The First Frost

Yesterday evening I sat at the kitchen window enjoying some wine and admiring how the setting sun illuminated the back woods on the farm.  "Middle" dog admired the view also, though I suspect for different reasons. 

When I woke up the next morning, the view was a bit different.  And so was the temperature.

The birdbath was even frozen!

The winds are changing...

A little seasonal folklore...

"When deer are in grey coat in October, expect a hard winter"

"Much rain in October makes for much wind in December"

"A warm October means a cold February"

 

 Last fall,  all the wooly-bear caterpillars were pure black.  I haven't seen ANY this year so far. Maybe last year's polar vortex, winter-from-hell froze them all dead? 

Last fall, the first snowfall was October 24th.  We've had quite a bit of rain this October, but so far, no snow.  I'm glad.

I do hope this winter is nothing as miserable as last year's.  Although the animals did impress me with how well they coped and withstood it. 




The first frost of fall 2014

 

 

I wonder if the spider froze?

I wouldn't say its been a warm October.  And official winter is still two months away. But we did have our first frost about ten days ago.  Its dark in the early mornings now, and dark early in the evenings. It feels a bit like winter.  I still haven't gotten any wood in yet, but I do have a loft full of hay.  I hope you all are healthy, happily getting your wood stacked, and filling your pantries.  And may this winter be more kind to all of us. 

 

~A

Little Time, Shorter Days

It has been an entire month since I've last posted. I'm still in the process of canning tomatoes.  I've been strapped with a nasty cold for the past week, and my car was stolen last Friday from the parking lot at my workplace.  But that's not a story for today...

I have not really had time to post because the days go something like this...

Get up (6:00 am), feed animals and myself, commute to work (1 hour drive)
Work 9am-5:30 pm
Commute back home (1 hour drive)
At home, spend time training the horses (1 hour)
Collect eggs, feed animals
Can and/or prepare tomatoes for canning
Eat (if there is any time left)
In bed around 9:30-10:00 pm. 

And the weekends are for running errands, buying feed at the mill, doing laundry, fixing or doing things around the farm, and maybe finding a little time for some relaxation and wine.

But I'm not complaining. Yes I am. I am going to complain a little about it getting darker earlier...but who doesn't?

Anyway, the turkeys are looking rather fine these days aren't they?...

"Stalker"inspects the young soldiers...

 

I hope you have a peaceful Friday evening.  ~A

 

Autumnal Equinox 2013

Sunday marked the first day of Fall (Sept. 22nd this year), also known as the Autumnal Equinox. I celebrated the changing of the season by taking a stroll around the farm, preparing (and eating) some good food, admiring nature's subtle changes, and bidding farewell to Summer.

Start with a good Breakfast!

Fall's Wild Flowers