October 16-22

Sunday, Oct 16-Made Cottage Cheese from this morning's milk.  Now we can have Lasagna for supper!  I also made Greg's favorite cookies...Apies and some more dog treats.

Packed my clothes and such for my trip to Grand Rapids tomorrow for ADGA Convention.  I will be staying overnight and Greg will be doing my chores while I am gone.

Monday and Tuesday-At Convention.  Enjoyed myself.  Sat in on several sessions,  most were on nutrition and the speaker was Steve Hart, from Langston Laboratories.  Not the best presenter, but did have good information.  The other and most interesting session was given by John White, ADGA judge and Linear Appraisal judge, on using Linear Appraisal scores to help with making breeding choices.  Good session and learned alot.  Plenty of pictures to help show what he was speaking about.  Very easy to understand what he was saying.  Hope I can put it into practice and reap some rewards.

I was also able to pick up my semen order from BioGenetics...no shipping that way.  17 straws are now waiting for the right doe and time!

Wednesday, Oct 19-Meals on Wheels and Fiber Gals.  Had strong winds all day.  In the evening we lost power for about four hours.  Cooked dinner on the Coleman camp stove and ate by kerosine lamp.  By TV time the power was back.

Thursday, Oct 20-The day started out good, but fell apart in the afternoon...got sick to my stomach just after coming in from chores!  Spent the rest of the day in a chair under a blanket dozing.  Felt queasy the rest of the day.  I did manage to get sourdough started and then early bed.

Friday, Oct 21-Felt fine.  Dishes, breakfast, chores, some goat teasing, then Greg picked all the peppers and we froze five cookie sheets of chopped and one container of whole ones.  Put the banana peppers in salt to soak before making them into pickled peppers.

After peppers were done, I cut Swiss Chard and canned six pints of it.  All that is left to be canned is the beets which will be made into Pickled beets, my favorite.

Sourdough made and cooling, will bag and lable in morning.

Saturday, Oct 22-This is the last Market of the season for me.  There is one more on the calendar, but that is also the day of Anna Motz's Estate Auction.  Ann was a dear friend who I met while delivering Meals to her.  Sweet wonderful lady who I really do miss visiting with.  I am hoping to get something at the auction that will remind me of her and her wonderful stories.  My hope is to get her wringer washer.  She told me that instead of a diamond engagement ring she asked for a wringer washer!  This one may not be THAT washer, but it is one that she owned and was using right up until the year before she passed away at the age of 94!

Market was almost a bust, only sold two loaves of bread!  Oh well, did have a good visit with my Market friends anyway.

Back at home and spent the afternoon cleaning the greenhouse.  What a good job done!  Not many plants in there this year.  Almost ready to start up the hydroponics unit and see if I can grow something there that we can eat.  Needs to be something that is a cool weather crop, would like to keep it cool in there this year, since I don't have any Poinsettias in there.

Our evening was spent around the campfire.  Nice clear night, temperature was nice.  Heard coyotes way out back.  Greg heard something that he said was "something getting something".  Nice to be out with nature.



End of the season and the pit is getting full!

Onward and Upward!



Things are rolling right along now...

Oct. 9, Sunday-Another beautiful day!  Must be a good year for all those who depend on Fall Color travel!  We may even go to Sleepy Hollow tonight to camp.  Weather too good to pass up!

Did some computer research this morning.  I have recipes for  doggie treats and also for homemade crackers.  Which one to do first...

Greg check out the football games and I did chores.  No games he really wants to watch so we decided to drive over to Sleepy Hollow State Park (six miles away) and check out campsites.  Busy place, this was their "Halloween" weekend.  Great weather really brought the people out.  There were even people swimming!

Then we went by Swanson's for a quick visit.  Home and supper of eggs, hash, and toast.  Then chores and porch sitting.  Weather is wonderful.

Chris and Daniella swimming October 2011!

Oct. 10, Monday-Woke at 5:45 AM didn't get up until 6:30 AM.  Checked out face book.  Chris and family went camping over the weekend and they were swimming!

7:40 AM Red sky for a sunrise this morning, moisture is on it's way.

Went to Carson City to the bulk foods store.  Nice drive.  Got 50#s of flour, flax seed, vanilla, and carob.  Small shop, but had most of what I went after...no graham flour.

Anya went to the Vet.  Seems to have uninary infection, pees on the floor all the time.  Taking antibiotics now.

Oct. 11, Tuesday-Up at 6 AM to load the broilers and take them to R&B processors in Corunna.  Picked up my repaired glasses on our way home.

