The past few days have been c~r~a~z~y here on the Knobs.
A second bout of mycoplasma (walking pneumonia) made it's way through the household, leaving Mara feeling puny and Isaac *sick*. 2 trips to the pediatrician and 4 prescriptions later, we're on the mend. No more fevers, vomiting, earaches, coughing, sneezing, fatigue. Thank you God. And of course, all this came about on the same day the Mr. was laid off. It sounds like a temporary lay-off, but losing 50% of your income is never satisfactory. Thank Heaven for food storage and deer bow season : )
We had a brush with winter last week: morning lows in the mid-30s and highs of only mid-50s. Of course, summer brushed winter aside and 3 days later we broke an October high of 87 degrees. Yeah. Ohio weather is just a tad unpredictable, but there is no denying that winter is getting close. The air smells different.; oaky and crisp instead of grassy and heavy, if that makes sense. You might have to live in the Midwest to fully appreciate that description. But without a doubt, cold weather is coming and we still have a lot to do before it settles in.
So, as we have a lot of time and very little cash on hand, we've spent the past few days getting ready for winter. We started out Sunday with a list of 30+ jobs that needed tackled and we're down to about 10. That's some pretty good progress in only 2 days time! I don't know what it is about having a list in front of me, but it keeps me organized, motivated, on task. Even if I'm worn out from a long day, I'm anxious to finish a job just so I can scratch it off the list. And tomorrow, bright and early, I know what I'll be doing as soon as Isaac is on the bus and a cup of coffee has had time to work. Gotta love that.
Today we cleaned out the raspberry patch, pulling weeds and clearing the general nonsense that piles up behind the shed. We pulled up the last of the dying tomato plants. Stored sand toys for winter. Brought in the winter squash and onions for winter storage. Filled a raised bed with soil/compost we 'grew' this summer. Just a few more items to scratch off and we'll be ready to enjoy winter. Quiet frosty mornings. Cold lazy evenings. Sleeping with an old quilt pulled all the way up to your nose. Eating the delicious food we worked so hard to raise and preserve during the summer. Fall can be madness, but it's the madness before the bliss.
That's what my fall looks like. Madness. But it's all a means to an end and will be so worth it this spring when we're starting out fresh and we don't have to play catch-up. Fall work is nearly done. Winter we hibernate. Spring we start out anew.
3 comments:
It has been insanely busy here too! Our tomatoes are still doing well and have been canning apples like they are going out of style. But yes, the chill in the air says that old man winter is just around the corner. Sorry about the hubby's layoff, although it sounds like lots of things are getting done. Getting ready to tackle dehydrating potatoes and carrots. Preserving the last of summer has a way of letting me hang on to it a bit longer.
Thinking about you often!!! Hope that your pears are looking good!
Ah, well said!
"Quiet frosty mornings. Cold lazy evenings. Sleeping with an old quilt pulled all the way up to your nose. Eating the delicious food we worked so hard to raise and preserve during the summer."
And -
"The air smells different.; oaky and crisp instead of grassy and heavy"
Makes total sense to me!
I love this time of the year! Deer season is on it's way!
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