Mustang Grapes are in season!  We picked for 30 minutes yesterday and had enough grapes to make 20 quart jars of grape juice (super easy recipe!).  And, I've got a huge bowl of juice ready for jelly-making tomorrow.  In fact, I could probably make 3 batches of jelly tomorrow.  This is the beginning of the mustang grape season so we should have plenty of time to get enough for more grape juice (to drink).  I'd like to have a total of 40 (or more) jars of grape juice. 

Mustang grapes cannot be eaten raw or the juice either.  They are so acidic that they burn your hands when picking or preparing.  So, when I make the grape juice for drinking, I simply add 1 cup of grapes,½-cup of sugar and boiling water to quart jars (that have already been cleaned, sterilized and hot).  I can them in a water bath canner for about 15-20 minutes.  Everything processes at once so there's no need for any pre-mixing or cooking.  You need to let them set up for about 2-4 weeks before you start using them so that the grapes and sugar have time to blend together.  I also use this recipe for cranberries later in the year.  Last December our local grocery store had bags of fresh cranberries on sale for $.99.  I bought about 10 bags and made lots of cranberry juice.  I can make 3 quarts of cranberry juice out of 1 bag.  Also, if you mix 1 quart of grape juice and 1 quart of cranberry juice, it makes the best crangrape juice.

And, when I get the grapes ready for making jelly, I simply throw them in the pot, cover with water, turn the burner onto medium high and when they start to pop, I stir and mash them up.  Then, I strain them into a large bowl for several hours.  Once it's drained, the bowl goes into the fridge until I'm ready to start canning (usually the next day).  Or, you can freeze the juice until you're ready to make jelly.  I follow the recipe for making jelly that's included in the pectin box.

I'm hoping to also make a batch or two of Mustang Grape wine.  These will probably become Christmas gifts for my family.  If anyone wants the super-easy wine recipe, let me know and I'll post it.

We've also been busy cleaning out our shed.  It's been packed for many months - too packed.  Hubby couldn't even get in there to get his tools or store his tools properly.  So, today we cleaned it out and threw out half the stuff.  I plan on posting most of it on freecycle.  We have some really great stuff, but we just don't use it.  It's been in storage for 5 years!!!!  I am definitely sure we won't be using those things.  It's nice to know that we've pared down on a lot of what we use.  Having an extremely small kitchen, I quickly realize what I need or don't need and what I don't need or takes up space goes ... it's as simple as that.  We are down to one box of toys in the shed.  I'd say about 1/5 of the shed are bills/receipts and homeschooling material.

QUESTION:  We live in Texas.  What do we need to keep for homeschooling records?  I know that in high school we'll need to keep better records of what the kids have done for college, etc.  But, what about elementary school?  Middle school?  How are other Texas families keeping up with their children's school work?  Each child gets a box for the year (like a storage box).  If we keep this up, we'll have 24 boxes in the shed just for school work!!!  Any ideas?  What can we purge?  We should we keep?

• person had a kitten off us before (maybe theirs got run over or now want another for company)
• People on waiting list the longest
• People wanting two kittens - I firmly believe two is great company
• People wanting two & don''t mind which colour or sex
• People wanting particular colour sex - I often can't fill what they are wanting eg 2 seal females. So they then go on next waiting list and get bumped up quite high.

Hi Everyone, I am trying to buy all of our foods that we are not growing ourselves as locally as possible. This brings up an issue for my baking. Can I substitute honey for sugar? If so, is it a straight switch or can I reduce the amount of honey compared to sugar? Also, does that affect the consistency of baked goods since honey is a liquid & sugar is not?

Any help is greatly appreciated!!

Wendy

We went "organic" about four-five years ago, but just last year we started using honey instead of sugar in everything. The only thing we do special is if we can, we add the honey in with something room temperature or liquid we can mix and dissolve it that way it doesn't clump up in the batter. I love honey in lemonade instead of sugar. Gives it a tangy taste. I also use honey in spaghetti sauce instead of ketchup (ick!) or sugar.

