The last post was about the tractor not running right. Well it turns out an algae build up in the fuel lines. I had no idea. The dealer suggested that I add a fuel additive with algaecide to prevent this in the future. Done.
We paid off most of our debts so Lisa suggested that I retire to work the homestead. So, my last day at my previous employment was September 3rd 2021.
We got a call a few weeks ago about some baby squirrels. The nest had fallen out of the tree during a thunderstorm. The people whos yard they fell into were doing all they could to rescue them but they didn’t have the time or knowledge to do it. There were 4 but they lost one right before we got there. They were very dehydrated and it took a couple days of regular feedings before that was fixed. They are now healthy and very feisty little squirrels. We moved them to an outside cage yesterday. Well all but one. Noah escaped and made his way back to the house where we saved him from one of the cats who chased him up the Bell pole. We will reunite him with his sisters today and then open the cage in about a week once they get used to being outside.
It’s been a very wet year so we’ve had a good year for muscadine and scuppernong grapes. I missed most of the muscadine harvest due to back problems but scuppernongs are still falling. I’ve got one gallon of muscadine wine and 2 gallons of scuppernong wine bubbling on the counter. I was able to make 10 pints of jelly with more to come.
I’ve started selectively laying down trees to open up more pasture and increase our firewood pile. Starting with pine and sweetgum trees. Once they are removed I will thin the oaks as needed. I hate cutting anything that produces food and animals love it when the acorns start to fall.
Olives heifer, Sassy, is nearly grown and we are hoping Olive will have another in the near future so we can have fresh milk again.
Violet gave us a little bull calf at the end of July. A good friend of Lisa’s runs a nonprofit Monkey rescue. She wants to add a petting zoo to help raise funds so we donated the little guy to the cause. We didn’t need another bull he will have a good home so it was a Win for all.
I have passed the General HAM radio test. My computer/radio area is nearly organized and I have my antennas up. It’s time to refocus on studying for the Extra Class license.
With all the rain the garden wasn’t what it could have or should have been. A lot of green beans and some purple hull peas but everything else drowned or was choked out by the weeds.
