YUM YUM!!! GRAPE JELLY!!!!

Up early this morning expecting g-son,hubbie is off today,he is back on his regular work schedule as school starts tomorrow.Daughter started her new job this morning and d-in-love started a new part time job early this morning,this could be called a day of new beginnings, we'll pray that they are all good.
After breakfast I got a call from a friend who works at UPS asking if I knew #1 son,they had a package for him to be picked up with an incomplete address.Hubbie and I had a couple more errands that needed to be ran so after I put my Avon order on line we headed to town. We got all but one errand done, we didn't find a rocking chair to replace the one in our living room that broke yesterday.We got g-son a happy meal and headed home.
Our grapes are ripe and the bees are starting to suck them dry so I need to make some grape jelly today.......2 big bowls and still quite a few left on the vines,the Lord has blessed us with a plentiful harvest of all our garden fruits and vegetables this year.The old timers would say this is going to be a very rough winter.
Hubbie helped me get them off the stems and into the pot before he went to mow the lawn.It has taken the grass a long time to dry today because of the heavy dew this morning (another sign of fall).
Making grape jelly is more involved than the jams I usually make,so each step had to be done between the Nena I'm thirsty,Nena I want to watch Tigger and Pooh, Nena I'm hungry,Nena play with me,Nena I want to go outside,etc.,etc.!!!!!!!He acted tired about 2:30 and wanted me to lay down with him,I thought sure he would take a nap and when after 45 minutes I was the one taking the nap , he shook me, bright eyed as ever and said,"Nena I want some drink", I gave the nap idea up.Anyway when I got finished I had 29 half pints of grape jelly for daughter and I to share as she bought the sugar and lids to make it and would have helped if she had time.
Also met with the plumber and the well driller today. #1 son came in about 6:00 while the well man was here and they talked for an hour, he gets his gift of gab from me. After he took g-son home hubbie fed the animals while I checked on the cattle.We grabbed a grape jelly biscuit and took off to Lowes to buy a new dish washer as we need one and since the plumber is going to have it unconnected we thought we'd just put a new one in,bummer they don't have a white one in any of the ones I want, hubbie said just get a black one,I said not unless you want to get a new fridg and stove to go with it (MEN!!!!thats why they don't decorate).Off to Home Depot and bummed again neither do they.SOOOOOOOOO...I won't get a new one now, OH well!!
Came home and finished moving things,hubbie is taking out insulation (oh joy) my basement is a
disaster area,well the ceiling is anyway,hope this goes quickly but it seems nothing is ever simple,just like the plumber discovered today our breaker box is grounded on the copper water line so hubbie has got to find out from the electricians at work tomorrow what to do about that.
I have cakes to bake tonight so I got 2 granny pounds, 1 7-up pound, 2 blackberry wine, and 1 chocolate pound in the ovens around 10:30, some days there just isn't enough hours in them.I cleaned the kitchen while they baked.Hubbie finished the insulation and went to bed. It is now after 12 am and I'm just finishing up and heading for bath and bed. Thanking God for all the strength he gives me and hoping I am using it for his glory.Good Night.