Cleaned out the broiler pen and moved the stuff to my new "hot" frame.  Piled some compost and some soil on top of the poo and wet it all down.  Will let it work a while before trying to plant anything.  If it is working right the temp could go as high as 120 degrees!  That's too hot for anything that I want to plant in there.

Washed dishes, watered horses, did chores and moved bucks to separate pens and then moved does in with each.  Will see how that works. 

Got the call around 1:30 PM that the broilers were done.  Went to pick them up and had lunch on the way.

Sharpened knives and all is ready to go!

Jenn and Pat were here around 5:30 PM.  All went well, we cut up 30 birds and left 5 whole.  Got to try out a "Food Saver" machine.  Pat borrowed his brother's.  Seems to work fine.  Only one bag didn't seal.  Model 2220 Food Saver from Wal-Mart.  Spent $19 on bags and used it all.

Boiled 10 carcasses over night for chicken soup.  The others are in the freezer to be "souped" at a more convenient time.

Our dinner was rotisserie Chicken and rutabagas for supper, it was our break.

Oct. 12, Wednesday-Bath, then did some plant work.  Used the bath water to water all my  house plants.  Then started to organize plants around the house.

Greg bagged up our chickens that spent the night on cookie sheets in the freezer.

Meals on Wheels and Fiber Gals, then read after supper.

Oct. 13, Thursday-Finished plant work and cleaned up mess.  Breakfast and chores.  Used milking machine today, so that Mildred will be used to the feel and sound when Greg has to do my chores while I'm at the ADGA Convention next week.

We went to the hay auction, I was planning on buying eggs.  None there...drat!

Took the dogs for a walk in McCurdy park, then home, put salt rising bread together and set it to rise about 4 PM. 

Went out to the buck barn to do some organizing and preparations.  Greg put up a plug near the buck pen, so we can plug in the water heater for the water tank over the winter.

Both buck boys are starting to smell like bucks!

We also have another pen in the barn.  Now if I want or need to separate the boys I can.

Tomorrows plan is to organize the other side of the barn and then bring all the summer furniture in there for the winter.

Light late supper of chicken and rice soup with graham crackers and milk for dessert.

Oct. 14, Friday-Very constructive day!  Dishes done, 5 loaves of sourdough ready, semen tank picked up, buck barn ready for winter, garden shed straightened, summer furniture put away, 12 pints of chicken soup canned, a new Share customer serviced, money in the bank, dog's nails trimmed, glazed a window from the chicken coop, two quarts of yogurt made, kifer working (grains from my new share customer) and now time to relax.

Oct. 15, Saturday-Market day, damp, cool and windy!  Did I say it was windy!  It is really windy!  Not many vendors or customers.  Did sell three skeins of yarn.

Did some organizing of the green house.  Just a start, but it is a start.

Gave making crackers a try.  We made Cheddar Cheese Crackers and Sesame Crackers, and also Apple Cinnamon Drop dog treats.  Everyone gets a treat!

Onward and upward.

Oct 2-8, Indian Summer!

Sunday-Blog up to date after two weeks!





 Jenn and Pat came over to make salsa from our garden produce.

Busy bees!

Greg helping...and took his own picture!

All done!



Monday-Not much go on my part.  We did get the parts baler moved to the tool shed.  Dennis Spencer came over to get a truck load of horse poo for his garden.

I took three does down to be "teased" by the bucklings.  Brought my goat records up to date and the breeding chart so I can see when and who is ready.

Around 5:30 PM, Jenn and Pat came by for the fruits of their labors.

We had stuffed peppers for supper, have enough for lunch tomorrow!

Tuesday-Up at 5:30 AM, took a soak, before going for my yearly hearing aid check.  I have had the aids for three years now!

Greg also had appointment, his was at 10:30 with the DDS.  He took Isabeau with him and I had Anya.  We went for a three mile walk that took us 50 minutes.

What a beautiful autumn day!

After lunch we did some work on the cold frame.  We dug it out and got it ready for the chicken poo that will be put there after the broilers leave next week.

Campfire in the evening.  Beautiful evening.

Wednesday-Started the salt rising, bred two does and then got ready for Meals and group. Made Macaroni and Cheese in the slow cooker.  Took dogs for a short walk before dinner.

Thursday-Foggy Autumn Morning.  Slow start again, couldn't get motivated.  Took two does to the bucks.  Not much happening.  Angus has the idea, but not much drive.

We decided to take a drive down to "Trails End" to pick up walnuts.  We got 2-5 gallon buckets full!

