Getting it done

Harvested field corn

As time is slipping by and the trip to Florida is not too far away, my project list is quickly getting smaller, as I get things done.  Yesterday and today were good days, as I finally got to the garden and cleaned it up as best as I could.  For years I would either pull out the old crops and weeds and then till the soil to get ready for the next season.  Well, lots of You Tube "experts" and farmers down here in Delaware don't suggest doing that. 

It seems that tilling increases the amount of weed seeds that will come up, until frost and then, with a vengeance,  in the spring.  Instead, I used the Honda lawnmower and my Ego weedwacker to cut back the weeds (especially the Bermuda grass) and some of the dying vegetables left in the ground.  I only pulled out the tomatoes, leaving most other plantings roots to decompose over the winter.  

I also cut back the thornless blackberry bushes (usually done in February/March) as they had become quite expansive, with some vines over 12 feet long.  I had so many blackberries this year, I couldn't even get the kids in the neighborhood to pick them all.  So, cutting back will reduce the production and provide a tidier row of blackberries next spring.  Of course, I might have cut it back too far, since blackberries, I believe, grow on two year old vines.  

Around the area, the "corn is in the barn", as lots of machines out cutting down the stalks and grinding up the leftovers.  Corn was all over the area, as there was strong demand this year.  Pumpkins have been harvested and shipped to local big box stores, while soy beans and sorghum are almost ready to be harvested.

Some of the fields have the corn stalk roots left behind, while other fields have planted some form of winter crop, possibly winter wheat or rye. I haven't been able to determine what the seedlings are yet.

The furnace and air conditioning will be checked out by a pro, the same person that installed the unit originally.  I don't fool around with natural gas, making certain everything is working properly.

I have some more cleanup to do outside around the house and I am still working on setting up work stations in the garage.  This project may not be done by the end of the month, but that is ok.  I am sure I will be happy to work next spring and make the garage look clean and organized.

The walking has continued on, a twice daily ritual that I enjoy very much.  I have cut back on the number of miles per week, but with the weather getting cooler, the walking is very enjoyable.  I like doing the evening walk, as most of the time I get to see lots of Pintail ducks in our retention pong having a party with other ducks.  I have counted over 20 ducks at one time, which is pretty amazing, considering the pond is quite small.

Pintail Duck Convention

Last week we also saw our first bald eagle out in a cut down corn field.  Delaware has a good number of them, but most are further up north.  This one was good sized and seemed quite healthy.  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get a photo.