End of an Era

I have had my driver's license for 10 years. I don't speed (more than 5 over) I'm careful about obeying all laws. Well, ok I have accidentally run a few red lights, but not on purpose mostly!

Last night Katie and I were driving home from Ty and Dave's. We pulled onto 55 after a police car. Katie mentioned she was glad he was in front and not following us. Almost as soon as she said that he put on his blinker and pulled to the side of the road, when we passed he started following us. I wasn't too worried, I knew he was running the plates. It was close to 1:00 AM and I'm sure he was looking for suspicious characters. I drove normally and took my turn onto Rolling Hills and he pulled in after me and sure enough, turned on his lights.

Oh crap, so much for my 10 year streak! I'm glad Katie was with me, she found the insurance info and I got out my license, so exciting! He came up to the window and all I could think was, he looks like Jeff Krotzer, how am I supposed to be afraid of him??

He says, "The reason I pulled you over tonight is your tabs are expired". I might have gaped a little I had NO clue. He asked if it was my car and I said yes, he took my license and went to run it. At that point I remembered that the car is NOT in my name and waited for him to come back and billy club me. I guess that little discrepancy -or the fact that it's in dad's name, same last name- didn't bother him because he came back and just told me to get new tabs.

Nice, no ticket, no nothing.

This morning I told mom and she said oh yeah, I forgot about that, we need new tabs. Thanks Ma.

The wholde incident did kind of make me want to be a cop, but I think they frown on the sort of vigilante justice I would bust out. Oh well.

First Snow

We got our first snow of the season last night! On my way to bed last night I looked out the window and saw snow flurries like glitter falling outside the window. So pretty.

This morning I went to let the chickens out, usually they're all camped out in front of the door waiting to run outside. This morning the only one out was Jack. Pumpkin must have kicked him out of the coop, poor guy. It's not any colder than it has been, they just really don't like the snow on their feet.

With the bright sun this afternoon they're all outside basking in it. Winter is coming, but it's not here just yet.

What I've been up to?

Sipping cocoa now. It's been so cold and rainy here, and I've been out in it everyday for hours, harvesting and washing vegetables. It seems kind of silly to stand there in the pouring rain with a hose in my hand scrubbing vegetables, but what can you do?


It's been a busy summer. I'm taking over more and more of the farm work. It's almost easier to do all of the harvesting, washing, and bagging of the veggies, than to deal with mom. Luckily the season is almost over. We had our first frost a couple of weeks ago and are looking at our first freeze this weekend. Still a lot of veggies out there, but we are winding down the season.


The chickens are all doing pretty well. Had two outbreaks of a respiratory problem with Ella this summer. I think it's the same thing that Apollo had. There were a few days when I though she might not make it, thankfully she did recover and is back to 100%.


Most of the chickens are molting right now, losing all of their old feathers and growing pretty new ones in preparation for winter. It looks like someone was murdered out there with all the feathers blowing around the yard.


I've reintegrated Pumpkin into Jack's flock. He, Jack and Leif are now co-existing, not really happily, but there is no more bloodshed. The fights were showy but not nearly as violent as they were this spring. This was mostly posturing, very little actual damage done. It was tough to watch them fight it out, but worth it to have the whole flock in the big coop for the winter.


I haven't had time to do almost anything with the little horses this summer. In the time I have spent out there Candy and I have gotten to know each other better. She's such a sweet little girl, she just wants to know you're in charge. If I go out there with the right attitude I don't even need a halter or lead rope, she will follow quietly beside me, stopping and turning when I do. I hope we have a mild October/November so I can spend some more time with her.


Got a chance to do a lot more canning and pickling this summer and I am so glad! Katie and I have been baking too, pies, muffins, and cocktails. We've had some fun evenings!