Feed and Gifts, Coyote Tracks, Trailer, Batch 72 Finished, Batch 73...

We are now into the cold which means the snow is likely to stick around for a while. It might get to the mid 30s F this weekend so it may melt around the farm but with nights so cold the ground may keep it cold enough to stay.

After getting some writing done and Spanish and Python lessons done, I headed to North 40 to get bird feed. I missed getting the order for the 1000 lb tote in in time for this week so I won't get it till next week. That meant I needed feed to fill the gap. While at there I also got some nice new work gloves, sleds for the boys, a junior bow for R since J has one already, the tops for both boys, and the metal detector for J for his birthday in a couple weeks. I had a gallon of bar and chain oil on the cart and when I went to check out there was a squished bottle that I got for 25% off. I just have to pour it into my old bottle and I am good to go.

After unloading the feed and other stuff I noticed it was nice and sunny on the upper property so I went for a wander. I was curious if the fence had taken any hits from the winds that have blown through the past weeks. I found no damage but I did find coyote tracks that went up the hill and down the length of the pen to the south.

I followed the tracks all around the pen and it appears that it ended up going out over the south fence, which makes me a bit frustrated that it can jump the fence as well as dig under it. I have seen it at all times of day so it is hard to try to hunt it, I have to let it come to me, though every time I see it I fling lead at it.

After picking the boys up from school I got the trailer hooked up for my grain run this morning. The barrels in the bed of the truck give me better gas mileage and I try to remember to do that every time.

Mid afternoon I put stuff on the tvs and started cutting up more chard for the freeze dryer. I had brought a box in which had two full bags and almost every one of the stalks was good. I filled the trays then laid the liner over the top and then closed the lid down on each.

All the trays went the same and I filled them probably a bit too full, but they fit so we will see if any difference between the batches.

I stacked all 5 trays outside where it was at freezing or below for a few hours. I had to wait for batch 72 finish which gave the trays a chance to get a start on freezing.

The cycle had gone to extended dry and I killed that to see how the trays were and they ended up being perfectly finished. It was almost the exact same time as batch 71.

The chard tastes amazing freeze dried and I am pretty sure it will rehydrate just fine and will regain texture.

With all the trays out from batch 72 I got it defrosting for a couple of hours.

I put all the trays for batch 73 in the freeze dryer before going out to soak and when I got inside started the cycle. It is now on the vacuum part of the cycle already so I will be wanting to get the next batch ready and on the trays.

I have been to town for grain this morning already and will go out to empty the barrels into the garden in a little while. Today is the Veterans Day concert at the school that we are going to, I am clearing off the fireplace so I can get it going for the winter as it has become a storage space for the past couple years, then this evening is the co-op board meeting.