First Egg!

I'm not sure who provided the first small egg--was it Ida the Speckled Sussex who is the biggest gal {I love her thighs that kind of look like feathery "pantaloons"} or Eva the Dominique who is almost as big and quite clucky or perhaps it was quiet Pansy the Buff Orpington who is starting to bulk up {and comes from a long line of prolific layers}?  Whoever laid the first egg, I'm very grateful--and excited.  I wasn't expecting an egg for a few more weeks or so, but was thrilled to find one resting on one of the roosting boards this evening.  The gals have not quite settled on the nest boxes yet.  I'm thinking soon they'll begin to realize that they are becoming grown up birds. 

These gals have been hanging around growing up for so long that I had almost gotten used to them being playful, quirky freeloaders.  I'm looking forward to not having to buy eggs any time soon.  Their contributions will be appreciated.  They've come a long way since their first day!

More Pumpkins Planned

I am liking knowing where my pumpkin comes from!  These two pies for Thanksgiving day actually came from this particular escaped pumpkin {secretly my favorite}.  Of course I did make a pecan pie too and don't have my own pecan tree, but that's okay.

Winter Luxury seeds are piling up around here.  How many should I plant in this 2014 garden?  I'm thinking more than four plants.  The large, perfectly shaped Rouge Vif d' Etampes pumpkins were nice, but not so great for baking and I'm not sure about them for next year...although I'm thinking that they would be a hit at the Farmers Market.  One thing is for sure, more Winter Luxury and Hubbard will do and I'm loving the new Baker Creek catalog.  Who knows what adventures wait ahead...there's some exciting possibilities in there.

Things Smell Pretty Good Around Here

Another pumpkin in the oven...and bread rising too.

*Yep, I need to invest in some better roasting pans, etc....!

Good Morning...It's Cold Outside!

This morning is my coldest yet...-7 {with a windchill of -20}.  I'm SURE it will get colder this winter, but this is the first below zero temp of the season.  No stranger to below zero, I kind of enjoyed the feel that grips you only the way below zero temperatures can this morning when I stepped outside.  It can be quite exhilarating, and wakes you up much, much faster than coffee.

Little Eva has decided that she prefers inside right now.  Actually, Pansy and Ida also look quite comfy roosting together and cooing back and forth then going over and seeing what's going on outside via the windows.  The thermometer in the barn reads 22*...a bit warmer than outside.  I'm thinking the girls will handle winter well.  I'm curious as to how egg laying will go.  Soon they will start laying, but being winter I'm not sure exactly how much laying they'll be doing.

How Many Pumpkins Can Fit Into the Fridge

Not having an efficient space to keep my pumpkins has resulted in me starting to bake...this week there has been a routine of baking at least two pumpkins a night and then putting one in the crockpot before bed so that its ready by morning.   I love the winter luxuries.  Their firm flesh is perfect for baking and delicious...so far its become bread, muffins, pies, and bars plenty and I'm impressed.  I've heard they aren't especially good savers though, so if this is my pumpkin stand-by {and I do believe it is}, this will be the routine for some years to come.  That's okay!

Garden Anticipation!

What an absolutely perfect birthday gift waiting for me in the mailbox--here's to the beginning of year 33!

A Date With Beets Tonight

Busy with beets this evening!

My First Knitting Project

With it being the garden "off season" I decided I should take up knitting again.  Really, I'm quite the beginner.  But, instead of tackling my first real knitting project {something I've been ready to begin with gusto} I am untangling my yarn...at least it's just the cream.  Jewel seems to love yarn just as much as socks.  I was out of the room for a moment, and then was prepared to sit back and "begin" things, when I came back to this scene.  Honestly, I didn't stage this...she's just so darn photogenic and was quite proud of the mess she'd made with her new toys.

Enjoying it While it Lasts

Today was windy, but sunny, and warm--almost 50*!  Perfect weather for a bunny outing while I gave all of their houses a good cleaning before winter sets in, although they were kind of crowed in this run all together like this while cleaning took place.  Lots of silver foxes and Californians growing up {and getting ready to go to the stock show in January}.

It's Time

So it's certainly time to start putting away a few things, like the garden ornaments, the many frosted over dead plants that are spent, that lawn mower that's outside and sort of under the deck after being displaced from the rabbitry for lack of room, and probably the water hose that makes life a little easier--maybe that can stay out another week, at least until the days stop rising above freezing {I'm hearing so many conflicting predictions about this winter involving everything from acorns to skunks and rabbits, and the angle of the moon...}.

And without a doubt its time to finish that chicken coop.  The gals have been overnighting it in the rabbit barn due to the many sly predators that could easily break into their run, but that is a less than ideal and definitely not permanent arrangement.  I'm thinking this weekend is perfect for this.  Maybe the gals can even settle into their new home this evening.  I'm excited even thinking about it!

There are certainly things to finish up so that everyone can shift as gracefully into this next season as possible {I still need to finish doing something with all those beets--pickling session perhaps Sunday afternoon...}.  But, as the season shifts my mind is starting to envision quite a few things that can occupy my winter time that will of course include a few more inside endeavors.  Of course there will be cross country skiing, snowboarding {finally a local hill!}, and my kiddos at school have even said they'd help me learn to ice skate--yes we have our own ice patch, complete with Zamboni.

But I've been in need of a winter to get some other things started for a while--about four years to be exact.  I have it in my sights to finally perfect my knitting skills and have discovered I have some excellent mentors in my life--those woolly things will certainly come in handy here.  But, immediately my fingers are eager to undertake some sewing on these cold evenings that will be hanging around for a while.  Specifically some sewing for very little legs.  There's a baby on the way {--not mine, not yet!!}.  A new niece or nephew coming in the spring that has me very excited.  As the parents love orange more than a little, I think that's a safe color to go with.  I'm using this pattern. I've never made baby pants before, but honestly it doesn't seem too complicated, and might even be a bit addicting.

In the back of my mind, all through those wonderfully summer months I pictured the time ahead where the days would become cold and the evenings would be spent wonderfully warm inside doing things I finally have time and energy to undertake.  It's definitely about time, and I can't wait to get some inside projects going.

I do think some things can stay out a while longer though...

and I might have to fight Susan for rights to my orange fabric.

October Finale