things round here #3

Have been on the quiet side. The new house is moving along well and we hope to be in it by Christmas.
The leaves are in full turning mode, and I must say that I can not get enough of them. So, Senior and I decided to load up the kids and take a day trip to the mountains. His stepdad is buried up there, and as we did some of his moms ashes over his grave, it was only fitting we paid our respects.

 

Down here in the lower elevations, the leaves have gone into full changing mode as well.   The colors are brilliant and makes me happy with our decision to move up here, I love having all four seasons,and being surrounded by the brilliant colors.

 



 

This is NDs  other pumpkin he was growing, it grew flat, So, since he was entering the schools "Book Character Pumpkin  contest" he chose it to be his "Headless Horseman" From the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. He said the thing look distorted an extra level of  creepiness.

 

And after his paint job:

NW deicded the day before all pumpkins were due that he too wanted to have an entry-I went out and bought a small one and he chose "Frankenstein" :

 

 

In other news, our oldest NW went on his first camping/fieldtrip without us. The entire 5th grade goes every year. I have began making cuts in those apron strings. but I can't help but feel that a part of me is missing. Senior and the boys are my heart, and right now a part of my heart is not here. Senior and I miss him terribly. And even though he won't admit it, I know ND misses his older brother too.

He loaded up a large backpack Tuesday night so much to the point we all thought he would fall over backwards..lol  It was funny watching him hump that sack. The kids boarded a bus and left yesterday morning and will be home tomorrow afternoon. I know he will be excited and full of stories of the trip. I can't wait to have him back and hear all about his adventure.

-JUGM

things round here # 2

Things have been going good, not only for us but all our friends to the south. The Midlands are finally drying out, but the damage is done and much work is needed to fix what the flooding destroyed.

  A couple of weeks ago Senior bought us this double burner stove. When the new house is done, we will be moving it into a storage building that will sit right out from the side porch, I will move my umpteen canning jars, and all the supplies in that as well. Thus making it the canning supply room.
 Senior had Monday off for the Columbus Day. So we did some potatoes. The best part is being able to have two pressure cookers running at the same time. It is also great in case of emergencies, just another way to be prepared for whatever life throws you.

ND was about to pee his pants to finally cut his pumpkin, The kid is so excited about Halloween that he  couldn't stand it any longer. While it was no where near the size it could have been, it isn't bad. Bigger then a basketball, and weighs around 10-15 pounds. Next year though we will get them in the ground much earlier.

  Libby absolutely despises "Black Jack"the rooster and I believe the feeling is mutual.The two crack me up when they get started going at it. On this day his feathers were getting incredibly ruffled and he was trying to spur her through the wire.

 

 

 

It is turning much cooler here, lows will be in the 30s next week.We have enjoyed beautiful fall weather, and keeping the windows open. It is a welcome break from the drought and hot temps of the summer.  Have a blessed Day...    -JUGM

Things round here ( take 2)

( blogger was wonky earlier and I have no idea what happened with the first post about this so this is another shot at it)

Things are here have been busy. The construction of the new house is moving along nicely. We are growing accustomed to the coming and going of subcontractors. This week it has been the masons who are doing the brick work around the base. Senior and I thought they would run out of the red brick  so, this morning I slowly approached and politely asked if they would be getting another delivery. I was looked upon as if I had three heads, unbeknownst to me  none of the workers spoke a lick of English...  They just kind of smiled like they understand and nodded their heads as if agreeing with me.

ND has been giving me fits these past few days. He is expanding his vocabulary and the word for this week is "Apparently"  everything begins with : "Apparently Mom"...   Yesterday  he put the word to use while ratting out his older brother  it was " Apparently Mother your older son is to blame"   I rolled my eyes and silently giggle...  Kids! you just gotta love the things they say...

The fall garden is in full swing and we have been blessed with an abundance....This is NDs gigantic pumpkin, it has grown quite a bit since the last post about it. But it still has a ways to go before Halloween.

These are the two vines that the boys planted:

The fall green beans are being more prosperous then the spring and summer ones, so we have decided in the future to only do a fall planting of them.

We get half of a 5 gallon bucket every 2-3 days. Thus it  has become the ritual after our evening  baths to sit at the kitchen table, and snap them. We have 3-4 gallon bags frozen and plan to start canning some this weekend.

I was told "Apparently Mother, ( lol)  I have picked and snapped so many green beans, they are growing out of my nose" 

 OMG! 

I had to take a pic

We got the collards in earlier this year, thus they are exploding:

We are being blessed with cooler weather, the lows are down in the 50-60's highs in the 70s. Hopefully those stiffing hot and humid days are gone until next summer.  And rain is back in our forecast, which is much needed for our region. Everyone is hoping it will start to cut into the drought we have been under since April.

It is the first day of fall and the only positive thing about being so dry and hot this past summer is the fall leaves are expected to be very brilliant... they are currently turning a bright yellow, with some reds and oranges splashed here and there.

-JUGM

things around here....

We got our fall garden in full swing, the other night I cut my first batch of "tendergreens" and the fall green beans are growing nicely.
ND wanted his own pumpkin patch, so when it came to getting the seeds, he went with the "Gigantic" variety. We planted them in early August, and now he has his first one growing.
I know they went in the ground a bit late to get anything really big, but honestly these plants grew like a weed on miracle grow, so it would not surprise me if he ends up with a big one..

 

If you recall this past spring, I picked up one Jersey Giant Rooster...he was so darn cute and fluffy, and the last one left, I could not resist buying him.  I had read about the breed, and learned they were very docile, and friendly...Well here is that Rooster now.  A couple of weeks ago, we put him in the main coop with all the mutt chicken ladies, and he has done real well adjusting. They were a bit nervous at first, but now everyone is happy.

The boys named him "Black Jack"

 

  

Since we liked Black Jack so much, the feed store got in another batch of Giant babies, I went back a month later to get 5 pullets. ( because I am thinking about breeding and selling them). A month ago I started getting suspicous that 2 were cockrels and darn I was right, they have just learned they can crow... so yes I have three Jersey Giant Roosters, and am trying to sell these two smaller ones..

 

You know when things get quiet that means something is wrong?.. I walked into the bedroom yesterday where we keep the dogs kennel, and there was Libby snoodling with Jack the Cat...this is the same cat she usually hates and chases around the house... 

 

 

The boys came across some creepy crawlies this week :

 

And Monday I was at the sink doing dishes, and this butterfly was fluttering around the bush outside.I grabbed my camera, stood on a chair over the sink to snap this pic through the window..

 

 

It has been really hot and dry here this week, but that is soon to change over the weekend, I guess a classic Nor'Easter is suppose to be setting up and it should bring us much cooler temps and rain. The Good Lord knows we need the rain here. I will  probably get out and do my happy dance if it does!  

 

Hope you all have a good weekend!

 

JUGM