It's A Grape Day For A Birthday~ Thursday in the Garden

 Today is my birthday and what a grape day it was ! Yes, GRAPE . We have so many grapes ripening the birds are hovering overhead and in the bushes waiting to eat the grapes my husband grows and tends, so grapes needed to be picked posthaste. Ripening fruit is no respecter of days and my birthday needed to be spent preserving the harvest. No sacrifice at all, I love to stay home on a rainy day like today and do something useful anyway.

 Some of our gardens are thriving abundantly because of the record breaking high temperatures we had this summer. Our grapes grew especially well. This grape arbor grows the red grapes that make the very best juice. The grapes growing here do have seeds and when I open a jar of canned red grapes I pour the juice through a strainer. I eat the grapes and seeds left in the strainer though. I always did like fruit seeds. I eat the seeds of apples, watermelons , oranges, tangerines... and no, contrary to what all my elders told me, I have no watermelons sprouting in my tummy.

 These grapes make the most beautiful claret colored grape juice. If you've never tasted home canned grape juice you've missed a treat. I have never cared for commercial grape juice and pass it up for water when it is offered. My home canned grape juice is surprisingly delicious and now my preferred juice.Unfortunately I only can a limited supply and share it with friends and family on special occasions leaving no extra for sipping whenever I want some good juice. Maybe this makes it even more deliciously special knowing it is a scarce commodity for us.

 This grape arbor over benches grows green seedless grapes. They are very sweet and abundant. My husband once made wine from these grapes and the wine tasted and bubbled like champagne, oh so delicious , but very labor intensive. I made canned grape juice from them this year. Everyone in the family can drink this and they love it.

 The birds were beginning to gather round and launch an all-out feast on these delectable little grapes this week so we picked almost all of them. I have canned 21 quarts of the green grapes. The grapes, after the juice is strained out, will be wonderful in fruit salads or home made fruit cocktail.

I spent today , my birthday, canning grapes. 21 quarts canned and most likely 21 more quarts to can and put away in the pantry. I think we'll do fine for grape juice in the next year. The grape juice is usually ready to drink around Christmas and is so pretty in our Christmas goblets.



While the canner was bubbling away for the required 20 minutes processing I took time to sip a cup of coffee loaded with real cream and read the newest edition of Cottage Journal my favorite magazine. Today was a grape day , a happy day , a rainy day ( YAY ! ). Knowing the fruit of our labor is literally growing in our gardens and after many hours of intensive work produces a beverage that beats the taste of store-bought grape juice makes it even more a GRAPE day . Have a grape day today my friends. Take time to enjoy your gardens and the fruit of your labor. If you're abundantly blessed you're even able to sip a bit of that hard work done in love.

 

"Who Me ?" YES , You !

 "Who me ? " Yes, daughter, I am talking about you !

 You're our first-born, and our only daughter. We could not have asked for a better daughter than you have been , and are. We prayerfully hope your daughters follow your example as a godly woman, wife, mother, and daughter  and your sons are blessed to marry wives such as you. I won't embarrass you by gushing over all the qualities you possess that show your love & faith in God, but I could ! You have also been an example to me, your Mama, and for that your father & I praise God.

Happy Birthday Autumn , we love you !

Gifts That Keep On Giving ~ One is Pink, the Other Is Furry !

 Two of the best birthday gifts ever !

 The evening I returned home from my week at the Puyallup Fair, after unloading sheep around midnight with the help of my daughter and daughter-in-law, I discovered this beautiful bicycle on the front porch ! My heart almost stopped, was it for ME ?

 Yes my daughter said. She and her 4 children bought me this beautiful hot pink bike, because they knew I would love it. I did not even know she was paying attention to me when I talked about getting this type of bicycle, and even if I thought she was listening closely, I would never have considered they would buy it for me. And surprise me too ! "give: to bestow without a return". Webster's Collegiate Dictionary

 I immediately felt like the little girl I was many years ago, hoping for a bicycle from Santa. I did not receive my own bicycle then though. My sisters & I received a bicycle to share. Santa had to be careful with my parents' finances, for good reasons. I was thankful, but somehow, it was not the same . But look, now I have the bicycle of my dreams ! Isn't she a beauty ? I am going to get a basket for the handlebars soon.

