Walnut Gathering

It's that time of year.

With a hot cafe mocha, a bag with handles, and a camera:

Thieves at work:

Yield = 33 pounds, but it will be less after they've dried.  Justin said when these trees are mature, they will produce about 1800 pounds/year.

What I learned: This was great exercise, but would be hard on someone with a bad back.  There are easier ways to gather walnuts as this neighbor demonstrated for me.  "Yup, what you need is a rake, a bucket and a wheelbarrow."

Sacramento Antique Faire

Held the second Sunday of every month from 6:30 am - 3 pm. Located under the W-X Freeway - although Google maps calls it the El Dorado Fwy.  Lots of dealers and great prices.

Camping with Kellen

Last night, I took Kellen camping in his own backyard.

 "Mmmmm."

 "Look, I can lick the fire."

Kellen roasted marshmallows, but didn't want to eat any.  We fed everyone inside the house and it was time for bed.  "Grandma, can I take your picture?"

Having his very own mini-lantern was a big hit. 

When it was time to lay down, Kellen wanted to go inside and go to bed.  I let him go, but soon he was back with a very long face, "My parents said I have to sleep out here." Doug, Stacey, and Odin came out to visit and encourage Kellen that everything would be ok.  It worked. 

It was still hard for Kellen to settle down.  Finally he said, "Grandma, will you rub my head? . . . up a little higher . .  left . . right . . down . . ooh, ooh, there's an itchy spot on my back! . . down a little lower . . ok, now my head again."  And he fell asleep.

This morning I asked Kellen if he had fun camping. "Yes."
and then if he'd like to do it again sometime. "No."

Oct 8 in E Nicolaus

Some of my favorite shots from the 2-mile or so walk I took a few times in the past week which goes around the block. It takes me through two communities. E Nicolaus = a few houses, one elementary school and a country store. At the other end of the long block is Trowbridge = a few houses and a high school.

That low band of green is the olive orchard of Dragonfly Ranch. It rained on Monday.

From a distance and not wearing my glasses, my first thought was, "That could win the largest standard poodle contest." 

Arlete Wu:

In Trowbridge,

  

You hear them coming long before you spot them:

 The overpass is Cornelius Rd when it crosses Highway 99.  In the distance, the Sutter Buttes.

In Memoriam

This morning the pigs were slaughtered and sent to the butcher.  I couldn't quite make myself go out and photograph the event, beside the fact that it is was still dark-thirty.  Instead I embroidered some dish towels for Justin - individual portraits of the dear departed.

Justin:  "You don't name animals that you eat."  Therefore, scratching against the post and in repose.

The water spigot has a nipple. The pig needs only to push it to the side for the pour to dribble into its mouth.

The feeder has a lid, a pig lifts it with his nose to eat. Justin has seen the dominant pig in the pen come over to the feeder when another pig is eating, step on the lid to push it down on the feeding pig, and wait until the feeding pig can't stand it and pulls away. Then the dominant pig goes to eat.

I think this pig was smiling at me.

Welcome to the WWF

The Wide World of Fabric. This was the first time Kellen and Odin are coming to a fabric store with me.  A new generation is about to be introduced to one of my favorite places to go.  Stacey came with us also.

We were looking for Halloween costume patterns.

Justin remembers going to the fabric store MANY times as a child, "I hated it.  It was the worst, most-boring place.  Worse than going to a library.  I used to sit under the rounds bolts of fabric and hide.  For a boy, we have no business being in a fabric store.  Even when we're older."

October 1 in East Nicolaus

I've been walking around the block or riding a 9-mile loop. This is what you might see around here at this time of year.

The rice harvest has begun.

Back at Justin's house, 6-year old walnut trees.

On the right, younger walnut trees, put into the ground last March, have grown 5-6 feet.

Plump piggies ready for market.  Next Tuesday, in fact.  Each pig gets 650 lbs of food.  10 customers each get 1/2 pig, approximately 95 lbs of hanging meat.