OPEN SEASON

Beautiful Autumn Morning -- to the north

We’re back at the farmhouse, and I for one am thrilled to be here. The place just seems to lend itself to the enchantment of fall. 

Now that Farmer Kyle has plowed and planted (last week while we were in town), the brown fields are a backdrop for the colors of autumn – deep reds, oranges, and yes, even greens. 

Maple tree turning yellow

The old maple tree in the front yard is just beginning to exchange her green leaves for yellow and then brown. She was not selected for her autumn beauty. I suspect she was a sapling my dad picked up someplace. Outside a chilly wind blows, but in here our fireplace insert blows wonderful warmth into the house.

Clint, Mike, and Bess

Son Clint came yesterday to observe opening deer season today (Oct. 10). While I fixed dinner last night, he stood at the dining room window watching the deer move under the apple trees in the lane and cavort in the neighbor’s field. He opined that he was seeing mule deer, and that’s certainly possible. The season is for white tail only. Naturally, when they went out this morning, they didn’t see a single deer of any variety. They were more successful with the quail hunting.

Deer Damage

The deer are quite brazen these days. For years, the presence of the dog(s) in the yard seemed to be enough to deter them, but especially this year, we notice that they don’t much care if Bess barks at them. They move through the yard in broad daylight, and she does not give chase. (That’s a good thing!) And while we were gone last week, they finished the pears and nibbled the pie pumpkin plant. Naturally, they frequent the apple trees, and it’s amazing how far into a fruit tree they can stretch.

Waiting for Hallie

Speaking of apples, I picked some yesterday – several varieties from trees in the lane and at the pond – and the pie I made was very good. I was able to pick only a few apples, being too short to reach them and wary of climbing into the tree, especially while alone. However, Hallie will be here later this week and she can probably reach them one way or another.

Pumpkin #1 picked today

We haven’t had a hard freeze yet, but undoubtedly it will happen soon since our lows are dipping into the 30s. “Are you going to cover your plants or just let the garden go,” asked brother Chuck the other day. At the time I said the zucchini weren’t ripening, so I just as well let it go, but today I noticed one of a nice size, so apparently they ARE still growing. But – just in case – today I picked Pie Pumpkin #1. KW 

NOW IT'S COLD -- NOW IT'S HOT

Looking northeasterly from the south field. The fields grow brown as the rape canes deteriorate.

It was nearly 5:00 yesterday morning when one of us pulled up the blanket and the other punched the button to turn it on. We never did go back to sleep. When I got up at 6:00, it was a chilly 54 degrees. As I dressed, I laid out my flannel pajamas and made the bed with blankets at the ready, but it was all “a bit too previous.” By noon the sun was good and warm, and at bedtime the house was still too warm for flannel and blankets. Ah, such is the way of the seasonal change.

Now we see Teakean Butte . . .

These cool mornings are another way that garden plants and other vegetation realize that the season is indeed changing. Brother Chuck asked me if my garden is still producing, and I mentioned the pumpkins and the zucchini and the cherry tomatoes. We assured each other that they would continue to produce for several weeks. But –we’ll see.

. . . now we don't.

My mother used to say that by Sept. 10 it was necessary to dispel the morning chill for the health of her family, and she would insist on a fire in the furnace. That was her belief, but Mike and I don’t live that way and seem to get by just fine with jackets and sweaters – and perhaps baking something.

. . . now it disappears.

Now we see Little Canyon . . .

And the wildfire smoke? – Well, over the weekend the air cleared a lot, and now our land features fade in and out. Yesterday morning I could clearly see Teakean Butte to the north, but smoke was visible above the river. To the south, Little Canyon still held some smoke. But within an hour, the smoke was drifting in again, obliterating our view of the butte and the canyon. Oh well. At least the sky is blue above us.

I picked my one zucchini and made my mélange – sliced zucchini, tomatoes, green pepper, and onions seasoned with sugar, salt, pepper, and allspice. Delicious! Garden zucchini is definitely the way to go. Another little pumpkin is setting on, but I don’t suppose it has time to mature. KW

CHUCK & JOANNE VISIT THE HOMESTEAD

Brother Chuck and wife Joanne made their traditional August trip to this area to visit his three sisters, of which I’m the youngest. (I’m really only half his sister, but we play that down.) He arrived in time for us to help him celebrate his 80^th birthday on the 12^th. During the ensuing week he visited us in our homes and capped his visit with a reunion of the OHS classes of ’53, ’54, and ’55 in Orofino.

