Steelmeadow has joined the rest of modernity- ditching the cell phone wifi for Starlink. Put it this way, the podcast uploaded faster than it took Acorn to type these two sentences...

Goat doelings were picked up. Blind Hog had an eye exam. Acorn had pre-op appointment and in between all this, chores have been getting done.

Weather has been crazy warm, broke a record today for high temperature. 82F!

Lots getting done- barns scraped and dirt floors limed, garden just about ready to say goodnight for the winter, and the Subaru got new tires and an oil change. A 2 hr long oil change... Acorn says never, ever again...

Blind Hog is moving old firewood so new firewood an cage, with the oldest to be used first.

Soups, cakes, cookies, breads, casseroles, meats, etc all being whipped up and frozen in preparation for Acorn's "kitchen vacation..." Blind Hog will be given a list as well as a map of each freezer so he can find foods to heat up and serve.

it is all getting done, and a few goats are looking right rotund. Early kidding is Acorn's biggest fear but Blind Hog can come through in a clutch.

Blind Hog and Acorn went to a guy not too far away who had a plethora of bamboo that he lets folks dig in the Fall, FOR FREE!!! Seven three-gallon nursery containers got loaded up with bamboo plants ranging from 12" to 48". Acorn is quite pleased.

House plants and the last of the squash ere brought in and not a minute too soon. The next morning was a real freeze. The last of the tomatoes are ripening on their own in the workshop, along with a bunch of still-green winter squash.

Outback cut a front tire, too close to the sidewall to repair. Four new tires ordered from the tire guy in town. Last set lasted 39,000 and for our rough gravel road, that is probably pretty darn good.

Acorn made macaroni from scratch then proceeded to make butternut mac and cheese. Followed up today with butternut "invisible lasagna," think scalloped potatoes but using butternut slices with a Boursin cheese filling sauce. Also very good.

Last game of the World Series and the farmers are cheering on the Blue Jays.

A week of wood splitting, cooking, and treating a goat with hind leg paralysis. Acorn gave the goat 30% chance of recovery at first, and danged if the nanny did not pull through. Is almost 80% better now and for a goat whose rear right leg was totally free of tone and only a little muscle strength in her left rear leg, she is now standing and walking about. Treated for goat polio one day then meningeal worm for 6 days. Acorn does not believe the goat needs any more treatment.

Hamburgers, strip steaks grilled and put in the freezer. Cornbread baked and frozen as well. Blind Hog has been splitting and stacking firewood.

Annual cleaning of the barns is on the chore list... Fun fun. Chores are getting done., but maybe not a quickly.

Blind Hog and Acorn attended not one but TWO No Kings protests. It was amazing and so refreshing to see so many smiling, happy people. First in the local small town with an attendance of 78, then to a much larger rally in Springfield. Downpours were taken in stride as the rain was most welcomed and it literally and figuratively did not dampen the mood.

Farm chores for winter begun. Acorn will be "out of service" from Thanksgiving to Christmas as she will be getting a new left hip. Much to get prepared so Blind Hog can coast through- might be a few weeks before Acorn can get up to the barns.

German Extra Hardy is the variety of garlic and this was the second harvest year for heads purchased in 2023. Obviously the variety agrees with the Ozarks' soil.

Blind Hog and Acorn been doin' the usual farm chores. Firewood getting brought in and cut, put away. Acorn surprised Blind Hog with a fire in the woodstove- a most peculiar day when it looked like the highs might be under 60F. Did not last long once the clouds moved off and the sun came back out. Next week will be in the 80's again. Speaking of bright, closet light fixtures replaced with LED flat panels- much better!

Acorn's arthritic hip has been a right pain in the ass... Literally. Today was a good day though, Sam got walkies all the way to the bridge which has been a first for Acorn since getting back from the trip. Pffff- a whole 1.25 mile round trip... Acorn will just have to take it easy and have another "fig newton" with figs from the garden.

Fall is most definitely here. Now to just get these doelings sold!

After ten months of planning, Blind Hog and Acorn had a great two weeks away. Helsinki, Tallinn, Oslo and Aurland were awesome. Lots of museums, sites, friends made new and old. Farm-sitters reported no issues and also had a relaxing time away from the city.

Now it is time for fall chores: goat breeding, garlic planting, bean shelling, wood stacking.

Dorothy said "there's no place like home" but that does not mean it isn't fun to explore for a bit!

Click HERE to see the travel diary...

Still no rain at the farm... Talk about dusty dry... Ugh... A few odd nannies were taken to the sale barn this morning- leaves Acorn with four dairy girls and the rest of the herd is either 50%-75% Savanna, just as was planned. Kidding will bring the 88% and it is all uphill from there...

New dishwasher installed. All should be good and fingers crossed will stay that way. Blind Hog and Acorn will be on a 14-day holiday to the Nordic countries- Finland, Estonia, Sweden and Norway. Acorn has been planning this literally from last December.

Check out the website for pictures and travelogue... Next podcast will be October 5th.