October


Key Tasks

Raise a glass. You’ve survived the summer! This is a great time to take soil samples and send them in for testing. Good time for liming the soil. Plant lettuce in mid to late October. Harvest sweet potatoes by mid to late October. You need to get them harvested in time to cure them while you can do it outside, that is, well before the first frost.

October 1

2015

Started the day bush hogging the orchard floor. Then I mowed on either side of the orchard fence line and in the spots the bush hog missed. After lunch I used the weedeater around the fence line. After feeding the fish, I picked about six pounds of muscadines. That brings the season total to 71 pounds.

2014

Today was all about Mama and her friends. First thing this morning I mixed up chocolate icing and applied it to the cake. Then I helped Amanda put table roll on the table on the porch of the lodge. Then I bush hogged around and within the orchard. Then I used the weedeater on the raised beds on Veg Hill. Then a little time for a shower before the ladies arrived. They stayed most of the afternoon, but I excused myself about 3:00 and did some quiet work.

2013

Spent most of the day on indoor work, including getting Adrian’s web site domain name transferred over to her and preparing for the Blessing of the Animals on Sunday. Toward the end of the day, however, I did get out and resume the clearing work on the pecan orchard. Slow going. I got tired sooner than I had expected, but I did have time to cut a medium-sized oak tree into firewood chunks and to mulch up its limbs. When I continue, I’ll be ready to bring down a new tree.

October 2

2015

Most of the day was taken up by Education Days, where I was paired with Don Bryant. He portrayed Benjamin Hawkins, and I portrayed Tecumseh. It was really enjoyable to “oppose” Don in this way. We were home a little before 3:00 pm. I moved the firewood to free up the two trees Adrian needed for her hammock and checked on the chickens. Then I showered and had a glorious nap.

October 3

2015

A wet, muggy Saturday, but pleasantly cool. I first did some quiet work indoors. Then I moved the chickens and did a deep cleaning of their coop. While I was doing that the light fixture to use over Amanda’s desk arrived, so I unpacked it and then let Danna Black know we’re ready for Johnny to come out and do his work. Then I bathed Oddie so he’s ready to be blessed at Epiphany tomorrow. Then I bagged up two more gallons of muscadines. A little cleanup on the barn porch, and it was time to shower and watch football games. Today’s result was glorious, a 38-10 victory over mighty Georgia.

2014

Today was Education Day at Tecumseh. The forecast called for rain pretty much all day, which was enough to persuade most of the classes to cancel. We ended up with about 150 kids, mostly from Wetumpka. They were great. We ended up with all of them together in front of the stage, so Jeanna had us each introduce our character and talk a little about how we fit into the story. Lots of fun. I was home by about noon and had a quiet afternoon. The big news of the day is that the hens are laying again! I think it’s Beyonce.

October 4

2015

Good morning at church, as we celebrated the Feast of St Francis with the Blessing of the Animals. We had a good turnout (45) and, although the rain drove us inside, it was actually fun to have all those animals in the nave. This afternoon both Amanda and I took long naps. Nice.

2014

We harvested sweet potatoes in bed #14 today. I got out early and removed the trellis and laid it on its side. Then Amanda and I knelt on either side of the bed and worked our way from north to south, digging with our bare hands and pulling out six 5-gallon buckets full of potatoes. Unwashed, they’re now sitting on the floor of the storage room, but I think I may move them to the root cellar. This afternoon was mostly resting and preparing for Tecumseh tonight, which went very smoothly. One more performance and I will be bidding a more or less permanent farewell to the great chief; I understand that we will probably not stage this play again, at least not for several years.

October 5

2015

Amanda was out the door early for her landscape design class in Auburn. I first polished up the slides for our AUM presentation on vegetable gardening. Then some quiet work. Then I pulled out the shovel and poked around until I found the west end of the utility conduit that runs under the driveway. It had become covered over and was in danger of becoming lost. Then I mulched up the debris on the ground south of the barn. This afternoon I cleaned up the site where I had been mulching, and then I moved the chickens. I also built a hit list for Johnny Celka when he comes tomorrow. There are five tasks on it for him.

2014

Up at 3:45 this morning to get Amanda to the ATL airport for her trip to California to see the Joes. Back to the farm just long enough to pick up Oddie and the cobbler and head to the church for the Blessing of the Animals. Then home for lunch and a nap before heading to the Patterson Log Cabin for the final performance of Tecumseh. Then home for a quiet evening and some reading before bed.

