Burns Best Farm

Mustang Grapes - tips & recipes + Homeschooling question

Mustang Grapes are in season!  We picked for 30 minutes yesterday and had enough grapes to make 20 quart jars of grape juice (super easy recipe!).  And, I've got a huge bowl of juice ready for jelly-making tomorrow.  In fact, I could probably make 3 batches of jelly tomorrow.  This is the beginning of the mustang grape season so we should have plenty of time to get enough for more grape juice (to drink).  I'd like to have a total of 40 (or more) jars of grape juice. 

Mustang grapes cannot be eaten raw or the juice either.  They are so acidic that they burn your hands when picking or preparing.  So, when I make the grape juice for drinking, I simply add 1 cup of grapes,½-cup of sugar and boiling water to quart jars (that have already been cleaned, sterilized and hot).  I can them in a water bath canner for about 15-20 minutes.  Everything processes at once so there's no need for any pre-mixing or cooking.  You need to let them set up for about 2-4 weeks before you start using them so that the grapes and sugar have time to blend together.  I also use this recipe for cranberries later in the year.  Last December our local grocery store had bags of fresh cranberries on sale for $.99.  I bought about 10 bags and made lots of cranberry juice.  I can make 3 quarts of cranberry juice out of 1 bag.  Also, if you mix 1 quart of grape juice and 1 quart of cranberry juice, it makes the best crangrape juice.

And, when I get the grapes ready for making jelly, I simply throw them in the pot, cover with water, turn the burner onto medium high and when they start to pop, I stir and mash them up.  Then, I strain them into a large bowl for several hours.  Once it's drained, the bowl goes into the fridge until I'm ready to start canning (usually the next day).  Or, you can freeze the juice until you're ready to make jelly.  I follow the recipe for making jelly that's included in the pectin box.

I'm hoping to also make a batch or two of Mustang Grape wine.  These will probably become Christmas gifts for my family.  If anyone wants the super-easy wine recipe, let me know and I'll post it.

We've also been busy cleaning out our shed.  It's been packed for many months - too packed.  Hubby couldn't even get in there to get his tools or store his tools properly.  So, today we cleaned it out and threw out half the stuff.  I plan on posting most of it on freecycle.  We have some really great stuff, but we just don't use it.  It's been in storage for 5 years!!!!  I am definitely sure we won't be using those things.  It's nice to know that we've pared down on a lot of what we use.  Having an extremely small kitchen, I quickly realize what I need or don't need and what I don't need or takes up space goes ... it's as simple as that.  We are down to one box of toys in the shed.  I'd say about 1/5 of the shed are bills/receipts and homeschooling material.

QUESTION:  We live in Texas.  What do we need to keep for homeschooling records?  I know that in high school we'll need to keep better records of what the kids have done for college, etc.  But, what about elementary school?  Middle school?  How are other Texas families keeping up with their children's school work?  Each child gets a box for the year (like a storage box).  If we keep this up, we'll have 24 boxes in the shed just for school work!!!  Any ideas?  What can we purge?  We should we keep?

Birthday Party / 4th of July

Hope your having a great holiday weekend.

Out here in the country the firework displays were all around us in the distance last night. The woods echoed and made it sound like the Civil War was going on. Our valley had the smoke of our fireworks laying low and you could imagine soldiers of time past walking out of the fog.

Its quiet now with just a few booms way off a little earlier. The only light is the fireflies that light up the fields. And the sound of the pond critters and animals in the woods. Back to normal, ahhhhhhh.

We had my Mom , sister, BIL, hubby and I to celebrate the 4th. We had a cookout over at Moms and then everyone came over here b/c we have a better view of others shooting big bucks into the air : ). BIL brought a few so we had our own little ooohs and ahhhs.

All the kids had other parties to go to so it was just us oldies out having cowboy coffee and taking it easy. Oh we had a game of washers to play. You toss washers in a box , something like horseshoes but so much easier on the arms after a day or too. Sis and I beat the fellers, LOL. We even beat em in a rematch, lol. Bring it on!!!!!!

Last weekend we had the bigger party with bonfire and fireworks for our Grandson's 3rd birthday. We used the tent and its still standing.

There was badminton,with super size rackets and shuttlecocks. If you could get past the laughing b/c of the size of the equipment to play , it was rather fun. We had a cookout and our new SIL did the cooking,: ), he did a great job.

We had icecream and cake in the tent. Here is the little birthday boy opening his gifts. He got an ant farm. They have to order the ants, hey I offered my ants, take all you want!!!!

Notice his arm. He broke his collarbone the day after Fathers Day playing on his kiddie jungle gym. The day before he was playing in our woods, climbing on rocks, sticks etc., goes home and gets hurt on a kiddie toy. : ( He's healing great.

This is baby brother eating  icecream and cake , yummy and messy!!!!

