December????

Pumpkin Shortage

Reading Yahoo News this morning and they said there would be a shortage of canned pumpkin this fall.  They were urging everyone to pick their pumpkin up now if they wanted pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving.  I'm not sure what  is causing this shortage. (I didn't read that far.)  I'm thinking most people who are reading this don't buy canned pumpkin anyways.  Pumpkins from the garden always make the best tasting pie.
Below is this year's crop.

 A great spaghetti squash year.

These are the biggest pumpkins I've ever grown.  The big one in front is over 100#.  Not a prize winner, but what do you do with it?  Too big to eat???

 The sunflowers are all drooping and ready to be cut.

 The kale is getting kinda shabby.  The animals love it.

 The rutabagas are quite healthy this year, also.

 Some of the tobacco growing on the south side of the house.  Why do I grow tobacco???

And my newest present from my honey..a W-6.  I used to make hay with a W-4 that I had to crankstart.  Reliving my youth. (This one has electric start.)

This was just a show and tell post, I guess.  But if anyone has a pumpkin shortage, just let me know and I'll see what I can do.

Flowering Herbs

A friend was over last night and said "I love your flower garden".  I don't have any flower gardens.  She was looking at one of my herb beds.  Who needs a flower garden with these beautiful blooms--

                                                                Soapwort

                                                        Yellow Yarrow

                                                             Motherwort

                                                            echinacea

                                                                 Bee Balm

                                                       St. John's Wort

                                                        Oregano

                                                              Dyer's Broom

                                                          Pink Yarrow

                                                         Calendula

                                                     Chamomile

                                               Elecampane

Everything seems to be blooming at once.  Gardens are growing.  Harvest time is here. 

Graduation Night

Look who walked the walk tonight--

That's my boy!  We love you so much.

Rendering Lard

There are numerous websites and blog entries on how to render lard.  I've tried to do it a few different ways.  I've done it on the stovetop, in the oven and outside.  Everytime I do it in my home, my honey sleeps in his truck.  :)  He says the smell makes him gag.  I get a bit upset because the smell is perfectly fine for me.  But...Eureka!  I have found a solution that suits us both.  I render the lard in a crockpot out on the front porch.  The porch is enclosed and the dog can't help himself to the fat.  I can't do as much at a time, but it doesn't burn and doesn't have to be watched as closely  as on the stove.

The lard in various stages of cooling.

My "vintage" crockpot.

Crockpots can be picked up at garage sales for next to nothing.  Throw the diced fat into it and go about your day, checking in from time to time. 

Another exciting day on the farm!