A Continuance of November

It's been a busy month. Stacey and I went to a Trans-Siberian Orchestra show in the new arena. It's billed as a blend of rock and classical which is pretty accurate . Just imagine Mozart on acid in an 80's metalhead hair band and you've got it. Our seats were close to the stage but unfortunately on the side instead of the front. We missed the effect of some of the electronic displays and were seated a bit close to the flamethrowers. At the end, I thought I could have used a good basting.
Sunday it was off to the opera for The Rake's Progress by Stravinsky. I enjoyed it greatly. It was good to have a comedy for a change. I particularly liked Nick Shadow ( minion of Satan). He was an excellent baritone. Afterwards, we went out to supper with the Mom-in-law.
Most of the month has been given over to preparations for Thanksgiving Dinner. The menu must be decided and then changed . Provisions must be purchased. Mostly, Stacey has to try and get me to clean the house. I don't see the point in starting until a few days before or the cat hair will get too deep. My real duty is to make Helen Lynch's Rolls for the dinner. The family seems to like that.
I had some cousins out this weekend to help on projects that I need more than one person on. We got a new structure up for the rams and some junk out of the basement. I need to clear out some space in the basement for our plucking party the day after Thanksgiving. I'll have the cousins out to help me introduce the meat chickens to the joy of freezer inhabiting. That will reduce my morning stock care by one station at least until I split the sheep up for breeding.
That's about it for now. Soon, I can start praying for blizzards so I'll be trapped and forced to spend my day reading.

Stay, Good Dog!

Dottie the dog is dead. She stopped eating and wasted away. We took her to the vet for tests but she died before the tests were even done. It was surprising that she lived as long as she did. At least 5 times, I was walking out to shoot her and didn't for some reason. I've never had a dog try my patience like that. She had good qualities. She killed woodchucks and usually offered me the back half of the rabbits that she caught. She had a good heart for a dog. I miss her but I don't think I'll have another dog until I retire. We think Dottie was 16. She had a good run.
The garden is still producing a little. The tomatoes are pretty rough but the peppers are still doing well. The leeks need harvesting and there's a nice stand of swiss chard waiting. I hope we can eat the chard before the frost. I still have to dig potatoes.
I'm reading the last book that I bought at the SF convention. Stacey still remains amazed at the speed that I read. She has to struggle so with her dyslexia. If you're interested in a good zombie book, I recommend Feed by Mira Grant. I enjoyed the method of creating the zombies and the fast paced overall action. The Peshawar Lancers by S.M.Sterling was a good read. I guess you could call it semi-Steampunk alternate history. Stacey worries that I'll run out of books and buy more. This isn't a small worry given the increase in price for even a paperback. Fortunately, there are plenty of free book sites on the net. One little chip and I can store a library. It's a bit harder to read on a netbook than on an actual e-reader but it's worth it.
It looks like I'll be driving even more now. We're picking up service work in Detroit, Columbus and Cincinnati. I'll be working close to traffic on all of them. It's not my favorite type of work but I'm still a long way from retirement.
I need to get back to baking bread. I'd still like to be able to make the kind of crusty, chewy loaf that I can buy in the better bakeries. I can make fairly good breads. My challah is pretty decent. I'll probably have to go to a sourdough yeast to get proper flavor. It should make a good winter project.
That's enough for now. I'll be off to Wauseon in a bit to fix a broken speaker. It's a pretty day for a drive.

