Outdoors:

• We built a fabulous wild bird feeding station! Using a 4'x'4'x8' post and a 2'x4' cut down for cross beams, it holds four large bird feeders easily.
• This week will be our final harvest in the garden since the temperature is expected to dip below freezing this weekend (with possible snow!).
• We'll be pulling everything out of the garden, tilling the soil, and spreading manure in preparation for next spring.
• Some of our herbs will be potted up for a move indoors during the winter, others will be harvested and dried for future use.
• We've been planting apple trees! It started with two trees: a Red Delicious and a Granny Smith that we planted in honor of Johnny Appleseed's birthday. Now I've got an order placed for some additional [heirloom] trees, with plans for small orchard in what is currently our back field.
• The large front flower beds have been weeded and new plantings added. We've done some additional landscaping work around the house, taking advantage of the fall sales on plants and shrubs.
• We started a large raspberry patch that includes 'Fall Red' and 'Heritage' raspberries. I'll be adding a few 'Fall Gold' raspberry plants this spring.
• We're preparing a large gooseberry and currant patch, as well as a trial blueberry/huckleberry/lingonberry patch. I've got plants on the way and will need to get them in the ground and mulched ASAP!
• We ordered our winter's supply of firewood to be delivered.

Indoors:

• The cooler weather seems to have brought out a serious nesting instinct in me this year. I've been doing some much needed deep cleaning and purging the house of all unnecessary clutter.
• Stocking up has been on my mind a lot lately as well. This weekend I'll be re-organizing our pantry and baking cabinet and making a list of what items need to be replinished.
• Laundry has been all-consuming these days. Winter bedding and blankets are being washed, summer clothes put away and winter clothes brought out from storage.
• It's time to start thinking about Christmas shopping, yikes...

School has been bare bones these days, only the basics. I simply don't have time (or energy) to cover all of the extras I'd so carefully planned for. While I'm a little sad about that, I've also realized that it's a necessity right now. The kids are still learning plenty, and it's not a "forever" change.