This month we find the days wavering somewhere between Summer and Fall; it’s time for a shift of seasons.
“We are in for a spell of perfect weather now,
every day luminous,
every night brimmed with stars.
Picnics at noon, supper by the applewood fire at night,
a walk in the cool moonlight before bed.”
-Gladys Taber
It’s subtle, but our senses pick up on the changes…soy beans are turning golden as they dry, while in the early mornings and late evenings there’s the scent of field corn tassels as they emerge. It’s an unmistakable sweet, honey-like fragrance that’s only noticeable for a few days in late summer as the corn matures.
Goldenrod is now blooming along winding country roads, and absolutely covered with honey bees as it’s one of their last food sources before winter arrives. Beautiful Ironweed adds a pop of purple color along the edges of the woods, and drying milkweed pods are another reminder that summer is winding down
For some, this is bittersweet, but for those of us who adore Fall, we’re ready to move on. While I love a sun-warmed tomato and herbs growing right outside my kitchen door, for the Midwest, this has been an extremely hot and humid summer. I’m absolutely, positively ready for savory autumn soup, sticky s’mores, and jolly pumpkin carving!
And while we’re all familiar with the phrase Spring Fever, now’s the time I find myself in a “Fall Fever” (if there’s such a thing!) I’m loving the cooler temperatures and coppery light of evening, but I’m also thinking ahead. Is there enough firewood stacked? Have I had a good look at food storage supplies? What about water storage? It’s time to top off the propane tank, check for spare batteries, lamp oil, and matches. Oh, and I still want to find that illusive cast iron tea kettle in case I need to boil water over a fire. Is there enough feed for animals plus any extra bedding to keep them warm? Yep…it’s a worker-ant checklist I’ve heard described as trying to balance ardent nesting with late summer trekking…being prudent for the snowy days to come, but also wanting to enjoy every one of these perfect days we wake up to right now. In this season of change, what’s a girl to do? Well, what else? Try and squeeze it all in!
Last month I wrote about Barn-heart and the Sunday drives my daughter and I have been taking. I must tell you, she’s the absolute best “Navigator, Music Coordinator, and Snack Distributor!” So when I was wandering a small-town antique store a few weeks ago, I spied a basket that looked like it would be just right for our adventures. Tucked behind oodles of stacked “things” and sitting on a corner table, it was barely visible. As I carefully inched my way toward it, I was just able to snag the handle…it was on sale; win-win!
After a sudsy rinse, it was set aside to dry. A visit to the local shops and soon our basket was filled with plates, glasses, silverware, and napkins. A flour sack towel covers the top and now we have a sweet basket just for our mother-daughter travel adventures. The basket has an insert with divided sections for “on the road” snacking, and when we lift it out, the space beneath is just right for all of our supplies.
When an older picnic basket was pulled out of storage, I found it had a black mark across the lid and no amount of scrubbing would remove it. Well, out came a can of black spray paint to spruce up the lid and cover that mark. Once it was dry, I added lettering using a stencil and a white paint pen, and now it resembles a chalkboard. Ta-da…ready to fill with ice packs and food.
A little road trip was in the works to an antique mall we’d heard about, so it was the perfect time to fill our basket…can you tell we’re chocoholics?!
The top sections were filled with goodies that are easy-to-grab while driving, and my plan was to fill the bigger picnic basket with sandwiches, chips, and veggies. Before I did though, a good friend suggested a clever idea she uses: lunch in Mason jars. She packs everything this way to keep sandwiches from getting flattened and to pair veggies or fruit and dip together. Brilliant!
Using a wide-mouth, quart size jar, I placed two brownie squares in the bottom, then topped them with a circle of parchment paper. Next I added chips, another circle of parchment paper, and a chicken wrap was placed on top. Smaller jars had veggie dip spooned into the bottom along with carrots, while others had caramel dip and apple slices. You can mix this up however you like – swap out chips for pretzels, cut a peanut butter sandwich with a round cookie cutter and slip it inside, or add a couple of turkey pinwheels. One-bite cookies could go in the bottom or even a bite-size candy bar…no rules, just add your favorites!
