Sunday, September 26, 2010

Workin' Hard for No Money

Saturday at Blackrock tends to be The Day of Hard Labor. Not that the other days of the week are exempt from physical work, but Saturday is the day we get outside and work all day. Yesterday was no exception, as we all scattered to various tasks after breakfast.

I finally got into the garden to harvest a few of the red cabbages that inexplicably and suddenly split a little while ago, then started to rot on top. There wasn't a lot to salvage on them, as the inside was basically like one big core, and the outside was like, well, rotting cabbage. With which, you might recall, I have had more than enough experience. Gross. But I did manage to salvage enough to make German red cabbage with apples last night (YUM). Plus, an unexpected bonus: The insides of the cabbages had a surprisingly beautiful pattern to them.

Trippy.

I also harvested some of the butternut squash.

I just love vegetables that require no canning.

Plus, more tomatoes, more zucchini, more green beans, and a few more cucumbers. Also known as The Crops That Never Quit. Then I pulled some weeds, which made no noticeable difference in the weedy mess that is the garden now. Boo. I'm sort of looking forward to the killing frost, if only to kill the damn weeds.

In addition, I picked up some of the wretched walnuts while Cubby supervised from his chariot. There is going to be a HUGE, AWFUL amount of walnuts this year. God help me.

In the meantime, A. was putting some of his milled lumber to good use.

What? Doesn't everyone build barns on Saturdays?

That's right, the Barn Builder strikes again. He decided that since he really needed to re-build the chicken coop anyway--since it's been in a state of severe disrepair ever since the tree blew down last summer--he might as well make a bigger structure for his sheep. So this barn is supposed to incorporate a sheep barn, a chicken coop, and a hay storage shed. He's got most of the frame up and is now working on siding it.

The MiL was cutting down the peonies and weeding things.

I don't have a photo of the cut-down peonies, but here's one of the peonies in bloom. Much prettier.

And Cubby . . . well, Cubby just hung around making everyone's day brighter. Literally.

Hello, Crayola Kid!

A good day's work for all.

6 comments:

Phoo-D said...

Wow, that cabbage is totally trippy! How long do the butternut squash last in storage for you? I'm with you on vegetables that don't require more canning by this time of year!

Blue Gal said...

this just might have inspired me to plant peonies this year!

Anonymous said...

Hee,hee Cubby already has a job at Blackrock. :)
There is a squash that looks like the butternut but the neck is about 3 times as long , so more meat . It is called a neck pumpkin.
I don't know about Kristin's but we have had our butternut type squash keep until next planting season . I agree on the no canning 'ideal' for the veggies. Beth

Daisy said...

That's a baby's job: keep people happy with baby grins and happy noises! What a cutie. I love his overalls and flannel shirt.

mil said...

Kristin had the extra job of combing these amazing tiny velcro weed seeds out of my hair, which we brilliantly doused with baby oil first. That notion we borrowed from the horse barn, where I learned that beauty salon regenerating oil works magic on horse tails that have been afflicted with clumps of burdocks. Ask your beauty salon if they have any past-date products to use if you are unfortunate enough to live with burdocks or to be dim enough to stick your head in a bunch of weed seeds. Kristin's tasks never cease! Thank you, Kristin!

My word: cuuts -- what she got the weed seeds out without.

jean said...

I realize that we only get to see little snippets of him but Cubby seems to be such a happy baby. What ever it is that you guys are doing is working - congrats.