I say go for it. If it doesn't work in some things then you'll know, but in most, if not all, honey works great.... same measurement as you would use for honey and it doesn't seem to affect the texture at all.

Miss Jocelyn

I have a couple of questions maybe someone could answer. 

First-I have two old milk cans and I would like to use them somehow.  I know I could paint them and then?????  They work good as decor, but is there anything more practical I could do with them?

Second-I only use olive oil and coconut oil when I cook and bake.  Well, I usually get my coconut oil from Wal-Mart and the price has jumped from $4.25 to $6. 98.  Has this happened all over?  Does anyone know of a place where I could order it for less and maybe get my wheat berries and other commodities?  We don't have a food buying co-op around here and I'd have to put in a $400 order and go all the way to Duluth for pick up if I used the only one I've found.

Well that's it.  I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.  We have a nice, hot day with thundershowers promised tonight.  We're just wrapping up a rummage sale.  It went pretty well.  It would have been nice to get rid of everything, but anything at all is better than nothing. 

From Glory Farm

We've been being frequented by a couple of Jehovah's Witnesses lately.  We've talked briefly, though I haven't invited them in.  I have never heard of a Jehovah's Witness being converted to the Christian faith.  I was wondering if any of you have ever successfully witnessed to a JW.  I think the next time the JW's come over I will say (though I'm not sure how to get to this point) that if Jesus is not God, they do not believe in the Trinity and do not believe that Jesus is God, then he cannot have been perfect.  And if he was not perfect, then his sacrifice for us was meaningless.  It was just as if I were to die for mankind - a nice gesture, but that's about all.  Of course, they don't believe that anybody goes to hell either.  So I'm not exactly sure what they think Jesus died to save us from. 

Any wisdom?  They usually stop by our house on Thursday, so I could use some Godly advice by then.

Happy Trails!

Woke up this morning to the silence of the outdoors and the noise of my son playing in his room.  While making coffee I was looking out my kitchen window and there was not a leaf moving....the pool was there in silence and the dog sleeping in her kennel.  I stood outside on my deck and the beautiful smell of summer as replaced the smell of farmers spraying their fields with liquid Manure (which we have been smelling all week)....thankful for the rain which washed that liquid stuff into the ground so it can not only enrich the soil but make our lives a little better.

The kids and I spent most of the day in the vineyard pruning all the baby vines off from the bottom of each stalk while dh did the weeding in between each stalk.  Anika spent an hour weeding her garden...it was quite bad and needed a lot of attention.   She never  complains because she was so happy to have her own garden.  I think it makes her feel grown up and proud to be able to work and provide food...she is an amazing daughter and I am so thankful for her and of course all my children.  

 The rains came and that was the end of our work outdoors.

Made a batch of Blueberry Bran muffins.  Audrey and I went to see the movie Get Smart...Tianna works part time at the theatre so we get in for free.  And we got free popcorn and a drink....very cheap evening out and we laughed so hard...what a funny movie.

Does anybody make organic strawberry rhubarb jam? If so could I please have a recipe.. I might have a buyer for my jam but they want it all organic! I would love to have the outlet for this sale....

Blessing Sister Brenda

Could you please tell me if jello is organic??? How would I find the answer to that question??? Thanks

Blessings Sister Brenda...

Took the kids this morning to an Old'n Day Village...the weather held out for us and the kids and I had lots of fun....we walked through all the buildings, had lunch at the  Ice cream Parlor...... Spent time in school at a One room school house...watched a blacksmith make hooks...sat in an old theatre and watched a movie with Charlie Chaplin ( he was hilarious) And to end day the kids rode the Old Fashioned Carousel.    I opted to stand on the side and watch as I knew, that throwing up was not an option for me their ride back home.

It was great to see how the Society for Heritage preservation had restored some of the old buildings and machinery. 

When we arrived home, this is what I found on the kids computer....Esther the cat taking a day off also. Even when the kids went on the computer, she stayed there...nice and warm I guess

Anika picked flowers for me from my garden.....aren't they beautiful?  Thanks my girl.