Follow the Yellow Brick Road

butter bricks

What a day. And it is a time of year that can be overwhelming anyway. It has been hot, and rather dry, and garden work is difficult in such conditions. Much of it is overgrown -- the orchard hasn't been mowed at all this year for example -- but still, it isn't so bad as the first few years here when after summer solstice, I didn't even try to get into the garden. Now is the time to get in there though and get tons of stuff planted for the fall.

And berries are quickly ripening which means we need to pick and can, pick and can and dry.

The brakes got done today, and tires that aren't bald got put on, and side mirror was fixed, so it was a good mechanical day.

I'm in some form of exchange with like five new families who all already know each other, so that is fun and interesting, meeting new folks. Got to see one of them this morning. Tomorrow we get to pick up our new boar piglets from another. We knew we were coming up to it, of course, but until we got the call we didn't really FIX the pen where we'll temporarily keep them. These are small guys so we want them near the house at first, and also in the woods to keep cooler. All the kids are excited to have pigs again. Can't wait to see what they will look like.

We also sold one of our larger cottage industry items which is pretty exciting. So tomorrow we ship that off to Colorado on our way to pick up the piglets.

Nine year old daughter is getting the donkey quite well trained now. Good thing since I will be trimming his hooves soon. Since she picked up his feet today, that shouldn't be much of a problem. If we get a pack saddle made for him, he may be up to packing in firewood this winter.

Yep, it is a time of year. It just feels good.