Then made up my mind it was way past time to get the sheep shorn.  One and one half hours later...it was ALL DONE, everything from set up to clean up!  Got 6#s from Rainy, the Suffolk and 9#s from Abraham the Border Leicester.

Skirting Abraham's complete fleece.

All done!

Rainy's fleece all in one piece!

Sourdough starter, started.

Friday-Computer time, dogs out, check the salt rising.  The salt rising was in the pans rising by 8:30 AM!

Breakfast, chores and then elevator for grain.

Mixed up sourdough when we got back home.  Jenn called and asked when we were coming to help unload shingles.  Made plans, forgetting about the sourdough that was in the works!  Salt rising was done, but sourdough ended up rising and then baking at their house.

Saturday-Bagged and labeled breads, packed truck, grabbed breakfast...wonderful market weather.  Not as many vendors or customers as I expected.  Did fine though only six breads came home.

Thanks to the Bushons, we now have a regular six dozen a week egg customer.  Won't be many extra eggs, even after market closes.

After my chores, I went to Jenn's, Greg was already there along with some other family and friends.  They were all there to help re roof the house.

This is the first year of the Elsie Free Fall Day.  It is to support the Food Bank.  Some of us girls went to check out the vendors.  There were plenty of crafts there, only one I bought was a doggie treat.

After an interesting trip home...the old truck that Greg had driven in the morning, stalled and wouldn't restart.  Sooooo, I ended up pulling him and the truck home, no problems.  Glad we didn't wait until after dark to leave!  We had pizza and then I headed to bed at 9:30!

More beautiful weather is predicted for a few more days, maybe we can even get in another camp out!

Onward and upward!

Vacation post...

Tuesday, September 20-Left for Reedsburg State Forest Campground near Houghton Lake.  Arrived around 3:30 PM.  Only two other campers in the campground.  Got the same site as we had last year, right on the water with a great view of the sunset in the evening.

Did a bit of fishing off the shore at our site and I caught one small bass.  More fishing to come.

Pat was coming up after work.  They had been in the area last weekend, so they left their fifth wheel trailer at a friends cabin.  Pat would swing by there pick up the trailer and then come to the campground.  Greg and I had settled in by the campfire when we got a cell call...it was Pat and the trailer was in the ditch!  It had broken loose from the hitch and had crossed over into the other lane and went into a ditch!  Thank God there was no on coming traffic!  No one was hurt and the wrecker was coming to pull it out. 

When we got to the spot the wrecker was there as well as the police.  It was no time and the trailer was out of the ditch and back on the truck.  There was only minimum damage and we were able to follow Pat to the campground where things were put back in order.  Repairs would be assessed in the day light.

Wednesday, September 21-Went to Camping World in Houghton Lake for a new fifth wheel plate.  Bought a few other supplies and then back to camp.  Trailer is a little worse for the wear, but still usable!

We had gotten some bait while out and now was the time to see how it would go.  Went down to the dam to try our luck.

I had a great time, the fish were biting pretty good....

16 inch Walleye and a nice Crappie!

Everyone caught something and we had some good fun.

Sat around the campfire and then headed to bed.  We used our new heater that night as it was a bit cool.

Thursday, September 22-Spent the day in camp.  Ate the fish from yesterday and took the dogs for a good walk.  Anya is loving camp!

Today was baking day, I made Brownies and Cornbread in the reflector oven!

Did more fishing, not as good as yesterday, but we all caught some and had a good time.

While sitting by the campfire the guys can hear the coyotes across the lake!  I can't hear them unless I cup my hands behind my ears.  Dogs don't seem to care, they just enjoy being outside and all the walking!

Used the heater again this night.

Friday, September 23-Jenn arrived around 7:30 PM.  We had spent the day in camp fishing and walking.  Fishing okay, still catching, but nothing to keep!

Saturday, September 24-Greg and I went to West Branch to the Northern Michigan Lamb and Wool Festival.  What a nice fairgrounds!  Nice Festival as well.  I bought a nice drop spindle and some mohair roving along with six dye colors to try out on some of my wool.

Back at camp and time for fishing.  Here's a great fishing story and it is true!  Pat and I were both fishing off the dam.  We  had seen a flash once or twice and realized it was a pike that was going after the small fish we had caught.  It even bit one of them in two pieces!  Then as I was reeling in another, the Pike struck and I started to reel BOTH in...Pat was sure my pole would snap, so he brought his with the treble hook over and managed to hook his into the Pike!  We were able to bring both fish in and get things under control.  I released the small bass and we were able to get pictures of the Pike before we released it.

