Over-The-Fence Chat Thread 9-16 thru 9-22

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Hello all,

Somehow or other we missed a week on the Chat Thread. It's been a hard week for sure. If we forget to start this thread, anybody can jump in here on Sundays and start it.

It's cold in the mornings here now, and I noticed some leaves falling off the trees allready. Of course, I don't want fall to come any earlier than absolutely necessary. We've had a blessing in that the tree trimming guys are bringing me loads of firewood every day. They are working in our area and I said they could park the big trucks up here. They have been so great, I just can't hardly believe the amount of wood they have brought. Since the stove is outside, it dosen't really matter if the wood is green or not. I have given them lots of tomatoes every time they come, they love my tomatoes. We usually have to buy some wood before winter is out, maybe we won't have to this year.

Steve has a deer to skin and put in the freezer this morning. Another blessing. The guys who got it gave it to a friend of ours who's freezer is allready full. I hope I have enough freezer paper on hand. It's 105 pounds, young doe. Really a wonderfull blessing for us.

My garden is still booming, still hundreds of tomatoes and strawberrys. The Rose of Sharons are still in high bloom, as are the Zinnias. Still mowing grass. Our leaves have not really started to change yet, but I'm sure it'll be soon. We better get busy hooking up that stove. Anyway, hope you all are doing allright. It's hard, but we're trying to keep things going around here.

-- Cindy in KY (solidrockranch@msn.com), September 16, 2001

Answers

I came home from church this morning to find two eggs in the hen house. I hadn't expected eggs for another month. One good thing today. annette

-- annette (j_a_henry@yahoo.com), September 16, 2001.

After a week of my cows bellowing for their now sold calves, they have finally stopped. With that, worrying about others in the wake of NYC occurrences, it has been a harrowing week. But one thing - I have my first honey harvest ever. A light colored honey with a wonderful flavor. What a joy, and so much of it. More than I will use in 3 years I dare say.

-- R. (thor610@yahoo.com), September 16, 2001.

It has turned fairly cool here also. My garden is on it's last legs, a few tomatoes, a few squash, a row of carrots and the brussel sprouts are all that is left. I went last weekend with a friend to an outlet store over in Iowa. We both finished stocking up our homes for winter. I am always relieved when that is done, and doubly so since the tragedy of this past week. I hope everyone is well and I hope this next week will be more positive than the past one.

-- Barb in wc Il (Barb43@countrylife.net), September 16, 2001.

We have the most incredible wildflowers in the fields around here-I counted 8 different purple ones and 3 different yellow ones, the fields are just wonderful-purple green and yellow-I bring flowers in by the armfulls. I have a big mass in the pantry drying. I wish that all of you could see them. The sky has been so pretty-the humidity is gone and its just cool enough to make walking and outdoor chores a pleasure. I saw a turning tree this morning-the first one Ive seen its turning orange. The tomatos are about gone, but the cabbage looks good and Ive discovered a black walnut tree across the creek I love black walnuts. We have some blooming hunnysuckle that smells incredable. Its been a comfort to me to chat with other people and try to get my mind off some of this week. Uasually I love the isolation here, but this week its good to talk with folks even if its through e-mail.

-- Kelly (markelly@scrtc.com), September 16, 2001.

Hello everyone. It has been an emotionally exhausting week hasn't it? In the garden I still have a lot of tomatoes, cabbage, potatoes to dig and sweet potatoes. This past week I canned pepper relish, it was so pretty because I had a lot of red peppers. Helped my husband this week-end put in the poles for a new 20 x 20 horse barn he is building. We already have one, but we got another horse so...! He is using telephone poles so they were free, but you need a big hole to set them. But they are all in now. Planning to make apple butter this week, my two large trees are loaded. I have a great recipe for carmelized apple butter that everyone loves. It makes a great gift, so I will probably make a lot. I might can one more batch of spaghetti sauce, I have already done about 75 jars so I will have to think on it! A friend of my husbands was here this week-end and gave him a pack of bear meat. I will eat deer meat, but I am not much of a meat eater, so I'm not sure how to cook this. I don't imagine any of the kids will eat it. I hope everyone has a good week, stay safe and God Bless.

-- Melissa (cmnorris@1st.net), September 17, 2001.


We have just been stunned, as everyone else has about the current events. My wife counted 50 melons of various types in the garden. The cantalopes and honey dews are the sweetest I've ever tasted. We still have gobs of tomatoes, the canners have been going, and we still have more. We are giving some to the local farmer's market for charity. Everything else is pretty much done. We get to see one of our "abandoned-rescued" dogs next weekend. We found him by our mailbox and had him for 9 months while he learned to be civilized. What a great dog he turned out to be. "Buster" is a Treeing Walker Hound, that is just great for my in-laws and really good with children. They are coming for a visit Sunday, and I know the five dogs we have will be glad to run and play with Buster again, if only for a little while.

-- Rickstir (rpowell@email.ccis.edu), September 17, 2001.

We cut wood for the winter this weekend so fall must be here. My hands are a little sore from the splitting but it's a good sore. The hubby does the hard logs and I do the easier ones while he takes a break. So many of our wood-burning neighbors have forgotten how to use an ax for splitting. What a sense of accomplishment to see all that hand-split wood lined up by our stove, not to mention the good exercise. It was so nice to hear the sound of dry leaves crunching beneath our feet and the smell of fresh cut wood. Every season has it glories!

Our leaves are just starting to turn. The geese are beginning the trip south. The garden was a disaster this year so no canning, but we have a lot of new plants to tuck in for winter and fall fencing to do. And people always ask if we get bored living in the sticks. Silly rabbits. :)

Stace, IA

-- Stacey Christiansen (stacey@lakesideinternet.com), September 17, 2001.


Isn't it funny how people think that you must get bored living the country, and yes they are silly geese. With winter coming we have several dead trees to come down for fire wood and of course their is always "end of the garden relish" to make. Because it is done by using whatever is left in our garden it never tastes the same from year to year. I rather like the surprise something to look forward to. Once we get the garden in and the trees down I will be needing to get some Christmas gifts started, from what has happened this past week maybe money will be a little tighter then normal this year.

As a country we need to stick together and put an end to the terrorism NOW and not let it drag on. I'm old enough to remember WW II and believe me it wasn't a fun time, with the men gone and families separated it was hard on everyone. I work as an Red Cross volunteer and have had a busy time trying to get some news of family members living in NYC to families living in the Ozarks, so far everyone came through OK, hope it keeps up. Right now I don't have a class but have some papers to grade so I better get on them, everyone have a good week and count your blessings.

Peace to all, Sally

-- sally stanton (mallardhen67@hotmail.com), September 18, 2001.


It is beautiful here also,,the fall weather is clicking in,,cold nights and mornings but gets hot as heck during the day,,still getting 80s,,here in W. Montana,,,,,I have been cleaning up the garden,,getting the end of summer veggies in and picking strawberries. I guess they will keep coming til frost hits hard enough. Also doing fall house-cleaning,,,what a job...but feels so satisfying after cleaning is done. I am doing it systematically..room by room and as I get the time. ,,,Take care

-- Patsy, MT (cpc-1@care2.com), September 22, 2001.

Good to see this post. The last week wiped me out as well. Yes, it is funny that people who don't live in the country think there is nothing to do here. Ha! Our wood is ready, but we still have basil, other herbs, peppers, kale, carrots, and LOTS of pumpkin and squash to freeze or can yet. A few more tomatoes too. And we're going to get our first chickens soon! Big, big step.

take care and be good to yourselves.

-- Cathy (logholm@rangenet.com), September 22, 2001.



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