The Harvest Is In

This year my harvest was small, as I didn't plant a garden this year.  The goats are too hard to contain, plus I need to find a tiller or someone to disc up a garden plot for me.  If this doesn't pan out, I will try and use containers.  I did manage to harvest a big washtub full of wild mustang grapes from the town house, and spent yesterday making jelly.

Normally, I soak the grapes over night in a tub of water to help loosen dirt, cobwebs, insects, etc.  Then dump the water, and soak again.  Then I go through (wearing gloves!) and strip the grapes from the vines.  I normally leave stems attached, as I read this helps the natural pectin "jell".  Two colanders full of grapes equaled roughly 11 1/2 cups of juice.  It takes 5 cups of juice to make about 10 small jelly jars full of jelly.  I used 10 cups.  I ran out of jelly jars, and used empty pickle jars and one large quart jars.  These are in the fridge and will be used first.  I plan to take a couple of jars by the town house to give to the renters.

I do not plan to put up any additional food, as it defeats the purpose to purchase vegetables to can, at least in my mind.  I would have loved to make pickles, but my in laws didn't have good luck with their cucumbers thihs year.  But if any surplus comes my way, I will re-evaluate.

Starting to work on "winterizing" the cabin.  We are clearing everything out, washing down walls, installing insulation on the North facing wall, and re-arranging furniture.  I will get rid of some old stuff to make way for other items I want to keep, and that are coming out of the shop.  (By the way have to close the shop, as my permit was pulled by the City.)

The weather is hot, and hitting the 100's, the past two days it has been overcast at times and we have been expecting thunder storms, but they haven't materialized yet. 

We are running over with puppies, wish I could find homes for them.  They are way too yappy, and too many mouths to feed. 

I am on my way to clean up a little at the shop, and start making plans on how to liquidate my inventory. 

If you think about it, please pray for me.  Thanks!

After church the girls and I headed out to the land to meet Rodney. He had installed a few additional breakers into the electrical box while we were at church, and placed the air tank next to the well. We ate lunch in the "cabin" and I laid down for a couple of hours, as I was having some pain. I managed to read my entire new issue of Backwoods Home Magazine (www.backwoodshome.com) and went through the Fall Catalog for Lehman's (www.lehmans.com)

Rodney used the log splitter to split some firewood, and Lauren taught Hannah how to drive on the small garden tractor. Then Lauren proceeded to follow Hannah around the land. Hannah driving the garden tractor on Ultra slow, and Lauren on her four wheeler. Hannah was very excited.

Before leaving we fed and watered all the animals, and closed the windows in the cabin, as it is supposed to rain for the next few days. Rodney drove the girls around the land (really fast). He was on the four wheeler, and they were in the little red wagon attached to the four wheeler. I could hear them screaming from the front of the property. Apparently, the screaming meant they were having fun, for me it just means I need to listen for the blood curdling scream that means we need to go to the hospital.