we be jammin'

Last week my "Project of the Week" was turning grapes into jelly and juice. The four of us picked two boxes worth of grapes at a friend's vineyard, and then the real work began....

Here are the sweet delights before their transformation:


My wonderful wee helpers are picking the grapes from the stems:



While working so diligently, Soren said, "Mommy, this is a LOT of work just to get a drink!"

Here is the "processing phase" of straining the cooked grapes through cheese cloth for the incredibly delicious jelly. I think it took about a week for the purple to leave my fingernails...and I am still finding juice splatters on my kitchen cabinets.


The finished products! With Soren expressing exactly how I felt...very tired of canning. But boy do I have some YUMMY jelly and juice to enjoy -- and share!!



A huge shout out of thanks to my friends for sharing their grape harvest!!