Break Time

Busy next couple of weeks.  We've had our first frost...very early, so I'm out of the garden and in the house...this is when I do my *Spring* cleaning...watch out!

Babies and Butternut

How wonderful, the baby girl is feeling better...she danced to Tom Petty on the I-Pod!  I have never seen such a sick little girl...finally took her to the local Doc and he prescribed some magic syrup and lo and behold...she's a dance'n machine.  I missed that smile!

                                    
 Jack insists on playing king of the mountain on the two big mushroom compost piles...they are a favorite scratching/pooping ground of the chickens...Jack stinks!  The Farm is proving to be a favorite place for the City Grand kids...they're getting the hang of it...getting use to the rhythm of the farm.  Up early, big breakfast, lots of little chores, some big chores, big lunch, nice long nap, little snack, work in the garden, back to the house, Grandpa's home, big LOUD family dinner, clean up, wash up, read a book and off to bed...it's different for them, but so exciting.  They love the California cousins and are so happy they can see each other everyday...they will be going back to North Carolina after Christmas, they will be greatly missed.

   

                                                       

The first of the yearly Winter storms is on it's way.  We still have lots of crops out in the fields.  Cotton, squash, almonds, pecans and a bit of rice...we may loose the almonds, pecans cotton and rice...but I think we can save the butternut...it's the nature of the beast...that nice hard outer shell. I took a nice quite drive to pick up some persimmons from a friend and made a side trip out to the butternut field...I threw about 50 in the back of the Land Rover...I'll add some to my squash storage and the rest I'll put out front on the produce stand for those folks looking for something nice on their Thanksgiving table. I make a killer butternut pie and butternut bread... I'll put the recipes in a basket on the stand next to the squash.

Shhhhhhhhh!

Grandma's heading out to the garden to water, decant some compost tea and reflect...no one say a word: the wee munchkin is finally sleeping.

In Defense of Dirt

Dirt grows wonderful, delicious fruits and vegetables and really healthy kids.  My country grand kids are raised in and around my dirt and are never sick.  The city grand kids have been here a week and have been sick since they got off the plane.  NONE of the Local family has a sniffle or a sour stomache...but the others: OMG! I'm running around with a spray bottle of diluted vinager wiping up you-know-what: both ends are working overtime! I think I'm going to mix a tablespoon of good old fashioned compost in their juice, put them to bed and pray for a cure!

My Two Compost Heaps: Wonderful Dirt!

Great Do-Nothing Weekend!

It was a perfect time for me to get away.  The wedding was over, the grand kids still sick (I felt a tiny bit guilty) and I needed some ME TIME!  Threw my sewing supplies and a bit of food in the back of the *Little Pickup* and put'er in drive...lead-footed it to Chico...stopped to take a couple of shots of the cattle and chicken tractor at the Chico State Farm: LOVE IT!

After my brief cattle/chicken fix I made my way to Joann's to pick up yardage for my daughters' and daughter-in-laws' aprons.  I'm going for the I-Love-Lucy Retro look...they will each get two.  One set will be all matching but in different colors and the other set will be complimentary to their kitchens.  I love aprons...don't know if they do...who cares:  I do what I like to do!  They're great young ladies, I'm sure they will love them!

I really thought I would have made at least a couple of the aprons, but alas...I cut out the paper pattern pieces...set up the machines...and promptly put my feet up grabbed a huge stack of magazines and that was that!  My cabin does that to you...the view of the creek from every door (they're glass) and window...and you just can't beat the mountains in the Fall...just plain ol' lovely!  It was cold and crisp...the fire kept us cozy...we had plenty of comfort food and chocolate.  Watched two episodes of the PBS Mystery favorite: Miss Marple and talked, and talked, and talked...and SLEPT long deep sleep...and I even managed to throw in a couple naps. 

It all ended way too soon.  Paula had to leave Saturday for a grand child's birthday and Nancy left early Sunday for her long drive home.  I packed up and headed down the hill later Sunday afternoon...wish I could have stayed longer...much longer.  I drive the speed limit and sometime faster on my way up the hill...going home I drive way under and never over 50 miles an hour...I pull off the road and let traffic pass frequently...I take in the sites and smells and usually take plenty of photos...it's my time.



Fall Colors in the Chico Canyon

On my drive home I noticed the persimmon tree I've had my eye on has ripened, so of course I had to go check it out.  The tree is absolutely full of beautiful, huge, ripe fruit.  I could hardly contain myself.  This tree sits off the highway in an empty area next to a cultivated field.  I have never seen anyone in the area, although this year there are a few bee hives.  I love persimmon pudding with hard sauce and my mouth was watering.  I took several pictures, trying to be inconspicuous and not so much like a thief, and in the end I couldn't do it...I just couldn't steal those persimmons.  I know, I know, I am like the best forager there is...but I follow the rules: has to be on un-cultivated land...ask permission if near a home...you know what I mean...this was just too iffie...so I drove up the road a couple miles and bought persimmons at a local produce stand...and I'll have my pudding this evening...after I cut out those aprons!

