Lots to do

Time has been flying by. I can't believe tomorrow is already October. Seems like nothing got accomplished in September. How am I going to catch up in October! The weather has been great though. We were able to walk to pick Corra up from school both days this week and also walked to story time at the library yesterday. The evenings have been cool but just right to be outside during the day. No cabin fever this week. Aubrey, the kids and I are going to Watertown tomorrow. Just to do a little shopping. But Saturday we are going to Sioux Falls and beyond to look at some vintage gas stoves. One double oven and one that is just extremely pretty. Hopefully I will come home with one of them. It will be nice to finally have a gas stove. I don't care for electric stoves. Especially when canning veggies-burners seem too small.
Haven't finished cleaning out the garden yet- oh well- it will happen! Strawberries and raspberries are still producing- much to Corra and Carters delight!
I have decided on ice blue sparkle upholstery for the kitchen chairs. I ordered a sample swatch from Vogue Fabrics so will make the final decision when it gets her. Will also be getting vintage glass knobs and pulls -Peacock Blue. Very pretty. Funny though, blue is my favorite color and I have never had a blue kitchen! We will see how it all comes together.
I have been doing a little sewing-making fall crafts and little things like that. Chasing kids and trying not to be edgy. Other than that not much else going on here-the only exciting thing is that Leslie and Caleb have made plans to head to Vegas November 5th thru the 8th. I'll have a new son-in-law, but it feels like he has been family for the past few years.

Fall

A new season is arriving tonight- Fall, my favorite time of year. This year though the first day of fall will not be clear, sunny or crisp. It will be cloudy and rainy. The forecast is calling for "tropical downpours". So I will sew all day tomorrow-kids allowing!
I picked the last tomato's from the garden today. Diced two for dinner and Corra ate four of the remaining five Roma's. There are still greens, peppers and herbs that need to be tended to but other than those few remaining things the garden is ready to be cleared out. Kind of sad to come to a close but excited to plan for a new season. I have a new plan in mind, converting over to a Potager Garden. I have been researching these for a few years now and I guess this is as good a time as any to give it a try. I have the room to expand if need since we haven't installed the new fence yet. Should be interesting. I am trying to hold off on setting plan to paper until winter, don't want to get ahead of myself and have nothing to do when it is too cold to go out!
 I am missing living on the farm. I think I would feel better if I could have some chickens! Not a bunch-just three or four girls would be plenty. If I would have known I would be living in town I would have made sure to photograph my chickens and write their stories. I have had some special ones in my time-Who would have ever thought? All my critters, another day, another time!

Blessed

Today is Albert's Birthday- Number 60 for him, the 27th one we have shared.  I am lucky to have found someone that thinks the way I do and believes in the things I care about. My best friend, lover, soul mate. Someone I know I can count on. Everyone has that one true love in their lives and I am so happy to have found mine. We are fortunate-our lives crossed paths at the right time.
There is a nice calm in the house today- Aubrey took the day off, I guess she figured he needed a break from the kids! I have cleaned the house and made the B-day cake. A new recipe- Snowball cake. Hopefully okay!!!! I am taking him to dinner tonight-meeting Leslie and Caleb and then we will meet back here for cake and presents!
I like days like this. Peaceful-quiet-

Chilly anyone?

What a difference a day can make. We have had a crazy weather summer this year. Not at all like it should be. It seems like the heat and humidity were never going to break. Monday evening a storm rolled through and we have been dropping into the 40's at night and only up into the 60's during the day. Nice------ I hope everyone enjoyed their Labor day weekend. It was the calmest one we have ever had. Aubrey and Brian took off to the cities for a zoo and science museum trip with the kids, Leslie and Caleb were camping with his family. We grilled Saturday and I bar-b-que'd Sunday. Things got back to normal Tuesday when everyone had to go back to work.
I have some new sewing projects coming up-but I can't start them until I get my kitchen chairs done. That's my plan anyway. We will see how that plays out. I think I have settled on blue with a contrast- just have to decide on the blue now- dark or light- sparkle or cracked ice. Either way it has to be ordered so I will have time to get the others taken apart. I'll post a before and after pic when I get to that point.
Time to get the day going though. Story time starts at the library this am so I need to get the kids ready for that. We are going to miss morning nap for Carter so we will see how that goes.

Clearing out the Garden

It's that time of year again. Time to start cleaning out the garden.
The onions and beets have been pulled for a while. Half of the potatos are dug- thanks to Albert, (I hate that job). Saturday I did a major clearing of the greens. I only planted Collards and Swiss Chard this year- and the cabbage moths loved the collards so I have had beautiful Swiss Chard since spring. Well worth the sacrifice. The okra is still producing, some plants are taller than me but we are expecting temps to start falling into the 50's at night and just up into the 70's during the day so their days are numbered. Tomatos are done. Green beans are still producing. Cucumbers are starting to play out. I have pinto beans and black eyed peas drying on the vines. I will pull the carrots towards the end of September. Broccoli and brussels sprouts are looking good too. There are also herbs to cut and dry. The freezer is full and so is the pantry, so I am also done!  I put up the canner today.
I did try two new things this year: Dill Pickle Relish- didn't really care for it, and Green Tomato Relish- This one we might like. We'll give it a couple of weeks and give it a try.

I am already working on next years layout. Maybe by spring I will have it finished. The greenhouse we added this year will be put to good use.
Mostly I think everyone is really looking forward to fall. Still plenty to do, but nicer to work when it is cool weather.