What's the world coming too?

I just finished writing notes and addressing some note cards to
send to special people that needed to know I was thinking about
them today. Hand writing and addressing (I did "cheat" and use
my own personal return address labels though) and placing a
stamp on three different greetings to friends this morning.

It is with sadness that I have recently learned that in our school
system children are no longer taught "cursive" writing.

Can you imagine?
A whole new world out there that infers that the
people growing up in today's school system shall not be able to
"sign their name"!

I can't even imagine!

The Grapes of Wrath and other assorted novels

What a good idea! Let's make jelly out of the grapes that Daniel and I picked from our vines Sunday.

Yeah right!

One hour of picking. This was fun. Daniel sorted and placed them into the container and was quite happy to do it until the first bug appeared and jumped onto his pants! Bug Off!

Next, carry the containers into the house and wash and pick through the grapes. Dumb me, I separated the skins from the pulp and then placed them into a kettle to cook. 2 hours

Remove the pulp, skins and seeds via the food mill. What an old crank that is. 3/4 of an hour.

Next day, measure juice (20 cups). open box of SureJell and read directions. Oops, wrong directions. (Later).

Place 5 cups juice, 3 cups sugar and one package of pectin into kettle.

Heat until boiling, boil for 1 minute then transfer into clean, hot jars. (2 hours)

Repeat the 5 cup juice, 3 cup sugar and box of pectin one more time. (save the rest for tomorrow when Daniel can help make the jelly)

In the meantime, ladle into the jars, place caps and rings onto jars, secure tightly and place on surface to cool. Listen for the heartwarming pop!

(total time measuring, boiling, capping and lidding......4 hours)

Sugar: five pounds $3.29

jars: free, had them

lids: $1.89 per box

rings: Had them

Pectin: $2.59 times two

Day two. None of the jars of jelly jelled.!!!!!

Look up online how to remedy the problem.

Remedy........start over.

Uncap, pour into measuring cup (only 4 cups not 5 this time)

4 teaspons of pectin added and mixed to cold juice. ! cup sugar added to boiling juice, and

boil for 4 more minutes, stiring all the while. Oh, brush the kettle with butter and you will

get no foam to skim off).

Do the above process for three times, repeat and then wait for Daniel to come home from school to help with the final batch.

Yes, it all jelled.

Yes it was fun (at first)

Yes Daniel was tickled to help.

Yes he took his three jars of grape jelly home.

Yes it was worth it.

Cost per jar? Near as I can figure about $11.83!

Next craft fair you attend that has a booth selling home made jelly and jam for $4.50 per jar....................................grab it! What a deal!

Stay Sharp!

This morning's newspaper had an article that started with
"Did you know that 25% of us have the Alzheimer's gene?
So we searched science for advise.
The result: 10 surprisingly easy tactics that might save our brains., by Jean Carper

1. Have Coffee (5 cups)
2. Floss
3. Google
4. Grow new brain cells
5. Drink Apple juice
6. Protect your head
7. Meditate
8. Take D
9. Fill your brain
10. Avoid infection

Let's go to "Take D: A severe deficiency of vitamin D boosts older Americans' risk of cognitive impairment 394%! An alarming study by England's University of Exeter finds. And most Americans lack vitamin D. Experts recommend a daily dose of 800 IU to 2,000 IU of vitamin D3.

Personally, my friend Cindy Hossfeld recommended it to me. Well, I truly did try it. Amazing results followed. The ones that I noticed were: I can close my hands into a fist and have no pain. A feat I could not perfom prior to the D3 taking. No pain means a much more physically and mentally productive day! I can tell the difference in pain and function if I miss taking it for a day. I personally take 3,000 IU's and that was at Cindy's recommendation. My office manager has rhuematoid arthritis and her Dr. put her on D3.

Here are the "google" facts about D3. Try it, you'll like it!

Osteoporosis: Deficiencies in vitamin D have been shown to reduce the absorption of calcium which can lead to osteoporosis if the vitamin D levels remain low for long periods of time. The results of a study done in 2009 in Switzerland at the Geneva University Hospital showed that a daily supplement of both vitamin D and calcium prevented osteoporosis from worsening while reducing the number of falls that occured in the elderly. The reduction of falling led to a decrease in hip fractures.

Alzheimer's Disease: Research is being done by universities on the effects of vitamin D deficiency and Alzheimer's Disease. Some studies have shown that the vitamin is effective in reducing the symptoms of dementia and decreasing the risk of getting the disease. Additionally studies are underway to see if vitamin D combined with curcumin can remove Amyloid plaques found in Alzheimer patients.

Cancer: In 2005, the American Cancer Society reported that two studies were done on whether vitamin D supplements could reduce the risk of developing ovarian, breast and colon cancers. Although the data was inclusive, continued research is being done to determine the role that vitamin D plays in the development or prevention of cancer.Read more at Suite101: Health Benefits of Vitamin D http://www.suite101.com/content/health-benefits-of-vitamin-d-a186768#ixzz0zmxmsHSD

The "Pink Ribbon Classic" Horse Show

"Ride for the Cause"... that's what I prefer to call it.
We attended the Pink Ribbon Classic Horse Show
in Meadville, Pa. over the weekend. A wonderful
Charity event sponsored by the Tri-State
Saddlebred Association.
Sarah was not able to take the two "newbie" 1/2 Arabs that
she had planned on debuting there, due to her broken ankle,(All she could bring to the show was her "bright pink cast" and crutches) however her
new student, Kelsey McGinty was able to go.

Kelsey had not traveled with us before as she has only been a student for 6 weeks and there was a period of adjustment for all of us.
What does she know, what does she like, what is the horse like, what does he like. What do we like, what does Sarah like.

Wants and needs all rolled into one big weekend!

Except for the fact Kelsey and her mother Carrie
got sick (Kelsey had to vomit before riding in her
class on Sat, which meant she would not be able to
compete in the two championship classes that she
and "Eddie" had qualifed in), she gamely mounted
and put on a happy face, and rode well!

A great kid, a great Mom, and a great Horse!

Wait until spring! She'll give 'em a run for their money!

(p.s. Larry Charles of Ravenna, Ohio was the judge in this photo. Good job Larry!)

This ain't no Dog and Pony Show!

What a week I have had! It has been my good fortune to be hired to announce the Canfield Fair's Pony Show. My first!
I started work on Wednesday and today is my last performance section.

This is the largest county fair in the state and people come from all over the country with their RV's and camping trailers and camp out for the whole fair. Incredible sight to behold! Several thousand camping vehicles parked like sardines, replete with little fences and patio furniture, patio lights, flags, knomes, flowers..you name it. Unbelievable.
I am awed each time I turn in to the fairgrounds to head up to my "official fair official" fair parking place located next the pony barns. The Fairgrounds consist of I believe 387 acres, and every single blade of grass or piece of pavement or gravel path are covered with fair paraphanalia. Over 700 food vendors alone. I have announced Welsh pony classes, shetland pony classes (both standard and modern) Haflingers, grade ponies, Hackneys, teams, pairs, hitches of 4, 6, 8 and 10. Lots of spit and polish, chrome and leather, brass and sparkling painted finishes. These exhibitors are serious about their sport and it has been a very interesting and educational experience. I am working with show staff who have been coming here for 50 years. It is the 164th running of the Fair.

These folks know how to have fun and they take their sport very seriously. They are sounding like they might want to hire me again for next year....so bring it!