October 6

2015

Started the day with quiet work. Then met James and Eddie so they could install the new stem on the shower in the lodge. Then I went to town and picked up groceries for the cake. Then I cleaned off the counter in the barn kitchen and Amanda’s desk. The kitchen is now about as clean as it has ever been. Johnny’s price was much higher than I had expected, so I need to fall back and regroup. I’m going to try to get another price or two before I decide what to do.

This afternoon after Johnny left I made the cake for Mama’s visit.

2014

After the full assault of all the company and Tecumseh, I decided to take a “recovery day” and just take life easy. Glorious. I slept late, caught up on e-mail, unpacked the cars, and generally enjoyed a lazy day. I did remove all the stereo and TV equipment from the wall in the barn so I could repair and reattach the stand holding the components. My trip to town included eight stops today, which may well have been the most stops I’ve made in one trip. Supper in the barn with Adrian before her evening rehearsal.

2013

Great morning at church with the Blessing of the Animals and then lunch on the grounds. Then this afternoon we recorded an interview with Russ Hopfenberg on food and population, and then I edited it.

October 7

2015

Exhausting day, and all off the farm. We awoke early to review together the slides for the Veg talk at AUM. Then to Montgomery to drop off the Corolla for its recall work. Then to AUM to deliver the talk. Then to pick up the Corolla. Then AWB to First Church for the Bazaar luncheon with Martha Lynn and Lynda and I to the Country Club to meet Mama and Anna for lunch. Then to Mama’s, where I was able to get a much-needed nap. Then to First Church for a long Bama Skiffle rehearsal in the direct sun and then performing beginning at 5:00. We finally finished about 7:00 and drove home to crash. Whew.

2014

I began the day hoping to get the home entertainment equipment all put back together by the end of the day, but I did not finish. I was able to do a factory reset on the receiver and get everything working the way I want it to, including the outside speakers. But I’m hitting obstacles in getting the support shelves put back up properly. So everything is still spread out on the floor of the apartment.

2013

Prepared the bulletin and updated the church web site this morning, then to town for several errands. This afternoon Amanda spotted a fly pestering an adult hornworm, and we first thought it might be a braconid wasp. But then we decided the hornworm’s curling itself into a circle was an indication that it was laying eggs, so we quickly killed it. This afternoon I set up hoops for row covers on beds 6 and 9 to deter insects. I was unable to deploy the fabric, though, because it was so windy. I also baked the cake for tomorrow and put the salmon in their marinade. Cleaned off the grill from the burgers yesterday and moved it up to the lodge so it’s in position to grill the salmon.

October 8

2015

Great visit with Mama, Anna, Grace, Joyce, and Martha at the farm today. They seem to stay longer every time they come. Today, they stayed until after 4:00. My work before they came was focused on blowing off the pavilion and back porch of the lodge, setting up table and chairs, and getting the icing on the birthday cake. Late in the afternoon I picked a huge basket of muscadines – about eight pounds – that filled up two pans in the deep freeze. That brings our harvest to 81 pounds.

2014

Up early to do some research for Jimmy Weldon to use for his Sunday School lesson on Sunday. Then I made the chocolate icing for the cake and used it to ice the cake. Then I mixed up the dry ingredients for bread before heading up to the lodge to blow off the pavilion and the porch. Then I set up the table and chairs on the porch for lunch. Great time with Mama, Grace, Anna, Joyce, and Martha. Then I drove to town to help Jimmy and Betty unload all the canned goods for Beans & Rice. Then I printed and placed the bulletin.

October 9

2015

Pulled out the ingredients for rolls this morning so they could be warming to room temperature. Then I moved the chickens. Then Amanda and I dropped off the truck at Parker Tire. This morning when we returned I mixed up the rolls but was interrupted when I accidentally dropped a Martha Stewart bowl into the mixer and the beater wedged it against the bowl. Yuk! Took some doing, but I was eventually able to push the bowl back down manually and dislodge it. Cooked the rolls this afternoon.

At the end of the day, I headed over to the West Side to bush hog. It wasn’t in as bad a shape as I thought it would be, so I was able to get most everything cut in about two hours. There are limbs encroaching on all the trails, but at least they’re all walkable. Now we just need to use them, and maybe take loppers when we do.

