Wednesday turned out to be another typical beautiful mountain day that started with cool temps in the low 60's and warmed up to around the high 70's with bright sunshine and blue skies. Ahhh just what we have longed for! We rolled out around 7'ish to start the day after a great sleep. It's so quiet here at night except for an occasional animal sound; no sirens, no loud vehicles or neighbors yelling or loud music all during the night. I don't miss the city at all.
After a cup of hot green tea and little cinnamon for flavor I did my usual quiet moments. After the postings of this ramble from the activities of the day before and a lite breakfast of cereal and fruit I headed out to check on the gardens and the neighbors chickens. Everything looked as well as can be expected with the gardens as the ground continues to dry out. I picked a couple more cukes and noticed the sweet potato vines are really starting to run everywhere. The chickens were fine and still no cackleberries as they do cackle a couple times a day, making us think they are laying eggs. Oh well!
I got out the bean sprayer and filled it with bleach as we had green mold growing on several places along the deck and railing as well as black mildew on some of the boards under the porches. Well with just a fine spray in just very little time both of the mold and mildew are gone. I even sprayed my shed and it looks as if I just stained it; what a difference a little bleach makes. That kept me busy until it was time for a hike to the top of the mountain. We saw Joe walking along the back road with Zeke and we walked together up the back trail to the top. We stopped and visited briefly with Norm bringing him his mail. Norm is not doing so well with his leg troubles as the open sores will just not heal.
Well after leaving Joe at his place we headed home for a lite lunch before we tackled another pressing job and that was rendering several quarts of wine berries into juice for 2 batches of jellies and a batch of wine at a later date. What a job that is as the berries have tons of very fine seeds and while I use an old fashion deseeder still lots of the small seeds get through into the final product. I use the blender to smash the berries into a liquid and then pour that into the desseder and then we have to measure out the right amount for the jelly making process which in itself is a "use every pan in the kitchen job" plus red berry juice is everywhere, oh well it one of those jobs that will bring a smile to your palate when you spread it on a hot biscuit or sip it in glass.
After the berry rendering job I planted another couple rows of sweet corn and transplanted some flower seedlings that I forgot what they were from a seed packet the rain didn't wipe out, oh well I hope they were flowers and not weeds. I then went on safari for Japanese beetles and collected quite a number of them before deciding it was supper time as I could smell a venison roast Nancy had in the oven. The smell was awesome as the aroma drifted out beyond the cabin. Along with some smashed taters and sautéed spinach we had us a delicious supper. My oh my, what fine eatin' and the gravy from the roast on top of the taters was the best ever.
Nancy decided she would clean up the supper dishes if I wanted to pick wine berries again. So I donned long pants and a long sleeved shirt and ventured into the middle of the berry patches. These berries are ripening every day and many are falling off the vine. We are just about sick of both picking them and processing them as well but while last year there was hardly a handful to even eat this year they are in over abundance mode. They are a tasty morsel and rather pretty to look at as well. I picked another 2 quarts so I will be able to render them down and freeze the juice for my"fruit of the vine".
Well we tuned into the Rays game and they are playing good ball with good pitching once again and we defeated the Red Sox 5-1 last night. We are enjoying the Rays on the tube which seldom happens here in the mountains. After a hot shower it was bed time with just a few minutes into a good book before my eye lids grew heavy, LATER