USE IT OR LOSE IT

At church today d-in-love played some beautiful music on her violin everyone was so appreciative of her and her talent. I'm so glad she started playing in church,she is so good and needs to keep up her musical talents as we all need to take inventory of the gifts of talent God has given us and use them,as I read at the bottom of the page in my Bible this morning there was a story about that very thing.It was about a moth collector that had captured a very beautiful and rare moth,he had kept it in his moth sanctuary all winter and as spring came he felt bad because it had continually crawled around the inside of the enclosure trying to get out,so he cut a hole for it to fly through, but it just sat on a shelf instead of flying through the hole,because by not being allowed to fly the muscles it needed in its wings had not developed and now it was to late and it couldn't fly away. So if we don't use our talents they will rust away and then if we ever do want them they just will not work.
After church we came home to lunch with both sons,d-in-love,daughter,father-in-law and g-son,we had the beef stew and boiled cabbage, corn on the cob and corn bread with iced tea and peach wine cake for dessert.Father-in-law always asked for dessert, maybe because he gets to take what's left of it home with him! Our family has never been big dessert eaters and I don't want cake or pie laying around tempting me.We got to visit awhile after we ate and look at the pictures of daughter's friends wedding she was in, the pics were very good....
I'm not bragging or anything but I think I have a beautiful daughter.I wasn't crazy about the green color of these dresses but they turned out to be just gorgeous in this outside wedding.The bride was one of daughter's best buds in college.
Daughter left to spend some time with her little sister who has been in California for the summer,and everyone else went home,hubbie took his dad home and stopped by Sam's for a couple of things on the way home.We worked downstairs for a little while moving more stuff around and he took down part of the drop ceiling to expose the waterlines,he said it is a good thing we decided to re-plumb as some of the lines are turning blue and that has to mean they are wearing thin.
I walked with my dogs for more than an hour this evening,I got a few goose bumps,that is a sure sign fall is in the air,it really felt good outside tonight.When I came in hubbie was still working downstairs so I put up all the laundry that I had left down there and shuffled some more things around,I think we are about ready, hopefully they will come on and get it done this week.
I wrote up my Avon orders and entered them on the computer,I don't have many this time, maybe more people will call in the morning.#1 son called and said g-son will be here at 8:00 in the morning as they both have early jobs tomorrow.Daughter came home and she is looking so forward to starting her new job but dreading the long days of working 2 jobs for the next 10 days,she went to bed early. I am tired,a nerve in my hip is bothering me today,must have irritated it moving things last night.I'm headed to soak in a hot tub for a while to see if that will relax it so I can sleep. Thanks be to God for all my blessings. Good Night.

SMOOTH SAILING ON THIS BUSY MARKET DAY

Up early and getting ready for market,everything went smooth as silk this morning,uh oh.
Got to market about 9:30 no one was even impatiently waiting for me today.After we got set up hubbie bought corn from a neighbor and then he went on to grocery shop for his dad and check on him,he asked about the meals-on-wheels and his dad said no,so I guess that ends that.He is so stubborn, it is so aggravating and when he complains about having nothing to do, I feel like saying that's only because that's what you choose.It is very hard to help someone who won't let you.
On a lighter subject market was very busy today and I sold crafts and cakes, stayed constantly busy even when daughter brought me a greek salad for lunch I didn't have time to eat very much of it,but I sure enjoyed it when I got home.
I went to Aldi, Ingles and Walmart to pick up supplies for next Thursday then headed home.Hubbie was digging out the water hole in the creek when I got here so I unloaded and started putting things away until he came in.He was worried about our tomatoes getting worms in them,so I went up to the garden shed and found some insect dust for him to put on them,
those tomatoes are his babies. I was walking with the dogs when #1 son and g-son drove up to visit,it just made my day when g-son jumped out of the truck and came running and hugged my legs like he was so glad to see me,oh the joys of grandmotherhood are so sweet.We played outside until he said he was hungry,we came in and I fixed him a grilled cheese sandwich with brownies and milk.Hubbie and I had already eaten a light supper, #1 son ate a couple ears of fresh corn.D-in-love was on a photo shoot with a soon to be new mommy from our church.
When she came in she showed me some of the pictures and they are so good,she sure has a knack for picture taking.
After they went home hubbie and I reluctantly went downstairs to start moving things around for the plumber.To our surprise we pretty much got it all done except for some things that will have to wait and be moved the night before he comes.That just goes to show the dread of the job is much much worse than the actual job usually is. Anyway it gave us a chance to throw away a lot of junk that we don't need so when the plumbing is finished there won't be as much to put back.
We put on a big pot of beefstew to cook overnight for lunch tomorrow and hubbie is already in bed and I am headed that way as soon as I finish this.See you in church tomorrow to Worship Our Savior Jesus Christ. Good night.

DAY SPENT IN THE KITCHEN

Slept in a bit this morning,hubbie was off and g-son was going to be late,nothing pressing to get done this morning.
While I was having my cereal and hot tea daughter came in,she had been to do the paperwork for her new job,she is so excited,but these next 10 days are going to be tough working 2 jobs.
Hubbie is outside working on our ditches and gutters,it rained another 1/2" last night.I looked at the okra hubbie cut the other day and decided I had better go over to a friends produce stand and buy some more for my okra and tomatoes mixture.I came home with a cabbage,bag of apples,bag of sweet potatoes and the okra,I love fresh produce stands.
G-son came in with his dad who was going to work on a counter top for a customer of his,as it is to wet to do any grading work today. Hubbie came in to play with g-son while I baked my cakes,I made 18 layers, 1 granny pound, 1 7-up pound, 1 peach wine, 1 orange soaked pound and made g-son some brownies.We ate lunch of tomatoes sandwiches,g-son had a pizza roll and brownies.
After lunch I started canning my okra and tomatoes,I had 12 pints,that used up a lot of the tomatoes I had been looking at all week. This was my afternoon scenery......I spent almost the entire afternoon in the kitchen.






