It's offically fall, which is my favorite season, but sunfortunately, it is also the busiest time of year for our family. My garden is producing like mad. There is so much that needs to be harvested and preserved. My kids have started school...and school is a little bit different for us this year. I decided to homeschool my kids, and so that has taken a LOT of extra time, but I love it (that is whole post in itself for another day). There is so much to be done in the yard before winter arrives, and to top it all off, we have had beautiful weather (mid 80's) which is unseasonably warm for us. This makes it hard to work when you want to enjoy the beautiful days. We're also getting ready to start our potato harvest, which is a crazy time for our family. Russell is playing flag football, and all the kids are keeping me busy with their music lessons. As busy as it is, I am so thankful for all of the beauty around me during the fall. I feel blessed for all of the gifts from the garden, even if they are a lot of work. Here is a look at some of our happenings around our farm and yard over the past few weeks...
fall berries...which are in my opinion, the best strawberries. They are so much sweeter in the fall...
berry pickers...more like eaters...
preserving freezer corn for the long winter months ahead...
riding with David to check on irrigation equipment...
it's a good thing Lily brought her purse...
music...
watching the turkeys wander around the farm...
sharing leftover garden goodies with the chickens and turkeys...
wearing what they want, messy scraggly hair...and working outside...
harvesting produce from the garden...
look at all the beautiful grapes I got this year! We planted the bare-root plants last spring, and this year, we got a lot of beautiful grapes from the vines!
we used these darker grapes to make homemade grape juice because they have so many seeds...
our kitchen has been a busy (and messy) place lately...we canned our own salsa verde for the first time this year...
The first part of this week will be filled with more of the same...and then on Wednesday, we're starting our harvest, and I'll be feeding the crews every day.
I love all of your gorgeous pictures of your hard earned garden treasures. What kind of baskets do you use to hold your garden wealth? I love the idea of being able to rinse the produce a bit with the garden hose.
Posted by: Venae | May 08, 2012 at 08:07 PM
I happened upon your site through Pinterest and I have to say I am already a fan. Your pictures are beautiful. I love the canning recipes. Looking forward to coming back again.
Posted by: Katie | January 21, 2012 at 09:17 PM
I love your blog! I have been following it for years now. Crazy to think I have followed so long. I feel like i know you all. You have a darling family.
Love all the pictures. I wish you could share tips of gardening and canning as you learn or improve.
Posted by: jamie | September 27, 2011 at 11:46 PM
I gotta admit I'm a tad jealous of all your gorgeous garden goodies. We still have a ton of green tomatoes outside that I fear will never turn red. I, too, started homeschooling this year. Wow! What a fun, busy adventure it's been. Good luck!
Posted by: Jennifer George | September 27, 2011 at 06:30 AM
TFS Sherelle! I love your simple life, your pictures♥♥
Merci beaucoup
Bisous
Posted by: Marinette | September 27, 2011 at 02:10 AM
I LOVE this post! I can't wait to read about your homeschooling adventures! Sherelle you so are inspiring! I am so happy to see you back! Good Luck with Harvest this year! I hope it is a great one!
Posted by: Ginger | September 26, 2011 at 12:21 PM
Looks like a very boutiul harvest from your garden! Love it!
Congratulations on deciding to homeschool! I homeschool mine too, (we have 4 kids, but only 2 are school age) and we are farmers as well here in Indiana. My kids love it because they get to spend so much time at the farm with their daddy and grandaddy, doing what they love. Goodluck with your adventure :)
Tammi C
Posted by: Tammi C | September 25, 2011 at 09:18 PM
I have missed seeing your beautiful harvest photos! I'm curious...what made you decide to make the switch to home school? Glad to see all the smiling faces here!!
Posted by: JeanneP | September 25, 2011 at 08:41 PM
I live in Shelley & found your blog from chris Russell whom I know. I lOve reading what you are doing. You are one amazing mOmma & you inspire me to be better. I too decided to homeschool this year, & I agree it makes crazy life even crazier. It also is amazing. Good luck with it.
Posted by: Tiffany bingham | September 25, 2011 at 08:12 PM
I'm curious what you do with your tomatillos. I have a ton and don't know what to do with them so that they don't waste.
LOVE your pictures as usual!
Posted by: Shauna Rae | September 25, 2011 at 07:02 PM
I love, love, love seeing the garden photos. I homeschooled for 9 years (well, most of). Your going to love it.
I planted Zinnia's because of your garden, and mine are just beautiful! I love them SOOoooo much!
Posted by: kathryn | September 25, 2011 at 05:04 PM
Your Garden prouce is amazing and fantastic! What a lot of hard work you must do to get that reward ;-)
I would love the salsa verde recepie when you get a spare minute (you prob will never get spare mins now!). I would love to hear more about the homeschooling.
Thanks for sharing these amazing pics.
Posted by: Elizabeth | September 25, 2011 at 03:35 PM
I love reading your blog especially during this time of year. You're so productive and you really motivate me. Love it! Hope you're doing well!
Posted by: Tiffany | September 25, 2011 at 12:07 PM