Leaves are falling, time to get ready for winter

Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the earth.” 
― Henry David Thoreau, Walden

The graceful tumbling leaves are reminiscent of time softly turning. The seasons are a great opportunity to be mindful. To pay attention to the now and all that is beautiful in each moment.  I love the fall but its sister winter makes farm life hard. I am trying to enjoy last of summer, while still preparing for freezing water buckets and sharp winds.  I don't want to waste one warm second worrying about the cold. Last year, I enjoyed the summer and fall too much,  I waited too long to prepare for cold.  My procrastination, culminated in spending long cold hours getting the barn winterized, aching over worked joints, only calmed by hot baths and aspirin. This year knock on wood, I am ahead of the frost. I'll get ready at a slower easier pace.

Mornings and evenings are getting chilly,  it seems summer went by in a blur. In mid august I noticed Andy my miniature horse,  was getting a thick coat. It was still in the 90's but his body started to prepare for the chill. Our chickens have started to go inside at 4:30 all summer they went in at 6. I see the fox on the hill earlier now, I guess they have seen her too.  I hate to sound like an old farmer but I guess I am an old farmer, It's going to be a cold winter. The last time Andy got furry this early, winter was brutal. He will be a bushy boy by November, people often mistake him for a donkey. I think he gets insulted.  Little pig has gained lots of weight.  I'm not sure if its because cold is coming, or because , she's, well a pig. Funny little girl takes food from anyone she can bully.
The roosters and Raj the peacock are looking fabulous with extra feathers. Raj is his most beautiful in December.

Getting ready for winter around here is a pain staking job. An old barn is beautiful but hard to keep warm. Gapping wood needs layers of plastic stapled inside the walls, heat lamps in every abode, carpet covering leaky windows.  It's lovely now, soft warm breezes and cool nights,  so easy to pretend winter isn't breathing down our necks. I am still wearing flip flops in an attempt to force summer to hang on a bit longer. We still have some trips to make to the shore. I need to feel warm sun on my face.

I have started to get ready to can. Putting up summer fruit and tomatoes makes colder months that much more pleasurable. There are Crisco jar candles started in case of emergency, batteries must be replenished in lanterns and flashlights. Heated buckets, animal blankets and dog sweaters to unpack,  stalls to outfit  with thick blankets of hay, wood to split, pigs to move to their winter quarters and tons of barn cleaning to do.

 Every year there is a power outage or two. Life is easier when your prepared. Actual books are stacked on the shelves ready for a time when my iPad can't be used for reading. All the hand sewing projects I havent finished , are waiting in a trunk for the first freeze.  This year winter won't surprise me. Fingers crossed, everyone here , will wait it out in cozy comfort.

I hope you are all enjoying this gorgeous season
Happy Autumn


Heres are some  links to make great thermal curtains,  Criso candles, a quick emergency oil and salt light,  a coffee maker out of a jar, light bulb lanterns and other
DIY winter survival items

Thermal curtains.    

http://sustainablog.org/2010/03/energy-saving-cheap-thermal-curtains/.      


Coffe maker
http://www.peacocksandpapertrees.com/2014/12/pretty-inexpensive-crisco-candles-less.html

Crisco candles

http://www.peacocksandpapertrees.com/2015/02/diy-coffee-maker-super-simple-great-for.html

Oil and Salt lantern
http://apartmentprepper.com/how-to-make-an-emergency-lamp-from-common-household-