Hello September!

 This morning, I noticed the Silver Maple tree has some yellow on some of the leaves. And there is a different feeling in the air. Fall's on the way!

                                                       Yates apples all over the ground.

                                      This is on the Granny Smith apple tree. How strange is that?

And the figs are coming on strong! I go out and pick a lot every day now. I took a lot to the market last Wed. And also made 10 jelly jars of fig preserves yesterday. I just picked a bunch for my friend this morning too. I'll be making more preserves as the days go by. I have 4 bushes and they are all just loaded.

                                The blueberry bushes are starting to turn and loose their leaves.

                                           This is the sedum, decked out in it's Autumn glory.

I love Redbud trees. They are my very favorite tree. I have wanted them here ever since we bought this place. I got this tree and another smaller tree from my mother's yard a few years ago. This one is about 15' tall now. The other one is really small but is growing and will hopefully be as big as this one soon. I love the leaf patterns on this tree too. So pretty.

We need to get all the oak tree wood split and hauled to the farm soon. I think we'll be having an early fall.

Chickens

From this....

to this, in 2 1/2 hours. 16 Freedom Rangers, done. 10 more to go. I have no idea how much these guys weigh. Some felt like 4 pounds, some like 2 pounds. These guys are going up on the mountain to the guy I bartered 3 chicken tractors for. Quite an expensive trade too. Probably won't be doing any more meat birds. I'll keep the tractors for broody or sick hens. Or when I get more hens I'll keep them in them til they are ready to go in with the others.

When I was out in the milk room last night, getting ready to mix up some grain for the goats, I noticed little tiny black bugs in the bag of wheat. Then saw them in the bag of corn and barley. DARN! Makes me mad! I took all those bags and put them in a big barrel. I took it out of the milk room and into the garage. Should probably get it as far away as possible. But I'll feed that grain to the chickens and hopefully they'll eat all those darn bugs too. I am going to have a talk with the people at the feed store about this. I had also noticed bugs in the last bag of laying feed. Wonder if this is where the bugs came from?

I am getting 4 hens and a rooster this afternoon. Black Jersey Giants I think. They are 4 months old. I think since I will have a roo I'll breed them and try to sell chicks. I'll see how well they do at setting on eggs.

So I can let my laying hens out now to free range part of the day. I didn't want to before the meat birds were all gone so they wouldn't get all mixed up. I'll keep the 10 FR in the tractor so I can let the laying hens out. They will like that.

When I get back from getting the new birds, I have got to start on grape juice and jelly. And then fig preserves. Found what looks like a pretty easy recipe for that. Then next week is SOAP! I've got to make soap. I am almost out.

So what's going on at your farms today?

Bubba and Bonnie Belle

 Bubba with his rack of ribs.

And Bonnie in front of the entrance to the chicken tractor. She would not move out the way so they could get out. I think she just wanted her chicken massage! Silly Bonnie Belle!