If October had a feeling it was this:
A neat display at the library on the north end of our island. The kind of display that says quietly “hey, it’s almost time where we get to read whenever we want!”.
The youngest chickens grew quickly in October (there are 4, 3 dark, 1 light in color). They were born to their mama in the 4th week of August making them about 2 months old now. Not long after this I moved them to the main run with the other chickens, and they spent October learning to run with the big birds.
Seeding kept me busy enough in the hot days in early October. We had “joked” in August that we’d have a good Indian Summer to make up for the Spring that never showed up. Turned out our joking was right on. No rain and even though the days shortened quickly, it heated up quickly every day from 10 am to 4 pm. Until the start of the 4th week and it just turned off, sharply. We didn’t get August forest fire smoke this year, we got it in October. The days were often hard to work in, when the winds blew down the mountains across the water. This last week has been rainy, and I will take it.
And yes, the greenhouse grew well.
Those forest fires bring intense sunsets. The 4th week brings darkness early though. The sun won’t set after 6 pm for many months. Since Congress won’t approve Washington State’s request to get off Daylight Savings Time, first week of November brings us sunsets before 5 pm. Joy.
Chores were started for the coming cold season. I “lock” the water hydrants on the property to avoid them getting bumped. The water gets turned off internally as well. They may be frost line ones, but I don’t take chances with deep freezes.
We tore out some of the beds. This bed, once we remove the irrigation in it, will be tilled and reshaped, then tarped for winter. It needs help after many years of productive work.
We took in a flock of 10 hens in mid October from people moving. They moved into the quarantine coop.
A moth that landed on our youngest as he was doing farm chores. It was probably cold. When it opened up its wings, it was filled with bright pink and red. Alistaire tucked it away in a sheltered area to warm up. Eventually it flew away.
Fall settles in. Snow is predicted next week. For now, it’s farm chores between rain storms, and to dream of next spring.
~Sarah