Grape Jam

Saturday afternoon began the official start to preparing for winter at mom and dad's house with the first gathering of firewood. Loaded up in the truck, we headed over to my Uncle Dennis and Aunt Jill's house. They recently cleared out several trees and had gathered the logs into a large pile prepared for future cutting.

Dad began the task of cutting the logs into manageable sizes to load into the truck. As he was working, Uncle Dennis made his way out to us and informed us the grapes were ripe for picking if we wanted any. Yes!

Mom, Raleigh, and I made our way to the grape arbors and right away tasted the goodness of the harvest! In actuality I think if we had been a week earlier we may have had even more to pick, but we gathered two bags full of sweet treats. While picking (and eating) Raleigh and I had a discussion about how they made

seedless grapes. The grapes we were picking were not seedless. Neither of us had a good answer. It was fun to speculate and hear some of his explanations anyhow!

With two bags of seeded grapes in hand we needed to make a decision as to what to do with them. With a few recipe searches I decided we would make grape jam. Raleigh was in on the action with me! --Except for going to Walmart to get some supplies. I even tried pulling his own puppy dog look and begging trick on him and to no avail I went to the store by myself! 

We picked and sorted all the good grapes from the branches. Added them to a pot of water on the stove and let them simmer for a bit to release their juices.  Raleigh enjoyed the next step he called "jamming the grapes." We cranked and cranked and cranked the juicer to separate all the seeds and skins from the juice. 

Satisfied that we had pressed out all the juice we could, we added the fruit pectin and sugar to boil into a delicious syrupy thickness. There was some debate as to what step to follow next for proper sealing of the jars. I've never made jam on my own and with mom present she advised on the techniques she remembered doing with her mom but we didn't have what was needed. The technique I wanted to try wouldn't work either because I didn't have the proper equipment. The deciding factor ended up being neither technique!

Once the jam had boiled the correct amount of time it became all hands on deck. I ladled the jam into clean jars (sloppily!), mom cleaned the rims of the jars, and dad followed behind to screw the lids on tightly. This is where the internet made the ultimate decision for how to seal the jars. After the lids were placed the jars were turned upside down and the heat (and some science I don't understand) would create a vacuum seal.

There ended up being too much jam to fit in the small jars so what was left I poured into a larger mason jar. At this point we were all licking the leftovers from the spoons and pan. What would go with this left over still warm and oh so good jam? Ice  cream!

Friends, it may sound like an odd combination to put grape jam on ice cream, but I'm here to say...don't knock it til you've tried it! I may just have to create a new ice cream flavor....

Anyhow that's the adventure of grape picking and jam making from the other day! The bottom picture is to prove I did still help with the wood gathering and loading! A tractor driving lesson was also given. Let's just say I need a few more lessons. Preferably on a tractor that has more then just 3rd gear and reverse!  Oh and for those worried about the dog so close to the tractor with me driving...I had already parked the tractor and it was turned off.

I have decided I will just never be photogenic. Look at Raleigh crank those grapes though! He meant serious business!

Give Me Jesus!

 I love mornings when I get to wake up early and begin my day at a leisurely pace, usually with a cup of coffee. This morning I sat down to drink a fresh cup of the heavenly goodness from one of my favorite mugs. This mug is my favorite because it is large (more coffee! Yay!),and a simple cross adorns it. It’s a reminder to me that not only do I want coffee to start my day, I more importantly need Jesus! While enjoying the first few sips I was reminded of two things as I watched the steam rise.

First, just as the steam lifted from my cup, I’m reminded Jesus is not on that Cross any longer. He arose from death (Luke 2, Acts). With purpose, Jesus permeates the lives of those who invite him in (Acts 2:38). The first delights of his goodness promise something rich and fulfilling as we taste what he has in store.

Secondly, when that pot of coffee starts brewing and I breath in the aroma of coffee as it fills the house my desire to drink of it grows with anticipation. Even people who claim to not like coffee (how can this be?!) often comment that they enjoy the smell-- some even going as far as to say they wished they liked coffee. I was reminded of 2 Corinthians 2:15:

“For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.”

