The seasons are shifting here in the Maritimes, and you can really feel the change in the air. After such a dry spell, the rain has been a welcome sight—it feels like everything is finally getting a good drink. We’ve been spotting little hints of red, yellow, and orange showing up in the trees, and it’s exciting to think about how colorful the next few weeks will be. The cooler evenings also mean the fire ban has eased up, and we’ve been enjoying small campfires in the yard again. There’s just something about sitting by a crackling fire at the end of the day that feels extra cozy this time of year.
Over Labor Day weekend, we got to celebrate Jessie’s birthday with lunch alongside Jessie, Courtney, and their family. The make-your-own-sandwich buffet was such a fun idea, and everything was absolutely delicious. Since we’re a crafty bunch, we brought Jessie a 3D-printed skull tower and an HP (hit points) counter for his Magic: The Gathering matches—it was a big hit! Later on, Shaun, Ashley, and her sister Emily joined us, and we all enjoyed catching up over good conversation. While admiring Courtney’s garden, we couldn’t help but gush over her pumpkins—especially since our squash plants were a complete flop this year. Courtney must have taken pity on us, because she sent us home with a couple of her ornamental pumpkins. They’re so cute and now sit proudly on our pony wall between the living room and kitchen, adding the perfect little touch of fall.
We swear the side-by-side is for utility and practical purposes! Really, it is. Just look at some of these handy features: it has a hitch for towing, a winch that will be perfect for pulling down trees on the property, and a bed to haul firewood or other heavy loads. We even added a center console to hold drinks and phones (though Addy still needs to drill some drain holes since water tends to pool in the cubbies).
Of course, no project is without a few hiccups. One day after fueling it up, it wouldn’t start. Thankfully, Al happened to be driving by on his way home from work and stopped to help. Turns out a wire had broken off, which was keeping the ignition from finishing its connection. He got that fixed up and even repaired our cigarette lighter plug so we can now charge our phones.
We also picked up an electric pump, since one tire has a slow leak. It’ll be useful to keep with us even after the leak is fixed. We did buy a tire plug kit—we just have to actually use it! Oh, and there’s a new drive belt waiting to go on too. Once that’s installed, it’ll be even more fun… er, we mean practical… to drive with full power.
Unfortunately for Skye and Constance, a predator got their favorite chicken, Nugget. Constance helped Skye organize a proper little funeral and even invited some friends who often hung out with the flock on their porch this summer. Since the chickens all free-ranged, we all knew which chicken Nugget was.
They chose a special spot near a rainbow-shaped tree in the woods, and we used the side-by-side as a makeshift “farm hearse” to carry Nugget’s box and headstone back there. Skye was heartbroken—she really loved that chicken—but hopefully the ceremony (and Nugget’s very dignified last ride) helped her feel a little better. RIP Nugget the chicken.
Our goats are all in the process of being dried off now. Ally is already finished, and Missy and Tessy are about a week into it. It feels strange not having to milk every morning—I had to stop and remember how to feed them all at once without taking turns on the stanchion! I think I’ve got the new routine down, though, and the bonus is that chores take about 50 minutes less each morning. I do miss the fresh milk and cheese already, but luckily I’ve tucked some away in the freezer. I’ll wait a little while before we start digging in. Still, I’m already looking forward to next spring when the babies arrive and we’re back in milk again—always something to anticipate on the farm!
This year, the garden wasn’t quite as fruitful as in past seasons—we’ve been putting more energy into the goats and just enjoying the summer. On the bright side, we actually have some figs growing! Whether they’ll ripen before the first snowfall is still up in the air (ha!—get it?!). Unfortunately, cucumber beetles completely took out our cucumbers and most of the squashes. And as if that weren’t enough, we’re also dealing with a potato bug invasion, so we’ll have to wait a couple of weeks to see if any survive.
The good news? We still have a ton of tomatoes and herbs, so the garden wasn’t a total bust! Now we just have to carve out time to deal with it all. My goal this year is to make canned cubed tomatoes, and maybe even some homemade salsa. We’ll see how the season goes!
Mandy’s parents are here for two weeks visiting! They had a few goals: visit with both their kids, and eat lobster!! One of the afternoon we all went to a restaurant in Fredericton named Wolastoq. Not entirely sure how to say that, but what I can say is WOW, the food was delicious. The first time we were there (yes, we’ve been twice), Mandy, Addy, and Dad all got lobster rolls, soft buns, creamy lobster with plenty of meat, a side of coleslaw and fries. So good! Mom went all in and ordered a full lobster dinner!! She did an excellent job eating it too (only cost a dollar more than our rolls). We ended up at Picaroons for a drink, and to show off our favorite summer patio in Fredericton so far.
Sunday afternoon we checked out the Red Lantern for lunch. The food was pretty good, and the experience was… interesting. We were seated, and just five minutes later the waitress came back and let us know there would be a long wait if we didn’t order right away—okay then! So we all picked our meals. It was classic pub fare, heavy on the deep-fried options, but the prices were fair. Would we go back? Absolutely! The food was tasty, the service impressively fast, and I have to admit—we definitely enjoyed indulging in a little deep-fried comfort on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
Well, the parents must have liked our foodie tour—or maybe it was just our positive vibes—because they’ve started casually browsing the real estate market here in the Stanley and Fredericton area. They’re hoping for a little bit of land and a nice mobile home to call their own—what they call “mini homes” in Atlantic Canada. It’s been so fun to look and dream with them. I’d be thrilled to have them, and my brother, closer! Fingers crossed it all works out. Just imagine—they’d be nearby for future farm adventures, garden experiments, and of course, tasting whatever goodies we whip up next!
It’s been such a lively couple of weeks here on the homestead! Between enjoying the garden’s late-season bounty, indulging in a little deep-fried comfort at the Red Lantern, and watching the seasons shift with cooler nights and cozy evenings by a fire, life has been full of simple pleasures. We’ve also had fun dreaming about the future—imagining family closer by, new adventures on the property, and all the little projects that keep our days busy and satisfying. Even with the occasional challenge, like pesky squash bugs or not enough time in a day, there’s always something to laugh about or look forward to. Thanks so much for making it to the bottom of today’s update! We love sharing our homestead moments with you, and we’d be thrilled to hear from you—what’s been your favorite harvest, local food spot, or small adventure lately?