October

My Precious! My Precious! My computer is back. I accidentally clicked on an update feature and it locked up. I had to send it in to be wiped and get the OS reloaded. I lost my favorites, some books and some useful info as well. I think I need another 8 gig SD chip to back up a bit more data. I'm glad to have the other half of my brain back. Now I won't have to wait a half an hour for the work computer to load.
The garden won't quit. The tomatoes have large green fruit on them again. Another couple of weeks and I'll harvest again. Stacey is praying for a hard freeze. The big yellow bell peppers are still producing. I've been eating them in my lunch mostly to keep Stacey from throwing them at me. She's had just about all the fresh vegetables she can handle.
The steer has gone to freezer camp and good riddance. All he did was complain. The grass wasn't green enough, the hay wasn't good enough and he was bored. Now he's not. We're going to divide him up 3 ways. I've sold 2 shares so we don't have to eat him all ourselves. We've only eaten half of the last one. Oh Woe Is Us! Forced to eat prime beef day after day. I'm certainly not going to mention veganism around Stacey. My life hangs by a thread now.
The pig is stretching again. I figure he'll be ready around January or February. I've got a lot of beef to eat before then if I'm going to have room to store the pork.
The ducks are only alive at this point because I don't have time to butcher them. Half of our chickens are nearly ready to butcher. I've been thinking about butchering a ewe lamb. The Arabs don't want the ewes. Hunting season is on. Maybe I can fit a deer in as well.
Our great adventure this summer was attending Conclave Science Fiction convention this year. It's been about 10 years since the last one and it was good for me to get back among people that seem normal to me. One of my favorite authors, S.M.Sterling , was there and I got to thank him for his work as well as sit down and talk with him. Stacey attended the artist's forums and bought some items in the auction. All the youngsters ( under 40) were off by themselves gaming. The convention was about a quarter of the size of the conventions I remember. Spacetime Theater is still funny but I thought the Bill and Barry Show was a bit lacking. Maybe it was having to use a Guest Barry. I bought a bunch of books and a cd by Leslie Fish.
The motel was easy to get to and the room was nice but the food in the motel restaurant was lacking. There weren't any good restaurants nearby so we ate there anyway. There wasn't much free time.
I should note that the costumes of choice were Steampunk.
We left early Sunday morning around 9:30. I should say early for Stacey. We headed back to Toledo, had breakfast with the Mom-in-law and hung around until it was time to go to the opera.
The opera was Adrianne Auf Nauxos by Strauss. Frankly, it wasn't the most enjoyable opera I've seen. I've come to like opera because of the projected subtitles. They let me know what the actual story is. This was performed half in English and half in German. I could read the subtitles of the German part but there were no subtitles in the English portion. Opera sung English is hard for me to understand. The performers were good and the music was as well. Stacey fell asleep toward the end giving me a chance to taunt her for a change. I'm usually the one that starts snoring during the dull parts.
Well, that was the fun part of the month so far. Now it's back to shoveling manure. Only 12 to 16 more to go to clean out the sheep pen.

#$&%@ *&#$@ !*$%^

No Fulton Co. Fair for us. It happened like this. Labor Day weekend is the S.C.R.A.P. Show. That's the Sandusky Co. Restorers of Antique Power. It's a very large antique tractor show. The vendors have a lot of reproduction parts and there's a wealth of info from the old farmers there. I decided to take in all three days this time and see the fair on a weekday when it wouldn't be so crowded. Saturday went well. I even had time to watch the horse plowing with modern plows. Sunday , we walked around for a bit and then went to Perrysburg for some family time.
Monday was the auction, a chance to buy lots of useful things cheap. This year, it was fence and fenceposts for me. Even though there were four sets of auctioneers going, it would take until nightfall until they finished. I bought some fenceposts and waited until the fence would sell. I had a chair but neglected to bring food. No problem, the auction area was well supplied with food areas. I had a hot dog and a Pepsi. I had a long wait so I had another hot dog and Pepsi. Eventually, I got the fence and had to get the goods loaded up. The loading portion was not well organized. It took an hour just to get to the entrance. We finally got in and started loading. Did I mention that Stacey had purchased 800lbs of shale for her garden?
We were only able to load about half the stuff that night. We got home , I started unloading and began to experience a peculiar form of intestinal distress. I relieved it, felt ok and made it to bed. It seemed cold in the house. I was shivering. Tuesday was a work day and I didn't fell good at all. I had an install to do out in Bryan, Ohio. I just couldn't get started or stray too far from a bathroom. I was exhausted. I decided to rest a bit first. An hour and a half later, I felt ok and started out. I made it as far as Waterville when I realized it wasn't working out. I made it back to Gibsonberg and managed to talk some of the folks there into loading the last roll of fence. I got home and Stacey took my temp. It was a bit over 102 F. By now, I recognized the symptoms as food poisoning.
I had taken Wednesday off to go to the fair. Unfortunately, a family friend had died and his funeral was Wednesday. That took the morning and I wasn't feeling all that great yet, anyway. I rested the rest of the day.
Thursday was the last day of the fair and I had a doctor's appointment at the end of the day in Sandusky, the wrong direction. Actually, my appointment was on Tuesday but one of the effects of food poisoning is a substantial lowering of intelligence. That didn't work. Friday, I thought I was doing pretty well but I was still stupid. By Sunday, I think my mind cleared.
I accomplished some useful work on Sunday but unfortunately it was tomato picking. Stacey turned them into barbecue sauce and ketchup. Judging by the way she looked at me, I think if I bring anymore in that there's a real danger that they will be used as suppositories. One of the pictures show me operating our tomato processor.
The next vegetable to harvest in mass quantity is squash and do we have squash. I think there may be 30 buttercup on one vine. I'm looking forward to the Carnival squash. They are one of the few winter squash that I love to bake and eat. Stacey's big pumpkin is easily over 100lbs.
I've enclosed pictures of the duck house for Emily so she can see the Terry Gilliam influence. There's also a shot of Big Pig and a nice shot of the sheep in pasture. Just to be clear, Big Pig is a supply of future pork products. It's not a pet.

