Happy Halloween

Gaga Ooh La La

G as the anti-DADT Lady Gaga at the annual Halloween party of some friends

Another Weekend Down

It was a busy pumpkin weekend. Lots of "regulars" came through, including a favorite group we call the "Trebuchet People" or "Anna's Family." It was unseasonably warm (HOT!) weather, so hauling pumpkins and people was sweaty work. We all were happy when the sun went down on Sunday night!


Putting the wagon away Sunday night

Mailbox Greetings

Our neighbor decorated our shared mailbox. I've taken to calling the couple "The Scarecrow and Mrs. King."

Homecoming

Homecoming spirit ... or something else? If you know G, you know why this is funny ...

The Girls

Rainbow Hill

Double rainbow, 10.01.10 @ 6:15 p.m.

Opening Weekend

This was the first weekend of pumpkin season. It was cool, overcast and windy yesterday, so we didn't get many people through. Today was better weather, but the Packers played the Lions at noon, so we had a trickle after the game. That gave us time to spend with friends (Bears fans!) who came out. The field is really weedy because it was so wet this summer, but they managed to find some good pumpkins. We'll see how long this season lasts ...

This year's set up

Flatbed out front

Pressing Issue

There's a bumper crop of apples (8 varieties: Gala, Braeburn, Yellow Delicious, Red Delicious, Granny Smith, Macoun, Cortland & Fuji) out in the orchard this year. It's more than we can eat or even store, so Grandpa bought a crusher and a press this week. We took time out from pumpkin season preparations today and made cider with some friends. Considering the time it took five adults and three kids to collect a bushel of windfall apples and then cut, crush, press and strain them, the two gallon yield doesn't sound like a lot -- but boy is it good!



Cutting





Crushing




Pressing -- the end result!

Layla and Melanie

Today we welcomed Layla and Melanie, two Lamancha goats (which are easy to spot, because they look like they have no ears), to Rainbow Hill. G chose their names because they mean "night" and "darkness" respectively. They are still babies really and are skittish about their new home. Melanie in particular is letting her displeasure be known -- loudly! Once pumpkin customers start showing up and feeding them, they will probably warm up to being here.

Melanie

Layla and Melanie

sEggsess!

Our first pullet egg

Frosh Pics

Her favorite (taken on a wooden choo choo behind a local coffee shop)

Mine (taken at our local indy bookstore)

Fall Preview

Eggsceptional

We put in 50 laying hens this week. Originally we were going to just have 25, but in view of the salmonella scare, Grandpa thought that people might be looking for alternative egg sources. In two to three weeks, we should be getting eggs; by mid-autumn, we could have 14 dozen eggs a week! Dan and some friends fenced in some yard today so we can let the hens out during the day. By late afternoon I heard a hawk nearby, but since there was no ruckus, I don't think it went after them. Let's hope the hawk, the owls, the fox, the raccoons and other assorted predators stay away!

Time Marches On

Jackson Lake 2006

Jackson Lake 2010

Colter Bay, Grand Teton National Park

Devil's Tower, Wyoming

On our way to Devil's Tower, skirting between two storms

Leigh Creek, Wyoming

Leigh Creek Campground is in a canyon that a gentleman at the Buffalo Visitor Center claimed is as beautiful as any canyon in the US. He may be right. Our site was right on the creek -- the kids had a blast turning blue swimming in the snowmelt-cold water.

Geo Girl

Yellowstone sits on the caldera of a supervolcano. As G will happily tell you, there is still a lot going on underneath the park. Bear sightings notwithstanding, this trip we spent more time focusing on the geological aspects of the park because of her interest in geology/plate tectonics/volcanoes.

At Old Faithful

With a US Geological Survey geologist

At Riverside Geyser

Green Shirt Brigade

When we've traveled with others in the past, we always try to get a group shot at places we visit. This trip, Dan had the brainwave that we should all be dressed alike, so he came up with shocking lime green shirts for everyone. We have pictures of the seven of us at various landmarks across South Dakota and Wyoming. Part of the fun was the creative ways we had to set the camera up to use the autotimer. Here's a sample:


Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD

Ranch Store, on the frontier of the Badlands

Leigh Creek Campground, WY

Grand Teton National Park, WY