Carving squash, more work on the shed, more harvest, ducks

This year's Jack; 1st November, 2026

The daughter and I carved our roundest squash on the morning of Halloween, displayed it in our front windowsill with a small candle that evening, and then I took it to the kitchen to bake and puree it the next morning;  we had it with our roast chicken dinner later on (along with some braised leeks and cabbage in a tomato sauce, all homegrown except the chicken).  The green squash pictured is referred to as the Secret Squash;  it was not discovered until last week, growing in the kitchen garden.  How did we miss it?  

The husband and I had about an hour or so at the allotment last week, cladding the walls of the replacement shed.  We had most of a roll of roofing felt (used to repair our chicken house roof earlier in the year), plus some adhesive.  The husband nailed it on the walls in two courses, and put some battens around the edges;  I wielded the brush to try and stick it all down.  It still has no roof, just a piece of semi-rigid black plastic weighed down with a few bricks;  it also doesn't have a door, though we have leaned the old door up against the opening.  Hopefully both keep the rain out until we make a more permanent fix.  

Then the son and I walked up a few days later and filled our sacks again, despite the fridge not being empty.  More leeks, fennel, tomatoes, cauliflower and Chinese cabbage.  I've been saving the leafy top of one fennel bulb each week, for making tea (and composting the rest of course).  I drink black and/or green tea in the morning, but need something non-caffeinated in the afternoon and evening.  Sometimes I mix it up with some fresh mint from the kitchen garden too.

It's time to move the ducks back to their permanent yard, though I'm taking this slowly.  They moved to the opposite side of the garden last spring because the Snowflakes were waking up the neighbor on the other side.  While they are still a lot more quacky than any other duck we've had, they have calmed down a lot in the last six months and I think it's safe to return them.  Also I suspect that neighbor of sleeping with the window open (it was hot);  probably not an issue in November.  We've moved the duck feeder and drinks back to their yard--open--and closed access to the far side.  For now they are free ranging over the lawn and some of the kitchen garden;  soon I will start herding them into the yard overnight.

When we made the chicken and duck yards, we had a large flock of chickens and a small flock of ducks.  Now it's the reverse!  The duck yard is a fine size for three chickens and the chicken yard would be perfect for five ducks.  Except the chickens need a house--and the ducks won't go in one.  The ducks can free range some of the time, but I know at some point this winter the grass won't stand any more duck poo.  We'll have to see how it plays out with five ducks in such a small yard.