She hobbled warily into the yard, foraging for stray seeds under the wild bird feeders. Her right leg was injured - we couldn't tell exactly how, but I suspected the neighborhood fox that had developed a taste for poultry, which had carried off one of our drakes earlier in the year.

Weeks passed, and she became a regular visitor. We started calling her Turkey Turkey. We took to rinsing out the bowls from the duck chow near the feeders to give her more selection. She didn't completely lose her limp, but she did get stronger. At one point she was spooked by the cats, and launched with powerful wing strokes to land in a treetop of the neighboring woods. It's now been several days since she's stopped in, but I'm hopeful that she's okay, and has only shifted her range or decided to nest.

There was a decided shift in the weather patterns this week, at least in our area. We received a modest amount of rain, but the temperate change was the most noticeable aspect, with nighttime lows dipping into the upper 40s and lower 50s. Coupled with the color change starting early on the trees from drought stress, it's definitely starting to feel more like fall here in northeast Wisconsin.

This year's harvest won't be as bountiful as some years, but as we're taking inventory and organizing storage before restocking, it's reassuring to know that we have some carry over from the previous season.

The general rule of thumb is to use home canned goods within 18 months for best quality. That said, as long as safe canning practices were followed and the seal is sound, the food should be safe to eat. As food is stored for longer periods, color will fade and texture will soften. If there are signs of spoilage when you open the jar, opt for the compost pile instead.

Note: If you're worried about botulism, we have detailed info on how to avoid it here.

Along with the cooler temps and harvest season, we're also losing daylight. I'm personally in favor of switching to standard time year round, because it more closely aligns with natural circadian rhythms, but that's not my decision to make. What I can do is to adopt habits that help fight seasonal depression - including getting my backside outside first thing in the morning.

This Week’s Resilience & Abundance Boost

• Take stock before the season changes. Check the pantry, freezer, closets, and household supplies before fall arrives in earnest. Knowing what you already have helps you spend and prepare more wisely.
• Use the oldest first. Move older canned and frozen foods to the front and build upcoming meals around them. Less waste means more value from the work you've already done.
• Follow the light. As the days shorten, make morning sunlight a priority when you can. Open the curtains, step outside with your coffee, or take a short morning walk.
• Create a little extra margin. Food in storage, money set aside, an extra blanket, or simply some unscheduled time can make unexpected changes much easier to handle.
• Offer help without needing to control the outcome. Sometimes all we can do is provide a little food, water, encouragement, or kindness and let another living thing (or person) find its (their) own way forward.

Resilience is easier when we pay attention to changing seasons, make good use of what we already have, and leave a little room for whatever comes next.

All our best to you and yours,

Laurie (and August IV, August V, and Duncan)

Making the Most of the Changing Season

Late August always feels like standing with one foot in summer and the other edging toward fall. The days are getting noticeably shorter, while gardens and berry patches are still offering up plenty to keep us busy. It’s a good time to enjoy and preserve what we have now, while also making a few small adjustments to help ourselves through the darker months ahead.

Get ahead of the shorter days

If your energy or mood tends to dip as daylight disappears, you don’t have to wait until the middle of winter to do something about it. These practical tips cover natural light, movement, daily routines, social connection, and other strategies that may help keep the seasonal blues at bay.

Read: 7 Tips for Seasonal Depression​

Turn the tomato harvest into ready-made meals

When tomatoes start piling up, this is one of my favorite ways to preserve them. Our homemade spaghetti sauce works for pasta, but we also use it for pizza, so opening one jar later in the year gives us the start of an easy homemade meal. You can make it with fresh or frozen tomatoes, too, which is handy when the harvest doesn’t cooperate with your schedule.

Read: Spaghetti Sauce for Canning​

Capture two berry harvests in one jar

Blackberries and blueberries are delicious on their own, but something special happens when you put them together. This lower-sugar jam is a great way to stretch a smaller blueberry harvest with more abundant blackberries — and the combination tastes surprisingly like blueberry pie.

Read: Blackberry Blueberry Jam (Black and Blue Jam)​

A little preparation now — whether it’s adjusting our habits to the changing light or putting summer goodness into jars — can make the seasons ahead a little easier and more enjoyable.

You’re Invited to the Resilient Living Summit!

One more thing before I go — my friend Amber Bradshaw and I have been working behind the scenes on something special.

The 2026 Resilient Living Summit is coming September 14–19, bringing together 20+ experienced teachers to share practical skills for growing and preserving food, preparedness, homesteading, natural health, resilient homes, and more.

It’s 100% online and FREE to attend, and the focus is simple: helping you build more skills, more confidence, and more options for whatever life brings.

Join us September 14–19 and reserve your FREE Summit pass today.

👉 Save My Free Spot at the Resilient Living Summit​