.

At the side yard we have finally gotten our fall seeds all planted. Rows and some beds.

Brussels and Mums.

Chard came up first.

Cauliflower next.

Winter bush beans finally. (and still awaiting other veggies we've planted)

Sunflowers all taking their turns drying out then we harvest the seeds. Some for us, some for the pigeons as a treat.

Weekly Sunday hikes just me and my girl. Different trails and lakes to explore.

Looking up receipts to use up the zucchini harvest. We've preserved a lot, gifted a lot to friends and have eaten a lot! This recipe was SO good. (we made it vegetarian and opted out of the bacon, went for vegan butter, vegetable broth and coconut cream to thicken - there are always substitutes you can make to make a meal meat-free)

Doesn't look so great....but tasted SO good!

 

 

Awaiting fall and cooler days. Leaves are already changing and the overnights and mornings are crisp. 

Farm Work

Happenings this last week: Its been a stay at home kind of week filled with lots of farm work going on...building animal pens, cleaning outdoors, gardening work. But its been great.

 The kids and I did venture out on Thursday to run a couple errands and have lunch at the park. Petsmart, Petco, In & Out, Library and Sprouts. Then hubbie and I went to home depot over last weekend to grab some compost and manure along with a few flowers and a hose for the fall garden.

A non- busy work afternoon last week gifted me 3 hours to spend outdoors by myself and it was glorious - a little hot but still wonderful. I got a shade set up in Ro's new pig pen which her chicken-duck friends are enjoying and secured a roof on the chickens enclosure area as well. I cleaned out Scarlett's house/igloo stuffing it with new straw since the overnights have been getting chilly and cleaned the chicken coop in her pen as well.  After animals I marked off our fall garden in the field, and dug half of the rows. A little watering and some kitten-cat petting time and I called it an afternoon and went inside. 

Lately in the evenings a few days a week, hubbie and I have been working for an hour outside before the sun goes down as well. Working, watching the kittens play, chatting. I love that we have that passion together to garden, homestead, have animals, and work together in that way. I love that over the years as our passions and interests and hobbies have changed and grown, they've grown together and we've grown together. We truly enjoy spending time together doing the things we love. 

Ro-Ro girl. 2 1/2 years old!

Ro and Rusty checking out the new bird friends together.

One of our new chickens is not the smartest of the bunch. He got stuck inside an old coop we don't use and was making a ruckus staring out the window at everyone else getting fed and couldn't figure out how to get out to join the group.

We have a new pigeon. Just showed up one day and never left. Super friendly - unfortunately no bands so would be difficult to find an owner.

Baby kittens are growing bigger...and growing in cuteness!

Harvested and roasted sunflower seeds this week.

New flowers are still blooming in our front flower bed.

Farm work is fun work with our family.