I was getting behind on my work, so I declared today to be a school holiday. Would you believe, no one objected! I was able to get a lot of things off my list: The beans Esther picked Monday got snapped (while I read to the boys, so we did do some school). The cabbage the boys picked for me Monday got turned into sourkraut. We had a freezer go out this week, so I cooked up a pile of bags of plums from last year. One big pot turned into jam (didn’t follow the recipe, so I’m not sure yet if it set or not–it will be syrup if not!). Another big pot has had the pits picked out and has been pureed, but I’m bringing it to a boil tonight so it will be safe to leave till morning. The last big pot (yes, I have a lot of big pots–love them!) is also coming to a boil and I’ll decide tomorrow what to do with it.
And, we got in a field trip of sorts this afternoon and evening. Our landlord started combining wheat around 4:30, and the children have been watching intently! He’s running his own combine and having someone else run their Klaas combine to get the job done quicker. The combines are harvesting faster than the trucks and tractors can haul it away! They are getting about 180 bushels to the acre. One truck that’s being used must be from the ’50s or early ’60s, and frequently backfires–“Mom, what makes a truck backfire?” “I don’t know, ask your dad. I just know that’s what that noise is!”