Harvest frenzy continues...

We procured a lovely steel shelving unit for our harvest drying rack this weekend that was quickly put to use for curing veggies.

But right about the time we thought things were settling down Monday the neighbor stopped by. Seems he'd gotten a call from a friend about a shipment of grapes that weren't able to get where they needed to, so they were looking for someone that would use them. Since he has grapes already, we got a delightful special delivery... wow!

Lots more than we expected! A closer view of the beauties. We'll juice them and use some for jelly. If there are no takers on sharing some of this bounty, then we will start a batch of zinfandel wine as well. Good neighbors... well they make good neighbors!!

In the meantime, Newt, who always tries every object out as furniture... gives this drip hoses a test for comfort. She lays on them often, so maybe they retain heat or something to that effect. She's an odd cat, if we haven't said so before.

While Newt goes experimental, Magnus, the intrepid house-cat, "lols" on the living room floor. He seems to have no penchant for testing anything uncomfortable, preferring to lounge on soft things like fluffy rugs, fleece blankets or his human's bed.

Smart kitty!

And an update. Neither of us got a call about winning that draft horse filly. Sigh...

Kinda-sorta normal weekends resume...

As of Sunday, Ryder left Seven Trees to go prepare for being a herd sire and show bull next spring. In exchange we have gained a Red Dexter steer for our beef locker. He was known as dummy, but we've taken to calling him, Buddy.

Seems a friendly enough fellow... mostly just follows Doug around and does what Douglas does. Including already "MOO" to speed up breakfast delivery... or apparently that's the idea, thanks to Doug. Let's hope this is a habit that doesn't last for either steer.
More neighbor bounty... this in the form of a concord "type" grape from a friend of our neighbor M's grape vines. No one knows anymore exactly what variety grape they are as some old homesteader planted them originally. We decided to turn the lot of them into juice for fresh or canning, and will make a small amount into a batch or two of jelly. M picked them and brought them to our doorstep... how cool is that??

Next they are washed, crushed and being heated, all part of the juicing process. After we drained them in a mesh brewing bag, we ended up with about a gallon of concentrated juice from a 5 gallon bucket of grapes. Not too shabby.

Check out the body in this juice in glass? Whoa, this is concentrated food... not just juice! Grape juice, particularly concord is beneficial for the urinary tract, digestion, and packed with antioxidants. Salut!

If you really need to warm up...

Magnus shows how it is done... camp in the empty kindling basket, next to the toasty woodstove AND in a sunbeam! Just add Zzzzzz...