DH and I have been cutting dead limbs down and piling up for the bonfire, we are planning for this spot for further bonfires, its open and we can really make it huge and safe.

This one did get pretty big, we stayed at a distance. Our thoughts were on the firefighter in Ca. Just thinking how big this little bonfire was compared to the ones they are fighting. Prayers going out to everyone in the line of the fires and firefighters.

This bonfire shot up sparks that we really didn't need any fireworks. The evening was perfect, rain the day before made it safe for such.

I remember when we first moved from the city to the sticks. My Dad, Mom, Sis and I were sitting around our campfire on the 4th of July. Loving the outdoors but yet feeling we were missing some fun not having fireworks. So Dad fixed that. He stirred up the fire to make sparks fly and yelled Happy 4th Of July. We'll never forget that 4th in the woods.

And then this one makes us laugh to this day. When our kids were little , my sis was so into holidays. And the 4th of July had to have fireworks on that day rain or shine. Well it rained so sis and hubby lit fireworks in the rain while we watched from inside the dinning room window.

Gosh this even reminds me of the time when sis and I were in our early teens and Sis wanted a Christmas tree that very day. It was raining hard then to. So Mom and I sat in the car while sis was out in the rain holding up trees that were leaning up against the Hen House store and we would say ya or nay while she got drenched. LOL we still laugh about that. So sis is not a fair weather person. But she still likes to celebrate on the day that the hoildays fall on. Me, I like to celebrate when we can, even if its a week off. Makes the holidays last longer : ).

Oh back to the b-day party!!!!!

When our bonfire was dying we shot off the fireworks.

Oh and the sparklier fun,

The party was such fun, it felt like we had the 4th of July that night, so its been holiday fun for a few days now.

Now the fun part is when you gather all the blown up fireworks and fire em up. There's still some that has a little more ump in em, some snap, crackle and pop. So DH and I sat out tonight to have the last hoopla of fireworks.

I'm so glad we have another day left of the long weekend. It will be in the garden.

Got the first tomato and I ate it right in the garden : ). Also some more garden pic to share. Blackberry picking today in the woods had me up against a snake, a pretty green one. He posed for a picture so I'll be sharing that on my next blog.

Coal our growing pup is a great fur friend, she did not get scared from the noise of the fireworks, just layed on the deck like it was no big deal. Shake a box of dog biscuits , now thats a big deal.

All take good care
Many Blessings
linda

The 4th of July in Kansas

Today... Happy 4th!

I took the girls to the parade.  They decided at the last minute to help with the church's float, so I took them.  It's about 30-35 miles from our house, so we got up early and got some chores done then left.  The Parade theme this year was REMEMBER WHEN... and our church's float was small (just a pick-up truck with several walkers walking by it).  They had signs that said "Wise Men still seek Him"  and 3 wise men in the back of the truck with a wooden camel.  They got lots of cheers, I guess, through out the parade, so they knew people appreciated the thought.  My kids handed out flyers with the rest of the walkers... they has small children's booklets and magazines to hand out and a few adult flyers as well.  I just watched from a friend's house which is the very corner the parade starts and while we saw all the floats, many weren't in sync until after the first block. 

After the parade, I quickly ran into town with a friend's keys to her store and picked up as many empty boxes as I could fill in our mini van for the BIG FIRE CLEAN UP!  I so appreciated the boxes, that means I can start right away (and we did this afternoon), just removing dirty items from the immediate house and have them out of the way for the cleaners.  I packed up my cookbooks and then boxed up all the food they told me to throw and I also inventoried it all.  My girls packed a few boxes of items they did not want to have messed with when they are away at camp.  

We are to record our time cleaning and boxing items and we can work off our deductible.  The insurance adjuster told us to keep track of times.  He does not have the exact rate we will be paid at, but it will be between $8-10.  I figured if we got the rate of $8, we need to work off 132.5 hours.  So far, we've logged 16.25 hours.  Not much, but it's hard to do much when they say you can't clean until the cleaners come.  But some things like laundry and boxing up items we can do (now that we have approval).  I have four pages of inventoried items from my spice cupboards.  The adjuster said I'd likely have to take a price shop and get some prices on the items and then figure the cost... by how much was left in the packages.  Full, half, 1/4, etc.  I am really hoping that turning in sheet with prices will be adequate.  Rebuying everything right now seems just over my head.  First, there is no where to put it, and second, I just want the house clean before I think about restocking the cupboards.   I will say however that fried potates with no seasonings aren't as grand as one might think... LOL.  I really should buy a little salt and some garlic or a couple seasonings... but then again... maybe I just shouldn't fry anything!!!  That's bad for my health anyways!  