The Fully Loaded Persimmon Tree

Just Too Beautiful!

Came home and everything was the same: sick kids (are you kidding me)...groceries and laundry to put away.  My chickens were very happy to see me (I don't know what that's all about) and I have lots of emails waiting for me.  My Monday's are always crazy...no change there.

Cabin Time...AGAIN!

I'm out'a here!  Sick grand kids for the last couple of days and rain during harvest...too much stress for me! Called the *Elephant Women* and we're heading up the hill.  I'll be back the first part of the week....

Cauliflower

I have the first of 12 cauliflower heading up!  Yeah!  I love Fall/Winter gardening...it's my favorite!

Back to Normal

No we are not a family of florists...The person the couple had planned to do the wedding flowers was unable to do them...So Team Reynolds stepped up and put together all of the flowers and bridal and bridal party bouquets the morning of the wedding.  Middle daughter, Tessa, put together a wonderful fruit and imported cheese display for before dinner noshing...all very last minute.  Youngest daughter, Kelly took over the set-up of the venue and youngest son, Sam organized the flower drill!  This family I have raised are the BEST! We ROCK!


The Groom Catching Hell from His Brother, Sister and Nephew!
He's On the Other Side of the Island...so He Won't Get Punched!



Bridal Bouquet




Bridal Party Table



Daughter Kelly with Isla

 


Little Lynda

Daughter Tessa with Vincent and Leah

Big Daddy...Loves a Wedding

My Favorite Sister-In-Law and Brother: Leslie and Pete



On My Fireplace...But Were on The Alter at the Church

Grand Kids Dancing

Bride With Her Father

 

We Did 30 of These Groupings for the Reception Tables
I used canning jars!!!

The Boys and Their Best Friend Asa 

Bride and Groom First Dance

 We did a great job, we're all exhausted!  But it's over with and we're back to harvesting, planting, kid chasing and chicken feeding...ah life on the Farm...gotta' love it!

Potatoes

I just made my favorite garden order: POTATOES!  I love growing them, harvesting them, cooking them and eating them!  I ordered a pound each of  two different types of Reds, two types of Whites, two types of Yellow and 2 Types of Russets.  I have two different types of Purples, Whites, Reds and two Fingerling that I grew and saved *seed* potatoes from this years' harvest. I plant potatoes in raised beds, 1/2 wine barrels and deep drawers from our bathroom remodel (they work great). I like having the variety and diversity all different types of potatoes.  This season I'll add another raised bed and I'm making several planting bags from leftover commercial landscaping black weed block.  I want LOTS of potatoes this year...for home use and to sell at the Market and Produce stand.  Homegrown potatoes sell themselves...they are beautiful and delicious.

Everyone Is Still Here

I'm getting used to have lots of family under-foot.  I have to be honest and say it is a bit stressful, but it is the price of having a large family.

We have the oldest son's small wedding this Saturday, so the daughters and I are working on flowers and favors.  I'm lucky, we won't have to do a dinner, Cristy at Cairos will give us the back room: yeah!

We had a great Halloween.  The N.C. grand kids and Little Lynda went over to Colusa with Kelly, Les and Grandpa Bill.  The other two grand kids are in Hawaii with their dad and Grandfather.

I finally have a nice big chicken coop.  A wonderful gentleman from Santa Rosa advertised on Craigs List and I spent my Renaissance Faire Food Booth Profits on it....I am so happy.  My girls' have checked it out, but so far they have not spent the night in it...the plan is to stick them in tonight, lock the doors and then let them out in the a.m.  I hope it works.   I still plan on getting the area fenced in.  I have looked into a goat shelter...really cute and I should have the money saved up for that after the first of the year...then the goats!  Bill's in charge of the pigs...he ordered two, but I'm going to bump that up to three...then Vincent can sell one at the fair and we'll put the other two in the freezer.  Identified 4 areas to put in pasture to rotate goats, chickens and one or two steers...here on the ranch!  I'm still working on renting the bare patch of ground across the road...but I'm guessing it will take at least a year of work to bring that fried dirt back to life: compost, compost, compost.

The best surprise this week.  Some of the Oaks we have replanted on the ranch have ACORNS!  This ranch was covered with Oaks in the old days...they were cut down to supplement Bill's great-grandfather's income by supplying the rail road with fire wood for the steam engines.  The railroad line is only yards from our home.  It always makes me smile when I see the ranches and farms that have one or two standing old Oaks in the middle of their fields...and I'm so pleased we have planted the ones we have...they are so beautiful and they belong in this valley.