I bought a bushel of pears last week, already plucked from trees for $11.50 and 56 pounds of concord grapes for .33c a pound, again, already gathered with the extra cents for "gas mileage" and "work" already added in.
Ya know.
For canning.
Company came unexpectedly on Saturday. Sunday was out of the question for a number of reasons. So, three days after getting them, I knew I had to GET to them before it was too late.
Thank goodness for the hard-as-rocks pears because these grapes have been keeping me busy and my fingers (-and countertops and pots and sink) purple. 56 pounds goes pretty far if you ask me and my lonesome two-hands. (BTW-WHEN will my children be old enough to help me can??? I've heard "many hands make light work" but still am not sure if it is true....)
50 quarts of grape juice, canned. A pot of juice to be made into jelly tomorrow. A gallon of grape juice to drink now (we broke the "milk with dinner rule" for fresh, homemade grape juice JUST THIS ONCE) and a heaping fruit bowl of purple orbs stuck to vines sitting on the counter.
I was *THIS* close to tossing the last bit (which looked like not much in the bottom of the box but turned out to be a heaping bowl) in a fit of momentary exhaustion. I believe I said aloud "oh-it's only about $3.00 worth anyway". But the wiser me popped up again (just in time) to say "Well, maybe I will just sort the bad ones out really quick and let them sit until tomorrow when I am in a better frame of mind."
I did. And I am glad I did.
But I do NOT want to see another grape for the rest of the night.
Truth is, though, I fear they (and their purple stains) may haunt me in my dreams.
2 comments:
I have been looking for pears, but can't seem to find them outside of a few here and there.
WOW. Thats a lot of grapes! I have to admit to not really liking homemade grape juice, my moms seemed to sweet. We have some grapes growing out by the pond, but they are all hanging way out of reach in a pine tree. I thought of climbing the tree to get them, but I would have to blaze a trail through all the poison ivy to get them, so I decided they are probably sour, and I wouldn't want them anyway.
I have 3 lbs. of beans to herb up and can, and a mess of tomatoes to sauce, soup and can today.
Keepin' busy!
I love the smell of concord grapes...it is the best smell in the Farmers Market!
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