It's been a while! I will try to pick up where I left off. Garden actually carried on well through the end of September. Got green beans, lots of lettuce, and peas for my second crop. Second round of peas were a bit starchy. Already planning my garden for next year. My son wants to grow more beets.
Lost my job- last day of work was 10/31. Everyone keeps expressing sympathy, but I'm really good with it. Now I have time for all the projects I want to do! We aren't stinking rich, but we're ok financially. House is paid off, my car is paid off, daycare that I'm saving is more than what I owe monthly for health insurance. I'm able to COBRA at the rate I was paying out of my paycheck for a year. I'm not commuting 28 miles one-way anymore and buying lunch and coffee out, so that's saving a lot too. We don't have a monthly electric bill, and we heat with wood. Only monthly bills are the DH's truck, Internet, and phones. We have a huge propane tank, so that is more of a big lump sum rather than a monthly expense. We have enough to last us through the winter for cooking.
I have been making TONS of jam and canned stuff. I am not buying any "stuff" for Christmas other than my kid. I never hear about the material items or gadgets I buy, and I never see said gift in the house. Each year I put a ton of effort into trying to find the perfect gift. It has grown to the point where people email links to something on amazon. That isn't the true spirit of gift-giving. maybe I'm just really bad at picking out things for other people. I can accept that. So... Each of the families we buy for are now going to receive a basket of homemade stuff. Whole wheat bread, jams, applesauce, and beets. I got the baskets 50% off, the basket grass was also on sale, and I have almost everything canned up that I'm giving out. I had a ton of gold ribbon leftover from last year for bows.
I am having a blast making the stuff. I bought little ceramic baking dishes and will fill them with homemade candles. I'm making a loaf of whole wheat bread for each basket. A packet each of mulling spices. I have boxes of crackers to go with the jams I made. A few go really well with cream cheese. My sister had some fabric scraps and I bought a little more for the jars. So far I have pickled beets, applesauce, cranberry tangerine spread, tomato basil jam, carrot cake jam, hot pepper jelly, and mixed berry jam. I just have to finish with a batch of marmalades. After that I can put the baskets together.
My kid started off the school year fine, but last week was rough. It has escalated a little bit week by week. I'm seeking professional help, as we have exhausted what the school is able to provide. He had a great soccer season, it gave him a lot of confidence. His latest obsession is chess. He also has a newfound love for cooking, so he helps with everything he can. He is now making the salad to go with our meals every night. I was a little nervous about giving him a knife because he is so clumsy, but he did great. He chooses recipes and we make them together. He has made great strides in everything except emotional control.
Hubby is still hauling water. i think he is finally wearing down. We should be drilling a well soon...
Fall has extended late into the season, and we got an inch of snow over the weekend, but it has melted already. We generally have lasting snow well before Thanksgiving. My sister and I cooked for the whole family, and we had a ball doing it.
I have 5 out of 21 hens laying. Lots of freeloading going on. The late molters are finally filling in their bare patches with feathers. I'm very thankful for my 2 red sex links, they lay an egg every day. The other 3 lay an egg every other day. Small potatoes compared to getting 5 dozen a week this summer!
Here are a few pics.
Getting ready to can case after case of applesauce pints. 
Just taking it day by day. That's all we can all do, right?
