Michael and I can go days without seeing anyone but ourselves and our animals. The past 10 days have been the exception.

The day after the stairs went in, Michael made 9 pie crusts. I cleaned.

We spent Friday baking pies. One went to a neighbor who helped Michael fix the wood splitter. Thanks Rick! The others (plus 4 baguettes) went to the church fund-raiser. Michael says making all the baked goods is atonement for never attending services. I say he’s just a good guy.

Which is why he is welcome at church socials.

The local historical society organizes a grand tour of the area: significant sites, garage sales, church bazaars. The River Road Ramble is a fabulous time to peep at leaves and get to see your neighbors. This year we sold out of food and redistributed lotsa junk, er, treasures. One of the RRR royalty bought all the Danielle Steel novels for her grandmother! It’s a free-will donation system, saving us the challenge of pricing things. I think we make out better that way!

I spent the following day, Sunday, harvesting the eggplant and peppers after services. We were a lean crew after cleaning up from the Ramble. Grilled, the peppers can be peeled and the eggplant scooped and chopped. Michael harvested wood. Then we hauled ducks, one by one, from summer pasture to winter housing.

Monday, the fog (and Tylenol) allowed us to sleep late.

I packaged the chiles (24 rellenos and 6 cups chopped) and eggplant (20 cups!) Michael split wood and made rhubarb and hazelnut muffins.

And then we drank rhubarb wine on the deck, communing with the bugs and ducks.

Tuesday we enjoyed the fall colors, the mushrooms, the low river (I owed Zeke a number of walks!), and Michael stacked wood. We also donated blood. Michael donated the muffins to the blood drive volunteers.

Wednesday my sister and her husband put us on their itinerary and dropped in (coming from Vermont!) for a visit on their way home. Fed them eggplant Parmesan and a fresh cabbage salad. Finished with one of Michael’s amazing apple pies. We put Tomás to work shelling hazelnuts.

They hit the road again on Thursday.

I was at loose ends until one of my friends called and said she had just scored some fresh daikon. She came over and we started to make kimchi…a two-day process. Michael mowed the chicken pasture and brought them up to their winter digs. We chopped and brined 8 pounds of cabbage.

Friday morning—our first duck pullet egg! Tiny, but hopeful for more eggs. We’ve had several days of no eggs at all. Cold. Dark. Molting. Change of housing.

Friday Marcie came over for Day 2 of Kimchi 101: slicing carrots, daikon, shallots, scallions, and carrots, making the chile paste with Korean pepper, garlic, ginger, fish sauce and glutinous rice paste. The paste gets massaged into the vegetables, covered with the large brined cabbage leaves, then sealed with water in a vegetable bag. Should be able to be bottled in 3-4 days.

Marcie brought over delicacies: smoked trout, salad turnips, greens. I still had eggplant. There was leftover rice paste. The result: stir fry with a salad! Yum. Thanks Marcie!

An egg sandwich for breakfast. The tomatoes dwindle.

After inspecting the bean field. The beans are beginning to shatter. Time to harvest soon.

Michael cleaned and moved shelving, installed lights, and moved plants inside while I made deviled eggs and wrapped presents for tomorrow’s party. (We installed insulation and wallboard where the strip of lights hang above the window yesterday morning.) I’d say that no grass grows under our feet, except we do need to mow again.

Popcorn and leftovers for dinner. Tomorrow we celebrate Grandgirl #2. Layers of blessings. Origin families. Offshoot families. Ecumenical families. Friends. It is good to be wrapped in so much love.