I am behind on everything, as I always seem to be this time of year. My teaching load increases; homeschooling starts; and it’s still harvest season. This morning, when I went out to take care of the chickens, I saw two pears had dropped from the trees. When I let the chickens out, they were on those pears so fast, which is interesting to me because they won’t eat apples.

Tomorrow, I have try to can those pears, as it’s the biggest bunch we’ve ever had, but I am a little nervous because we have never had enough pears to put up. I am worried about messing up and ruining the pears. Surely, I can do this.

That reminds me: My three sisters garden is doing amazing. After I planted it, I told my neighbor and her grandson about it. Her grandson, who works a lot with the Native tribes here in Maine said, “Oh, it’ll work. It’s been working for thousands of years.” The only thing I could think was that I would probably find a way to ruin it anyway. But I have not. So far, it looks like I’m definitely getting corn and beans, and if this warm September continues, I might get some long pie pumpkins. I am trying to work on feeling more confident. I swear, if I can grow delicious corn, that will surely be a boost.

I also found a great home for one of Ruby’s roosters this morning. He was the sweetest one, and he got to go the best home. It was the farmer who told me last week about how intelligent chickens are. It turns out that she was looking for a young rooster. What a lucky boy!

She drove about an hour to get him because she wanted to make sure he came from a good environment. This is critical if you are getting a chicken from someone else. You can’t know everything for sure, but you have to at least look at the environment they have been living in. It’s always risky to take in an outside chicken and introduce it to your flock. I was happy for her to come and see where our chickens live. It’s a very good chicken life. I did make sure I cleaned the coop this morning though, just to make an extra good impression.

It’s funny. It’s kind of like cleaning your house when company comes over, I guess. Our coop is not fancy at all, but it’s sturdy and safe–and it’s nice when it’s all freshly cleaned.

Anyway, tomorrow is pear canning day. Then, Monday, I have to make another round of sauce from the tomatoes and peppers. Somehow, I have to finish the online annual this week too, and we start homeschool on Monday. It’s a busy fall already.