First deep freeze of the season

Last night was the first real freeze/frost of the fall. We have had three other nights in the past week and a half with very light "dustings" of frost but noooo doubt this morning. We've watched the parade of leaves floating down onto the front yard all day and tomorrow I will pull all the "burnt" flowers and herbs out of the beds. Pecan picking time is here!!!!

Easter Eggs and Pecans???

I ran across a funny observation on a blog the other day that I really enjoyed -

The pecans are beginning to fall from the trees and I've been collecting them as I find the time. I'm beginning to believe that the Easter tradition of searching for hidden Easter eggs was created by southerners wanting to condition their children to find and gather pecans in the fall.

I think maybe his thought about Easter eggs and Pecans might just be right :) !

Fall is Here!

Suddenly the summer is gone and fall is here, which means - IIIIIIIIIYYYYAAAAAAHHHHHH! We have just a few short weeks to get everything done before we go to pick up the trees!!
Needed:
* Finish remarking each tree hole accurately (now that millet has been bushhogged)
* Put up fence (may wait on this until next summer unless we have problems with the deer in late Jan/early Feb)
* Dig almost 400 holes at least 4' deep and 4' wide ("ripping") and then mixing dolomitic lime with the soil, refilling the holes and leveling off
* Dig the actual tree hole (with auger attached to tractor - see next note!)
* Plant clover in the "alleys" between tree rows
* Get new radiator and water pump for old (very old!) tractor which of course has a very rare-type of radiator that has to be ordered from (are you ready to hear this??!!) - IRELAND! We've researched and called and talked to everyone we could find and evidently this type of radiator is now only made by one company in the world, so you can guess that it is not easy to get and of course not cheap! Since this is our only tractor, we don't have a choice (well, the only other choice is a new tractor and that's not really a choice!)
So right now we are "dead in the water" until the tractor is fixed or we decide to pay someone to do some of the holes. One supplier is ready for us to come get our trees in the next two weeks and then I will be the mother of 85 "babies" that I will have to tend to carefully until the spring. That brood will grow to over 400 after our January trip to Texas, so talking about being an expectant "parent" :) !

Other than the new trees, the other happenings are:
* Pick up, sort and collect nuts from a few local trees to try to grow rootstock from in the next two years (especially one very prolific old tree at the old homeplace where Derwin's Dad was born)
* Pick up, sort, and shell pecans for personal use and possible sale
* Develop website
* Finalize tax and other paperwork
* Prune and tend to certain berry and fruit trees that need fall attention
* Continue watering and tending cabbage and collards in the garden
* Gather and dry black walnuts from MIL's farm
* Cut/split more firewood for the winter

And try to keep the house and yard in order, do school with the children, teach Awanas, and all of the "normal" things to do on a farm and with a family! I am just so very thankful for our health and the opportunity to do so much together as a family. That's what makes it all worthwhile!

Journal

In the past two weeks:
1 - D bushhogged the millet; still some patches where neither millet nor centipede grew and could erode later so we will be doing "spot" soil tests
2 - Confirmed the tree orders with suppliers; Mr. Bunn may not have all of the varieties grown to his satisfaction but we will adjust the layout when/where needed if necessary; Mr. Berdoll has more than sufficient to cover our Pawnee/Desirable order with him
3 - Re-laid three full rows just east of the fruit orchard, more accurate now that the millet has been cut. Ethan has been especially helpful pulling the measuring tape and driving the four-wheeler to get tools for us!
4 - Reconfirmed monies available. With recent economic crisis/market crashes/job layoffs/etc. it has been good to know we had made early arrangements and have the funds available thanks to D's good foresight.
5 - Had some dove hunters come on opening day but very little luck. A couple of weeks later doves are in large flocks all over the field !
6 - Will allow deer hunting this fall/winter with several neighbors and friends. Lots and lots of does and fawns roam over the field daily but very little sign of bucks. However, we know that when runt starts....
7 - Planned layout of some extra trees along the path and at the old sawmill site.

Quote

Old Chinese Proverb:
"The best fertilizer is the gardener's shadow"

Old Southern Pecan Grower saying:
"The best fertilizer is the footprint of the farmer"

Pretty much saying the same thing. Maybe that's why my farm shoes are splitting apart at the soles.... maybe some of these would come in handy (hint, hint!!)