This is how hubbie and g-son spent some of their afternoon,I think they had a bit more fun than I did although my back probably feels better than hubbie's tonight...
G-son played himself out finally and fell asleep for a late nap.
I went to the garden to cut basil for market tomorrow and as I came back to the house my cousin Mike drove up,he still can't go back to work after his heart attack and he is looking for something to do.He stayed and had supper with hubbie and I ,daughter-in-love came after g-son and daughter came in after sleeping all day,her week of 3rd shift finally caught up with her.We all chatted a few minutes then Mike left,he said he loves to come here because there is always so much going on and someone always coming and going and everyone is so nice and friendly (yep that's us in a nutshell),then hubbie and I went to clean church.It has looked like rain all afternoon and thundered in the distance but no rain here yet. Spoke to soon, while we were cleaning church the rain started, we drove home in a steady downpour with some thunder and lightening but it didn't last long thank goodness.
I iced 12 caramel cakes, 1 chocolate, 2 coconuts and glazed the orange pound cake,then wrapped what I could tonight.Watched the news and it looks like we are in for more rain tonight.Hubbie is talking to his brother about getting meals-on-wheels set up for their father so he can have more hot meals.This has been a rewarding day and we are so Blessed with our family and our health we never forget to thank God everyday.It is 12:30 am and all is well (do you know where your kids are?) . Good Night.

RAIN, RAIN,AND MORE RAIN

"Hurray" another muddy,rainy day,when I let the dogs out this morning I took a shovel and cleaned out a couple of our ditches that over filled last night so water wouldn't wash our drive away.I came back in and cut and wrapped all my cakes ,got everything loaded and headed out to market. There were few customers when I got there and it didn't get much better which made for a loooong day.Always rainy days are slow,I guess no one likes to get out and shop in the rain.I crocheted tops on 4 towels between customers.Then I had to load van in the rain(oh joy), looking like a drowned rat(my hair and rain just do not mix well), I headed out to run my errands,bank,P.O., 3 Avon deliveries,Aldi and Walmart, I know everyone is wondering what grease bucket I've had my head in.Dark clouds loomed large when I headed home but no storms yet just drizzly rain.Got the craving for a cappuccino, not thinking about the fact that I hadn't eaten much today,I indulged my craving,I don't know if it was the sugar or caffene or just an empty stomach ,but by the time I got home I was in a soaking sweaty sickened state,this has happened before but not this bad,I came in the house and had a piece of cheese and some crackers and felt better. Daughter helped me unload and put things away ,hubbie came home and we took a break while watching the news.G-son came to stay while his mom and dad went to pick up another piece of equipment.We ate supper of the left-overs from yesterday and played until mom and dad got back and aunt T came in from running.We all had a wonderful visit I enjoy the kids so much when they are around I just feel so comforted.
After everyone left hubbie and I went to clean church,it started raining hard and thundering and lightening while we were there. When we got home I checked the rain gauge and it has 1/3" already tonight and it is continuing to rain pretty hard as it is now after 11:00,everything is pretty well water logged, what a difference a year makes as last year we were in such a terrible drought.I guess I rather have the rain than worry about wells drying up and things dyeing of thirst,we must remember God has a plan and this is just a part of it as He knows best.That bed is sure going to feel good tonight.God Bless and Good Night.

