This past week was generally warm and dry here in Central Missouri. A frontal passage late in the week brought our first frost of the season Friday night, which happened to be the exact average first-frost date for this area.
My sweet corn popped silk on Thursday, and appears to have made it through the frost with no damage. The only thing now standing between me and a bumper crop is the weather. I need another 30 days of good luck.
We harvested all of the peppers in advance of the cold. I’ve got 25 gallons that need to be processed. I got started chopping jalapenos yesterday. Those, and probably most of the chilis and huns, are going into the smoker to dehydrate, then I’ll grind them up into yummy smoked chili powder.
I spent several hours yesterday moving dirt to the pond dam and smoothing it out to the final golf course finish grade, then the seal in Nanner’s steering cylinder blew out so now I’m parked until I can get the cylinder removed and sent out for a rebuild. No telling how long that will take so later today I’ll use the garden tiller and a rock rake to finish the smoothing and then seed the bit that I got done.
Today is chainsaw day. I get to go around all the fencerows and chop up leaners and deadfall that have or are about to damage the fencing, and make any needed repairs. Pops mowed the horse paddocks yesterday so that’s one less thing for me to do before winter.
Progress! Sorry about the broken vehicle. A weekly problem around here, too. :(
Beau will be back from Bear Camp this week, and I KNOW one of his projects for us will be, ‘Chain Saw Day.’
He and the two neighboring farmers have some complicated system of who fixes what on the fences, but he is always in charge of the chainsaw. ;)
He used to compete in his youth; he’s very good at it and quick!