2014

The apartment hardly looks like it, but the home entertainment equipment is back in place on its shelves. The only element missing is the cosmetic cover that hides the big ugly opening through which the cords travel from the TV to the receiver and the AC outlet. For some reason, in the change I have made the old cover no longer able to fit the bracket that holds the shelves, so I’m going to need to do some retrofitting. Otherwise, we’re good to go. We have chicks now! Charles Walters sold me five heritage white chicks yesterday, and I brought them home and installed them in a Wal-Mart crate with water, food, and a heat lamp. The problem is that heritage white are no great shakes as layers; they’re mainly meat birds. So I think it’s entirely possible we will let them grow to adulthood and then usher them to the dinner table without waiting for them to lay. Most of the day was devoted to our run to shop for food at the Food Bank. Returned with a decent haul of canned goods, although we still need lots of green vegetables and more peanut butter. On my way back in I stopped at the gate and changed out the battery for the gate opener. Replaced #1 with #2. #1 is now on the charger.

October 10

2015

This morning I tried to make some progress with the home entertainment equipment in the lodge, but I got nowhere. Couldn’t even get the TV to show any video at all, and couldn’t get any sound to the speakers. Need to arrange for time when I can get into the lodge, dismantle everything, and start from scratch. Next, I ground some flour for Amanda to use. Then I reattached the combo lock on the Rifle Range entrance.

2014

This morning I baked a cake to take to the Strickers’ house tomorrow night. I will make and apply the icing tomorrow morning. The rest of the morning was consumed in a highly inefficient search for the components needed to take care of the chicks. I made a total of five stops, but I got everything I needed before meeting Adrian for lunch at China Garden. Then home to put everything to work. Hanging feeder and hanging waterer fashioned from a barbeque sauce bottle I cribbed from the refrigerator at the church. I used one of those nipples you screw into plastic, and it worked well.

October 11

2015

Good morning at church. I changed the sign while the vestry met, and then Amanda and I returned to the farm to rest. This afternoon Jean came by to learn about taking care of Oddie and the chickens while we’re gone to the seminar. After she left, we walked the trail from the barn down to the creek, cutting off and disposing of branches that had begun intruding on the trail. After we fed the fish, we called it a day.

2014

First order of business was to mix up and apply the icing to the cake for tonight’s shindig at the Strickers. I made the mistake on getting it too runny, and the rest of the day I was scooping up icing and putting it back on the cake. I hope I never do that again! I returned to practice for Whistle Stop today for the first time in a couple of months. It was good to be back with them, but my fingertips are out of shape! I got some rest in the afternoon after returning, before heading to the Strickers for the evening. f

October 12

2015

Tom picked me up at the farm this morning and we drove to the lake place, where we first looked at Mark’s boat trailer to see if we could cut the chain and free it up (Mark has lost track of the key). What we realized when we got there is that it’s not a chain at all; it’s actually a carbon steel lock with only a tiny portion of the shaft exposed. It would be quite difficult to cut it off. Tom will see if he can get Kowaliga to take the boat down off its perch and check the boat’s glove compartment, where Mark thinks he may have stored the key. If that doesn’t work, we’ll need to hire a locksmith to see if he can get into it.

The moving of the boat turned out to be pleasant and uneventful. By the time I was on the water with it, the sun was warm, and the trip from Real Island to Blue Creek was delightful. This afternoon I walked the orchard fence line, cinching up and reinforcing – in some cases re-inserting – several of the fiberglass fenceposts. Then I re-installed the two wires that bridge the gap at the walk-through gate. It required cutting one new piece, but the connection is secure now.

Late in the day, with Amanda’s help, I removed the lodge TV from its mount and satisfied myself that both it and the DVR are kaput. No wonder we couldn’t get anything to work.

2014

We met early at the church to get the canned goods put away for Beans & Rice. Then church. Then I drove to the Depot to help strike the set. Then a long, unhurried lupper with Kristy, Kim, and Stephen. Then home for a restful night.

October 13

2015

Started the day with a session. Then I ran errands in town. While I was there I stopped in to help Jean Kerr with a computer issue. Back at the farm, I picked the last of the muscadines, about four pounds. So our total harvest for the season tops out at 85 pounds. This afternoon I focused on the home entertainment system. It appears the receiver has lost its audio. Why is everything falling apart? Finished the day with a session.

