This Week at Ramsey Farms

This Week October 6 - October 20, 2014

So you already know that time flies when you’re having fun! I must be having lots of fun because the days just seem to roll on by in one big chunk of time! Sometimes there are just too many things going on to try to write a blog post. By the way, I am excited to tell you all that this simple, little blog has had more than 2,100 visits since I launched it last year! YAY – thank you for dropping in, please be sure to “follow” us, post comments and questions, and share your ways of finding the joy in the simple life with us!

We have had some gorgeous, warm, sunshine so far this October! Based on the comments all over Facebook, it may be looking like autumn in some more northern locations (including North Carolina) but here in the southeastern coastal plains of Georgia, nary a leaf has turned.  Will they change? I have no idea! The weather has vacillated between summer and fall these last weeks. It’s still can hit 100° in the sun but the average high has been 82° with lows around 60°.

Chief Farmhand Chris finally got his Z-mower and has spent many hours mowing our fields and yard spaces. His next project is a fire pit for entertaining, cooking, and simply enjoying! Yummmm, I am ready to roast marshmallows and sing campfire songs! ;) He reseeded lettuce and we have tons of baby radishes popping up! Check out the garden pics here.

Getting up early has its perks. We would not have gotten to see the lunar eclipse earlier this month if we weren’t outside before 6:30 in the morning! It was the October full moon and a “blood moon” that made it appear red. I love checking out the sky every morning, it seems to be so much more visible than we lived in the city with a million twinkling stars in the big Georgia sky. No buildings, city lights, or smog to block the view. It takes my breath away almost every single morning! I hope I never get used to it!

I am so happy that we visited a local farmer’s market where we were able to purchase locally grown potatoes, tomatoes, green beans, and fresh local eggs! The woman I bought the eggs from has invited us to check out her farm to get ideas and buy some laying hens. She seems like she’ll be a great resource to us in the coming months as I am very anxious to get started on the poultry side of our farming adventure.

Last week, Chris spotted something moving across the back field. It took me a moment to see what he saw as he fled outside gun in hand. A 3-foot diamond back rattlesnake was moving rapidly through the fresh-cut grass beyond our fence. He put a couple 22s in it and nearly decapitated it with his shovel and it was still moving! I’m so glad no one was outside in the field at that time! Just a not-so-gentle reminder that we live among the wild and we must be careful. I can handle some chiggers or ants, but I’d much prefer to avoid the bite of any snake, much less a venomous rattler. Speaking of chiggers and ants, did you miss my post on DIY soothing anti-itch cream? It is wonderful - I dare ya to try it!

The whole household had a great time Saturday helping out at our community’s rescue squad / fire station’s biannual fundraiser. We got to help serve up BBQ chicken, homemade potato salad, green beans, bread, dessert, and tea while meeting a slew of neighbors. My son even got to do the honors of drawing the winning name for a 30-0-6 shotgun! He didn’t choose any of our names but oh well! It’s all for a good cause.

I had a plethora of local, farm-fresh tomatoes that a neighbor had given to us. I had never canned tomatoes but I was able to put up 3 quarts this weekend thanks to the canner from Chris’ grandmother and some handy internet instructions! I have a new, easy rustic bread recipe to share with you all too. There are days I just don’t feel like kneading dough, so I’ve been searching and testing no-knead bread recipes and think I found a winner!  On the subject of food, how often do you visit the grocery store? I am looking forward to discussing “once-a-month grocery shopping” with you all in a future blog post!

Many times our life’s greatest desires are fulfilled in unexpected ways! –Ramsey Penegar