"It is well to remember that the entire population of the universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others." A.Holmes

Thursday, September 3, 2015

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.
 

16 comments:

LL Farm said...

happy Birthday Kathy! This is such an inspirational post to me because we just planted grapes this year. My grandpa used to tell me I would grow watermelos in my stomach too ;-)

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Happy Birthday dear Kathy ~ I think you had a lovely day and you will be enjoying your bounty for months to come.

Have a lovely day and weekend ~ FlowerLady

Deb said...

Lovely photos, Kathy. They look absolutely scrumptious. My resident birds would love a dive at those. haha! "Happy Birthday to you" today and I wish you everything wonderful that your heart desires. hugs, Deb

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday wishes with love! Beautiful grapes.

A.K.W. said...

Happy belated birthday wishes to you Kathy!

Amy

Theresa said...

Happy Birthday, looks like a "GRAPE" day to me! Have a blessed day dear friend, HUGS!

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

Oh darn, I missed your birthday but send a hug and belated wishes Kathy. A grape day isn't too bad, all I have to look forward to is a snow day for my birthday. :-)
I've been sipping and reading a new autumn magazine too which is making me want to start digging out the fall decor.
We'll have hot and humid for a few more days then down to the lows 70s and below next week.

Anonymous said...

Well that is a very productive birthday for sure! Happy belated birthday! I always enjoy seeing a grape arbor. Blessings on a new wonderful year for you!

Nib's End said...

I feel an instant affinity to anyone who can use the word "posthaste" so naturally as you did. If we weren't already related, I would wish we were.

I read your post aloud to your niece, our resident nursing student. She was a little concerned that you chew appleseeds because they have cyanide in them. I told her if you could spend your umpteenth birthday canning 40 plus quarts of grapes, your cyanide levels were probably okay. Just don't eat handfuls of them. Smile.

Something supremely satisfying in so much bounty...a gift of providence for your birthday.

Daisy said...

Happy birthday, Kathy! Your grape juice sounds so good. My mom used to make canned grape juice from Concord grapes that grew in our back yard when I was young. It was wonderful! I hope you have a nice Labor Day weekend!

joanne said...

Happy Birthday Kathy. I'm so glad you had a wonderful day, doing what you love and enjoying the fruits of your labour for months to come. Happy, happy friend.

Debbie said...

Lovely pictures. Grapes are very beautiful, especially when hanging on the vine as yours were. What a nice treat! Glad to see you finally got some rain.

Timi said...

Happy belated birthday!!!
My father has got many grapes in the garden, too! And they taste delicious! :o)

M.K. said...

Happy belated birthday. These photos are so lovely and your grape arbor is so peaceful. I have a copy of that "Cottage" magazine from last fall that I've been looking at. I'm so, so ready for autumn and all the beauty it brings to the soul!

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

Missed this post, but wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday! Love seeing all of the grapes...how wonderful to harvest your own!

Deborah Montgomery said...

Happy birthday Kathy. Those grapes look simply beautiful! How lovely to have homemade grape juice; I can imagine that the taste is nothing like the store bought.