HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Autumn Drab

It’s a dark, dreary, chilly Halloween. It will likely be a night not fit for goblins, ghouls, or ghosts.

Our Silas, the "Stay Puft" marshmallow

After a stressful week in town, I welcomed Mike’s suggestion that we spend the weekend on the farm. Well, I did say that if he had suggested it sooner, I might have been better organized, but no matter. We had leftovers from several meals, and I remembered to bring a lemon for Mike’s tea. We got by.

We arrived at the farmhouse just prior to lunch on Friday, Oct. 28. It was 56 outside and 52 in the house. Mike lit a fire in the fireplace insert and I baked an apple pie. The house was warm soon enough.

We pursued a number of winter prep activities. We explored for pinecones, which we use as fire starters, and Mike found some at the edge of the north field which he subsequently picked up and stored in the woodshed. We haven’t seen so many this year, but we still have a stockpile from last year.

Strawberry bed before thinning

Halloween and then November are upon us. Regardless of what the weather brings, it’s time to say goodbye to the gardens. I thinned the strawberry bed, tossing a cartload of plants. It hurts to throw them away, but it’s for the good of the bed. It makes a big difference in the quality and production of the berries.

I also dug out the carrots – Burpee’s kaleidoscope blend, a crop that was reasonably abundant. I made glazed carrots for supper, and the big purple carrot acted like purple dye, turning all his brothers and sisters his same purple. They were good, though!

We’ll have our traditional chili and pumpkin pie for supper. I plan to finish the spider web afghan (lap throw) in the next day or two, and then move on to Thanksgiving / Christmas planning and projects. KW