Queen's Edge Farm: Field Trip Day

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Field Trip Day

We were up early this morning, actually Lauren was ;-) She usually bounces out of bed at 7 a.m. to feed the animals. I guess she likes doing it. We left the goats the penned up today, they have been destructive lately, and I didn't feel up to dealing with more after being gone all day.

We had a field trip to the San Jose Mission in S.A., and the Spanish Governor's Palace. I really like the Governor's house. Very cool, Lauren liked it too.

more later, baby is fussing...

The field trip to the San Jose Mission was a guided tour. It seemed really quick. I've never had a guided tour before. It was a little boring. The tour guides needed to remember they were speaking to children and to keep it short and interesting. Hannah was bored.

I liked the little apartments. The walls of the mission actually form the living areas for the indians that used to live there. I really like the beams in the ceiling, the white washed walls, the adobe, and the cute little fire places. The fire was laid on the floor in a corner, and the flue/chimney hung over the top of it and out the roof.

There was a bride there getting her picture taken. She was beautiful. The highlight of watching her was when she lifted her dress to walk. She had big red cowboy boots on under her dress. I laughed and laughed.

I like the granary, the grist mill and the church. The bells were nice, and rang frequently.

We had lunch then headed to the Spanish Governor's Mansion/Palace. It was built in the 1700's and occupied by the founder of San Antonio, the Marquis de Valero. Most people might think it modest, but I am sure by the standards of the day it was quite nice. I LOVED it. The foyer was small, and to the right was the family chapel with the dining room and kitchen behind it. To the left was the parlor, which opened onto a bedroom and the family room. I liked how all the rooms opened onto one another. The high ceilings, tall windows and the way the rooms were open to each other, appeared to let the air flow and to keep the place pretty cool. The family room and kitchen opened into the courtyard. The girls loved the courtyard. The trees and plants made it quite cool and peaceful. There was also a loft between the kitchen and dining room. A cute set of stairs went up and the loft was apparently used as the family's food storage pantry. I could really see myself living in something like that, very nice.

Afterwards, the girls and I, a friend, her kids and brother headed down to the riverwalk to take a river cruise. I hadn't done that since, well, forever. It was a little tiring, as I normally don't walk so far. It was a blessing it wasn't too hot. James did get a little hot and fussy on the ride, but finally fell asleep. I liked the ride, but could have done without the operator talking so much, and giving his marketing spiel on which restaurants to eat at. Overall, I enjoyed the day, and was glad that we went with Bonita. It is always more fun with someone you know.

We had an early dinner, baths, and then crashed on the bed watching t.v. I did get up a little later and sewed about 7 hats, until my shoulder started hurting. I sewed 10 more tonight, mainly newborn sizes. I don't have nearly enough, but I didn't have time to sew the past few weeks due to work getting in the way, and being so tired.

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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.