No killing frost this past week, but an unexpected light frost Sunday morning caught the scurs off guard and had them scrambling for extra blankets. Will we warm up or are our days of 90 degrees officially over? Starting Wednesday, mostly sunny with a slight chance of a lingering shower in the morning. Highs in the low 50s and lows in the upper 30s. Mostly sunny becoming mostly cloudy for Thursday with a slight chance of an evening shower. Highs in the mid 50s and lows in the upper 30s. Friday, partly sunny with a slight chance of shower. Highs in the low 50s and lows in the low 30s. Partly sunny on Saturday with a slight chance of a shower. Highs in the upper 40s and lows in the low 30s. Mostly cloudy for Sunday with a chance of an evening shower. Highs near 50 and lows in the mid 30s. Mostly cloudy for Monday and slightly warmer with a slight chance for a shower. Highs in the mid 50s and lows in the mid 30s. Tuesday, partly cloudy with highs in the low 50s and lows in the mid 30s. On the 16th, sunrise will occur at 7:30 a.m. and will set before 6:30 p.m. There will be less than 11 hours of daylight for the first time since February 24th. The normal high for October 18th is 59 and the normal low is 36. At this rate, the scurs may need to locate their long johns soon.
This month’s Full Moon does indeed fall on the 18th and is generally recognized as the Full Hunter’s Moon. This was the time when the Native American tribes as well as the settlers were busy hunting to stock their larders with meat for the long, cold winter ahead. The Ojibwe called this the Falling Leaves Moon and the Sioux also referred to it as the Moon of the Falling Leaves. Luckily they were more concerned about surviving as opposed to raking and bagging leaves. At the ranch we know this as the Moon of Grinding Up Leaves. No raking or bagging here either.
Harvest progress was slow early in the week but picked up speed steadily as the breezes dried the ground and the crop so combines could travel at will across the fields. Yields still have a familiar pattern to them with continuous corn yields being depressed while the soybeans continue to amaze. This brings into play the potential for next year given the number of prevented plant acres that will likely be planted into corn. While it wasn’t what we would’ve chosen to do, it will likely pay big dividends just from the rotational benefit alone.
The days are definitely getting that fall feel to them as Sunday morning marked the official arrival of juncos at the ranch. They are cute little guys and gals that rarely use the bird feeders while cleaning up around and underneath them. The juncos were in the flower bed area, likely feasting on some the of the weed seeds to be found there. The goldfinches are becoming more numerous to the point that one of the thistle feeders needed to be filled. Blue jays are noisy but haven’t maintained a constant presence. Probably saving that for when the snow flies.
In the vegetable garden the tomatoes have finally hit full stride just about as the season is coming to a close. They have been tough to figure out given the goofy season we’ve had. We’ve seen it and others have reported the same thing, that they need to be eaten fairly soon after picking. One can look at them ripening on the counter, thinking you safely have a day or two, check them again and they’re oozing goo all over. The sheep seem to be able to overlook that. They come on a dead run for the garden leftovers like the tomatoes as well as things like radish tops, cucumber peelings, out of code lettuce and ground fall apples with mushy spots on them. No one ever said they were smart.
Speaking of the sheep, Saturday afternoon found me peering out the window at a ewe that appeared to be off by herself in an area sheltered from the wind. Sometimes that means they may be thinking about giving birth and from the distance from the house she was I really couldn’t tell. Although there were none bred we knew of, I decided to be safe rather than sorry. I ventured forth only to discover as I got closer the ewe was just gobbling down leaves from the trees as fast as they were falling. Once she saw me she bolted and ran back with the rest of the flock. It gave me time to look at the pond which has a little water in it since the fall rains started. I made the circuit so was able to see how the trees I’d planted this spring had fared. Quite well actually given the general lack of attention they’d received. The arborvitae had all made it as had the Siberian crabapples. The crabapples are marked pretty well so it’ll be time to get the tree wrap on them soon. The cottontails already have plenty to eat. Don’t recall ever seeing a skinny bunny in these parts.
Sunday morning TV sometimes makes for an interesting spectacle. One program featured an interview with the famous New York City street performer known as the Naked Cowboy, who was appearing for some benefit in the Twin Cities. This of course leads the heterosexual male mind to ask the burning question, are there any Naked Cowgirls? Indeed there are. Apparently the guy who started the Naked Cowboy gig owns the trademark to the concept and gives out franchises to men or women who qualify. They in turn pay a royalty of $500 per month or $5000 per year to use the name. One would think by now he’d be able to afford to perform in something other than just his underwear. And here I bet you thought you wouldn’t learn anything this week.
See you next week…real good then.