Whimsy-Two ( or just plain Whimsy ), my German Shepherd puppy was a present from my husband. Whimsy already likes to run alongside me as I ride my new bicycle. She & I are getting along very well. Truly two of the best birthday gifts ever ! I think my family knows what I love because they love me and I am feeling pretty spoiled by them. Thank-you A.Joy and grandchildren. Thank-you Jim. These are gifts that will keep on giving. Gifts that bring me joy, entertainment, and the knowledge I am well- loved. "You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving." Amy Carmichael

 

"Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father f lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. In the exercise of His will, He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we might be, as it were, the first fruits among His creatures." James 1:17,18

Happy Birthday Easter Baby!

Happy Birthday David! You were our Easter present so many years ago, our Easter Sunday baby. Our celebration of the resurrection of Jesus was graced by happy memories of the birth of our first son and caused me to reflect all the more on a Heavenly Father who would allow mankind to crucify His Son in order for His blood to cleanse us from all unrighteousness . Our prayer for you , your brother and sister has always been that you seek God and His ways... God has been gracious and kind to you. He has preserved you through warfare and personal tragedy. He provided for you and your 4 young daughters when there seemed no hope, and He has answered so many prayers in ways that make your heart happy in spite of circumstance.Son, always "Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4

Foffy, Hawen, Way Fo Me! ( Happy Birthday Joni)

~Happy birthday Joni! Third daughter of four, younger sister of mine!~

~Look at how cute we were. This is obviously before our youngest sister was born. We are dressed in our Sunday school clothes. I wonder what you were saying. ( From left to right, me, sister Karen, sister Joni, the birthday girl!)~

~Joni, all my earliest memories of you involve a pink, puffy snow suit, Mom huffing and puffing after all the effort to get you dressed for the snow. I remember her helping us three little girls out the door of the trailer house, down the steps and into the small fenced yard so we could play on the swing set. You could barely move with all the snow gear you were wrapped in to keep your little body warm. Then, you would try to follow Karen and I , and we were not too helpful in this endeavor....you would cry " Foffy, Hawen, way fo me!", translated, "Kathy, Karen, wait for me!" Then of course, you would fall, and could NOT get up in all the pink fluffy-ness you were wearing and you would cry. Mom would then come outside and bring you in to go through the reverse process of getting you out of the snowsuit. Every time I watch The Christmas Story and see this clip I remember you, yes, EVERY TIME! So sister, here's to you and long ago memories and the ties that bind us together forever. With much love, your OLDEST sister, Kathy.~

Spot on Birthday !

~~~It's my birthday, I was tagged by Shannon of Kenleigh Acres to share 5 things you might not know about me. I am flattered anyone would be interested , so I will list 5 things you might not know, but first I am showing a picture of one of my favorite things in my life! A lamb, a spotted cute little lamb born here this past spring. The picture of this little guy (who is not little anymore) just makes me smile !~~~~~~FIVE THINGS~~~ I. I hate to eat mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, any food that has potatoes as it's main ingredient. The only exception to my extreme dislike of cooked potatoes is very, very crispy french fries and potato chips. There, I said it....don't hate me for my hatred of potatoes, be happy if you're sitting with me at a restaurant or eatery that serves potatoes with everything , which my life experience shows is the usual case, I will give you my hash browns, baked potato, mashed potato, thickly sliced french fries...and you will not have to give me any of your food in return. I am so very happy to have the dang potatoes off my plate threatening to mix with the food I DO want ! I spent many, many dinner times as a child sitting at the table until bed time because of my refusal to eat something that turned my stomach. All the MORE reason to detest potatoes... 2. I do not like the movie The Wizard of Oz. 3. I do not like the movie Gone With the Wind 4. My left foot is a full 1 1/2 sizes bigger than my right foot. 5. I will post number 5 tonight. O.K. Now that I have probably offended so many people who cannot conceive of a person who dislikes the national staple, and dislikes 2 movies everyone else raves about and watches over and over ....have a wonderful day today ! It's my birthday and I am off to do some things that make me happy. ( perfectly normal and family oriented type things )

~~~Spinning my wool just might be one of those happy things I do!~~~