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.

It has been a hot week of home repairs and late nights.... Hot water heater, pantry sink faucet, kitchen faucet, dishwasher... Some things were fixed, others had to be replaced...

Other than that, the house is getting a good deep cleaning, Blind hog has been doing "dozer work" with the Mahindra, and Sam got himself joyfully skunked. He was so proud.

Blind hog also had to clean out varmint nests in the Tracker's engine and glove box... Always something...

Cider and applesauce makin days at the farm. The fresh cider is just wonderful and the "with the peel" applesauce super easy to make.

String lights are all up on the barns, timer/dimmers installed. As Blind Hog says, "The circus has come to town..."

Roses are planted, mulched and watered... All good there. Now if the farm could just get some rain... Driest August on record...

Springfield House deep hole filled... Baked goods being made... Cuttings from roses started...

Sam, Blind Hog and Acorn all got vaccinations on Wednesday- lol... Acorn later got a hip injection on Friday and was ecstatic on the relief.

$26 from Sam's Club and the goats now have a dance hall... 50' barn and 48' of string lights.

The week started hot and ended hotter...

Bling Hog and Acorn ditched work for riding around in the air conditioned car, some shopping was done...

Springfield house had another sewer clog, 17 days after the cleanout was put in due to a clog. Acorn called a company that gave a good bid for sewer lateral replacement, and it was started the next day!

Goat mineral has been reformulated now that the cows are all gone. Mineral feeders getting repaired with rubbery truck bed liner brushed on top to seal the cracks.

Another half dozen rose plants purchased at 50% off or better. Acorn envisions a row of fragrant shrub roses... Will deal with the deer as it happens...

Phew! Goatlets weaned, getting fed supplemental kibble to plump them up and avoid the weaning slump so they can be sold.

Then to find out a beehive was struck by lightning!

Garden going bonkers...

Two trees taken down, we managed the clean up. Roof of house is now safe from overhanging limbs. Powerlines still need attention.

Would love a couple good slow, rainy days...