2014

Oddie killed all five of the chicks this morning. I checked on them about 5:30, made sure they were okay, and lay back down to sleep a few more minutes. When I woke up about 45 minutes later, the door to the shop was open. The bin was turned over, and there was no sign of any of the chicks. I obviously left the door to the shop ajar, even though I thought I had been careful to close it. So the first order of business this morning was to clean up the bin where they had been living, which I did. Then I moved pallets 12 and 1 to their position outside the doors of the lodge and the barn, respectively. I then fetched 2, 3, 4, & 5 so they’re now under cover ahead of the rain we’re expecting later today. Then I watered Amanda’s plants. Then to the church to change the sign. Then to Atlanta to pick up Amanda. It was great seeing her again.

October 14

2014

We got more than two inches of rain overnight, which was sorely needed. Spent the morning basically puttering to get Amanda settled back in and check on the orchard. This afternoon we headed to Wind Creek Casino. We got settled in, spent some time by the pool (even though it was very cool and breezy), and then played a little at the slot machines. Then a nice dinner, some more slots, and then to bed.

2013

Great day celebrating our birthday. Mowed Veg Hill and the Blueberry Strip. I mowed the south lawn of the barn but held off on the west because we had clothes on the line. Drove to town at the end of the day and changed the sign at the church.

October 15

2014

We started the day slowly at the casino this morning, enjoying a leisurely breakfast and then a long walk around the outside of the casino. Then we showered and returned to the farm. This afternoon, Amanda washed clothes and unpacked from CA; I bush hogged and then mowed on either side and in the middle of the orchard fence line.

2013

This morning Adrian and I worked to continue clearing for pecans. We cut down lots of trees, cut them into firewood lengths, and sorted the branches to dry out for either mulching or burning. I was pleasantly surprised at how much we were able to get done working together, well over twice as much as I would have gotten done working alone, because I was able to keep going with the chain saw while she pulled branches out of my way. It was a great morning. The afternoon was mostly indoor work.

October 16

2014

We built our second fire of the season this morning to knock off the morning chill. I had an appointment with Barbara Watts (good report all around) and then to the church and thence to Montgomery with Sam and Cathy Jones to purchase food at the Food Bank. Then back to the church where we unloaded and stocked the shelves. The Corolla developed a starting problem, so we dropped it off at Parker Tire. Then to Loachapoka for our final rehearsal before Syrup Sopping on Saturday. We didn’t make it home until 8:45 pm.

2013

This morning we recorded the podcast, the first we’ve done with just the two of us in about a month. It was good to have a chance to talk about what’s going on here on the farm. This afternoon I cut four big stumps to the ground, and then I brought down a 14-inch DBH oak tree. The branches are still on the ground, but most of the firewood is cut up.

October 17

2014

Drove to town this morning to drop off key at Parker Tire. Also went by bank to transfer money from my IRA to the checking account. Stopped at True Value to make a key. Back at home, I used the weedeater on the orchard fence line. Today I closed the stack window in the barn, marking the turning point from hot weather to cool weather. This afternoon Amanda pulled all the melons from Bed #12, and I planted it with Tillage Indy, a mixture of Tillage Radish, Tillage RootMax, and CCS Crimson Clover. I planted exactly according to the label directions (20 lb to the acre), which worked out to be 2 oz of the main mix and 1/2 oz of the separate mix in the white envelope, for a total of 2 1/2 oz of seed broadcast on the surface and well-watered-in. I did not attempt to follow the drip tape.

2013

After publishing the podcast this morning I drove to Montgomery to the Food Bank. I got there a few minutes ahead of Sam, Cathy, and Jere, so I bought 120 1 lb rolls of frozen ground chicken. and then headed into the cooler. We ended up with bread, eggs, onions, peaches, potatoes, the chicken, some snacks, and an assortment of toiletries. Then I returned to the farm to put the chicken in our deep freeze and about half the eggs in our two refrigerators. Then to the church for EfM. After EfM we printed the bulletin and a flyer about the Elmore County food bank.

