Fall is arriving. This morning at 09:30 the car ambient thermometer registered 13.5c … had to put two more layers when I went outside. Sudden change.
Another round of winter preserves is just around the corner – should get started within a week or two. Drying is already well on the way (though becoming trickier as sunshine becomes less predictable – I’ve already lost a batch of prunes). Zakuska recipies are ready and pickling is just about ready to go.
It is now a recurring theme that at this time of year our exchange with Ildi & Levente changes from money into goods … and it is so pleasant … for both sides. We are stocked up with honey for the winter (still not taking from our own hives) and hopefully in the coming weeks most of the veggies for Zakuska will come from them too.
I’ve improvised a shelter for wood with a large plastic sheet – two corners ties to the garage, one to a tree and a fourth to a metal post I put in the ground. It has a slope to drain water away and will hopefully hold out to the snows. I’m jut finishing cutting up for storage (in said improvised shelter) the wood from last! year. We should have plenty for this winter and then some left over. This year the wood will also be better seasoned (drier) so hopefully we will need even less. If time and money will allow it we may buy another batch this year to set aside for longer drying … so we would be set for 3 or 4 years with wood. The house porch is also fairly filled with wood that has been further cut (to rocket stove size pieces) in spring … I’ll cut some more in the coming months so most of the cutting for winter is or soon will be done.
Other then the Zakuska which can be an intense 2 weeks … this fall promises to continue to be mellow and relaxed.
As the temperatures are dropping I seem to be spending more time outdoors. Though I tend not to go outside unless the solar hot water boiler is hot or getting hot … my rule “if there aint hot water at the end of a day I aint gettin’ dirty” 🙂
I like this period of transition.