Season journal: “Eat. Food.”

That is the Grand Girl’s mantra every morning. Seems to be the theme of this blog. Good rule to live by.
Our last snow was May 19. First snow is on October 12. This gave us about 5 months for spring, summer and fall. The snow came early this year, but it did not catch us unaware.

End of September and we picked all the ripe tomatoes and harvested the cabbages.

End of September and we picked all the ripe tomatoes and harvested the cabbages.

Cabbage, apples and onions made a wonderful base for kielbasa. The pickles remain crisp. I have been eating fresh tomatoes with every meal.

Cabbage, apples and onions made a wonderful base for kielbasa. The pickles remain crisp. I have been eating fresh tomatoes with every meal.

A dozen quarts of tomatoes will keep us in spaghetti sauce all winter.

A dozen quarts of tomatoes will keep us in spaghetti sauce all winter.

We cleared out the garden four days ago. Fried green tomatoes are one of Irene’s favorites.

We cleared out the garden four days ago. Fried green tomatoes are one of Irene’s favorites.

We love our ducks, but we can only keep so many in their winter quarters. They will not go to waste as we plan on making sausages from the old hens, keeping the new drakes for roasting. I hope to have sufficient down for a Grand Girl blanket by the …

We love our ducks, but we can only keep so many in their winter quarters. They will not go to waste as we plan on making sausages from the old hens, keeping the new drakes for roasting. I hope to have sufficient down for a Grand Girl blanket by the time I have space to set up the sewing machine Michael inherited from his grandfather. Michael recently read an article saying Americans eat about 220 pounds of meat annually. I checked our harvest records and we eat less than half the average…and we eat a lot of meat!

We lucked into a sulphur shelf when we went for compost for the garlic garden. Perhaps we eat more mushrooms than average?

We lucked into a sulphur shelf when we went for compost for the garlic garden. Perhaps we eat more mushrooms than average?

The mushrooms dried marvelously, along with parsley and thyme snipped two days ago.

The mushrooms dried marvelously, along with parsley and thyme snipped two days ago.

Garlic safely tucked in for the winter. The raised bed gardens will have to wait until next year.

Garlic safely tucked in for the winter. The raised bed gardens will have to wait until next year.

We have been treating the Blue Hubbards like foundlings and leaving them on doorsteps.

We have been treating the Blue Hubbards like foundlings and leaving them on doorsteps.

We have to enjoy fall colors while they last.

We have to enjoy fall colors while they last.

Even though we squeezed tons of apples, we have tons left. We will dry them. We will eat them raw. We will make apple butter.

Even though we squeezed tons of apples, we have tons left. We will dry them. We will eat them raw. We will make apple butter.

And we shall eat pie. No wonder I can’t seem to lose weight!

And we shall eat pie. No wonder I can’t seem to lose weight!

Snow. Not the accumulations or blizzards hitting Montana and North Dakota, but snow nevertheless.

Snow. Not the accumulations or blizzards hitting Montana and North Dakota, but snow nevertheless.

We still have any number of items on our winter preparation list. We may have highs in the 40s and some sunshine next week, but the wood bin is inside and hauling wood is a daily chore. We have started lifting weights again, despite the rush to beat the snow. It feels good and hopefully will allow us to take up the race with grace when spring rolls around.