Parade of Lights

The annual Parade of Lights was last night and we had a great time. All of the pictures I took were of the kids, I didn't take a single one of the actual parade!

My brother Charlie, on the phone, Rance and Lena.

Lena was so bundled up she told me "mommy I hot" more than once.

Me and my girl! Her daddy taught her to say "Chicken Butt" instead of cheese.

Lena insisted on sitting on the curb, so Big brother and Daddy just joined her.

Lena had her moments of wanting to join the parade, and I was glad when it ended.

Sometimes it's a Breeze!

This is my very first blog!

Today my daughter, Lena, and I learned how to make Grape Juice from my Grandma Brink. It was so fun and really easy (a breeze). What a wonderful way to spend a day.

I missed getting a picture of the grape vines but they are beautiful and were the back drop to my wedding!

Lena played in the irrigation ditch while mommy picked grapes.

While I was picking Grandma started cleaning the grapes.

We boiled water to heat the lids, to put in the jars and to put the jars in to seal.


We also warmed the jars in the oven.

Next we filled the jars with 1 and 1/2 cups of grapes and 1/3 cup of sugar and all the way up with boiling water.

You have to wipe off the rims of the jars before you put the lids on. (You also have to keep the toddlers out of the sugar!)

Next you screw the lids on tight and put them in the big pot. The water level should just cover the lids and needs to come to a rolling boil, then let the jars boil for 10 min.

After 10 min. take them out to cool. The juice will be clear but will begin to turn purple. You will also start to hear the jars pop as they seal.

Lena and I had a wonderful day together with Grandma Brink. We love her so much and love everything she has to teach us. Next week I think we will be doing tomatoes!