Coffee has a distinct and pleasurable smell. If I were to spend my morning in a coffee shop, I’m pretty sure I’d come out smelling like coffee. At the very least my breath would smell of coffee. Though I fail miserably and often, I want my life to smell like Christ. Do I spend enough time with Christ to become HIS aroma? When we are filled with Christ, the way we live should be as such that others are drawn to him. Not because of anything we’ve done, but because of the change that Jesus makes within us. How can we change so that others recognize that our lives smell distinctly and desirably different?

LOL

Typically while on vacation at our "island home" various sentiments are spoken from the family with a common theme. They vary from, "I wish we could move here," "I wish we could stay here forever." "This is Heaven," and so on.

This year conversations were held with the little ones. It was made clear that if we moved to the beach then everyone else could to! We would miss everyone- family and friends. We couldn't leave anyone behind!

That got me thinking though. We have a large family and we love everyone of em'! Aunts, uncles, great aunts/uncles, cousins, grandparents they would have to move! Then we can't forget the friends. We have a LOT of friends. Especially if we consider all 10 of us that went on vacation...we each have lots of friends! It's safe to say we love everyone of em' too! And well, they would have to move to the beach too! We really would miss everyone.

It's a pretty big island and we would all fit on it for sure. But if we moved there and all the people we loved and  wanted to be there moved, then, well I suspect they have family and friends they love and would want to be there too...AND then they would have people they loved....and then those people would have people they loved! At some piont the island would be full of people- and way full of people who love people. I wonder what it would be like to wake up and realize that my neighbor was someone I didn't know but that somebody I loved asked to move to that island with me loved! Confused? It's simple really! LOL! There's Lots of Love in this world. What if we chose to love people we don't even know because we are all connected by other people who love?

What if we take it to an eternal level and strive to make it to Heaven with all those people? What if we made Jesus the most common love theme and made his love known. Because that stranger we meet is indeed loved by Him! 

That's enough soft and cuddly for now :) 
It's a little uncomfortable to make my thoughts known sometimes. They aren't always the most polished or sophisticated...so remember LOL! please :)

Summer Giggles

There is an immature side of me that has been giggling these past few weeks of summer. The sun is shinning, the heat is on, and well, for some ladies the clothing has all but slipped away!  Has anyone else noticed the naked ladies popping up all over town? I caught my first glance in my neighbor's yard of all places! As the days went by they showed up outside of respectable businesses, near the porches of nicely manicured lawns, and sometimes right out in the middle of nowhere with nothing to attempt to hide behind! There is never just one. They seem to prefer a crowd.
I suppose I should be offended at the sight of them. My dad shudders if you even mention the sighting of a naked lady. He can't stand them! Oddly enough though he's allowed them to hang out around his and mom's pool in the back yard! Of all things!
Theses naked ladies really are none too shapely. Though they are tall and lean, my opinion says they are much to thin and lacking in curves. At least they have sense enough to blush at their nakedness.They are said to be descendants of a much more modest, though sometimes more colorful group of women. I suppose you can see the resemblance in the shapes of their face.

If what they say about men is true, I can't quite figure why there haven't been more wrecks around town from gawking men! These naked ladies seem to have no power! Like I said, I've probably taken more notice to them as well as many other women. Instead of being jealous, self conscience, or making comparisons, women are actually laughing and joking about the naked ladies! They are even allowing their men to be alone with them! Some men have even brought naked these naked ladies home! Can you imagine?!
*As I type my eye is drawn to one outside my window. It's late now, but perhaps tomorrow I'll pick it and place it in the center of my table.

*Some parts of this may or may not be entirely true. For instance I can't see a single one outside my window right now.

Late night thoughts....At what point does the church settle for covering of sin and making things appear "right," instead of addressing the underLYING problems. If we set out to make a person feel better about themselves (or have the mentality of "at least they aren't doing this or that anymore) without addressing the heart of the matter, is that not doing much worse? Do we want to set each other up to be obedient to God's word, or do we settle for quick fixes that lead to further brokenness down the road? Sometimes truth hurts. Are we willing to put relationships on the line by speaking truth to each other? Are we willing to accept truth?