This was also the day that we all saw the eagle fishing.  We watched for as long as we could see it after it flew off the stump, where it had eaten the fish.  This was the only time we saw the eagle the whole time we were there.  Not quite as exciting as last year, but still great to see.

Fireman's Memorial.

Sunday, September 25-Baked cornbread with sausage in the reflector oven for breakfast.  Then got around and went to Roscommons to the Fireman's Memorial.  http://www.firemensmemorial.org/  This was the reason the kids had been in the area last weekend.  Their friends are all volunteer fire fighters and it was the Memorial Festival last weekend.

I had been contacted, shortly after 9/11 about my dad's name being added, but nothing ever came of it.  I did find all of his fellow Flint Township members listed on a panel.  http://www.firemensmemorial.org/fallenheroes/panel-e-5.jpg  Now I am going to make sure that Dad's name gets placed next year!  Then we can come up and build our vacation around that weekend.

On the way back to camp we stopped at the Pumpkin Dash.  A custom car show that was in the Wal-Mart parking lot.

Back at camp and more fishing.  Late, it was almost dark, Pat caught a really big Crappie!



This ones a keeper for sure!



Monday, September 26-Weather cool and wet.  Jenn and Pat decide to pack up and go home.  They were gone by late morning.

Greg and I decided to drive to Traverse City and go to the Traverse Bay Woolen Mill store.  We had been there several years ago and liked it.  I was hoping to get a woolen blanket.  We headed for where the shop was and found it was no longer...I mean it wasn't anywhere at all!  The company was no longer in business!  Drat!

Well it was a nice drive and the colors are sure starting to glow!

Back at camp and did more fishing, had five fish total on the stringer, fish dinner  was planned again!

That late afternoon, after Greg had gone to the dumpster to empty the waste, he made a call to the sheriff...someone had removed several "curve" signs and had dumped them in the trash.  Figure it was some local kids having some fun.  Anyway, he called and talked and never heard anything else.  Our excitement for the day!

Tuesday, September 27- Our last full day in camp.  Stayed put, fishing and dog walking.  Good day.  The last campfire made the count eight straight nights of fires!  But this one didn't last the full  night...rain set in and we headed to the camper to read and chill.

Earlier I  had cooked beans and ham in the dutch oven.

We also took Anya to the water to see if she would like swimming.  What great fun she had!  She never really wanted to swim, but when the need arose, she was up to the challenge!



She went completely under just after this shot!

Isabeau doesn't even like to get her feet wet!



How about some pictures before we leave for home-

Pat fishing below the dam.

View from below the dam.

Colors below the dam.

Greg fishing at the campsite.

The Fifth wheel in camp!

Wednesday, September 28-Day started out wet and looked like it was going to be that way all day, so we packed up and got ready to leave.

While packing, I was going to clean the fish and bring them home.  I went down to the shore to bring in the stringer of five nice fish and things was all bad!  One fish was gone, three had been partially scaled and were out of the water and the fifth was still alive!  The one alive was set free and the rest were left for the next scavenger to clean up.  No fish fry at home for us!  Damn  raccoon, they're too smart for their own good!

We had a great eight days of camping, fishing and hiking, now it was time to go home.

Drive home was uneventful, at home all was well.  Our friend that did the chores, Cindy and her kids did a wonderful job!

Thursday, September 29-Dawned cold and wet.  Made some sourdough bread for market this weekend.  Went  into Ovid to pick up my sewing machine, some feed, and dollars.  Got our first fuel oil delivery of the season!

Friday, September 30-Rainy and cold.  Couldn't make salt rising bread as the started didn't foam!  Weather for tomorrow is cold, wet and WINDY, don't think I will be going...Wind is BAD!

Saturday, October 1-No market toooooo WWWIIINNNDDDYYYYY!  Spent the day just chillin' and reading.

Welcome October!  Turned the heat on in the morning.

Onward and Upward to the next exciting week....

Time for catching up...

Had plenty going on the last two weeks, I will only do the high lights.

Monday, September 12-We did up a big batch of sauce tomatoes.  And I also did another camp chair.

Thursday, September 15-First frost of the season!  Made Anya a doggie back pack.

Used some denim, nylon strapping and some free lunch sacks from Farm Bureau.



Friday, September 16-Second frost!

Sunday, September 18-Vacation preparations well underway!  All going as planned.

Monday, September 19-Made zucchini bread and did more tomatoes.  In all there is three bushels of tomatoes turned into sauce, salsa, and stewed.

Let the vacation begin!