Picking Up After the Moose

It's Flannel Monday - and quite honestly today has been a hard grief day for Michael and me. It's been 1 year and eleven months since the fateful Monday which broke our hearts. We miss Josiah and that's o.k.  Rena, a friend of the girls from Master's Commission, sent these darling stickers. They're perfect. 

Even sweeter than the sticker is that it communicates she still remembers Josiah and cares for our hearts. 

We spent some time the last few days compiling a "Fall Project List."  We have already marked four items to be done in the spring. ::snort:: Michael repaired the play structure and moved Allie's things earlier...it's fun to see things moving off the list - one way or another. Jamin and Jared are planning a workday in October to help us finish what we need done.  We are motivated. 

I woke up first and took care of the Cologuard box...which I am hoping will take care of the nagging texts and phone messages I have been getting for the past month from Cologuard and my lovely doctor. I had a terrible time getting the timing down so I could mail it before noon on Monday. I live in ALASKA, and it has to go to Wisconsin and arrive on a weekday. I've had appointments and babysitting on Mondays and I wasn't about to chance going through all this only to have to do it again because it arrived on the wrong day. ::Snort:: 

I dropped by Arielle and Bre's homes to deposit things left at the house by their children on Saturday at our Family Gathering. I stopped by my favorite coffee hut for a chai...they will be closing on Oct 10th, and I have gift cards to spend. 

Michael pulled out and cleaned four exhaust fans.

Two moose have been enjoying the remaining bounty in our garden. I decided to get outside today between rain showers and start pulling the last things out to eat and to compost. It began to rain. I did get 4 of the 11 beds cleared.  The peas have taken over this year. I've been eating 20 oz of veggies a day. STILL there were just way too many of these peas....I pulled all the vines/peas and let the chickens have them. I simply don't think I can stand another pea. 

I harvested the celery the moose didn't eat. I chopped up enough for a soup I'll make this week and got the rest all cleaned and cut into celery sticks for munching. 

The moose ate all the greenery on top but seem to have left the sprouts alone. 

I picked the smaller kale leaves and then pulled the plants and let the chickens feast on the big leaves. We have had Kale for 2 1/2 solid months. 

Pulling the peas revealed how many carrots are still left in the beds. The wind and moose had done a number on the peas, and the trellis wasn't holding them up any longer. 

I harvested another head of cabbage and there are still 3 plants in the garden bed. The rest of the bed had beautiful plants, with the center head of cabbage missing. A hem - I don't mind sharing. There was more than the 3 of us can eat.  I pulled all the sunflowers. I also pulled the crookneck squash and harvested the small squash. I don't think it is warm enough for them to do much else this year. I still have beets, carrots, MINT, Brussel sprouts and the cabbage left in the beds...oh, and a zucchini plant and two rows of potatoes. I have cucumbers and tomatoes in the hoop house, but since our recent windstorms the plastic is missing, and it's too cold for those things won't mature. I plan to get them pulled this week too. I still have a greenhouse full of red and ripening tomatoes.   The chickens had a great day! I usually have a "lasagna bed" in the garden which gets a lot of the garden compost, but we didn't get one built this year. 

I pulled enough carrots for the upcoming soup. 

I was wet and muddy when I got inside. I didn't realize how muddy until I changed clothes and realized I was still seeing spots....muddy glasses and face. LOL 

I took care of closing an account for Dad and moving his money to a local account. I had the best discussion with Asam, the customer service rep. He ended the call by thanking me for having a "warm heart and an encouraging soul." He said he'd like to move to Alaska. I think Alaska would welcome him. 

The day ended when Michael was done with his work and able to retire to his recliner to catch up on puzzles and current events. I met Stacia in town, and we drove to Michael's. I didn't find the frame I wanted, but she found lots of frames to finish her room remodel. 

It was a productive day!