September is still Fair time

September came in to the sound of gunfire. The early goose season has started. I'm getting regular updates from my cousin Matt mostly asking where the geese are. Obviously, they're not near him. Squirrel season is open as well but I doubt I'll get out to hunt for awhile if at all.
We made it to the Wood County Fair and went to the bake goods auction. We bought a great cheesecake and a good chocolate pie. The cost was high but the money goes to the fair. There seems to be fewer animals on exhibit. We had a Pork-O-Lean sandwich, walked around for a while and headed back home for pie.
We had a great time at the Sandusky County Fair. The weather was perfect and the exhibits were excellent. We had our rib-eye sandwiches and rode the Scrambler. We try to ride the Scrambler every Sandusky County Fair. We rode the Scrambler there about 17 years ago and I decided I loved Stacey and proposed to her the next day. I suppose I should have taken into account possible brain damage related to the ride but it's worked for 16 years so far .
Canning is at a temporary halt. The last bushel (photo included) just about did Stacey in. I had to give the last bushel to Matt. I wasn't encouraged to bring ANY tomatoes into the house for awhile. The gardens are producing a few table grade tomatoes now, enough for hamburgers and such. The strawberry tomatoes are producing well now. That keeps Stacey happy. She cuts them in half, scoops out the little seed pocket and packs fresh mozzarella in it , topping it with a bit of onion. She snacks on those through the day.
Peppers are kicking in and the scallop squash are doing well. The winter squash are getting scary. The buttercup has maybe 50 squash on it and most are pretty big. The carnival squash is doing great. I should have plenty of those. Stacey's giant pumpkin is performing as advertised. It's huge and still yellow. I think it will go over 100 lbs. We've been eating watermelon from our garden and it's good. I've got a rattlesnake melon out there still growing. I hope I get to eat it while it's still warm out .
We've bought anther tractor. It's a 1952 Ford 8N that came with a bunch of equipment. I kept trying to find a pull-type plow for my H and they just aren't available. This is a small tractor but it's equipped with a 3 point hitch so I can use modern equipment. I'll see if I can make better use of the back of the farm.
The Sandusky County Antique Power Restorers show is this weekend. They'll will probably have a hundred plows I can use.
The Fulton County Fair starts this weekend. This is the county fair that more people attend than the state fair. I can taste the butterflied pork chop sandwiches now. I'll see you there.

