Here we are in September and I feel like the proverbial ant running here & there in preparations for the winter ahead. Piling wood for the woodstove, scheduling chimney cleaning, stocking the cupboards, baking and freezing, getting hay in the barn for the chickens' bedding. There is always so much to do this time of year but it gives me a warm feeling to know that we are almost ready for cold weather and snow. I think that women sense an urgency this time of year more so than men ~ it's the old "nesting instinct" in us, I guess. We fluff up those feathers, hunker down in our nesting box & protect our young under our wings. Men just seem to go with the flow and are amused by our pre-winter antics.
There is an increased sense of urgency this year with the cost of food, gas & oil increasing with every day that passes. The cost of preparing for winter is more costly than any previous years and it becomes more important for us to grow our own & store some for later use. Our garden produced a lot of potatoes, peppers & eggplant this year. We did get a good number of tomatoes (many of which are still green on the vine) and there are 6 watermelons still fattening up. Not a lot left of any vegetables or potatoes harvested since much of the produce was given to friends & relatives. We have 2 daughters who, with their husbands and five boys, benefitted from the garden. My parents and my 3 brothers & their families also received gifts of vegetables & eggs from our 38 chickens throughout the summer. I wouldn't have it any other way, though. I feel blessed that we can help those out who are having a rough time of it ~ several of my family members are either unemployed or single parents with teenagers. In this economy, we all need to help each other as much as we can.
As you prepare for winter, here in Southern Australia we are feeling the lift of energy as we emerge from winter. Interesting how the turn of season effects us, it is these times we seem to be most in tune with nature.
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely right, Eileen. It is strange that our attitudes and feelings can change with the seasons and the weather. We certainly are dependent on Mother Nature!!!!! Enjoy your Australian spring.
ReplyDeleteHi! My husband and I also have a farm, we are in our 60's. Although it is nice for you to share from your garden and farm, how about having the adult kids help you do the canning and food prep so all of you will eat well for the winter? I have several gardens, we have always only done organic gardening and usually get lots of most things, but some years are better than others. I give jams out at the holidays and share with my kids but they also help our here as well. We get most of our veggies and all of our tomato products for almost the full year from what we garden. This is honestly the only way we can afford to eat, but I have let my kids know they are welcome to come out and help with the canning to reap the rewards. We are not preparing for anything like you are, we just don't subscribe to the worsening scenerio thing; some times are good, then times are bad, but over time it all evens out. Of course we do have our canned goods, get venison from deer on our acreage, there's fish in the pond. we have no health insurance, it is way beyond our financial reach so we do not worry over what we don't have. In a few years we will have Medicare, so long as Romney is not elected that is. I got the chills when he said he was going to turn it over to vouchers. I was an RN utilization manager at a health insurance company, I know how that voucher system will go. ah well, another case of trying not to worry over what has not happened! mostly life is good here on our farm. Good luck with yours.
ReplyDeleteHi Brenda ~ It seems that there are a lot more of us over 60 farmers than ever before. I wish that we had done this when we were much younger but it was not possible for us at that time. This is only the 2nd year that we have had a big garden so we're still experimenting with it. I think that next year, we'll have a better handle on things and we'll be able to grow more of what we know is in demand and, yes, I will definitely ask our kids & grandkids to help out with putting things up for the winter. Good idea, there, Brenda. I know what you mean about the cost of health insurance ~ we have COBRA right now but that ends next year and we will be paying a much larger amount for our health insurance than we do now. Unfortunately, my husband has several severe health issues & we desperately need the insurance or we'd have to sell our house & land to pay for the doctor visits, therapy & prescriptions. I'm not sure how this election will shake out but my husband and I are voting for Mitt Romney because of the poor judgment used by President Obama over the past 4 years. We have been through several recessions, gas rationing, etc. and I'm afraid that things will get worse before they get better no matter who is elected. I just don't want to see them get worse before they get worse (if that makes any sense). Nice talking to you, Brenda. Take care & best wishes to you & your farm.
