Grape Juice

 Often times at the auction if produce goes extremely cheap we will buy it for that simple reason.  This then forces us to figure out how to use it.  In this case it was 6 qts of Concord grapes that sold for no more than 25 cents a quart.  So the kids and I googled a simple recipe (gotta love the internet) and spent and hour making grape juice.

 

Step 1: Pull all of the stems off of the grapes.

Step 2: Wash all of the grapes with water.

Step 3: Drain the water off of the grapes.

Step 4: Mash the grapes (we used a food processor).

 

Step 5: Simmer mashed grapes on low for 15 minutes.

Step 6: Strain the mashed, cooked blueberries through cheesecloth over a large pot for several hours to overnight.

Step 7: You now have 100% grape juice concentrate that is the thickness of milk.  Refrigerate it and drink it as concentrate or dilute it (which will make it more like store bought) with water.  Excellent!

Mums The Word

 

Last week we had a large task before us…to plant approximately 40 mums!!!  We do not typically purchase plants in this quantity, unless of course it’s a REALLY good deal.  And that it was.  One of these days I’ll post a completed picture of the front of our house so you can see all of them, but for now you get the idea:)

A diligent helper

A cute face:)

Farewell Summer

While school is in full swing and canning is endless, we took a few breaks last week to enjoy life as it is.  Our first stop took us to Silver Beach….ahhhhh, it was wonderful.  As fall temps were fast approaching we knew that there were few days left worthy of a beach trip.  We managed to squeak one in on the last day of gorgeous high 80s weather.  Lucky for us, everyone else is in school.  So aside from the handful of retirees and young moms, we had the beach to ourselves.

As you can see, we had the beach to ourselves!

  The kids buried themselves up to their knees!

 

The water is NEVER too cold when you’re a kid!

Thanks friends for a great time!

Another fun break was a tea party that the girls put on for some of their “little” friends:)

 

All dressed up for the occasion!  The girls were excited to find a use for their dresses from their uncle’s wedding.

Finally, one nice overcast day provided the perfect environment for some outdoor fun pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

As only boys can do, Harrison caught a frog in the middle of all the pictures!

 

 

 

 

I truly am!

Keeping My Head Above Water

 

Several weeks have past since my last post and these days I am simply “keeping my head above water”.  You know, just trying to stay on top of things.  Since my last post we are quite busy with school.  Sydney has just entered the 6th grade, Holland 4th, and Jackson 1st.  Harrison and London keep fairly busy with Preschool activities (play-doh, puzzles, coloring, anything to keep them from interrupting the school day:)) and I continue my job as full-time teacher! 

Along with the schooling we have been busy with many extra curricular activities.  One of which was our annual Labor Day camping trip.  Once again we had a great time reconnecting with old friends and making new ones.  It’s a great time never to be missed! 

Here are a few photo memories!

A dear friend was kind enough to capture my family playing water balloon volleyball.  It was a 4 on 4 tournament involving towels and water balloons on a volleyball court.  I  feel, based on the level of fun that we had, that this should be an Olympic sport.  Definitely blows Curling out of the water from a spectator’s perspective!  We didn’t go very far in the tournament but we had a lot of fun while it lasted.  Jackson and I played the back, Sydney and Holland played the front, Joe played the coach, and Harrison and London played in the sand.  Perfect setup.

We basically sign up for everything that the entire family can do.  A favorite with all of the kids is the Punt, Pass, and Kick competition.

Aside from packing and unpacking for camping, school, and canning, canning and more canning, we have a new addition to our family.

Meet Leo….

We chose the name Leo as it is Latin for “lion”.  He looks rather Lion-esque don’t you think???  Ok, maybe not.  But he is the cutest little guy.  Our older two dogs are now very old, 12 and 13.  Knowing that their time with us will not last forever AND being given the opportunity for a free puppy, we decided to go for it.  Here are a few more cute pics…enjoy!

Asleep in the bucket of the tractor.

Sharing a bed with Monroe…a rare sight to behold.

Another Week

 

This past week we had the opportunity to have my parents in town.  While they were in town we stayed VERY busy!  We took a day to go and see Grandma, my dad’s mom, in Grand Rapids.  After lunch and several pictures we headed to Silver Beach and spent a couple hours soaking up some sun, sand, and water!  Definitely a full day.  I don’t risk sand in my camera so I only have pictures of our time with Grandma, but I won’t need pictures to remember a day well spent at the beach!

 

 

 

A little playground time at the nursing home.Gives the kids an opportunity to stretch their legs after the long drive up.

Just before my parents arrived we discovered a produce auction!  We, of course, went, and purchased a bit of organic produce to keep us busy canning!!!!!!!  Applesauce, spaghetti sauce, and frozen pumpkin were the main accomplishments of the week….let’s just say I’m ready for a break from canning.

Some were a little more helpful than others:)

Unfortunately I forgot my camera yesterday when my mom took us to breakfast and to play “Putt-Putt” golf, as my father calls it.  We had a great time and of course the kids wanted to “stay there forever” but one game was enough for the adults.  London figured the game out quickly….hit the ball hard, wherever it lands pick it up and move it right next to the hole, tap it in and everyone cheers…good plan.  I think Harrison thought we were playing real golf as he attempted to hit it out of the course with each swing.  Lucky for us (and anyone else who might have wanted to golf that day) no one else was there.  Great day to golf with kids!

As always it was so nice to have my parents in for a visit.  My dad left for home this morning and my mom will follow tomorrow morning.  After that we will pack up to leave for our annual Labor Day weekend camping trip.  Hope you all have a wonderful holiday weekend…as I’m sure we will.

Finishing the Patio

The day finally came a few weekends back to finish the patio.  I am finally getting to a break in my schedule to post the finished product!  It was A LOT OF WORK…but well worth the effort.

Here my brother-in-law is compacting the crushed concrete before laying the sand.

Next was the sand and the leveling of it.

I did my share of “screeding” sand.

Seeing the actual patio blocks go down was encouraging.  Seemed like it took a long time to get to this point.

Laying the “soldier row”…added a nice touch.

A ride in the bucket of the tractor is always a bonus!

Back to work…sweeping the polymeric sand into the cracks of the block

The kids weren’t the only ones working:)

Wetting it down to harden the sand.  Ahhhhhh…..finished…almost.

We still have siding to finish, some stream and pond backfill to do along with a few flower beds and some deck work.  But that is all easy stuff compared to this project!  Glad to be done!

We’ve been enjoying the patio this week sitting out on it many a night with my parents in town:)