Queen's Edge Farm: Sometimes I wonder....

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Sometimes I wonder....

if anyone reads this blog. I have it here primarily for my mom, and other family members, but have given the blog address out to a couple of friends. I don't have it listed to where you can just happen across it, you have to actually know the blog address, or least that is what I signed up for....

Today, the kids and I went to Sea World. We bought season passes for the first time ever. We rarely take a vacation, and while we went to Disney World last year, and wanted to go again this year, the cost of gas along with the DW tickets are prohibitive, or least scary. So, Sea World it was...Hannah was happy we went, because she has never been to Sea World, and she's almost five! Get with it mom, we live 30 minutes from Sea World and you never take me! Wah! Wah! Lauren hasn't been since she was five, so she "says" she doesn't remember. We arrived around lunch time, and left around 2:30 p.m. We sent to the Shamu show, saw the dolphins and the Clydesdales, and then went on the Rio Loco ride. Ah, the highlight of my day. I had Taylor and Lauren start turning the wheel, because I didn't want to be under the waterfall. Well, we didn't turn fast enough and Hannah was almost drowned, she looked so funny, all I could do was laugh. She was screaming and crying! She wanted new clothes, and kept insisting I give her some dry panties. I don't actually carry extra underwear with me, so she was out of luck. I did get a Sea World beach towel, and her a Shamu "dry" shirt, so she was somewhat okay after that...

After running to Home Depot to pick up more seeds, ant poison and rat poison (for the barn), we headed home. I forgot about it being Thursday, so I ran to Taylor to school early so he could eat, get to class, and go to the library to finish an assignment. After dropping him off we headed towards the land (like always) stopping to pick up dinner, get 5 gallons of gas, and ice.

Rodney had already finished mowing the grass around the pond with the push mower. Too many little mesquite trees to use the tractor, and he keeps forgetting to bring his weed eater.

The girls and I worked in the garden. I began by flooding the irrigation ditches with water. Hannah used her little purple shovel to clear any little dams that she thought were blocking the flow of water. Lauren helped me snake the hose down another trench so that I could water the corn. Which hasn't come up yet. Next time I will remember to soak the corn in water before planting. The cucumber seeds and Mescullin have sprouted, the tomatoes, jalapeños and basil are looking good, as well as, the cantelope and the lone cucumber plant that I bought. Hannah was so cute, when I was having Lauren help with the hose, Hannah asked if I needed any digging help, because she was ready. She looked so cute leaning on the shovel handle. I wish I had taken a picture. When we were done, the girls hopped on the four wheeler and put the water jug in the wagon to take their dad a drink (he was working on the fence poles by then).

We ended up cleaning out the car, and the area around the fire pit until dark, and then went home around 8:30 p.m. Taylor called around 10 p.m. for me to pick him up at school, so the girls and I sleepily drove to town to get Taylor. Now, I am waiting for the clothes to finish in the washer, so I can throw them in the dryer. We are going to the Strawberry Festival in Poteet tomorrow. Somewhere else that Hannah has never been (the poor deprived four year old!) Tomorrow is FREE admission day and FREE parking. More than likely I will buy a couple of flats of strawberries and make jam, if the price is right on the strawberries.

1 comment:

Temi said...: Yes, your poor poor deprived children.....LOL At least they are willing to pitch in and help with the work.; April 14, 2008 at 3:37 PM

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.