Texas tripping!

Over the weekend, Mr C and I went to Texas to pick up half a beef. (Our freezer is full to the actual brim.) We got to see Becky, Ben, and Tommy, as well as spouses, girlfriend, and children of the aforementioned.
It rained... as is typical when we visit!
The grandkids used my camera to take random pictures, until the battery died. I hadn't packed the charger.

Althea (4.2)

I did get a few pictures before the kids got hold of the camera.

Milo (4.3)

Kimber (3.2), "Umpaw", and Dakota (3.3)

The Birthday Buddies, "CowGranny" and Kimber

Ruby and Stephen (Tommy)

Paula

Grace (3.4) and Althea (4.2)

Milo (4.3) and Benjamin
(Boy boys really ought to be 'a thing')

Dakota (3.3)

Mr. C

Jasher (4.1)
(I didn't get one with his eyes open!)

Katie (3.5)

We got to spend a bit of time between Ben's and Becky's houses. Tyrel was on a camping trip. Though we did get to see him before we left, it was AFTER my camera battery died. So he is absent from the pictures. I also didn't get one of my El Gee! Maybe she or Pya can help me out there.

It was a short visit, but we all had a great time.

Fall Feels

I am blessed.
I have a wonderful family.
Both of my parents are still with us, today being my mom's birthday.
My children are doing well. I have a dozen grandchildren.

Today just feels... I don't know... like something is coming to an end.
I feel like the Fellowship's last goodbye at the harbor. (LOTR reference). The individuals lived on, but they were no longer in close fellowship with one another.

Mr C and I have a bit of traveling that is supposed to happen this month, trips to Texas and to Ohio to visit family. Which ever way we travel, we miss those we are without. And yet, we are closer than in the centuries past, when families had little hope of ever seeing their far away loved ones.

Sam is going to Germany the day before my birthday, and will be gone for two weeks. Dan still hasn't heard from the Fire Dept. about an interview. That may happen before the month is over. If he is hired, he could be moving within the next month.
Both my grown up children that remain at home are standing on the edge of the nest. Most people my age have long been empty nesters... and I know the day is coming soon.

Maybe it is that I am finally ready to let go of so much... stuff. Or I think I am ready. I love my property here... but maybe it is just too much for us. Without youngsters to explore the woods, building forts and making trails... what good is it? I can't just go wandering the woods alone any more.
My cupboards are FULL of preserved garden goods. My freezer is full... and that is before we go get half a cow from Becky. Do you know how long a full freezer will last us? Will we be able to use all the canned goods in a timely manner? Why even bother to grow a garden?
Maybe it is that we finally have a HOME, yet it is an empty thing, with my kids all moving away. It ties us here, instead of getting to go where the family is. (Not that I have ANY desire to live in Texas).

It is 85* and humid and it's OCTOBER! My sinuses are ready for the first freeze to take out the ragweed. I think this is a day when I really do need a nap.

October-ish

Yes. It is October.
Seems like the year has just FLOWN by.  This past weekend was the annual Taylor Family reunion down in Broken Bow. It was not a big affair- but we enjoyed one another's company for a few hours. The ragweed has been dragging me around by my sinuses, so some of the cooler days have still seen me hostage to the filtered (and expensive) air conditioned atmosphere of the house. Some days, I brave the out of doors, snot cloth in hand. I am still getting okra from the garden, though ALMOST everything else has gone.
My chickens gave me eight eggs from eight hens yesterday! With the garden mostly gone, I have been letting them out in the late afternoon to have a good forage around the yard. They seem to really enjoy their unconfined time... and by keeping them inside their pen until afternoon... my eggs have been inside the coop and not under some random bush or woodpile.

You may not be able to tell, but the okra is about 12 feet high.
The plant in the lower part of the frame is "Steve's Son". "Steve" was the name of the ghost chile plant Sam and Daniel grew from a seed a number of years ago. One of the saved seeds was viable, and produced more ghost chilies than any one family NEEDS. We MIGHT move Steve's Son to the greenhouse for the winter... it remains to be decided.
Sam will be hearing any time now about the trip to Germany- it could be just a couple of weeks away.
Daniel hasn't heard from the Fire Department yet.
That's about all from here. Thanks for reading!