Setting Up For Winter

We live different in winter than we do in summer as do many folks.

This means there are changes around that help accommodate winter life.

We can no longer hang clothes outside on the line.

Before I hear that I can hang clothes in snow,

let me share that pine trees rain sap and needles,

and the wind blows branches, leaves, and debris 
rendering clothes less than clean.

It's not a huge deal ~ I just do this.

If clothes drip, it's in the tub.  No biggy.

Also, I've pulled the last of the annual veggies, saving the green tomatoes 
to ripen inside.
This is the "in process" picture.

We are raking leaves and using them for compost of course,

but also as insulation around the base of tender vining plants that in milder climes have no problems.

We have plenty more yet to fall.

We've finally gathered enough wood for winter.

It's not entirely split, but it's here and that's the tough part.

The rest is making sure chimneys are clean, heater filters clean, lawn mower serviced, tools in good repair, etc.

It's the tidying of the corners and little things that will make hauling firewood,

shoveling snow, and getting around easier come winter.

We try to think ahead, but there's always something we forget or don't think of.

I guess that's how we come up with our to-do list for next year.
Some time back, I posted an autumn checklist.
You can find it here.
Now I better go coil the hoses.

To Everything A Season

There is typically a somewhat predictable flow of seasons.

I don't just mean seasons on a calendar though they play a significant roll in what happens with the other seasons. 

So what on earth do I mean by that?

Well, "typically" we are finished up with wood burning season about April,

and we begin wood gathering season.

This year has been a little off.

We still had a fire burning into May. 

After our extreme winter which came complete with avalanches,

we were ready for spring.

But we weren't able to go get wood.

They made our road what they termed as "passable" but only to the last occupied house about 3 miles up the road.

Beyond that, the avalanches stayed to thaw as Mother Nature determined.

Mother Nature was apparently in no great hurry.

That meant we had to wait to get wood.  We have about 2/3 of what we need.

We are hoping to get another load soon as it is now fire season,

and they could shut down the forests at any given moment.

The other off bit is last year I was canning peas the end of June.

This year they ran about 3 weeks later.

That doesn't sound like a great deal of time, but if you think about the work load and how much you can do in 3 weeks, it might make a little more sense.

We've also had our first picking of green beans 

so I've been canning those as well.

My M-I-L gave me 9 (yep 9!) boxes of apricots.

I luuuuv dried apricots.

This year, I'm storing them in canning jars 

so they don't need to go in the freezer.

I did have to purchase the jar sealers, but they work pretty quickly,

and are a nifty thing to have and use.

I thought I was on my last round of dehydrators when my mom gave me another box so I'm still at it.

At one point I had 4 dehydrators going to get them all done before they spoiled.

Salmon season didn't really happen this year.

They decided not to open the majority of the rivers in our area

which means no stock pile of fish.

We still have several jars from last year so we'll use those sparingly.

Between Mr. LB and myself, we did draw all six tags, which if we can fill most of them come hunting season will save us quite a bit on beef.

(Tags: bear, deer, elk)

I have yet to get an elk so that's not something to bank on.

I've already heard that we are supposed to have another hard winter.

Our seasons seem to be stumbling over each other rather than pacing themselves so slow-pokes like me can keep up.

(I like to plant a few wax beans to throw in - adds a bit of a jewel to the jars.)

I now have peas done, we'll be picking another batch of green beans in a day or two, and once again think I am finishing up apricots.

Hopefully, I can get these things finished up then move onto corn

which is already on - early.

We've been running from one end of the day to the other, and our kitchen is a flurry of big bowls, canners, and various implements.  

The nice part is that our pantry shelves are beginning 

to look a little less anemic and at night, I almost literally fall into bed.
Aside from our seasons tumbling down upon us,
we are well.
And thankful mind you, that we have the provisions, skills, and ability
to do as we are doing.
We don't take that for granted.

                                                      

How and Why We Are Preparing for Winter Now

Yes, it's spring here too.

Because if we wait until winter, it will be too late.

We have our wood in.

It's not all split and stacked, 

but we can do that over the span of a couple weeks.

The most difficult part is getting it off the mountain.

We began getting wood in spring because they close the forests

for fire hazard and often don't reopen them until late in fall

which is about the time we start using the wood.

This picture is of the back of the shop.

And yes, I'm letting you see the whole messy truth.

It didn't really dawn on me how much was there until I saw it in the picture.

The large rounds are from the pine we took down last fall.

(That's the link if you would like to see it.)

We are stacking it a little differently this year to see if it makes a difference in keeping it a little dryer ~ the section we will use first is that which is closest to where the rain can hit.

And the other thing we'll watch to see is if it keeps it a little tidier.

I know it's a wood stack, 

but it seems like a shedding cat at times.  

We'll have to wait and see.

The other thing that has been a focus is fishing. 

I know that sounds pretty leisurely.

Fly-fishing is a passion for Mr. LB. (I don't fish.)

Spring fish tend to be best - at least in the Pacific Northwest.

This year has been a little slower since we haven't had 

as many opportunities to hit the rivers.

This will hopefully be made up for at the end of the month.

Mr. LB gets to go to Alaska.

This has been something on his bucket list for years so

he is giddy as a schoolboy.

We are also hoping that our fish supply is bumped up a bit.

Due to the distance, it will be frozen rather than canned.

But gee. . . let me think if I can manage - yep!

That's how long I have to think about that one:)

One more thing we usually have going on in May-June is morels.

This year was a bad mushroom year.

There are usually enough for sautéing and for dehydrating

but not this year.

I will have to get the flavorless store-bought kind and 

dehydrate those to have on hand for winter.

Morels only have one season per year so we're are out of luck until next year. 

By taking care of these things now, far enough in advance,

we not only get to "play outside," but we won't be left scrambling to get

wood in before the snow flies and can kinda ease into the seasons.

It's won't be long before the pea harvest and we'll be back

to having the pressure canner out 

as a semi-permanent part of the kitchen decor.

                                                                      

This is Mr. LB's absolute favorite for salmon on the grill.

We have actually given it as a gift:)