Making Grape juice….

With growing season upon us I figured it  would be good timing to share how easy it is to make juice the way mother nature intended.  I made this batch with store-bought grapes but this summer I may attempt to make it from wild grapes. 

It sounds like a lot of work but it really only takes a few minutes and honestly it’s the best juice you’ve ever tasted.

1. Wash your grapes then run them through a food processor.

 

2. Place them in a pot and add a couple cups of water (I had approx 3lbs of grapes)

3. Cook for 10-15 minutes over medium heat.

4. Strain into a canning jar and cool!  That’s it…. NO sugar needed.

I like it straight up but I also love it mixed with sparkling water! Vodka would make for a good combo too.  Easy Peasy & very tasty!

 

A while back someone asked about the straining bag I used.  The natural food store finally had them in stock again and I purchased another.  It was less then  $3 and it has many uses.  Beats cheesecloth in my eyes.

Crazy Critters

As I lay in bed preparing to share a picture or two and a short tale about some of the animal madness we’ve encountered as of lately my son runs upstairs with a mouse for me to hold while he prepares a cage.  Another “cat rescue” although he was too far gone for saving.  Just last week the kids captured a European Starling out of the same cat jaws.  She actually beat the odds.  She has been in my computer room for nearly a week recuperating.  I am hoping someday her leg will heal and her tail feathers grown enough to go back in the wild.

The two chicks above appeared about a week ago with one of the Rhode Island Red hens.    Weird thing is…. the rooster was sold a couple months back.  They must be fertile for quite some time plus the 21 days sitting on their eggs.  SURPRISE!!

Four pigs went to market a couple weeks ago.  One for us, one went as a barter deal, and we sold two.  Four little piggies arrived on the farm this week, they are so stinkin’ cute!

 

My cousin brought over an Americana rooster name Rudy with a couple hens.  So far they’ve adapted well.  He only chases dogs not humans so I am good with that.  You should see him run.  Someday I’ll record it.

Last weekend my neighbor and I went for a long hike.  On the way home we came across a large snapping turtle that had been hit by a car.  It was demolished with it’s insides coming out but sadly it was still alive.  We were beside ourselves but knew what had to be done.  Initially I attempted to put it of it’s misery by smashing it with a rock on the head but that was unsuccessful and I had to resort to running it over.  It was the hardest thing I’ve done in quite some time.  As my son said to me recently, “I’m going to do it because it is the right thing to do.”  Not because I want to.  If that could be everyone’s mantra we’d be living in a better place!