New Trails

Here are shots of the bulldozer work from yesterday and today. First the girls are riding past the oak tree, about to take a left at what we'll term for the public blog, "A.Q." The special clearing for a future cabin.

Turning left off the main trail.

Fat Suburbanite Dad's tree marker deep in the dark woods- till now.

Scott in the new clearing. Orange tree marker on the left outside the picture.

Looking left coming out at the creek from "A.Q." and looking at the new lane in the road through Beaver Crossing.

Monday will bring more new roads, widening the creek road, and making actual trails through the woods where the tree markers are.

Fun Food Preservation

Big Dan has had some extra time off of work lately, so he and I have gotten into the habit of going to a local farm to visit with the farmers (and their myriad cats and kittens!) and buying produce to put up.
Last time it was 8 quarts of green beans. Today it was cucumbers, more beans, and corn to eat fresh.
Next week, the girls and I will get 100 ears of corn to blanch and freeze. I'll try canning some too.

Here's the fruit of tonight's labors: 14 quarts of pickles, some dill spears and some secret recipe sweet dill chips, a 2 pound queso fresco cheese, and a pound of freshly washed butter!

This kind of counter cornucopia makes farm chores rewarding.

My Cheese Press

Lately I've been making an occasional hard cheese because Penny gives so much milk.
This is my press, which is functional, but not very good. Often my cheeses are crooked and sometimes the weights shift and fall off overnight, awakening the whole household.
I put a plate with the two pound cheese mold in the bottom of my pressure cooker, add a 20ish pound bucket of grain, and as many weights as needed.
I think I may invest in a real cheese press.

Fall, Finally

Isn't this a cozy sight?
I wanted to share with you the feeling of being out in the chilly fog, and looking onto the warmth of the light shining out from the windows.
A camera can't do the job thoroughly though.
I went out to bush hog after the cold front had blasted through, leaving in its wake a dense fog that was spooky as all get out.
I mowed around the trails, alone, very far from the safe and comfy house.
The vegetation had grown to a shocking height since summer, so it was extra scary expecting a bear to jump out from behind any number of cedar trees.
At one point I even imagined a pack of coyotes throwing caution to the wind and attacking the tractor. But that pack turned out to be just Snowflake and her cohorts taking a shortcut through the woods to surprise me.
With the cold, the fog, and the early darkness, I could feel that fall has moved in.

My Nemesis

Although she is a teenage girl, Becky is not my nemesis. This pool is.

I have been in it one time so far, for approximately 5 minutes on the day it was 114 degree heat index. It didn't feel very refreshing. It felt warm.

Mostly, I just spend lots of time and energy trying to perfectly balance the water.

Cub Creek with its snakes and other frightening beasties is looking better all the time.

If anyone wonders, this is a total of 3'6 deep and 16' across. It holds about 4,000 gallons, which we bought from WEL inc. in Concord.

Some Improvements to the Redneck Haven

Here's a look at last month's gravel delivery. It took me a while to order it, but finally we have classy gravel, rather than ugly mud.

I would like to order another load to enlarge the parking area even more and get the driveway ready for winter.

Of course the main private road is still in need of more gravel. I have the feeling that this statement will hold true for eternity.

The fence guys will be coming soon to tighten old fences and build new fences. I'll try to photograph them.

Our Driveway Rocks

Photos for those followers who have a high regard for gravel.

All American Canner

Thanks to a wealthy donor, I'm the proud owner of an All American pressure canner.
I am now capable of canning chili, stew, meat, and 14 quarts of anything I want to all at one time.
Becky's out with friends for the night, and the rest of us are going to start the new year with high adventure. We're eating over at Gretchen's.
Thanks, FSD and Beach Momma, for the gift. I'm making some Gingerfish so I can ship you a token thanks of soap.

Raspberries

See the two lines of raspberry sticks coming out from the fence? Neither do I, but there they are. 10 raspberry twigs that will hopefully be raspberry bushes soon.
My goal is to post again when they're huge brambles.