Chuck and Mike

So, Chuck and Joanne arrived at our farm home on Wednesday (Aug. 17). This year’s visit was very quiet, since the field activity is already finished. I mean, it was quiet! – with the exception of the Olympics. We watched a whole lot of Olympic events. (I’m so glad it’s over!)

Outside, nothing spectacular happened, unless you count the baby rattlesnake Mike found in the lawn. He already had it corralled in a bucket by the time I saw it, and I don’t know why I didn’t think to take a picture -- totally uncharacteristic of me. It was about the size of a nightcrawler and quietly buzzing away. I’ve never seen one so small. The presence of a baby rattlesnake gives me pause. Is there a nest, and if so, where? You’d think if there’s one baby there must be more, but we haven’t found any.

As for the family of American coots on the pond, we seem to be down one – six not seven now. We try not to think about what might have happened to number seven. The six remaining coots don’t seem too concerned. I’m just hoping they will stay so that our next visitors (scheduled for Labor Day weekend) can see them.

I tried to encourage the hummingbirds to stick around, but this past week there was only one, and the last day I didn’t even see him. So, I took the feeders down and cleaned them for storage. I think I only saw eight hummingbirds at a time this year.

We weren’t able to supply the thunderstorm that Chuck requested – and that was probably a good thing – but Thursday evening into Friday morning we had a ferocious windstorm.

I had hoped to serve our guests from the bounty of my garden, but it didn’t happen. The garden just seems to sit there refusing to ripen. At the end of the week, I picked one small zucchini and one small yellow summer squash. The tomatoes are green as can be with the exception of the “Sweet 100” cherry tomatoes, which is beginning to produce. Maybe that’s the way to go -- container tomatoes. Well, I just can’t seem to accept that I’m not a gardener. I try every year. KW

STAYCATION DAY 2 -- MONDAY, JULY 25, 2016

Looking south from the farmhouse over Little Canyon, July 17

 Our last stay at the farm was last Sunday / Monday (July 17 & 18). Some of the pictures here were taken at that time.

Monday (July 18), two loads of gravel were applied to the lane and driveway. We’ve needed to do this for several years and were glad to get it done.

 

Since I knew we would be away for a while, I set “plant nannies” into my rustic raised bed gardens. The plant nanny is a clay spike which allows water from a bottle to seep into the ground. The spike and the insert come as a unit. I supply the bottles.

Yesterday morning (July 25), I decided it was time to check on things at the old farm, so I loaded the dogs into the back of the Dakota and off we went. We were at the farm about 8:30, and it was already feeling hot in the sun. I had thought the dogs would enjoy the freedom to poke around the grounds, but neither seemed interested – probably because of the heat.

 

First, I picked a quart of strawberries, washed them, and put into the freezer. I was glad to see most of the plant nanny bottles hadn’t completely drained. I watered all my raised beds and other important vegetation and reset the nannies. Perhaps I should have done more, but it was two hours of work in the heat and I didn’t enjoy it. I ate five ripe cherry tomatoes and picked a small zucchini and a handful of spinach.

By that time, it was 11:00. I never looked at the digital thermometer, but the one in the shade said 80. I wanted to check for black hawthorn berries at the bottom of the lane, so I took my picker’s pail, called to my canine companions, and we headed down the lane. I offered to spray the dogs with water – even insisted – but they both declined. Should have done it, though.

We have lots of black hawthorn trees on the farm. I think it’s a weed tree whose seeds are spread by the birds and the deer. I don’t know if these trees were here in Grandma Ina’s day. The berries, ready late July, are mildly sweet. They have large seeds and not much flesh. Some folks wouldn’t bother with them, but I enjoy experimenting with the fruits of the land, as it were. Jelly recipes are available online.

Black Hawthorn tree in the lane

Last week the “haws” weren’t quite ready. Now they were mostly ready and passing. The dogs hovered at my feet like greedy vacuum cleaners, snarfing up any berries I dropped as I pulled clusters from the trees. I knew I should really pick more, but we were all uncomfortable in the heat, so we headed back to the house.

After lunch, I was ready to leave. It’s problematic now to load Nellie, so I backed up to the kitchen porch and let her walk on. She looked at me questioningly, as if to say, “So, it’s come to this?”

We were back at the town house mid-afternoon. All three of us collapsed in the living room, appreciating the cool house.

Rewards earned but not collected -- maybe tomorrow. KW