The Harvest Is Plentiful

On Saturday Ed and I picked the grapes which grow above our hot tub.  Since our summer was so bad, I didn't expect to get many grapes at all.  We were surprised to see that we'd filled a decent sized basket.  Sophie had her fair share, too, since a lot fell on the ground while we were picking.

Master Grape Harvester

I had enough juice from the grapes to can about 16 jars of jelly.
Charlie was here to help.  He was in charge of listening for the "plink" of the lids when they cooled enough to seal.  Very important person!  He went home with two tiny jars, one of grape jelly and one of a plum/apple butter I made, too.

Ready to help with the canning operations.
(And practicing for trick or treating at the same time.)

Our house smells like a vineyard winery, all grapey and musty smelling.  I love that October harvest smell.

And making grape jelly from my own grapevine always makes me feel very Laura Ingalls Wilder-ish, and cozy and self-sufficient.  When winter storms come, we'll at least have grape jelly!

My Verse for this Post...
"She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard."  Proverbs 31:16

I'm not sure I could make enough selling this jelly to buy a field, but having my own tiny vineyard is a constant source of satisfaction.  So is making the jelly.  And eating it!