Fog, Peach Picking, Drying, Fungus, Grape Picking, School - Wednesday

flemingfarm(80)

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It was extremely nice to wake up to fog yesterday morning after the deluge of rain the prior day. The fog was very similar to the smoke but I could actually breath when I stepped out on the deck.

.65 inches of rain in 4 1/2 hours on Tuesday and we didn't get anymore rain over night. That amount was the highest in Spokane county on CoCoRaHs for the day. There was a .67 reading in Newport which is NE of us and the direction the storm traveled. That means the fire got hit with the most rain which did wonders at helping to tamp it down.

I decided to let the cucumbers go for a day and I found that one of the strings had broken and plants were hanging down in the row. I cut a piece of twine and tied the line back together. The entire greenhouse is full of condensation and when I touch the frame it rains inside.

It had warmed up a bit and the fog burned off so about 10:30 the boys and I loaded up in the truck and headed up to Walter's Fruit Ranch on Green Bluff. It is a u-pick orchard and it is peach season now.

We got the ride out on the tractor and went all the way to the NE corner of the orchard to the well laden trees.

It didn't take too long and by the time the tractor came back around we had 3 flats full of peaches.

They are all quite ripe so this weekend will be a load of processing.

After paying for the peaches and setting them in the truck the boys wanted to go play in the play area where they have a cool pallet maze with the slide.

Both boys love the place but I couldn't let them play too long as the peaches were in the truck getting warm.

Back on the farm the peaches went into the cooler to hold until we can process them. I had wanted to pick them on Tuesday but it was raining so I waited until the afternoon yesterday to pick the stack of tobacco leaves.

They went to the drying rack where they will stay for the next day or two until dry.

I was out on the upper property checking things after the storm and on my way down the trail I found this fungal mass growing. I have no clue what it is and it looked almost like creme brulee had been dropped in the middle of the hill.

The grapes have not done well this year, well they have grown but they are all tiny. I think it may have been the weeks of no rain as the plants get lots of water. Most of the bunches are ripening quickly and I was able to pick about 1/3 of them.

I got 13.75 pound of them which all went to a bag and into the cooler. I think I will squish them all and get the juice which will be easy to preserve.

So we got the call during the day, school start is delayed a week due to the fire and the number of families effected. The nice thing is that we won't have to make up the days due to this being an emergency situation. The boys weren't too happy to hear it but we all understand why.

This morning it is chilly at 40F but will be warming up a lot in the next days. Today I have to pick beans to fulfill the order for tomorrow, the cucumbers and squash will have to be picked today, I am not sure the winds will work for flying tomorrow but I will likely take my wing in case it looks okay.