MORE CANNING ,YEAH!! NEW JOB FOR T

Gosh this has been one of those days I don't even know if I can remember all that went on.This is what my dining room table looked like when I got up....With all this staring me in the face while I ate breakfast I know I'm looking at a busy day.I started a load of laundry and cleaned the bathrooms,the dusting,mopping,etc can wait but I always stay on schedule with my bathrooms,I can't stand a messy bathroom. I decided to make another run of salsa when I picked almost 1/2 bushel of roma tomatoes yesterday.While I was into my salsa making the door burst open and in comes daughter with a big smile on her face and the announcement that she got the job at a local elementary school that she interviewed for yesterday.It was so good to see her that happy,she has not been happy in her job for awhile,she was so excited she probably won't sleep much the rest of the day and she has to work 2 more night shifts,but her last day is Sept.2.She will try to work both jobs starting Monday to help out with the start of school she'll work 8-2 there then go to her old job and work 2:30-11:30.whew I'm glad she is young!!!!Thank you Lord for working things out for her.
I made 10 pints of salsa and canned 4 quarts of beans while doing 3 more loads of laundry,whew and I'm not so young!!!!!
The plumber called to come tomorrow but we had to put him off until Monday due to daughter sleeping during the day.Hubbie met with another well driller this evening.So now to pick one....
At 3:30 I took beans I had cooked some tomatoes to slice and a caramel cake and went to church to help serve the meal to the family of our church member who's mother died.We served about 50 people and had plenty food left over, our church is blessed with wonderful cooks that are always willing to help.
When I left and headed home at 6:30 it started pouring rain and as I got in the house it started thundering and lightening very badly really close.It rained 2" in about 30 minutes.No decision on walking tonight.Hubbie and I ate some supper of food I brought home with me,he had cut my okra and I still have plenty of tomatoes that I was going to can some okra and tomatoes but it is to late today,that will have to wait maybe tomorrow.I went to pay bills and do paperwork for the week,made my to do list for tomorrow,and took care of father-in-laws bills while hubbie fed animals outside.
At 9:00 I started icing cakes ,12 caramels, 4 chocolates, 2 coconuts and wrapped all I could tonight.It is after 12 am and I feel like I've done enough for today.Thanking my Lord for all the Blessings of today,the strength to carry out the task of each day and for my wonderful church family it is such a joy to work hand in hand with them for the Glory of our Heavenly Father.Good Night.

SAD AVON DELIVERY & MORE TOMATOES

Up and out early on my Avon route this morning,all deliveries went well except 2 ladies were not home today.I went by the P.O. to mail another sympathy card to another friend who lost her mother and went by a daycare where the daughter of one of my Avon customers works to sadly deliver a watch her mother had ordered for her and did not live long enough(cancer) to give it to her.I kinda dreaded this because I didn't want to upset her at work,but she didn't get to upset and just hugged me and tried to pay for the watch,but money just isn't important sometimes(to me anyway).I considered her mother like I do most of my customers a good friend.
I made it home at 12:00 and had a salad for lunch with daughter who is getting ready for a job interview,after working all night and she has to work again tonight.While she was gone I started moving things from under the waterlines in the basement,I could only work until she got back because she has to go back to bed and try to get some more sleep.I worry about her driving home in the mornings.I used to work swing shifts when I was about her age and after 3rd shift one morning I woke up in town and had no memory of how I drove there,it was a scary feeling.I also recall a co-worker who was driving quite a long distance home that went to sleep at the wheel and had a terrible accident and was killed.I can't help but think of all this every time she works at night.I can just pray for God to be with her.I hope she gets this other job and there will be no night work.
After she went back to bed I went to the garden and picked beans and tomatoes,I don't think we've ever had this many tomatoes they must love this weather we're having.The beans aren't looking so good I didn't get as many as I thought I would,but I need some for a supper we are serving at church tomorrow night for the friend who's mother died and her family.While I was in the garden d-in-love called and wants to go pick up her chickens today when hubbie gets home.I came in and called and set up another appointment with a well driller for Thursday evening.
Hubbie and d-in-love arrived about the same time and we all went in his big truck to pick out the chickens,she got 2 barred rock,2 rhode island reds,when we put them in her lot and gave them feed and water they ate and drank like they had been there all their lives so I think they will do nicely for her as they are tame enough and don't mind being picked up and petted,g-son just wanted to play in their house.
My walk today felt more like a swim as it is really humid again,daughter came down and we walked and had a nice chat while I walked my last round.She is really fed up with her job. Hubbie was eating a sandwich when we got back so we rustled us up something for supper as well,then she went back to lay down again before her 1 am shift starts.
Hubbie is going to break my beans while I bake my cakes tonight.I had 48 layers to bake tonight,it is 11:45 and I am waiting to take the last batch out of the oven. Hubbie got all the beans broke about 10:30 and went to bed,he has to get up at 5 am.I have one of those mile long to do list for tomorrow,I guess the best part of that is there won't be time for much of my regular housework(so sad) but I'm sure it will wait for me until next time.There goes the timer for the last layers and here I go off to take a bath and get to bed. Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.Good Night.