My First Grape Vine!

Well, its not the first time to can grape juice, but it is from our own vine. And I do mean Vine. I looked out the window and saw grapes growing and hadn't realized we even had many at all.

Sooo I told Rich I was going to pick a few grapes. Luckily I took 4 grocery bags with me because I filled them all full up to the top of the bag with no room to spare. Of course I am thinking I don't want to do any canning right now but I was committed. This was Sunday before we left to go back up to Silverdale. So I had to gather up the canner and the juicer and bottles, etc... When I started canning the next day... I had forgotten to bring the jar lifter and lids... can you believe it??? Well then right in the middle of a batch I had to go to the store and purchace lids and NO WHERE could I find them... I drove all over town and finally the last place had them Whew... I was a bit worried. Then I couldn't find jar lifters so I bought this oven mitt and that was all I had to work with to keep from boiling my hands.

It didn't work too bad. I'd have scrapped the whole project if I would have had too many batches. I figured since I am always telling my kids they should can and stuff I better do it myself. Even though you don't have much space you can still be inventive. I have such a small sink and NO counter space so I washed the grapes in the tub. I was really getting into this...except that my back was killing me by the timeI was done.

Here are some shots of my spacious kitchen and sink and then the beautiful photos of my work.

You can see the amount of space I had to work with. But I have to say It was certainly gratifying and well worth it as the juice is out of this world. You'll never buy a bottle that tastes so good.

My first batch........ arent they beautiful and all because of one vine of grapes. Who'd a thunk!

LATER!!

New Fly over of the apt project

Here is the project well underway now you can see the first four buildings have roofs and the one is sided. They are starting on the siding on the long one on the left this week. The one in the back where it looks like dirt, they have started framing... woo hoo. And the entrance and some sidewalks have been poured. Hopefully by the next fly over we will see asphalt. Then I will really WOO HOOO!!!
later...

Puyallup Fair

This is outside Old Country Buffet, where we ate dinner prior to going to the fair... We also waited here for Rich to go get the van after the fair and the girls were acting silly. Karissa won that pig ... isnt it cute.

This is the girls at the fair. Amanda, Karissa, Jessica, and Brittany. Kaitlyn was in a bit of trouble and couldnt go. Oops!! We had a fun time and the girls rode lots of rides ... we looked at piggies and all kinds of things. Ya gotta love the Puyallup Fair!!!

Rich's 63rd Birthday

Dear Friends and family came over to celebrate with this momentus occasion. After all it is not often we see a dinosaur... (sorry Rich I couldn't resist) We all had a fun time telling jokes ... the kids and adults alike played with the puppies, as you can see in some of the photos.
This is what 63 looks like... Not bad I'd say!!

This is a pic of our Workers from the Apts. We all went to lunch on Rich's birthday. He was not happy about it but endured it well.... I stretched his parties out for 3 days... and he diserves it.

Some time I am going to figure out how to lay this out the way I want it to go but not tonight (this Morning - I mean) so till I get better I guess youre stuck with this. Hopefully Julie will come and clean it up for me (hint hint) or Josh or who ever - Just somebody help me I am not computer savvy

This is the only building so far with any siding. This one is a set of 5 condos. Mark wants us to live in one of these when they are completed enough for move-in. Then we will really be on site. Maybe next month?

New Puppy Photos

The photo with all of them sleeping is so cute, and they all have names. Starting from the left is Sam wise, Kiah, Maxie (black one), Sparkie, and on the bottom is Teddy . Don't tell me you can't tell who is who... a mother knows her babies...I know - you all
under - stand this right???

Julie says I need to add more stuff but I don't know that what I am doing is sooo exciting. I will add some updated photos of the puppies and the apartments. The puppies are 5 1/2 weeks old already... that went by so fast... altho I am tired of washing and cleaning up after poop and pee. Good thing we set a sheet of vinyl down under our little pet fence. It has been a great lifesaver for the floor. It cleans up easy especially if I line it with newspaper. The puppies are getting the cutes personalities. They are so surprised at every new thing they discover that they can do like a simple bark they will jump afterwards, then try it again. All of them are very cuddly... I worked hard at that I love snuggly puppies. All of them are sold but one and I think it may be gone too. I really wanted one myself. ugh!!! but 3 dogs is too much for even me.
General Conference this weekend was so wonderful... I can't even begin to discribe it the way some of you do. But I was just as touched as were you. This weekend was Rich's 63rd birthday. We had a small party Sat evening. It was fun visiting family and friends, and using our house again. I was so pooped that Sunday was a blissful day of Conference and rest. I rented one side of the duplex yesterday, so I needed to be in Yelm, I decided I should spend the night in my home and go to humanitarian today... It felt so good to be able to do that again. While we are in Silverdale I have been sewing book bags and dresses and rec. blankets and turning them in on the weekends. At least it keeps me connected