After being out of e-touch for a few days, I see no one started the over-the-fence chat. It's a shame to see it disappear, but maybe there are more pressing things to think about in the world right now than chatty news of what's happening on the homestead. For those who would like to "chat", I'm starting the thread. I've been doing some basket demos and selling and enjoying the scenery more than the sales; I'm always astounded at how many people in the city know so little about making things with their hands. This forum always gives me hope that the hand-crafted and home-made aren't dying out completely. I spent last night in West Virginia, and there was a beautiful frost this morning. Coming through the mountains from Virginia was gorgeous; Fall is really putting on a show this year. It's very depressing to think of bombs falling anywhere in the world, and I just hope we're hitting the desired targets and not innocent people fleeing for their lives. Let's not take out beautiful Fall days for granted!

-- Katherine in KY (KyKatherine@Yahoo.com), October 08, 2001

Answers

I live in Morgantown, WV and it's so beautiful! It is getting chilly, but the foliage is about at its peak. I get a great view coming out of biology class, the hills all red and gold and the sun reflecting off the monongahela river. I'm in college right now and I know what you mean about some of these city people. My roommate actually asked me if cats produced milk. I said well, they're mammals, and she said "so?" I almosted screamed. I guess some people are happy to get by with as little knowledge of the world around them as possible. I'm saving money to buy some land in WV for some goats and chickens and hopefully a family (got to find a like-minded man first). Not to seem like an isolationist or anything, but the recent national events make me want my little cabin in the woods even more!

-- Elizabeth in WV (lividia66@aol.com), October 08, 2001.

We moved from the Houston area to a rural coastal Texas farm over twenty years ago, thinking the economy was going to get bad THEN, and we would need to be where we could take care of ourselves. Of course, it didn't, but we have not regretted the move, and with the current international situation, we are VERY glad we are here.

Yes, we have a lot of 'ignorant' folks even here. I have spent the last few weeks teaching my public school students where Afghanistan is, what the Pentagon is, and the definition of terrorism.

Someone up the list mentioned basket weaving... would like to learn it and then teach it to my art students. Know of any good teaching videos? books? kits?

-- Rose (open_rose@hotmail.com), October 08, 2001.

I sure have been busy around here this past week. The garden nedded cleaned off and the last of the beans have been put away. All I have left out there is brussel sprouts and green peppers. In one way I am relieved and another sad to see the growing season come to an end. This time of year it always sems like there is so much to get done, and not enough time. Maybe I am just slowing down and don't like being out there in the cold doing it all, HaHa. I hope everyone is doing fine and has a great week!

-- Barb in wc Il (Barb43@counrtrylife.net), October 08, 2001.

Hi Katherine no i sure dont want the over the fence thread to quit but like everone else ive been busy. finally found the long nosed kw i was looking for. i go to San Antonio,TX ever oyher week end,but had to go two week end in a row to start. got to get the new kitchen finished. hope to before winter. the out side is finished just have to finish the inside. the garden is donr for just picked some okra for seed got a few maters to pick before frost. you all be good see you next week. Bob se,ks.

-- Bobco (bobco@kans.com), October 08, 2001.

Surprised to hear that the leaves in WV are already at their peak. Here in upstate NY, our leaves are just beginning to change. It got down to 28 last night and we had a pretty heavy frost. I had taken all the tomatoes in, wrapped the green ones and put them in the basement. Covered the peppers, broccoli, and some flowers. Everything covered survived. Had to do the same thing tonight, supposed to be colder. Should warm up later in the week. Tonight was the first time this season that we have used the woodstove. My DH said it smelled smoky, I think he's just not used to it yet. The cats love it. One of them sits with her nose about 6" away from the doors! I have been busy making teddy bears for the women's bazaar at church and know what you mean Katherine about people not making things by hand anymore. Hope everyone has a good week!

-- Cindy in NY (cjpopeck@worldnet.att.net), October 08, 2001.

Hi all,

DH & I just returned from our camp up in Vermont and the leaves were just wonderful. Everyone up there says the peak won't be until next weekend, but they seem pretty "peaked" to me. Glorious reds and oranges, bright yellows and even some that looked purple. Throw in a few evergreens and the hillsides looked like someone had thrown a beautiful quilt over them.

We put the garden to bed yesterday. I still have to clean out the chicken house and spread all that good stuff around but I'm waiting for it to warm up a little bit. Thursday should be in the low 70s which looks good to me.

We're supposed to get frost tonight but now that most of the outside work is done it's okay. We've got the garden stuff canned, dried and frozen, wood in the woodshed. Now it's time for indoor work. Maybe I can finish that afghan I've been working on for two winters.

Wishing you enough.

-- Trevilians (aka Dianne in Mass) (Trevilians@mediaone.net), October 08, 2001.

Katherine- you are not alone. A cabin in the woods is sounding better and better. Rose- A friend recently gave me the first 3 Foxfire books, and the first one (The Foxfire Book) has 2 sections on basket weaving from oak splits. Hope this helps. Jack

-- jack (atl.jack@excite.com), October 08, 2001.

Greetings to Forum people,

This is the first time that I have chatted over the fence. After reading so many posts in the past, it seems like we're all doing roughly the same things in life, just in different stages. Yesterday we had wet snow and last night we had our first frost. The thermometer on the coop read 28 but here at the house it was 32. All the goats slept in pairs for warmth and this morning they had puffed out faces because of the cold. Wonderful sun this afternoon and all the girls went tanning on the south side of the barn. All the pumpkins are grouped under some trees by the house and I took 2 bushels of gourds to work to sell. Some city folk- "Can I bake this? What's it taste like?" We're no where near the level of self sufficiency that we wish to have, but we are happy. Sometimes the simplist things are the best. Have a wonderful week.

