Queen's Edge Farm: Town Day

Friday, July 6, 2007

Town Day

Our day started early, as we headed out to San Antonio to meet a lady with four metal trellises that I will be using for my beans in the garden. Once I get a picture, I will post it for you to see. I found them on http://www.craigslist.com/. There is actually a lot of items I could use but I don't have access to the dually anymore, and it has an electrical problem that always acts up when I drive it.

After picking up the trellises, we headed over to JoAnn Fabric to load up on their flannel that was 30% off, with a few $1.49 a yard. I have a couple of orders for flannel pj's. My next step is to take pictures of the fabric and post for people to pick their fabric, on a first come first served basis.

I also picked up some elastic, and cotton fabric for short sets I am making for an order. I need to work on what the price structure will be as I have only made shorts for kids, and these will be my first adult short sets. Another item I will be offering soon on my website will be flannel receiving blankets. More on these later.... The girls and I then headed for Wally World where I had my vacation pictures developed, and I picked up a few necessities. The grocery store is next, and then I will be done with my weekly errands.

Came home to do very limited housework, got dinner, washed dishes, and did two loads of laundry before working on the blog.

Dawn's fabric

Kezzie's fabric (PJ fabric on left)

The pale green fabric has white bunnies (sorry Sheri, no guinea pigs.) The light blue with multi color stars and then a white fabric with the multi color flowers. These three fabrics are available on a first come, first serve basis.

These fabrics are also available. From the far left there is a pale blue fabric with multi color flowers, pink and white fabric with frogs, and the lavendar fabric with black cats. These are also available on a first come, first serve basis.

Pale blue fabric with smileys, white fabric with polar bears and candy canes, blue fabric with stockings and snowflakes (this fabric came in pieces but I figured it would be good for little kids pjs.)

I realize that these are not very good photos, but I am using my son's $18.00 digital camera, as I cannot find the USB cord to mine. These are the best I can do. I also apologize for not putting these on my business website, but this was easier.

I am supposed to pick up some fertilized eggs in the morning from a local farmer, and hopefully work with the local "Herb Man" on some gardening tips. After that I plan to set up the trellises in the garden, and plant more herbs and vegetables.

Stopped by the city hall to talk to the mayor, but he was out. I left a message. I am hoping to discuss the Emergency Prep meeting the city held while I was out of town. I plan to show him the article in Backwoods Home magazine regarding the $25 survival kit, and talk about my own preparations. I don't know how receptive he will be though, so we will see what happens when (and if) he calls.

Clipart found at http://www.countryclipart.com/

P.S. I apologize for the strange formatting, the blogger won't let me correct the gaps. I fix it on the screen but after publishing it does it's own thing.

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Grandma's Yummy Cinnamon Rolls

2 pkgs active dry yeast or 5 tsps if using bulk yeast
1/2 cup warm water (not too hot)
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup shortening, butter, margarine
2 tsps salt
2 cups milk, scalded
1 1/2 cups cold water
10 to 12 cups flour (white or whole wheat)

Yield: 4 loaves

Soften yeast in warm water, springkle in a tsp of the sugar
In LARGE mixing bowl blend sugar, shortening, salt and milk until shortening is melted. Add cold water, cool to luke-warm. Stir in yeast. Gradually add flour to form a stiff dough. Knead on floured surface until smooth and satiny, 5 to 10 minutes. Place in greased bowl, turning dough to grease all sides. Cover with foil or damp towel. Let rise in warm place (85 to 90 deg) until light and doubled in volume about two hours. Punch dough down by plunging fist in center. Knead dough for about 5 minutes.

Roll out one fourth of dough to a 16 X 12 inch rectangle. Brush with 2 TBSP of melted butter. Combine 1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar, 1/3 cup sugar and 1 1/2 tsp of cinnamon (or more to taste). Sprinkle mixture over dough. Starting with 16 inch side, roll jellyroll fashion. Either cut into 16 1 inch slices or leave as a whole loaf. Place on a greased pan, cover and let rise in warm place until light, about 30 to 45 minutes. Bake at 375 degrees about 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Mix one box 10X sugar with 2 tbsps water. If too stiff, add more water until icing consistency, add a drop of vanilla too. Spread on baked bread while bread is still warm.

2010 Homestead Stats

Laundry Soap

Homemade Laundry Soap:
1/3 bar Fels Naptha or other type of soap, as listed above
½ cup washing soda
½ cup borax powder
~You will also need a small washpan or bowl that holds about 2 gallons.

Grate the soap and put it in a sauce pan. Add 6 cups water and heat it until the soap melts. Add the washing soda and the borax and stir until it is dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour 4 cups hot water into the washpan. Now add your soap mixture and stir. Now add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir. Transfer soap (using a funnel if necessary) into empty plastic laundry holders, milk containers (I use my empty glass milk bottles and old Fab containers) Let the soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel. You use ½ cup per load.

Wild Mustang Grape Jelly

Wild Mustang Grape Jelly

5 cups grape juice (about 3 1/2 pounds of ripe grapes)1 (1 3/4 ounce) box of sure-jel pectin7 cups sugarBefore getting started it is best to clean the entire kitchen, making sure the sink is empty. Bleach the sink and all utensils used in making jelly (I do this as I sell my grape jelly as part of my homesteading business.)

Wash the canning jars in warm soapy water, and rinse well. Set off to side.

Place a large pan of water on the stove to heat. Once it starts steaming, place lids and rings in the bottom, and 2-3 jars (depending on if you use actual jelly jars or pints) to sterilize.

Next make the grape juice using clean washed grapes (make sure you use rubber gloves when picking or washing wild grapes)To 3 1/2 pounds of clean grapes (6 cups of grapes) add 1 1/2 cups water.Bring to a boil and simmer covered for 10 minutes.Strain and squeeze out all of the juice with cheese cloth (see paragraph below)
I didn't have cheese cloth, so I poured the grape mixture into a large spaghetti strainer with a large pan underneath. I had to stir it around some as the skins and seeds would sink to the bottom, and clog the colander up. Stirring allowed the liquid to drain out. I then used a large metal spoon and squished it some to get more of the juice out.

In a very big pan, put 5 cups of the juice (it’s okay to add no more than ½ cup water to even out amount)Add the fruit pectin to the juice.Mix well.On high heat, bring to a full rolling boil, and boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly.Stir in sugar all at once, and bring back to a full rolling boil, again boil hard for 1 minute stirring constantly.
Remove jelly from heat, skim off foam
Use a large spoon inserted inside the jar to lift CAREFULLY out of the water. DO NOT TOUCH THE INSIDE OF THE JAR OR THE RIM WITH YOUR HANDS.
Ladle jelly into hot jars, place a lid and ring onto jar (do not tighten yet).
Set jars to the side. After a while you should start hearing “pings” as the jar seals.
When jars are completely cool, tighten rings and store on pantry shelf.**SIDE NOTE: Wild Mustang Grapes are normally ready the end of June, so be prepared. Keep an eye open for vines on the side of the road, or any that friends and family may have growing in their yard. Many people just let them grow and don’t do anything with them, so it shouldn’t be hard to find a good supply. Also, the more you pick off the vine, the more the vine produces new grapes, so you probably won’t EVER run out of grapes to use until the vine dies or you get sick of making jelly. Good luck and feel free to contact me at queensedgefarm@yahoo.com for questions.