Summer Continues

First things first, the kids got back to

Orlando safely and then home.

We had SUCH a good time!!!

Can't wait until they move out here! 

Summer continues, even though we are

taking a short "fake fall" break.

It's CHILLY outside.

And we've been getting lots of rain.

Yesterday Rod and I went into town for

Hays Days. We needed to run by the

bank and sign the paperwork for the

HELOC loan so we can start on

the new house.

(We will sell the city house once we move

and pay off the loan...)

Anyhow.

It was the ONLY day they weren't predicting

rain, so we tried not to dawdle, but there's

only so many decisions you can make in a hurry.

Anyhow.

After our trip into town, we headed out to 

the farm to drop off Kyle's groceries and

Rod went to work on the shed.

Kyle spent the morning doing all the chores he

hasn't had time for in the last few days.

Like he mowed the paths in the garden.

And tilled out where the corn was.

(But can't plant the carrots yet, it's too wet.)

That kind of stuff.

They worked together until nearly dark

and got the peal and stick underlayment on the roof

and all the edging installed.

Bear and I WALKED from Kyle's down

to our place to check on their status.

And then back again.

That is a STEEP hill, but it felt good.

Today is supposed to on/off rain, but not

RAIN. Just light rain.

So they might work on getting the metal on

the roof, or they might work on wiring inside.

Likely both.

Kyle goes on the roof. (Rod's not allowed. Lol)

So Rod will probably work on wiring.

The electrician is supposed to come one day

this week and hook us up to the power pole 

we had put in earlier this year.

Meanwhile, I got 3 bags of free apples at the 

farmers market on Saturday. Mary said a farmer

dropped them off and asked them to give them away.

I said I'd take 1 bag.

She begged me to take them ALL!.

So I did.

And yesterday I turned them into applesauce!

I love Kyle's kitchen!

But I literally used EVERY dish he owns.

The minimalists are on track, it's nice to pare down.

Unless you are processing food.

And then you NEED more than one pot.

It only made 5 pints.

They were TINY apples, so there was a LOT of peel 

and not lots of flesh.

But I think it's tasty.

(Kyle said it needs more sugar, it should be like jam,

mostly apple flavored sugar. Ugh.)

And it's SO SATISFYING after HOURS and HOURS

of work to hear those puppies PING.

This morning I woke up with a sore throat.

So I took some ivermectin and some oil of

oregano and went back to bed.

Just headed out to the yard and picked this!

One zucchini (I didn't know was there...)

The volunteer food forest in the middle of the yard

is LOVING this rain! I've got a couple of

spaghetti squash coming along, and this morning

it looks like I might have a yellow squash out there too!

Sheesh.

The little red things are lunch box peppers.

SOOOO yummy!

There are also TONS of cherry tomatoes, but I'm leaving

them for the birds.

We are getting at least one 2.5 gallon bucket a day

from the farm.

So, as soon as I'm done here, I'm going to get the

trays of peaches from the freezer and get those

put into freezer bags, then cut all those tomatoes

and get them onto trays.

I'll put 5 trays in the freeze dryer and 5 more trays

into the freezer for the next round.

I just took 5 trays OUT of the freeze dryer.

Made up 27 bags to sell.

I think I'll put these into large mylar bags and save

them for the winter when we don't have tomatoes.

I'm trying to decide if I should spray them with 

balsamic vinegar or not.

It makes them STICKY, but OH SO DELICIOUS.

I'll probably spray them.

I don't know.

I'll decide later.

Meanwhile, I'm setting up the little kitchen

table in the living room, putting on a Hallmark movie

and slicing tomatoes.

Meanwhile.

Overnight it became FLY SEASON!

I killed 7 flies this morning and there are

still MORE!

(So I closed the back door. I'm sure they are

coming in through the gap under the screen door.)

Beau will just have to scratch on the door

when he wants to go out.

Back to the olden days.

(And winter)