Changing goals and speed

[AClark]

We got all that over night, it started up around 7-8 PM with the rain. It was cold here this morning and is stated to be really cold all day on Friday. I hate the cold! I think it's going to be a really cold winter, the horses are already getting shaggy winter coats.

Some more pics of Athena and the rest of the crew

 

[CntryBoy777]

Everything is looking good....love the colors on your buck and Athena doesn't appear as thin as ya described, but a pic is hard to see everything....love the ducks, are the tan ones Buffs?

 

[AClark]

I have no idea what they are, they came from the feedstore in a mixed batch lol.
Athena doesn't look as bad as she feels. Her coat is dry feeling and she's bony. She doesn't look all that bad since her hair is longer though. You can really see it in her neck, she's very ewe necked. Horses look like that when they are underweight, seems like the neck is the last to fill out.

Time to feed, seems like I just fed everyone but it's that time again! Buttercup is getting big in the belly fast. Supposedly bred in August, along with Dahlia. Hopefully she doesn't have problems, she's so tiny compared to the other two pygmy does.

 

[Bruce]

Athena looks pretty hollowed out behind the ribcage. I bet she starts looking and "feeling" better in short order with you at the helm.

Your place and animals look very nice

 

[Baymule]

We got 2 inches of much needed rain from that storm. Our place was powder and the rain was much appreciated. Your horses look awesome, so much better than when you got them. I look at the Facebook slaughter sites and marvel at the really nice horses that are sent to slaughter. I am at capacity with my 3, but I drool over some of those horses! There is a kill pen in Kentucky that is almost half Tennessee Walkers! (my favorite)

 

[AClark]

The one I got 2/3 of these guys from almost always has nice horses going through, and for decent prices. There's an OK one but their prices are insane and the horses aren't the same quality at all. The one in AR has a really nice looking buckskin mare right now I'd take home if I had more space, but 3 is also my limit and about as much as the pasture can support without being completely scalped. Also, a nice paint gaited mare that is really pretty but a bit stiff in a hip. Some day I'll have more room and probably pick up a couple more horses.

Thanks for the compliments, I take a lot of pride in having well fed animals, along with keeping a mostly tidy appearance. Don't get me wrong, I have my junk piles, but they are hidden from plain view (and full of goodies when I need to scrounge up parts or pieces for projects!). I have a brush pile in the middle of the pasture right now, but the goats are eating down the branches (Cedar tree) and it's too windy to burn it. As soon as we have a nice calm day I will light it up and burn it down to nothing.

So, today's chores: Got up and fed, and ran to town. I needed canning lids and some chicken feed. Now that I'm home, I roasted all the leftover green tomatoes and tomatillos in the oven. We are expecting our first frost on Friday so it was time to get all of that in, green or not. I made salsa verde on the stove and man that stuff is hot! I used some Tabasco peppers that grew reasonably well from the garden. I still have to can it, but it tastes pretty good. I made the mistake of taking a big bite for my taste test and regretted it instantly. I love hot food, but I wasn't prepared for that.

So, I will can that, and then make a run to the grocery store probably tomorrow to determine what kind of jam I'm going to can away. I have vine peaches from the garden to add to it so I should have some good flavors. That just depends on what is on sale since i didn't get fruit this year.
I also have okra I have frozen to be fried up. You can can it as pickled okra, which is great, but there really is only enough for 1 meal so I figured I'd just freeze and use it. I only got 1 plant to come up but it was a good one and got about 4 ft tall.

Once all that is done, we will till up the garden. I am putting weed barrier down for next spring, we just couldn't keep up with the grass this year and everything suffered for it. That should help retain some moisture too, between a month of getting zero rain and the grass, I'm surprised anything grew at all!

We are still picking up pecans from our lonely pecan tree. It made a bunch of them though and they are good!

Feels like the season is coming to an end, with a morning temp of 42 degrees I'm sad to see it go. Then it's just a lull in everything until January when I should have my kidding season start. Well, a lull in those kind of chores, to be replaced with some building chores.
Obviously, Buttercup is going to kid, and Dahlia should too. I'm not sure about Athena, though I know she has been exposed before she got here. My two Nubians have been exposed too but only more recently so I'm going to have kids staggered out from January through March I believe.

 

[Baymule]

I like the fall of the year. I wish I had a pecan tree! You can shell them, vacuum seal and freeze, they will last for several years.

My Grandmother's Roasted Pecans

1 stick of butter in heavy iron skillet, melted on medium low heat.
Half fill skillet with pecans.
Stir. Stir. Stir. Stir some more. LOL
When roasted, remove from skillet and salt while still hot. Delicious!

I also sprinkle with cayenne powder or garlic to make flavored pecans.

 

[AClark]

I usually candy pecans, same theory with the butter and stirring, except with sugar in the butter and cinnamon. Man they are good! I love cayenne and garlic though, that sounds good!

I'm not a fan of fall, because it means winter is coming (GoT reference anyone?) and I hate the cold with a passion. I froze so bad yesterday, and it was 60 something when it warmed up. Even with boots, heavy socks, long pants and a thermal type shirt.

 

[CntryBoy777]

I asked my brother yesterday evening why it was that when temps get cooler, it seems the intensity of pain doubles? The only thing I enjoy from temps in the 30s is the extra hot shower, but I'd prefer the regular shower and temps between 50 and 70....that's ideal in my book. Having grown up in Az could have something to do with your dislike of cold temps, too......

 

[AClark]

I have no doubt growing up in the desert is why I hate the cold so much. I had to soak in the shower to thaw out yesterday, I spent the day with my feet so cold they hurt. It's not even actually cold here yet!

So this morning I became a member of the ADGA, getting Betty and Bonnie registered NOA now that I figured it out and have someone local who can give me a hand. i have to figure out their tattoo system and tattoo the girls (sounds fun, not!)