It’s the most wonderful time of the year

Happy fall ya’ll! Even though it’s 90 degrees I decided to decorate. Bring on the pumpkins and fodder.

My plan is to hit up the clearance rack every year to expand my fall collection. I have a handful of dollar store scarecrows and some crafts my children made, but in my mind it looks pretty good.

Mums, pumpkins, scarecrows - oh my!

I want to add a hay bale and maybe another pumpkin.

My few decorations making it feel like fall. 

His feet aren't long enough to hang over the edge so if you get to close it scratches you. Watch out. 

Maybe when the kids get older we could create a haunted farm. Although we don’t have to wait until then to be getting the heebs.

The other day I walked into the barn to feed Snoop Hoggy Hog, and I saw a long black tail. I knew it was inevitable I would see a snake in the barn one day. But I didn’t think the snake would be so gutsy to just be lounging around.

I calmly went and told Michael aka me jumping around trying to get his attention while he mowed. Turns out that snake was dead. It had tangled itself up in a net. Made me feel kind of bad because I know black snakes are good.

Snake in a net.

Michael's a good sport to let me take photos while he does the dirty work. 

But never fear, just hours later, two more black snakes were seen on the property. So there’s that.

Back to fall. The leaves are starting to change, and we’re gearing up for more land exploring.

This weekend we took the UTV up the one trail to cut a log allowing us to take the UTV further on that trail. It’s totally walkable as is, but we would eventually like to have a series of connecting paths around the farm the UTV could possibly go through.

I got my chain saw! Sing it like the Band Perry.

Leaves are changing.

From thick woods to this terrain.

It's just a mountain of shale.

But check out this view!

This particular trail leads to Shale Hill. It’s a weird terrain, but I personally like it. It gives a desert feel, and you can see all sorts of mountains.  We did hear some turkeys. I’m so excited! I thought the coyote scared everything away. And we saw several bucks on the trail cam.

Speaking of coyotes, we haven’t seen our buddy in a while. One night we heard a shot and I swear we haven’t seen him since. I still look for it every time I’m outside.

Oh, something I should mention. We cleaned out the barn, well house and chicken coop. Now the coop needs more work, but we’re one step closer to more animals. And we should be getting some barn cats very soon.

Anyway, we’re excited for the season change. And hopefully cooler weather.

Let me know if you have any great fall decorating ideas on the cheap side. And keep in mind I’m not crafty. I’m the definition of Pinterest fail. 

Roses

Artsy rose

Loner rose

Check out this sky

Cheap decorating ideas needed! In a few weeks I'm changing these bushes. 

The Great Coyote Caper

Growing up, I only watched TV on Saturday mornings. It was a great day filled with Muppet Babies, The Get Along Gang and Looney Tunes.

I loved all the characters on those shows, but I especially felt sorry for Wile E. Coyote. He tried so hard. Why did he spend so much money on gadgets when he could have bought take out?

Fast forward to now. I saw my first coyote a few months ago. I thought it was a fluke. Now, we see two all the time. But it’s always at weird times.

One time Madi was looking out her window, and she came running. There is a coyote in the orchard. Michael runs out with no shoes and a gun. I’m yelling, “It’s a baby. Don’t shoot it.” It was redneckary at it's finest. No shoes but where's my gun!

But the trail cam has now shown us the baby is not as baby as I thought. It’s just small compared to the other one.

This is mama coyote.

The next time it was sighted, I was sitting on the back porch while Michael was participating in his work Fantasy Football draft. I spotted it on the hill. Michael couldn't leave the computer, and I wanted to scare it. I was wearing my pajamas and and my Walmart rain boots and ran up the hill. I scared them alright, but may have been from my ensemble and crazy flapping arms. 

Michael was determined to get these coyotes. He spent time tracking and hunting, but we went weeks without seeing them.

Until today. I’m sitting on the back porch, waiting to get Madi from school, and I see movement. I know, I need to learn to shoot. I have been shooting before, but I need to know how to load, etc. I take off towards the animal. It looked at me like, “Hello, how are you today?” Real friendly like. I imagine he has an accent. English, Australian, I’m not sure.

I picked up apples and started chucking them at the coyote. He takes off, but keeps turning around and stopping as if he’s making sure I don’t want to play.

I keep throwing apples, and he’s now up in the woods beyond my throwing range. I yell to him, “I can still see you!” I might have even shaken my fist at him.

I didn't have my camera during my apple tantrum, but this was minutes after. The sky was incredible. 

I get it’s their land too, but he was hanging out where the girls and Snoop play. I don’t like that. He’s not getting a bacon meal from me. It’s personal now.

So Wile E. Coyote, I don’t feel so bad for you anymore. And farm coyotes, you’re outta here. 

Nothing to do with coyotes but look how big this garden spider is!

We had a few raspberries. They were sweet and tart. 

Who has the sauce?

We’ve got the sauce! Apple sauce that is, and about a year’s supply of it.

Bring on the zombie apocalypse.

It all started on the first day of school. I missed my kids so much I wanted to spend time with them as soon as they got home. However, they wanted to chill and watch some toons with a processed snack. It was raining, and I was feeling lazy too so we all watched TV. Now it was pouring, but I had to go clean the pig stall.

