Slush

 Usually once every Winter we get a slushy mixture of rain and snow here at Girasole Farm.

We live in a valley surrounded by mountains that are covered with snow for the most part of Winter. 

It's nice to have the feel of snow in the air, yet not have all the work that comes along with it. 

Although, I wish it would snow just a tad bit more, but when you're at a sea level of about 200 feet, that rarely happens. 

Never the less everyone gets excited about slush.
On Tuesday we had slushy weather. 

Oh how my friends from the 'real' mountains, where you get real snow, must be laughing right about now! 

The following morning everything was frozen

and cold...

and CRUNCHY...

and if I closed my eyes while walking out to the barn, I could imagine there was real snow.

We're back to sunshine this morning.
I'm not sure what I'm doing today.
I had the sutures in my hand removed on Wednesday, so am pretty much back to normal.
Yeah- a working thumb!

Whatever kind of day you have, I hope it's a good one.

The Girasole Lady

Rain

It's been raining, for the most part, continuously since Wednesday.

(yes- I wear Capri pants and boots all during the Winter, because then I don't have to worry about getting the bottoms of my pants wet)

When living in the country, words like culvert, drains, ditches, and gravel are very important. 

Rain means one thing here, and that is mud and water.

The arena is now a lake, with various chairs lying around that have been blown there by the winds. 

The winds were terrible last night. 

Gusts upward of 50MPH. 

The swing set blew over.

I was dreading going out to the barn this morning as I was worried about my greenhouse,

but it weathered the storm very well. 

There it was standing secure, all the panels intact and together. 

We had a truck and transfer of gravel delivered a month or so ago, and spread it all around the shop. 

 Even though it is still flooded, at least you can walk on the gravel and not sink into a mud hole. 

This is the back of the shop. 

We've been without power twice during this storm, on Friday evening from 4-7 and again this morning from 5-6:30. It's not too bad when the power is out, we still have heat and light from the wood stove. 

I can still cook because we have a propane stove, and we are able to have hot and running water. 

We have a couple of lanterns and lots of candles. 

I need to brave this weather and head into town sometime today, as I need to get some groceries. 

For now, I'm just sitting by the fire, enjoying the storm outside. 

The Girasole Lady

Finally Fall

Could it be true that Fall has finally arrived?

I do believe so...

I walked out to the barn this morning and noticed several leaves on the grass under the Maple tree. 

I noticed one or two in the past week or so, but with the heat so intense here in N. California, I couldn't even begin to think about Fall. Our temps are cooling down today to the 80's, and we may see some 70's over the weekend. 

Oh- I am so ready. 

Another sure sign of Fall- Caveman, as of last weekend, does not have to work on Saturdays & Sundays, and he is back to his 'normal' work schedule. 

We are planning several projects to keep us busy. 

First on the agenda is tearing down and remodeling an old fence.

(in process)

Graveling around the shop and out to the barn.

Re- painting our bedroom, and both bathrooms. 

Virginia Creeper is beautiful in the Fall. 

Bright orange and red, full of purplish berries.

(non-edible) 

I'm finishing up the pumpkin project today!

Listen! The wind is rising,

and the air is wild with leaves.

We have had our Summer evenings,

now for October eves!

-Humbert Wolfe

1885-1940

The Girasole Lady

Pie's & Pickles

Seems the temperature has been cooling down just a tad bit, we're in the mid to high 90's. While not always feeling quite cool enough, it certainly is much cooler than in the past couple of weeks.
In light of that, I'm feeling a little more like myself again.

A trip to Saturday's Farmer's Market found me some blackberries for a nice pie.

Picked some cucumbers from the garden and put them up to pickle...

I've tried several pickling recipe's and wasn't happy with the outcome.

Last year I tried a package mix of Mrs. Wages and LOVED it! 

It's easy and delicious.

I'm enjoying the coolness, especially in the early morning when I spend most of my time outside in the gardens. I have lots of zucchini and think I'll be making some zucchini bread today.

It's a good day.

The Girasole Lady

Tomato Sandwiches & Home Made Ice Cream

Last night we had tomato sandwiches and home made ice cream for dinner.
That's just what you do when the temps outside are soaring above 100 degrees, even in the evening. Just the thought of cooking makes me break out in a sweat and feel nauseous.

We are in the second week of a heat wave, the temps have been hoovering around 105-110.

I've spent hours and hours of watering, watering everything from the trees at the barn, vegetable garden, the roses down by the road, and everything in between.

On top of the heat we have smoke filled air from the fire up the Canyon, and also from fires in Shasta, Lassen and Lake County.

By the time I'm done with morning outside chores I'm too exhausted to put any effort into cleaning the house. The heat is draining, making me tired, unmotivated, and even a little crabby.
My house is a wreck and needs some serious TLC. I am in and out of the house so much, that the floor collects straggly pieces of grass, weeds, and general dirt, being tracked in by my feet. Maverick contributes too by bringing in stickers on his hair and politely dropping them all over the carpet, stepping on them inside makes me feel like I have to wear shoes in the house. There are zucchini, cucumbers and tomatoes all over the kitchen that need to be washed and cared for. I need to bake some zucchini bread, but it's too hot to turn on the oven. I feel confidant that if I just set the zucchini batter outside in a bread pan that the heat out there would cook it in no time.

Walking through my little garden looks something like this...

(after watering)

These pictures make me feel cool, and that all the watering is worth it. 

Maybe today it will only be 100 degrees. Maybe this weekend the temps will fall into the 90's.
Maybe I'll regain some inspiration and energy. Maybe I'll feel like myself again.

For this morning I will head out once again and pick the veggie garden, feed the horses, and water some more.

 The Girasole Lady