October Changes

I have missed jotting down the happenings around here and have been busy trying to remember the details since our computer did a nose dive the other day. Happily it appears to be working at present, fingers crossed. So I thought I would try to catch up and post a combined update. It never fails that so much happens when our computer decides to take a vacation.

Grocery days have become a lot simpler since I challenged myself to not buy anything except dairy and fresh produce in the month of September. Creating and eating meals solely out of our freezer and stuffed pantry. Surprisingly it was not as hard as I thought it would be and gained the support of my family in the process. This month I have tried to continue the previous decision but I am back to gathering the cost-cutting specials to replenish and fortify our food choices also for the months to come. I hate to pay full price on anything when I know that the 2 stores I shop at will always put our favorite items on sale again on a regular basis. Sometimes I may have to wait for them, but other times I find them right on schedule for our needs.

For the past few weeks I have had a new companion along for the ride. Lon has started going with me to check out some new items we are trying to incorporate into our eating. He used to hate going because of the time it took me to shop with coupons. Since making some changes in our eating habits, such as eliminating processed foods and things made with sugar or hydrogenated oils, I no longer need the pile of coupons I once carried around with me. Time spent has been cut drastically and shopping has now become an adventure we both enjoy.

Learning to eat whole foods instead of the stuff manufactures peddle off on us as being essential has us looking at our meals in a whole new light. We are already seeing benefits from this change of eating style. Dropping out of the fast food mentality is not hard once you start really looking at what you are feeding your bodies. It is shocking what is put into items that they want you to believe is okay to consume, regardless of the fact it causes health problems. Simply because it is man made in a test tube and they can make a profit off it. Feeling cheated and lied to? We were not designed to eat things not found in it's original state of growth. Just look at the rise in health issues and diseases like cancer. It is an individual decision what you eat and we don't condemn those who don't understand our position on this. But we are willing to share the information we have gathered with those who want to know.

One of my finds this week caused me to pull out a "servant" gadget I haven't used in years. Baby Portabela mushrooms, one of our favorites was on sale at a really good price, 3 for $5. So I bought 3 cartons with the intent to dehydrate 2 of them for storage to be used in our winter soups and stews. Setting the food dehydrator up on the counter brought back a flood of memories from the days when I used to put it into service on a regular basis. Seeing the jar on our pantry shelf makes me feel quite frugal. Inspiring me to start using it more often during the summer harvest of our garden. Another pleasure I picked up was a fat orange pumpkin for the Fall decor at the back door. I had eyed them the week before at Walmart, but felt is was silly to spend $5 for something that would eventually rot. That was until I saw them at a cheaper price of $3 and remembered the chicken's love for fresh fruit and vegetable scraps from the garden. So for a few weeks I will get to enjoy one of my "Pleasures of Fall", off of the list I made. Then it will have a final use as a smorgasbord for some lucky ladies later on. At least that is my story and I am sticking to it. :)

Do you have a Fall Favorites list? It is not too late to make one and start enjoying those things that speak to you of Fall, celebrating that which is unique to this season. I have already checked a few off mine off as follows; Bright Fall Mums, comfy denim jeans, round orange pumpkins, Autumn Fairs, crisp apples of the season, flannel shirts, cooling temperatures, hot tea porch sitting and scented candles. Everyone's list will be diferent based on their personalities and personal choices. Be sure to seek out those things that bring YOU pleasure.

With the dwindling light of Autumn days upon us I had read of the importance of giving the chickens some additional light to encourage them to continue laying during the shortening days of winter to come. So we rigged up a temporary power source and hung a light inside the coop to come on each day for 2 extra hours before dawn. Lon picked up a timer for me at the local home store, to make it easier than plugging it in and out each day. Besides I don't like getting up any earlier than I need to, especially not before the chickens! The first morning it was destined to come on gave us nothing but darkness, as I had failed to set it to the current day's info. Ironically the girls responded by giving us only 8 eggs that day instead of the 12 they had been giving. Problem fixed and the next day it was back to business as usual. Although Lon was sure it was because he was home from work that they were inspired to come through with normal production numbers, having missed him.

Friday this week brought a day of slow gentle rains that flooded the yard and nourished the garden. Such a blessing to our dry area and a boost I hope to some pretty Fall leaves. My bronchitis kept me indoors and the rain made for a lazy day of reading and multiple cups of hot tea. The only thing to make it any better would have been the absent of this illness. It would have been a great day to sew, knit, quilt or crochet had I felt like doing it. I have so many projects in my mind that I want to start and free time only comes a couple days a week. So I hate giving them up to being under the weather. The dark skies did serve to inspire me to light some fall candles near my chair and helped lighten the mood of my "hospital room" for the day. Making another item on my Fall pleasure list checked off. One look outside the windows will reveal just how close the change from Autumn into Winter will take place, as the leaves are constantly changing right before our eyes. Brown crispy one litter the yard and colorful ones have been dancing on the breezes of late. Hopefully we can make a trip northward and will allow me the chance to see them in all of their glory.

Colder winds rode in on the tail of the rain late Friday evening and we woke to some chilly temps on Saturday morning. I slept with my bedroom window cracked a little to let in some fresh air that before dawn caused me to be thankful for the comforter on my bed. Snug as a bug I was, I was tempted to spend the day there. But it was one of my "off days" and I so enjoy my rituals for Saturdays that I roused myself out of bed for a hot cup of Blackberry Sage tea. Lon came home from work and we started our slow morning together. The cooling temps had him thinking the same thing I had been thinking about since the rain came into town. Time to light the gas logs in the fireplace for some cheery warmth. A chore on my Fall to-do list that I needed him to do. Chilling winds blew for the majority of the day, making long sleeves a must. As the day began to warm a little we decide to head over to a nearby park for their "Pioneer Days". Most of the activity was over with before we could get there. But we did not leave empty handed as we met a couple from Cartersville who were selling home grown wildflower honey. Striking up a conversation with the husband gaves us lots of information about raising bees, something we have been discussing as a Spring project for Heartland Farm. Along with a couple of jars of honey, some beeswax and a pair of fragrant beeswax candles, we now have a local contact and an invite to join the discusion group he is a member and leader of. It should prove to be a valuable resource for us in the future and a great learning time during the winter months to come.

With a certain Saturday in October the start of Rifle Deer Season begins like clockwork and the hunters strain for the starting gun so to speak. Lon looks forward to his time in the woods each year and I have accompanied him on several hunts. Something I never did in our early years of mariage but have come to enjoy as the boys became more independent. The past few years have found us with no venison at the end of the season. Something we hope will be remedied this year, as some fresh meat would be quite a welcomed addition to our freezer provisons. Separation is never easy for those who's best friend are their mates. And I am sure I will feel some loneliness while he is gone, but having our bed to myself for several nights will be a pleasurable stretch for me. (I will miss you though, Lon) I know he will come home refreshed and relaxed even if he comes back empty handed this trip. There will be other trips before the season ends in January with opportunities for me to go share them with him.

All in all it has been a busy weekend for us as a family and we enjoyed gathering around our table for a chili lunch today. Jason has a new friend he is dating and she joined our circle for the first time. She is such a sweet girl and has alot of the same interest as the rest of us. Which makes visiting together a pleasure. Now if we can only get 2 year old Leah to change her name from "banana" to Savannah we will be making progress, in making Savannah one of the bunch here.

Deborah