Farm chores happen even when it rains. 

Walmart plug! One day I will have Hunter rain boots, but these $12 Walmart beauties are awesome for putzing around the farm. 

We found our rain boots and trudged up the barn. It turned out to be a pinterest paradise of things to look at. I forgot I had purchased some old windows, and we found old doors and pieces of wood. I’ve told you before. I am not crafty, but by golly, I am using some of this old stuff to make my house look cool. Who can help me?

I purchased 3 old windows. Some have glass and some don't. 

Look at this old door. Maybe a rack to hold Christmas cards?

Old bee keeping supplied. I am petrified of bees, but I think I could really enjoy this as a hobby. (And new supplies.)

I'm going to paint this and use my new coffee bag to reupholster. 

The girls told Michael they got on the tractor, but did not turn it on. 

Back to the sauce. The rain slowed down, and we explored the yard a bit and decided to pick some apples. We took them inside and just like Bobby Flay, Giada or Aarón Sánchez – pick your favorite food network star – we made applesauce. And it was edible.

She was being so careful. 

She actually got the hang of it.

I called my mother-in-law, who humors my hair brained ideas, and asked if she wanted to can some applesauce.

This weekend we picked bagfuls of apples. The girls cored and peeled them, for the most part. Mamaw cleaned up the apple bits, I cooked the sauce. Even Michael got in on the action. He wanted to use an immersion blender – it’s a big, loud tool that mixes things up. Kind of like someone else I know. I kid I kid!!! Seriously, he finished the applesauce project by sealing the lids and making sure the applesauce will stay fresh. 

So many apples

As long as the apple didn't have any yucky spots she did great. 

She loved using this peeler.

Organic apples

Lots of sugar.

It took about 2 hours. 

Mixing it up.

Starting to see progress. 

Ta-da!

But now we have a lifetime supply of applesauce.

In other farm news...Bailey and Snoop are buds again, and the sweetest thing happened. 

The animals like to follow the UTV around while we check the trail cams. 

Surprises we see on our rides.

I totally forgot we planted these.

This last ride Snoop got lost. We could see him, but since he’s so little he couldn’t see us over the grass.

He’s oinking and oinking. I tell Bailey to go get him. Sure enough, in true Lassie fashion, Bailey runs towards Snoops and leads him back to us. Be still my heart. A pig isn’t the best pet for everyone, but I love having him around.

And he’s happy because he gets all the leftover scraps from peeling the apples.

Applesauce, the gift that keeps giving. 

My recipe

Apples

Water

Sugar

Cinnamon

Just add what feels right. Cook for about 25 minutes on low heat. Mix as much as you like. 

Oink Oink Baby

Saved by the Bell was one of my favorite shows on my Saturday morning line up. But to be honest, if I am channel surfing now and come across it I usually end up watching it.

Zack and Kelly, of course, were my favorite characters. (Has anyone seen the Lifetime portrayal of Saved by the Bell? If so, you probably know Screech has found this blog entry and is ticked he isn’t my favorite.)

Anyway, Zack and Kelly were the best, but Jessie and Slater gave us the most memorable quotes like, “I’m so excited… I’m so scared…”

And after being called a macho pig Slater yelled out, “Oink oink baby!”

You’re wondering why I am babbling on about this teen sitcom. I needed a catchy pig quote to draw you in so I can tell you how much I love my pig!

Snoop Hoggy Hog in the house!

Snoop Hoggy Hog is fun. And cute. And sometimes smart!

He definitely knows his name. When I call him he comes flying in hot down the hill like a roly poly piece of bacon.

We decided he needed to help us with yoga. My sister, the girls and I held a pig yoga session. Snoop is getting a little piggy gut, and it was hard to lift him high for warrior pose.

I can only accomplish two yoga poses. 

She is better than me. 

Using all my strength to hold up the pig.

The pictures make it look serene but he oinked and squealed a lot. I gave him an apple as a peace offering. The girls also sang songs to him, which is one of his favorite things. I am not kidding. He also loves a belly rub. If I scratch him, he stops and just drops to his side.

She sings to him. 

He might enjoy ice coffee too.

It’s been really hot, and I don’t have a mud hole for him to waller in. I’m not ready for that level of pigginess. I filled up a baby pool, and he enjoyed it.

Piggy pool

Now Bailey and he are buddies. They wrestle and explore the yard. They follow the UTV around and Bailey slows her pace so the pig can keep up.

Following the UTV.

Snoop asking if Bailey can come play.

Eating corn on the cob together.

Playing in the yard.

But like all good friends a hangry moment or fooditude as I like to call it got in the way.

One moment they were fine, and then they both started smelling a diaper bag that had a fast food wrapper by it and Bailey bit Snoop in the face. Luckily, Snoop was ok and the friendship was rekindled moments later. But I learned a lesson that day about food aggression.

Dog bite!

Speaking about learning something new, Snoop realized he’s a feisty boy pig and needs some action. He’s scheduled to get fixed early next week.

Snoop keeps our days interesting. No regrets so far having him.

Enjoying some mud.

And if the Saved by the Bell cast would like to have a reunion show, we would love to have them at the farm. 

Saved by the Bell reunion!!