Patterns at the Beach, Fall 2012

Underneath the Cherry Grove Pier, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Sand patterns at low tide

I think this looks like a sand dollar with a starfish on top!

Ripple pattern at low tide

Canning Grape Juice (the simple way)

Here’s what the jars look after processing 

Ingredients:

1 cup whole grapes per quart, off the vine

1/3 cup sugar
 per quart
1 quart of water per quart

Directions:

1. Sterilize jars and lids.
2. Stem, wash, and drain grapes.
3. Prepare a syrup by combining the sugar and water.
4. Bring syrup to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
5. Add 1 cup of grapes to each quart jar. 
6. Ladle hot syrup into jars, being sure to release the air bubbles, until there’s 1 inch headspace.
7. Wipe the jar rims and place a lid on jar, add a jar ring and tighten.



Scuppernong Grapevines

8. Pressure can jars for 10 minutes at 5 pounds.  Allow to cool overnight before testing the seals on the lids. If any didn’t seal, refrigerate immediately and enjoy.

The pressure from the canner causes the juice to squeeze out of the grapes and fill the jar. Most of the grape skins will fall to the bottom of the jar eventually. I love how easy this recipe is! No cooking, no squeezing, no juicing; how great is that! This is the second year I have used this recipe with some Scuppernong grapes we grew at our mountain place. The grape juice is really good and by using a smaller amount of sugar in the syrup, the natural grape sugar comes out!

Snowballs that Don't Melt!

These snowballs don't melt. The Snowball Bush that my Mother planted in the Seventies has grown quite large (A Snowball Viburnum Bush can grown up to 12 tall and 15 feet wide). This bush flowers in mid spring and will last through early summer. 



This ornamental shrub's dark green foliage will take on tinges of red or purple in the autumn months before dropping. 

I think these bright white blooms look like cheerleader pom-poms.