Crunch Time!

I haven’t had much time to post lately—because, well… it’s Crunch Time. With winter breathing down our necks like a relative who shows up early and stays too long, we’ve got a farm-sized to-do list that won’t quit. The clock is ticking, the leaves are falling, and it’s that golden window where the days are crisp, the sun is still warm on your back, and you feel just motivated enough to believe that yes, maybe we can get it all done before snow boots become a daily necessity.

Here’s a sample of what we’re staring down in the next few weeks:

• Finish the next 12'x36' section of the barn

• Split and stack six cords of firewood (and probably argue about the “right” way to stack it)

• Clear brush and trees on the left side of the driveway—because the right side is now fenced and, surprise, snow needs somewhere to go

• Clean the chimney and wood stove (the dirtiest clean job there is)

• Button up the house—weatherstripping windows, touching up paint, pretending we’re organized homeowners

• General clean-up and reorganizing of the farmyard chaos

And of course, let’s not forget the animals:

• Crutching the sheep (yes, that’s exactly what it sounds like—shaving the nether regions to avoid manure mats. Miss it one year and you’ll pay for it come shearing time.)

• Trim feet on all the sheep and goats

• Update all vaccinations

• Run electric hot wire along the top of winter pastures (because snow turns fences into launch pads)

• Send the remaining ducks to freezer camp

• Process the turkeys closer to Thanksgiving (they’ve had a good run... literally)

...and the list goes on. And on.

Hopefully, autumn takes its sweet time this year. Last fall, Old Man Winter barged in on October 19th and didn't pack his bags until the third week of May. That’s not a season, that’s a reign. We were caught scrambling then, and we learned the hard way—when it comes to winter prep, there’s no such thing as "too early."

But whether he shows up with a whisper or a wallop, the chores still need doing. It’s just so much nicer to tackle them now, while the sun warms your shoulders and the smell of leaves and earth still lingers in the air.

These are the days when it pays to throw a stew or soup in the crockpot first thing in the morning. Let it bubble away quietly while you haul wood, chase sheep, and curse at whatever tool you left at the other end of the property. And when the sun dips low and your body is ready to do the same, it’s pure comfort to walk inside and smell that rich, savory promise that dinner is just a ladle away.

Bless Mr. Crockpot. He never complains, never forgets, and always has your back at the end of a long, dirty, muscle-burning day. Here’s to sunny days, productive afternoons, and a hot meal waiting when the work boots come off.