I have had so much trouble the past few months with tendinitis in both of my wrists. I have to wear hand braces most of the time during the day and night. It is very painful and most difficult to get anything done. I have been canning up a storm and there is much yet to do. At the end of the day I am very sore. The sharp pain wakes me in the middle of night when I do something as simple and easy as pulling the sheets up closer to my chin. I don't see having time to rest my hands until the food is put up for the winter and the Farmers' Market season is done - right before Thanksgiving.
Husband has been helping me milk lately, to try to spare me the agony of struggling with the milker. I so appreciate it. I miss the time with Daisy though. I really do. Milking her is a simple pleasure for me. I can't wait to get back to doing it myself again. Daisy is now about half way through her pregnancy. Her belly gets a bit rounder every week. I lay my hand on it to see if I can feel her calf move but I haven't had that pleasure yet. I can't wait to feel it kick! She is due in early January. Oh don't worry - I will post pictures!!
Daughter Sara and I worked on more tomatoes today. We managed to get a roaster full for her today so that she can start cooking it down for a nice thick paste. I am not sure what she is planning to make from the sauce but I am sure it will be heavenly. I have already done pizza sauce and spaghetti sauce. I would like to do another batch of spaghetti sauce and some medium hot salsa before the tomatoes stop producing. I have put quite a bit of produce from our garden already but there is more than I hope to do.
We still need to get the sauerkraut made. I am still hoping to do that this week but it might be early next week before the time will allow. The cabbages are ready - I just need to find the time to harvest them and get them shredded, ready for the crock.
Here is what I canned today. There are 15 quart jars of crunchy dill pickles and seven little pint jars of tomato juice. I hadn't planned to do any tomato stuff today but there was a little sauce left that Sara didn't need so I canned it quickly so as to not lose that red tasty juice! 
Husband shot this picture of me holding my sweetest hen, Peaches. She is so tame. She always hops up on the nesting boxes so that I can pet her. She loves to be carried around like a baby on my hip. She is so kind and gentle. She is by far not the prettiest chicken I have but she is special to me. She is very shy with the other chickens and always waits until they are done eating before she will go to the feeder or waterer. They are not mean to her but she is a loner. That's OK. I AM HER FRIEND!
One last picture. The grandsons were here today playing in the sawdust. It made me smile so I wanted to save a picture of it.... That's another day on my little homestead. Good night friends.