October 18

2014

Up way too early to drive to Loachapoka for Syrup Sopping. we had a concert at 8:00 am and had to be there by 7:30. Then we worked in the museum from 9 until 11. Then another concert at 2:00. Then home to watch the Tide roll against Texas A&M. So nice to have no place we needed to be. I grilled chicken for supper and we had all vegetables from the garden with it.

2013

Adrian and I were set up to do some clearing work this morning, but we had to cut it short because I had lost a crucial nut off my chain saw. We did a little picking up but didn’t get much work done. We’re due to resume on Monday. I drove to town and tried to find the nut at True Value, but they didn’t have it. So I just decided to bite the bullet and drive to Farmers Feed. Bought 8 of the nuts, plus left them five chains to sharpen, plus left them my pole saw to get running again. This afternoon I went through mail and did indoor work.

October 19

2014

Lovely day. Harvested some persimmons this morning for Mama. Then to Sunday School and church. Then to Montgomery for lunch with Mama and later working to speed up her computer. Quiet supper with Adrian tonight. A thoroughly pleasant day.

2013

Beans & Rice at the church this morning. I had to be there early to deliver all the ground chicken and stayed long after everybody else left to print materials for tomorrow, so it was a really long morning. Came back, ate lunch, and took a nap. Then I literally spent the rest of the afternoon and evening watching football. A big day for the SEC, with upsets of LSU (Ole Miss), Texas A&M (Auburn), Georgia (Vanderbilt), and South Carolina (Tennessee) and the quasi-upset of Florida (even though Missouri was more highly-ranked and favored by the oddsmakers, the SEC faithful like me still thought Florida would spank them – we were wrong). Fortunately, the Tide took care of business. 52-0 over Arkansas.

October 20

2014

Cleaned out my dresser drawer this morning and then drove to Vaughan Feed and Seed in Tuskegee to find out about their chicks. They’ll get barred rock this Friday and Rhode Island Reds the following Friday. That works out well for us, because we can pick them up in early November. Two sessions this afternoon, and then we drove to town together. Took a big plastic container of coins and redeemed them at Wal-Mart for $32 in cash.

2013

Good morning at church. Amanda taught Sunday School and then played her dulcimer for the communion hymn. We stayed after so Tom Bray could help me change the letters on the sign, then home briefly, then to Susan Powers’s house for Book Club.

October 21

2014

2013. This morning Adrian and I got out and got some pecan clearing done. We decided to go ahead and torch the fire pile, and that made a big difference, because it reduced the size of it considerably and allowed us to start over. We’re also building a new mulch pile so we can let the first pile dry out and be ready to mulch next week before Adrian heads for California. We’re making real progress now, which feels good. I just hope that progress won’t stall out when I lose Adrian’s help.

October 22

2015

A good day. Started with applying what I learned about the H2n to test it out with its lavaliere microphone. Worked great. We spent the bulk of the morning mulching the two remaining piles from my firewood work three weeks ago. With that done, I bush hogged the areas. Then we took care of the chickens. Next, we drove to town to help unload Beans & Rice with Kay and Mike, but we were too late; the work was mostly done by the time we got there. We did team up with Jimmy, Mike, Eddie, and Mark to swap the insanely heavy desk in the Little House for the table.

Once we got back home, I blew off the porch and pavilion and pulled out the tables and chairs for this weekend. Then I bush hogged. Then I mowed and used the weedeater. By then it was time to fix supper.

2014

I mowed Veg Hill this morning and then hit it with the weedeater to prepare for the Speech Arts ladies due here this weekend. Then I mowed the grass around the barn. Then I used the weedeater up around the lodge. Today we had our first meeting of the men’s sharing group, which I’m calling Lunch with the Boys. It went well. We will skip a week because two of our group are traveling and meet again Nov 5. I then stopped at Bonner’s to make sure they have one of the rollators Mama wants to buy. This afternoon Amanda and I recorded the podcast for this week, a postmortem on the summer that ended unofficially this week when we closed the stack window in the barn. By the time I finished editing, it was time to fix supper.

2013

Amanda traveled to Wetumpka to help in the Learning Garden. I used the morning for a long-overdue project – getting through all the stored-up paperwork. I also used a stepladder and hot water to clean the blades of the ceiling fan in the apartment.