I am feeling a bit better today.  I was thinking about how overwhelming this process is really turning out to be.  And yet... I recall that recently I was stunned by the doctor's diagnosis of depression.  As I was thinking of the garden... if you are gone 1 week, it takes nearly 3 weeks to catch up with weeding... things just don't stop growing!    As I looked at the house and noted my past couple years worth of keeping house (little was done when I was dealing with my daughters illnesses, our hard sheep year, and my depression)... I realized I kept the family areas clean... as clean as say... there wasn't food stuck to the furniture, but dusting was done every couple of months rather than once a week... I had lots to catch up on... and if it worked out like the garden... even though I am getting my energy back, trying to keep up and catch up at the same time was still going to be a lengthy process.   Now I am offered help.  I was at first mortified that they are cleaning EVERY little piece of my home, but I am beginning to be grateful for this opportunity... I mean how often does one get a full cleaning and professional cleaning help when one does spring cleaning?   I simply have to humble myself and just admit that I need help to get back on my feet... and Wow, God already provided that help!  Even before I asked.  How great is that?  God is sooooo good to me sometimes that I know I hardly deserve any of this (I don't deserve any of it!), but oh how grateful I am to be His child!    

Warmly, ~Melissa

Strawberry Rhubarb Jam

Does anybody make organic strawberry rhubarb jam? If so could I please have a recipe.. I might have a buyer for my jam but they want it all organic! I would love to have the outlet for this sale....

Blessing Sister Brenda

Jello...

Could you please tell me if jello is organic??? How would I find the answer to that question??? Thanks

Blessings Sister Brenda...

I am still here

HAPPY 4TH

Ray and I would like to wish you and your family and happy and safe 4th of July... God Bless America!

Blessings Sister Brenda

Changes

  The last few weeks God has so allowed me to see a first hand view of what we do to ourselves in our need and desire to try to be God in our own lives.  One family that we were privileged to be around were really cute folks, darling child, and on the outside seemed so together and full of potential.  However when we got past their outside what we found were lives filled with tortures of their own making from debts to dependency....and the beliefs that their problems were not answerable by anything, not even God.

   The second scenario we lived and learned from involved watching a broken family.  The Dad had turned away from God a long time ago....he had systematically lost everything that mattered to him as God allowed him to have his own way on every topic in his life.  Slowly over 12 years he has reduced himself to being alone, without his children, without a good career, and now without friends for the most part.  His devotion to control has cost him almost everything he could have had.

   A third scenario involves a very bright young family.  They have successfully achieved the 300K home, good works in their local church, health and love in their home, but abundance eludes them.  They cannot see tithing in money form though they give of them selves regularly.  They have thought that better to invest in their future and give of their services......and its funny how in that decision, somehow their finances always don't work out. They see saw on making it solidly despite hundreds of thousands of dollars of business a year.....bread money on some days of the month just doesn't exist.

     As we have prayed and listened to each of the people in the above stories. God has so shown me humility.  I know that the root cause of all the issues they are facing I too face.  The issues are such no brainers when you see it in others. They trust the problem more than they trust God is a God.  They trust their control is better than submission to God in their lives.  They trust sickness and overwhelming issues are more powerful than the way of Jesus and the promises of God to Abraham's and his descendents that if we obey and worship God He will provide for us on all levels.  Pretty easy to see when the stage isnt your own life isn't it?

     God has so been present in our involvement with each of the families and many others on our walks.  He has lead us to a place of absolute sifting this summer.  We are being shown so many areas of our lives that He expects us to give up or to change how we handle.  We are glad, for each step, which are always hard for me personally....within days I have been released from fear, from worry, from overthinking the issues to death.  I simply look for and wait for peace before I move forward.  As a toddler in this, I know that there will be disobedient days and God will once again set me straight.  I had one of those moments yesterday as I was called to stand firm against someone attacking my family verbally and potentially in other ways.  When after 18 years I stood up to him, he immediately stepped back.  Amazing.  That is God.  For this person has had serious issues and standing up to him usually means a huge emotional scene.

    Why is it we cannot trust God in all things. Why does our humanness always involve taming our wills and surrendering our plans to Jesus...you'd think after the facts of the Bible...it would be an easy course, but ole self sure holds out until the end some moments of our lives.

  God is good.  The more time I am purposefully finding to refresh my mind in Him, the better my life becomes.  God help me to always run to and trust Him.

Sweetie

Here I am!

I've had several people asking about me. I'm sorry I sorta disappeared for a bit.  I've been extremely busy with work and SUMMER!!

The days are supposedly getting shorter again, though it is hard to tell at this point.  Hubby and I went camping last weekend for our anniversary (17 years!) and we didn't even bring flashlights or anything.  I was able to read my watch at all hours of the night.  (and no, I don't have a digital watch) 

We are doing very well.  C will be 11 in 2 weeks.  He's very excited at the prospect. 

We have a 3 day weekend off from work, which is fabulous.  Hubby and the crew are going on a float/fishing trip with the men of church.  I'll probably go to a BBQ at my parent's house. 

I hope to be around a bit more.  Sorry for disappearing on you. 

Have a wonderful 4th of July everyone!