-- Charleen in WNY (harperhill@eznet.net), October 08, 2001.

I can't get or make oak splits... especially for a class of 21 eighth graders... hmmmmm wonder about instructions for grass baskets? or something like that?

-- Rose (open_rose@hotmail.com), October 08, 2001.

Basketmaking...how wonderful. Its on my list of things to do more. I did the little simple ones with the kids when i was cubscout den leader years ago. We joke that we have 2 seasons here...brown and green. Its brown season right now. I miss the green, but not the rain and high winds we get in the winter. We are right on the coast and don't get snow, or weather usually below freezing, but the wind gets bad. I have been doing alot of spinning the past few days, anticipating getting my angora wether and 2 new Icelandic lambs sheared in the next couple weeks. (trying to use up the spring fleeces) It is so relaxing. I am spinning a Lincoln/cross fleece from my yearling ewe, Whitney, right now. It has color from silver to dark brown in it. Very pretty. I usually wash first,and card, but I am just flick carding and spinning in the grease. It is such a nice fleece. I will probably only get one more peck basket of tomatoes and maybe a little basil, then the garden is done. Oldest son still at home (21 yrs.) is building me a little greenhouse..so I have hopes for a salad garden all winter!! Fall is my favorite season...there is so much to do...and canning and looking forward to the holidays. Have a wonderful week everyone!

-- Jenny (auntjenny6@aol.com), October 08, 2001.

I love to quilt and crochet and knit-I take samll projects with me. I was working on a baby afhgan at Doctors office last week-people were loking at me like I had two heads. Leaves are really changing here now, Its great to be outside! I have lots to do and I love being busy, but I'm not feeling as overwhelmed as usual-I guess I've got the big stuff done and I'm tying up loose ends-this time last year I was frantic-maybe I've just learned to do the work when it needs to be done. Anyway-Hope everyone has a great week.

-- Kelly in Ky. (Ksaderholm@yahoo.com), October 09, 2001.

Hi all. We had the ram lamb and pigs slaughtered yesterday. Our oldest was very interested in the whole thing and since he is only 4 yrs old I had serious misgivings but he was very intrigued and not at all upset. Of course he doesn't fullly understand the whole thing and it was all a huge adventure to him. Anyways, the meat should be cut tonight or tomorrow at the butchers cooler. The fall lettuce and spinach are coming along very nicely in the hay bales -and- old windows cold frame. We had quite a frost here last night and woke to white grass this morning. The weather is glorious here with the fall colours and golden sunshine. Nothing like October sun! The trusses are all up on the barn and hubby says he just needs to put up some more strapping and we are ready for the inspector.(grumble grumble) as soon as it passes inspection the roof metal goes on and a load of hay for this winter is goin' in! hubby has been working every available minute to get the barn done for the sheep before winter. we really should have had the barn FIRST I know but sometimes things go backwards eh? :o)

-- Alison in N.S. (aproteau@istar.ca), October 09, 2001.

YEs, thanks for starting this thread. Spent the week putting up turnip greens and enjoying them with my homemade chili sauce that I canned. Noticed that in the carrot patch I planted for fall garden that a row of lettuce has emerged. Can't wait to taste it. Wondering all of a sudden--how did we neglect to plant pumpkins? Ours all rotted last year--maybe we were too disheartened. Saving green pepper seeds but noticed they all turned brown while drying? Are they still good? Was up in our Cumberland mountains enjoying the views--not too much color change yet. Bob: what IS a long nosed KW? Diane in Mass: Do you just spread your chicken stuff anywhere and it will be ok? I use the deep compost method and wondered if I just put it on the garden in the winter--will it be ok for the spring?Busy making lunch for my class at church today (chicken salad, fruit salad and a chocolate, chocolate chip pound cake).

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), October 09, 2001.

Well, I like the backyard fence, so keep it going. Interesting that 28 degrees seems to be the "cold" for everyone, including us here in central IN. But "for everything there is a season" and the new one is upon us. It's time now to sit and read, to card and spin;to warp my loom; to sew; to teach the granddaughters to knit; to eat soup that's simmered all day on the wood stove and to plan for next spring's syrup season and planting. For us, it's also time right now to be combining soybeans and shelling corn and hauling them to the elevator for our yearly paycheck!

-- Rosalie (deatline@globalsite.net), October 09, 2001.

Ann sorry i should of explained im a retired truck driver been retired since 1990 and a long nose KW is short for kenworth. ive been here at home for so long i had to get away once in a while. also the money will be good to help me finish my new summer kitchen. Bob se,ks.

-- Bobco (bobco@kans.com), October 09, 2001.

Hi, Ann,

Yes, I spread the chicken house stuff (manure, straw as well as shredded newspaper) over the garden area that we've finished with for this season. If I'm lucky, I'll get some grass clippings and shredded leaves to put on top of all that other stuff. Then I just leave it until spring and till it all under. Each garden season, I experiment with different techniques for mulching, etc. This year I tried using layers of newspaper, light-weight cardboard and paper feed sacks. Kept the weeds down really good and I had a bountiful crop of tomatoes, broccoli and stringbeans. I didn't use anything in the corn and it wasn't a great crop. Of course, that could have been because we let the chickens in the corn and they did a lot of damage. Sure was funny watching the chickens jump up to snatch a bit of corn stalk though.

Wishing you enough.

-- Trevilians (aka Dianne in Mass) (Trevilians@mediaone.net), October 09, 2001.