Wildlife...

I had the joy of seeing the cranes going over when I was deer hunting last week.  I don't think there is a better experience in the world than a huge group of cranes dipping and diving above you.

 It is funny how they seem to just be going in circles, but before you know it they are gone.  I just found the photos below.  They are only from the end of September.  This was a very late fawn.  I haven't seen him since, but he could have just lost the spots and now looks like everyone else.  Anyway, he was such a cute little bugger I had to post his photos.

I would just like to note that it is no longer green or gold, but a cold blanket of white.  It has snowed every other day the last two weeks.  I need to make a list of winter projects and get on it.

What wildlife do you have around your home?  Do you see the cranes where you are?  Do you have any winter projects planned?

Bah humbug...

 Sorry, I'm a little behind.  It snowed all yesterday.  I didn't post because when it finally stopped around 10:00 pm, we started snowblowing our way out.  It was a long slow process as there was over a foot of wet and heavy snow.  

 Then to top it off, we have another packrat.  I cleaned up the front flower beds on Saturday, because there were still mice making a home there.  Sunday night I went to put something in the shed and two wheelbarrows worth of garden leaves and corn stems were shrewen all over.  It was clean Sunday morning.  I knew right away it was a packrat.  My husband set the live trap and. Sure enough a fat little packrat was peering at me this morning.  His new home is by the golf course halfway to work.  I'm sure where there was one there will be more, so the trap is reset.  I know it wasn't the same packrat as the one we had a few years ago, because that one only had three legs.

That's all I have.  Lots of snow.  On the positive side we have had some beautiful sunrises and sunsets.  The weatherman says it is from volcano eruptions last year.  Have you had colorful sunrises and sunsets too?  Any ideas for making my shed unhospitable for packrats?

Hibernation...

It was a nice fall while it lasted.  I regret not taking more photos of the leaves.

Now fall is over and winter is clawing it's way in.  The poor trees took the brunt of it.  I have to admit, I pretty much hibernated this weekend.  I did make some apple crisp and chocolate zucchini muffins. After all you need to hibernate on a full belly.

 We did go bow hunting this afternoon.  I had a blast.  There were lots of does and fawns.  They came right up to the blind.  A little rabbit kept me company.  Even though he knew I was next to him, he just hopped around nibbling on everything there was to nibble.  I never saw a buck, but it was an enjoyable sit.

As my husband and I walked out, a fawn came running up to within 10 yards and followed us back to the truck.  He doesn't seem to have a mother and must have been lonely.  The moon was amazing.  It looked like the giant pumpkin rising from the prairie.

Are you ready for winter?  After my flurry of preparation, I know I'm ready for a long winter nap.

This is the end...

I was very busy tidying up the garden.  I harvested seeds, put away garden decorations, dug up glads and geraniums, pulled the corn and pumpkin vines.  I spread sluggo around the beds.  Hopefully, it puts a dent in the slug population.  Next year, I will be ready for them.  While puttering around, I couldn't help but think of that Doors song, "this is the end, this is the end my friend."  Not only am I hoping it is the end for the slugs, but it is supposed to snow this week.  It also was the last entry in my garden journal.  

Kelly gave me the journal our first Christmas in the cabin. For seventeen years I've documented my projects, plants, the weather, and life in general.  Many an entry was made over coffee on the porch.  I have a new journal ready to go.  I was eager to start using it, until I started writing on the last page of the old one.  This is the end my friend.

I also picked a peck of peppers.  They are perfect roasted.  I cut them up and discarded the seeds.  I drizzled them with olive oil.  I added salt, pepper, basil, oregano, parsley, onion powder, and garlic powder.  Then I broiled them for 5 minutes, shuffled them around, and broiled for another two minutes.  I let them cool, laid them in a container, and froze them.  Perfect peppers.

Besides drying many of my herbs, I love the olive oil method of preservation.  I take an ice cube trays and fill it with minced garlic, parsley, basil, oregano, and chives.  Pour olive oil over the top and freeze.  These are perfect when browning meat.  I love to use herbs when cooking.  I only have one cube left out of two trays from last year.  I dried mint, chamomile, lavender, basil, rosehips, sage, oregano, and parsley.

Do you use herbs often?  What is your favorite way to preserve them?  Have you had snow yet?  Here is hoping you have a warm week.