Wow! October is here already

 

Wow, the time has really flown by, and it would take a very long post to update every single thing.  Goodness. Thank you all for your advice on recent post question.  

Jalapenos (above photo) and bell peppers where sliced and frozen.  Not as many as last year, but enough for two people.

I canned blueberry-basil vinegar for the first time.  We will be using it for homemade salad dressing.

I froze another 4 1/2 pints of roasted cherry tomato sauce.  It will take up some freezer space, as I used wide mouth jars this time, but boy it's delicious.

More apples were canned into applesauce.  I have more apples to process, but have not decided on what yet. 

My applesauce is without any sugar or seasoning, and it is delicious and versatile.  I use it in place of oil when baking, as well as enjoying it as is.

I have also (a first for me this year), canned Sweet Apple Cider Butter (A Ball canning recipe).

I have more apples to can yet.

Much of the San Marzano tomatoes have been processed and canned, but there are more to process (tomato sauce, taco sauce, bbq sauce, tomato basil soup, pizza sauce, tomato paste etc.).  

As for our winter squash, we have yet to harvest due to the drought.  Many of our butternut squash are only about 2 inches big (no joke), and we have zero spaghetti squash, when we typically have 8-9 to roast this time of year.  

Fall time tinctures are being started.  Mullein was started too.  I also dehydrated a few others.

Believe or not!  We got our first camping trip in!  We have not had the chance (for one reason or another) since fall of 2023.  We road bicycles all over on this trip too.  Boy is was overdue, and so relaxing and fun at the same time.

Finished this baby blanket.  It will be gifted.  I have started another blanket pattern.

Thankfully we got some rain to relieve us of the drought we are having.  However, it is very dry here, and there have been field fires in the area.

Most of the house has been powered washed now, and it looks very nice again.  I do have another rose bed to trim up, and so some deadheading of flowers, but progress is being made.

The new chicken coop is almost done.  We have a few last bits of work to do on it.

There have been two deaths in our extended family.  Both were buried within the same week.  Sadly, funerals are simply family reunions.  I am reaching out to a cousin on my husband's side, and hope to stay in touch.  She is such a bundle of positive energy (77 years old).

Wow!  October is here already  ©  October 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart