Settling In...



Frost hasn't even hit here yet, but we're all settling into the autumn mindset. I've been out picking tomatoes every other day - blanching and peeling them till the bowl in the fridge is full, then canning them. I have a batch of oven dried San Marzanos ready to pull from the oven too. We certainly planted enough tomatoes! One of my favorite things about the fall garden is how little seedlings I totally forgot about suddenly appear as the tomatoes and other big vines die back - we actually have, joy of joy, hot peppers - one of our "for sure" failures this year - one of the aji coloradoes is taking off - two ready to pick, but I'll wait till frost and see how many others develop. We should have enough to dry and get throughtill the spring if they're hot enough. We should be able to harvest kale, leeks, and broccoli well into the next month or two as well.

We never use parsley, and there's a ton out there, so I trimmed it all tonight, and combined that with some of the other herbs to make a mixed herb pesto with garlic for the freezer - a massive batch indeed! Hope E likes it as a variation on the usual. To make my room look more like a biology classroom (it's pretty sterile, as is the whole school) I've been meaning to bring in more plants, so today I was inspired to pull up some of the chives, basil, rosemary, and oregano to pot up. I don't know how much more time I'll get out of the basil. but the perennials should love my hot, sunny windowsills.

We have reached a standstill with the house negotiations - super frustrating, but we just keep reminding ourselves we're in no rush. If this doesn't work out, or if it takes a long time, we'll land on our feet. I just have to take a break from all of my farm management research before I have the whole 5 acres planted in my head :) Fall has also brought a mad cleaning and purging rush to the house - me, I'm always up for it, but the real surprise has been E! Egads, I think he gets it! He went through his drawers - with no prompting from me! - and got rid of two big grocery sacks full of clothes, and then he even cleaned the barn yesterday! When questioned, he said that he is starting to realize he's going to have to move all this stuff again in the not so distant future, so he might as well get rid of what he doesn't want. *grin*

Inspired, I tackled learning how to sell on Amazon, since E-Bay takes forever and a day (which I don't have now that school's back in full swing) and most of what we had to give away or sell was books. I'm so glad I did it! I've listed almost all the books, and already, two days later, we've made 40 bucks. Every little bit helps!

p.s. I just have to say I always feel a little bit famous when Kira leaves a comment here - thanks mama.

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Posted: Tue - September 21, 2004 at 09:28 PM        

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