ReplyDeletePS ~ Do you have any animals & does your farm have a name?-
oh yes, we do have animals: horses mainly, 5 here, 3 at the track(currently) we have a harness racing stable in Saratoga, plus 3 pet goats,2 pigs (who are currently MIA)too many cats (please say you want a kitten, or even 2?), 3 dogs and a donkey named Blanche who I adore (and she adores me). Plus I take care of my senile invalid mom who lives with us. Howard and I have health issues, his knees are bad, high blood pressure, me I have cardiac issues, etc., so we take a couple months of insurance each year to get our visits and prescriptions then hope and pray for the rest of the time. I can understand your frustration with the economy but you have to remember that we were in a very deep recession when O came into office and actually statistics show a slow but steady improvement, but yes I do understand . We almost lost our farm to foreclosure but O put the Affordable Home Mortgage Program into existence and we now have a mortgage at 2%. seriously. and after working as an RN and seeing the disastrous effects of Republican cuts on health care by cutting reimbursements to hospitals and nursing homes, nope I have to stay with the slow and steady way to improve things, plus I do hold a grudge about that war in Iraq, all our lost American lives over a family grudge match. But I do understand frustration, I just see it all from another angle than you do. My husband has been farming here for over 25 yrs now and I grew up farming, only returning to it when I married him almost 8 yrs ago now. Before that I was a single mom taking care of my 4 kiddos for 8 yrs. Working too many hours overtime as a critical care RN also gave me a perspective on life and death that is a bit different than most folks I think. One thing about our election this year, like the last one, is that it is exciting to see folks wanting to get out there and vote and share their opinions, and no matter what the outcome we don't go killing each other like what happens all over the world. Democracy is something we all will never take for granted. I saw your comments on Jenna's page and that is where I found your blog. I get a kick out of reading her page, she has a child like zest for life and all things farm, it's just plain fun to read. well, would you believe I am still working on my taxes for 2011? the deadline is Oct.15, almost done, then a couple months off and I get to do it all again! Since we have our own business it takes a bit of time and sorting through my piles of stubs and scraps of receipts, etc. I am a great RN, but as far as being an office assistant, I suck!!! so nice to connect with you , oh, you will feel comfortable knowing that you and all of Argyle are also Republican, seriously I think I am the only Dem in Washington County, keeps me laughing as they bombard my facebook page with their comments, too funny. OK, seriously I need to go to bed so I can get up, feed the critters and finish my ledgers to drop off to our accountant who is a very patient lady, thank goodness. good night fellow farmwife. oh, the farm name is Highlands Farm, my blog is under construction, pending the end of my tax prep nonsense.
ReplyDeleteGood Morning, Brenda ~ I couldn't help but laugh when I read your response ~ we're still working on our taxes, too. Yuck!!!!! I thought we were the only ones who were that late in filing. As I sit at my computer, our tax information is scattered around my desk ~ we started on them yesterday and got distracted so we're off & running shortly. It sounds like you & your husband have your share of health issues, too. My husband has had a heart attack and prostate cancer and we're keeping our fingers crossed on both.
ReplyDeleteWe have 2 golden retrievers and 38 chickens ~ if all goes well and we can get our barn repaired and suitable, I'd like to get a couple of sheep in the spring. My mother is, I think, in the beginning of dementia (she's 81 and lives nearby) and my father is in a nursing home (he has some very serious health issues and my mother can no longer care for him at home). Are your 4 children all grown? We have 2 grown daughters and 5 grandsons that range in age from 9 months to 17 years. I babysit part-time for 3 of the boys. As far as the politics go, I feel that we need a change for the better. The President is not good at foreign affairs and I am afraid that North Korea and Iran are getting too powerful and we need someone who can take control and calm down explosive situations. I agree ~ Jenna is a character full of spirit and energy. I love her blog. I wish I lived closer so that I could attend some of her workshops. Well, gotta go let the chickens out of their coops and get started on my taxes AGAIN..... Good luck, fellow farmer & tax procrastinator. I look forward to your blog.
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