Before Fall but After Summer

 Karl moving in to Sanford Hall.  A bike, a backpack, classes, new friends, old friends, an elevator and dorm life. What an adventure!

 For someone who grew up in the north woods of Minnesota, this is a very unusual site when you wake up.

 I'm not sure why it was so reassuring to know they were expecting Karl on this day, in this room.  This is college after all.

 I just finished harvesting beans less than a week ago but there is still plenty of Swiss Chard out there.  And the onions I didn't accidentally pull out are also waiting for the final harvest.

RED tomatoes and an eggplant. OK, so the tomatoes are red because they are cherry, but we've never grown eggplant before.  So, what do you do with eggplant anyway?

 We have never had a real harvest of corn before.  Every year I try to talk Dave out of planting corn.  "What a waste of space!" I say.  The summers are warmer, it's obvious.
 

So for the first time we harvested corn and had enough to freeze some.  We even left some to have for corn on the cob for a few more meals.  Should we plant corn next summer?

 There is no way this butternut squash will mature in time!  We've already had a frost warning.

 I know, I know, I've shown this very same pumpkin before!  We actually have a big orange pumpkin!

 If we can protect the eggplant from the September frosts we may get more than one.  What does one DO with eggplant?

 So this photo was taken about a month ago but I just really like it!

 The meat birds are eating more every week.  If they are out of the "tractor" and I'm outside they will follow me around.  They don't seem to mind the dogs and the dogs don't mind them.  I wish I could leave them to range all day but my awareness of predators means they stay in the tractor unless we're here.

 When I went out to ride tonight I slipped on some boots that I bought about 40 years ago and have worn only once or twice.  Why I still have them and why I'm putting them to use now, I'm not sure but I think I'll wear them tomorrow as well.

This is Watch A Zan Girl.  She is the grand-daughter of Zan Parr Bar for those of you who know Quarter Horse trivia.  She is a fabulous horse.  Her potential is really way beyond my skills but she is happy here.