Autumn has to be my favorite season in the Shenandoah Valley! The oppressive summer heat and humidity is gone, the horses are starting to get their fuzzy winter coats, charming country homes decorated with pumpkins and cornstalks are everywhere, and the colors are breathtaking! This morning I went for a run with my hubby. The air was brisk and the leaves were in full autumn color. We found ourselves down a country lane where the only thing to be seen were the mountains, corn fields, and a little white Lutheran church. No wonder common sense and clear thinking reign in the country and in the flyover states! How can your mind be cluttered and confused when you are surrounded with so much peace?
Well, with the changing seasons it was time to shear Ysildur again with the help of our cute sister missionaries.
In autumn he is in his full breeding glory and stinks to high heaven, but gave us some beautiful wool! It takes much longer to use scissors, but I make less nicks in the skin and get less second cuts this way, even if it's a humiliating chop job.
I wish I looked that skinny after a haircut! ;-)
Here is Ysildur with his snotty nose, begging for a treat.
Some boys from church helped me identify the obnoxious balls all over my yard that I kept slipping on. Black walnuts! I did a little wandering and have found 8 trees so far, but because of the rather extensive work involved in processing them, I've only managed to forage under 3. After crushing them and picking out the nuts ( wearing gloves to avoid the heavy stain, but especially the little fly maggots- blegh) I put them in a wheel barrel and swish them around.
The washed nuts, ready to dry. One tree worth!
After laying out to dry for 2 weeks, that batch gave us 4 orange bags full of walnuts, and here you see a white Icelandic skein of yarn dyed in a walnut husk dye. I love the gorgeous copper color!
We have one ancient Asian pear tree that gave us a few jars worth of canned fruit. I'm hoping to take cuttings and start a few saplings.
I'm experimenting with something new...water kefir grains. I'm not too sure about the fermented taste yet, but with a little coconut flavoring and sweetener, it's like a mild ginger ale. They love the mineral content of our spring water here and are growing like crazy. I have a bunch of these starts!
More gem corn. I am in love with growing this corn! The kids often argued over whose turn it was to pick the ripened ears, because it was so much fun to see the color varieties! I am growing twice as many next year. It makes yummy popcorn!
It was so fun to make this swag for our 205 yr old fireplace. It looks so colonial. :)
Autumn means comfort food. My favorite easy cookie recipe... 1 cup peanut butter, 1 cup sugar, 1 egg, 1/2 c chocolate chips. Combine, bake at 350 for 8 minutes. Easy, easy, and delicious!
Rooster with rice soup...warms us up on the rainy days.
This was a little experiment for a friend, making a crocheted lamb out of spun wool. OK, so it looks more like a dog...
A not so joyful event this autumn. Replacing our septic system. :-( We could save 20 grand and opt for this instead...its not far from the house. We'd probably need to move the trampoline. ;-)
Virginia...my forever home!
Blue Ridge mountains.
Dude, where's our grain?
Chessie, hanging with the chickens.
My last 3 quarantined sheep. They have soaking boots on this week. If this last treatment doesn't work on their feet, I'm afraid it's to the freezer. Sadly, my favorite ones! :( They love running around the yard... Mr. Bojangles walks up to the back door and peeks in the house looking for me, hoping for a pretzel or a slice of apples, lol.
I mentioned rooster soup...I guess we'll be buying chicks at the poultry swap instead of growing our own. We're not so country that we enjoy the 4:00, 5:00 and 6:00 am alarm clock.
Nothing about farm life with this photograph, except that this is hands down, the most adorable thing on this farm. :-D (No, I'm not talking about sock monkey.)
And by far, the most exciting, and best thing to happen here this month is my husband and oldest daughter going through the Washington DC Temple, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, together with me for the first time. Our cup that is already so rich and blessed, is filled to overflowing.
For more information on our farm, please visit http://samsbillthepony.wix.com/getting-liberty#
& h/t to my oldest daughter for some of the great photography !
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