August is canning season

It's August and it's canning season. Stacey has canned 20 or so pints of corn, quite a few quarts of green beans and a batch or 2 of salsa. We're doing tomatoes now. We started with all the heritage tomatoes that we couldn't eat before they would spoil. That gave us about 10 quarts of juice. Then we canned half the bushel of paste tomatoes that we picked as chunk tomatoes. We're turning the other half bushel into our own tomato paste. There's at least 3 bushel still on the plants so we'll have plenty. Stacey wants to try canning mushrooms and asparagus this year. She thinks that will make a good impression at the fair.
Speaking of the fair, Stacey took Grand Champion-Best of Show for a Blueberry-Rhubarb Pie. She had entered a Fruit of the Forest Pie but it had a crumble crust and the judges just don't like those. She entered B.Caruso's Maple-Pecan Sweet Rolls but it's the first time she's made it and didn't get the topping right. I entered for the first time with Helen Lynch's Rolls and came in fourth in a field of 3. I'll have to practice a bit more.
We had a couple of lambs in the Babyland exhibit. We hadn't planned on it but decided to anyway. When the fair closed, we brought home 2 lambs, 2 pigs and 8 ducklings. I'm still trying to build a proper duck house.
I still have a spare steer. I'm thinking of sending him to auction but the thought makes Stacey nervous. She says that we've eaten half of the one we butchered and wants to keep him in reserve. I want to keep him from tearing up my fences and I could use the money. There's a limit to how many freezers we can run.
I've been sick. Nothing important, just a cold. It's really kicked my ass, though. I didn't realize how bad off I was until I found myself kneeling on the shop floor unable to see for the tears from a muscle in my neck that I had pulled while coughing. I went home and have spent the last two days just trying to rest and clear my lungs. Tomorrow is Friday and I'm going to give it another shot.
Day 14 of the cold and I think it's finally dead. I fell pretty good again. Canning is continuing. We have about 50 pints of chunk tomatoes put up. Stacey bought 2 bushels of Red Haven peaches and we're waiting for them to ripen fully before canning. Stacey is doing Plum Jam today.
I have to mow the lawn. Stacey didn't want me to disturb the quail. I have to admit it was very cool to watch a covey of Bob Whites work their way through the grass but we just have to bite the bullet and mow. I'm sure there are enough weeds around to shelter them.
I got the duck house built. It looks like something from a Terry Gilliam movie but the ducks can't get out. Now, Stacey wants me to put in a pool for them.
The pictures at the start are of the back garden.

Happy Independence Day

Happy Independence Day! I got a great start to the weekend by breaking a molar Friday night while eating dinner with friends. I stuck some dental wax on it and did well with it. Stacey stayed to watch her mothers dogs and I made it home alive. Saturday, I gardened through the morning and when Stacey got home, we went to B's party.
B (Bernice) Caruso was the secretary at Transcore ( Syntonic at the time) when I hired in. She was a wonderful person, full of life and unable to suffer fools gladly. I won her over with bribes of peonies, fresh eggs and honey. She had already retired once when she took the secretary job and retired again some years ago. We kept in touch and attended her Saturday Before The 4th parties when we could. She died a couple of years ago after getting cancer for about the 8th time
The parties are incredible. They are filled with family, friends and neighbors along with whatever strays happen by. I don't think you can really crash this party, just bring a dish. The food tables are linked to Jesus's Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes. The longer the party goes on, the more food on the tables. Since the neighborhood is filled with Old World ethnics, the food is superb. Nick Caruso still hosts the party but I noticed he was letting someone else grill the burgers and dogs. We visited with many people we don't really know, ate heavily and said “Adios” for now. We headed home.
Arriving home, I discovered that I left the sprinkler going on the front garden. That will add to the water bill. Back on the road to the Oak Harbor fireworks display. We got a good parking place, settled into our chairs and watched a pretty good display. I did take a while to get back out of town but no real problems.
Sunday started with church, then back to feed the animals. I decided to hook the sickle bar mower up to the tractor. That worked but it was getting hot so I went in to cool off. After a cooldown, I took a look at the various problems the mower has and decided to work the garden. I mulched and watered until it was time to visit the in-laws. We had steaks in Perrysburg and played tiles. On the way home, we saw many fireworks.
Obviously, Monday is my day to mow the back of the farm. When I walked out side, I wilted like a rose in a flame. It's really hot. There's no way I'm going to wrestle with the mower today. I worked in the garden watering and mulching then went in to cool off. Repeat and had buttermilk pancakes for lunch. I sat down for a minute to let my lunch rest and blearily woke up at 2:30pm. I could tell that this day was shot. So I cleane up and took Stacey to the movies.
The movie was The Last Airbender. Save your money. The popcorn was good.
Stacey wanted real food so we ate at Crackerbarrel. Afterwards, we took a drive through downtown Sandusky. It's been several years since I've been there and I was impressed. A few years ago, the sidewalks were busted up, the buildings were all empty and the homes on the way in and out all looked abandoned. Now, most of the storefronts seem to have something in them, everything is neat and tidy and the homes are well taken care of. Good job, Sandusky!
Well, that was my weekend, how was yours?