Fall in Review

Fall,  busy, productive, full of change.  I'm glad to be writing to you on this side of it.  I love fall but it is a tremendous amount of work seeing how school starts and harvest begins for much of what I put away for the winter.

This fall we put up about 50 quarts of applesauce, 20 quarts of which were off our own little trees.  That was much fun!  We usually get most our apples from Jerrie's parents.  Also while my Dad and Mom were here we put up 16 dozen ears of corn.  That was such fun.  We did 8 dozen a day and it took 3 hours from start to finish.  Grandpa and the boys shucked it, Grandma and I blanched, cooled and cut it off of the cob and then froze it.

Oct. 12 was Jer's surgery.  He made it with flying colors.  We got a Game Ready ice machine this time around.  That was huge assistance in his recovery.  It enabled him to only take the heavy meds just the first day as they gave him a tremendous headache which he said 'was worse than the shoulder pain'.  That's bad.  He is currently doing physical therapy (PT) at home, his home work from the Physical Therapist.  His shoulder is not normal but it continues to improve.  As long as he doesn't do sudden movements, rescue boys, or catch grocery carts from falling off a curb into nearby vehicles it doesn't give him much pain.

The first weekend following his surgery we harvested two thirds of our grapes and canned 90 quarts of grape juice...our best year ever.  I hope we drink it all.  They look so happy sitting out on the shelves in the garage.  We had almost finished up the last third when Davy had his zip line accident...the chickens got those grapes.

We are glad to be past Davin's injury.  They say 'time heals all wounds', to be sure Davin is doing so well.  We had our last visit to the surgeon on Nov. 23.  We were told by Dr. Kipp that Davy doesn't need to come back.  He was really pleased with how well Davy has recovered.   Davy continues to wear his new coat that Carhartt sent him. Carhartt has no idea how much they made his day.

I almost forgot one of the most important happenings of the fall.  We hatched baby chicks.  One of the Buffs went broody and we put eggs under her.   God is good, we got two hens :)  My Mom told me I wouldn't have to take care of the babies because Midge (the momma Buff) would teach them and care for them.  She is right.  It was so nice to not have to look at them round the clock.  She taught them to drink, eat, and made sure they were warm enough.  It was so fun to watch them 'cave' underneath their momma.  They would peck on her chest, she would rise up just a bit and they would burrow under her and disappear from view.  The 'little girls' should begin laying in about 4-5 months. We also had a Brown Leghorn go broody so we put more eggs underneath her.  What a difference, she was a HORRIBLE mother.  She let her babies die and we were crushed.  It turned into a great teachable moment about the value of human life.

Thanksgiving came this year.  We have much to thank our Jesus for.  Number one is family and that we still have all of them.  We went to Jack and Sandy's home (Jer's oldest  brother).  It was a very relaxed day full of fellowship, and food.  Lots of it.  We played games and just hung out. 

The following Saturday (yesterday) was the boy's last mowing day for the year.  We knocked out five lawns.  Next weekend the guys will winterize the mowers and weed eater.  Business was good for the boys again this year and they put more money into their Roth IRA's.  It is neat to see how God wires us.  Some of us are savers and some of us are not.  We always encourage them to put at least 1/2 of their earnings into their Roth but some of the guys add extra.  Davy is already looking forward to March when we start the next mowing season.  

Blessings to you all as the next season approaches.  We pray you take time to remember the Reason for the season and enjoy and hug all those around you.

Love from the Lyda's