October 23

2014

This morning I bush hogged between the barn and the lodge and all over the parking area. Then I bush hogged the north trail and all around the work platform. I saved a compost volunteer pumpkin that I will invite Amanda to discover with the ladies on Saturday. Then I flamed the weeds on the pond dam and bush hogged the dam. Then I mowed a row of the orchard where the bush hog hasn’t been able to penetrate. This afternoon I made toll house brownies and did some quiet work. Just about all the persimmons seem ripe enough to enjoy now, but I’m picking them slowly to maximize their freshness. So good. So good.

October 24

2014

Up and out early to spend most of the day at the Montgomery Area Food Bank seminar. The morning was a condensed ServSafe workshop. Very helpful, and eye-opening. The afternoon was about safe handling of fresh fruits and vegetables. This afternoon Amanda and I set up the tables and chairs for the ladies tomorrow. She washed the windows in the barn this morning, and they look great! We do have some cloudiness on the window closest to the shower. Not sure what to do about it. We have a periodic problem with birds getting in the wood stove, and I assumed they were entering through the air intake. This afternoon I removed the cover of the air intake and discovered that the screen protecting it is intact. I think that means the birds are getting in from the top of the chimney. Now I need to go up on the roof and see if I can fit the chimney with some kind of hardware cloth screen.

October 25

2014

This morning was mostly about preparing for the Speech Arts ladies. I harvested persimmons, blew off the pavilion, set up tables and chairs, baked the brownies, and pulled the hoops from Bed #11, while Amanda worked to put the final touches on the lodge. The visit went well. The rest of the day we cleaned up after the visit and watched football.

October 26

2014

Exhausting day, but a fun day. Started early going to First Church Montgomery to hear Jack play the French horn with the youth choir. Then to Christian Science to sing in the place of Kim Mason. Then to lunch with Mama at the club. Then to her house for a much-needed nap. Then to rehearse with the Bizarre Hillbilly Band at First Church. Then to play for the PumpkinFest at First Church. Then finally home.

October 27

2014

Up and out early so Amanda could drop me at Mama’s house. Then Adrian and I went to see Todd Jeffries’ tiny house. VERY helpful. Todd showed us what he is doing and the mistakes he has made. He has a very livable space under way, built on a trailer so he doesn’t run afoul of city codes. Then Adrian dropped me off at Genghis Grill so I could relax while she and Amanda had lunch with the Robinson women planning Thanksgiving. This afternoon I ran to town to change the sign at the church, but the locks were changed on the Little House and I couldn’t do anything.

October 28

2014

Busy day. There was dense fog this morning. We drove in it to Wetumpka to film RJ Arceneaux doing his garlic demonstration. Then we interviewed him for the podcast. Then to Coaches Corner to talk with Carol Rattan about programs. Then to the courthouse to claim our homeowners’ exemption, then to Lowe’s to buy a flashlight. Then to Montgomery to drive Jeff Glass’s car to the hospital for him. Then home. Whew! But we got it all done. Late this afternoon we walked the North Trail, and Amanda finally discovered that compost volunteer pumpkin I had been saving for her, which thrilled her. Then we fed the fish, and then as night fell we harvested the last of the pears and muscadines, and a few more persimmons.

2013

We’ve lived for three days now without a water heater in the barn. We’ve cheated and showered in the outdoor shower of the lodge, but for dishes we’ve been heating water on the induction cooktop. I had two sessions today, which is always a good thing.

October 29

Recording the podcast was the first order of business today, including the interview we recorded yesterday with RJ Arceneaux. It ran long, but I think the info will be sound. Then we developed the mailing list for the invitations to Mama’s 90th birthday party. This afternoon after running several errands in town, I moved the chickens and then posted a case note to the divorce blog. First one I’ve done in years. I hope I’ll do a better job of it now.

October 30

2014

This most gratifying of muscadine harvests, I’m sorry to say, has finally come to an end. Amanda and I harvested more or less the last of the muscadines this morning. This harvest season began on August 11 and has finished on October 30, so nearly three months long. I readied the big blue bin for the chicks this morning, including water, food, light (on a timer), and a heat lamp. Now all we need are the chicks themselves!

October 31

2015

We knew the rain was due to set in tonight, so we focused the day on getting everything planted that we could. I focused on filling in holes on the orchard floor that the ladies had created, and then I systematically walked the orchard floor sowing crimson clover on each bare spot. Amanda prepared the beds for new soil. Then I used Scamp and the wheelbarrow to top off the beds with new soil.