Oh no, I'm so many pages behind, and might not catch up but I'll try.
Last weekend renting the chicken processing equipment was a big fail - I'm so frustrated! Our plan was to set up the scalder and get the water heating, then get the rest of the equipment arranged while we waited. But the scalder refused to light - we fiddled with it for an hour, then discovered the ground on the plug was broken. So put everything back in its trailer and took it back - the guy was really apologetic and will fix it, but a bunch of other people have it booked for their Thanksgiving turkeys, and I'm traveling to Florida with my sister to see our Mom in 2 weeks, so unsure when we will be able to butcher these roosters, who are getting older and starting to crow! Urrgh.
I did get a bunch done in the garden - dug up all the rest of my carrots and one bed of potatoes, picked the remaining butternuts, and winterized 4 beds - weeded, stirred the dirt, planted winter wheat, and covered with leaves. We had our first frost, so unfortunately my beautiful dahlias are done, but not before I cut some beauties, brought them inside and filled a couple vases.
Amazingly, we still have a bunch of tomatoes to harvest, no cracks or blight - better strip those plants ASAP.
Mr. Dog hates our apple tree, because it's in an inconvenient place, right outside our back door, so it's impossible to get to the chicken coop or garden without stepping on fallen apples. But I spent several hours picking up all the fallen apples, composting many and processing the good ones - froze several gallons of applesauce and a few more to go. When we have enough (or I get tired of prune hands from processing them) I'll bring the rest to the horses.
