The Old Folks Home

[superchemicalgirl]

Well, 22 pounds of wild muscadine grapes have been converted into 12 jars of jam, and 13 jars of jelly. The jam has set, but the jelly hasn't yet - don't know if it will or not. It's been a fun (if sticky) experiment. Many years ago, my mother tried making grape jelly once. Hers set, a bit too well - it was too rubbery to spread, and had very little flavor, to boot. Whatever other shortcomings mine may have, at least it is grapey!

Whenever my jam doesn't set I just label it "syrup" and use it on pancakes or ice cream. I have to say my strawberry vanilla bean jam not setting last year was one of the most delicious mistakes I've ever made.

It's about 90 degrees out right now - I know to many of you that's not hot. But to us here, that's Hades. We generally experience Hades for 2 weeks in July. This is unprecedented. Then add a full bee suit and lugging woodware down a hill and back up a few times... I'm gross and contemplating wearing my birthday suit in my bee suit next time if this weather doesn't break. I got their fall treatments on this morning - mites and diarrhea - will have to repeat in 7 to 14 days. Then everyone gets a candy board before it gets too cold and will get wrapped this year for winter to help insulate.

 

[JD4570]

SCG, you are making me hungry...snicker.


Wisher, I think somebody from Bama or of the region in general (could be from East Texas Too) has played a dirty trick on the Texas coastal plains.....someone has imported no see-ums! Dang it!

 

[Alaskan]

How can you tell?


Can you see them?

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Nope but you can feel them, in your eyes and up your nose.

 

[dsqard]

Bunny, I agree, lots of fussy little pieces but yes the art deco style translates well into fabric.
Had to get out into the fresh air today. I went up into Adam's canyon. It is north of SLC in Layton. It is a VERY popular hike probably because it isn't terribly long (just over three miles round trip) and you get to see a waterfall at the end of the trail. Very nice day to get out and get some pictures.

 

[Bunnylady]

That looks like a delightful hike. I'm assuming that the broken, weathered footbridge in the foreground of the last photo got washed away at some point in time - I can't believe anyone would be crazy enough to deliberately build one that you had to wade to cross on!

Noseeums are mostly a springtime phenomenon around here - one of the very few things that I hate about spring (that and pine pollen - ACHOO!) The bugs that are bugging me the most right now are the sweat bees - at least, I think that's what these are. I hardly ever see the little monsters, but they get inside your clothing and sting when they get to a snug spot. On 4 separate occasions in the last week, I have had one go up my right pant leg and sting me somewhere around my knee (they usually manage to sting me several times before I can get rid of them, too!)

I'm beginning to think there's a sign on my knee:

 

[dsqard]

Bunny I think the one in the water was an older one that washed down the river. I am sure the water is much higher in spring with the snow melt.

 

[JD4570]

Nope but you can feel them, in your eyes and up your nose.

Not to metion occasionally in your ears. Unfortunately little buggers hit us two times a year, spring and fall.....which initially is like spring with lots of blooming flowers (bradford pear trees in particular).

 

[Lynn Manes]

Sorry for the owies! If you do not want to make all those grapes into jelly now, you can juice them and freeze the juice for making jelly later. I made English Muffins today! Cooking on the griddle:

Hey that's great! Didn't know that English muffins could be made on a griddle. Are you willing to share your recipe? I'll have to probably change it to be gluten free though.If so just send it to my email: [email protected] Thanks a bunch! Lynn

 

[Lynn Manes]

The apples dipped in honey sounds delish. I also use honey to make a hot toddy if we get terribly sick. 

Here's a cure all recipe: 1 cup of warm (not boiling) water. Add: 1 Tbsp raw honey, 1 Tbsp good cinnamon & 3 capfuls of Bragg's ACV.(Be sure to shake ACV up so you get the "Mother" in it.) Drink daily. Good for tummy ailments, acid reflux, weight loss and tons of other ailments.