Are there other ways to pack a picnic? Absolutely! But this idea was just a snazzy change of pace for me: no leaking, no squashed sandwiches or broken chips, and anyone who knows me, knows I love a little bit of Mason jar “madness!”
While these road trips are absolutely the best, I also need to remember my worker-bee checklist nudges me to clean the chicken coop and prep it for winter. Here’s where that balancing act comes in – while not the number one rule for all farmers, most will agree it’s highly beneficial: Rotate the Crops.
Why do farmers rotate crops? It increases soil health and prevents depletion. So, here’s my line of thinking – we need the same benefits. Crossing things off my to-do list is great, but rarely taking time out for something that makes my heart happy depletes my energy and definitely isn’t good for my health.
We can make time for the things we want to do, and still wrap up chores that we need to do. Let’s look at our lists – then rotate those crops!
We’d just enjoyed a getaway to an antique mall, now it was time to clean the coop. And whether yours is called The Chook Nook or The Chick Inn, there are as many ways to clean a coop as there are to pack a picnic, just choose what works best for you. And let me know what your routine is…I know I can learn something new!
Here’s the drill at my house:
-let the girls out of the coop, close the door to keep them from sneaking back in
-if they’re not already, open all the windows to let in fresh air
-remove feeders, waterers, and gather any eggs in the next boxes
-lay a tarp outside the door, or pull a wheel borrow closely to the door
-keep a rake, shovel, and broom handy to remove old bedding
-empty nest boxes and clean the roost with a wire brush
-broom out any cobwebs, dust, or remaining shavings hiding in the corners
My hens like wooden ladders for roosting, so a couple of different sizes are tucked inside the coop. Now’s the time for them to get a good scrubbing and a fresh coat of paint.
-disinfect coop surfaces with a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water, then spritz all surfaces letting them air dry completely.
-check the coop for any roof leaks or drafts
-down come dishtowels I have over storage areas for a spin in the washer
-time to walk around outside looking for signs of digging, bent, or broken wires
-square lock pins and D-clamps on nest box lids and doors need to be secure
Now back to that flooring. When the coop was new, we put a vinyl flooring remnant over the wooden floor…it not only keeps the wood underneath dry (which will help it last longer), but it makes cleaning so much easier. The flooring can be pulled out or left in place, for scrubbing and mopping, then left to air dry. (Vinyl flooring is for adult hens only and not a good choice for young chicks…then can easily slip on it.)
While the floor is drying I scrub feeders and waterers, and let them air dry as well. Once everything is clean and completely dry, I top the floor with fresh pine shavings and refill the nest boxes, feeders, and waterers. By now, the girls are ready to come back in, check out their gussied up home, and enjoy some treats. If the day has been hot, they’ll find watermelon slices, and if the day’s a little chilly, there will be scratch grains and raisins waiting for them.
Lastly, before the snows begin to blow, the coop and run will be surrounded with heavy tarps and straw bales to keep the winter winds out. A few years ago, before it was time to take the kids to school, I found the sweetest surprise (look closely at the nest box lids.)
Is there more on my checklist? You bet there is! Barns need painted, weeds need pulled, and dust bunnies need to be wrangled. Trust me, there are no elaborate meals, picturesque gardens, or coop cleaning in flowing dresses.
However; I’m trying to spend my days remembering the wise farmers’ advice: Rotate the Crops. Tomorrow I have a barn to work on, but later in the week there’s the promise of a ride on a good old-fashioned, wooden roller coaster!
Yes, it’s a change of seasons, but still, some things remain the same. Summer brings the joy of Sunday drives, Fall rewards us with pumpkin carving, while a passing glance toward the woodpile brings a warm feeling that we’re ready for whatever Old Man Winter delivers. From Summer to Fall to Winter – in every ending, there is the anticipation of a new beginning. As I once heard it said: Enjoy the season you are in.
See you next month, with more “tails” from the farm!
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