Most of the grapes are ready. The problem is protecting the ones that are ready from the chickens, while still allowing the ones that aren't to ripen.
I'll be making jelly again, I suppose. I don't really even eat grape jelly. I don't eat much bread, and even rarer have jelly or jam on it, so why do I make it every year? Sure, I give it away as gifts. But there are only so many people that I can give it to.
I still have several pints from last year, even after giving a whole case to my sister. Last year the crop was so heavy it tore the arbor down. This year there are fewer, thanks to the llamas who pruned the vines, and ate some grape flowers too.
So in the next few days I'll be making jelly. The orioles will be happy.
In sad news, poor little Charmin didn't make it. I don't know why. I found him this morning. Georgina is sad and trying to steal the other two from Esther. I guess the two of them will raise the two chicks now.
9 comments:
I'm sorry about wee Charmin. Such a pretty baby. Your grapes are gorgeous. Make jam and offer it for sale. I'd buy a jar or two. Seriously.
Your grape pictures look so luscious! When we were in Illinois we were able to grow beautiful grapes and I always made jam with them. More work with the skins and all but we liked that better than the jelly. Here close to the Canadian border, we have yet to figure out a way to successfully grow grapes. Maybe we'll get it yet.
Sorry to hear about Charmin's demise. It just may be the wrong time of year for chicks to hatch. We've had two hens taking turns sitting on a clutch of six eggs. One little guy hatched two days ago (no more yet) and he seems to think it's perfectly natural to have two mamas.
I so enjoy your posts, Annie, and have such admiration for you in knowing the time and energy required to care for your mom.
Find time to take care of yourself and keep the posts comin'.
Mama Pea
Those grapes look delicious! I am so sorry about Charmin, what a cute little chick too.
So sorry that the little chick didn't make it. Something about their inability to free themselves from the egg shell...I've had that problem whenever i bred birds in the past. I'm not a big jelly fan either but i sure do bet it is delicious!
We like to make juice from our grapes. Put 1/4 cup of sugar (or more if you have a sweet tooth) in a mason jar and add just enough boiling water to dissolve it. Fill the jar with whole washed grapes. Add water until the jar is about 2/3 full. Can according to recommended guidelines.
When you open the jar next winter, just strain the mushed grapes out and drink the juice. Couldn't be easier...
sorry about charmin.
have you ever tried making dye out of your grapes?
Thanks everyone for the thoughts for Charmin. He was weak from the start, but I really thought he was going to make it.
I have dyed using the grapes, and that will be tomorrow's post. Thanks for the idea, Rick.
Lol...this northern person finds the thought of having a grape glut amusing. I've only ever seen grapes growing on the vine when on holiday. Cougettes/beans/apples? I've had far too many of all of them this year. Wanna swap?
Concord grape juice is a great way to put by your grapes if you're not a fan of jam. I see someone else has posted a recipe. As I recall, one neighbor harvested wild grapes, put bunches whole into a cheesecloth sack, and boiled the sack in sugar water before decanting into jars. I probably have remembered that wrong: my friend Jill and I picked the grapes and drank the juice, but I suppose we skedaddled when it was time for kitchen work.
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