Ah...Fall

I love fall!

This week I will have a friend's Nubian does here to be bred, and I need the farrier out, two of the horses (at least) need their feet trimmed.

I'm going to process about 6 to 8 pumpkins for the meat and seeds, and if we are blessed, we will need to make room in the freezer for elk meat.

I love the whole process of "bedding down" for winter. All the books come out, coffee, tea, and cocoa nights...the fire going and classical music playing softly while the girls do needlework and the boys build legos. Or books on tape playing while we sip cocoa and munch still-warm cookies. There's nothing like late fall and the first half of winter. Lovely.

I am buying more supplies this week for soaping and also making matching bath salts and lotion bars. I have wanted to do this for several years, since the annual visit to a sweet little lady across the mountains every year. She sold me these things in bulk! I saved up for months to afford my stash. ") Now I can make them. I'm also selling them. I think I'll be going over the mountain pass for that soon. There is a vendors sale going on soon.

I have been making soap for 2 years now, and it's such fun. A creative outlet, no doubt about it. The lotion bars have been a great favorite of mine. I used to take a stock with me on our annual roadtrips, where we went to dry, dry Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, etc. and my skin would suffer. I love that little darling tin that slips so easily into your purse and I always there for dry hands!

This pay period is when I stockup on hobby stuff, animal feed, and baking supplies.

What do you do to get your family ready for long winter nights?