Monday, November 19, 2018

The House Wine


Our wine has been bottled (and a couple bottles drunk) - it tastes much better than I remember homemade wine to taste, perhaps because the wine kits have come a long way from 20 years ago when I last made wine and the fact that I didn't actually make it, I paid a store to do all the work and just added yeast and bottled it.  I shared this wine kit with my best friend, she took 10 and I took 20 bottles.  Including having to purchase the bottles but having the makers fee waived as was our first time the bottles come to just less than $4 a piece - all that AND IT TASTES GOOD!

I love having a case of wine in the garage and not having to go to the liquor store except for hubby (he drinks vodka and beer and only rarely wine).  This should last a while although I definitely will be making another kit.   I am so glad this worked out as I do not have the space to do all the making myself, nor is it that much cheaper than paying the store to do it.  Our garage acts as a nice wine cellar in the winter as it rarely gets below zero here.  In summer I shall put it in our crawlspace which is not as cool but works in a pinch.

I've got 3 large work projects I've been working on - we are steady busy but not crazy busy and that is a good thing.  Ever since we raised our rates we work at a more even pace - and get paid properly for it.

C word preparations have begun, a wreath went on the door yesterday as well as lights on the front of the house were hung.  Some of the blue noma lights that we use in our bushes have entire strands burnt out and couldn't be fixed by changing their fuse so today we have to actually spend some cash on 3 new strings.  This time however I will keep all boxes and the receipt and tuck them away as the current lights had a 5 year warranty but I didn't keep the proper documentation so can't get new sets under warranty.  It sure drives me bananas that things are not meant to last more than a couple of years these days - when antique things seem to last forever.

All the rest of the decorating will wait a couple more weeks and we will be getting a real tree for the first time mid-December.  I have wanted one for many years now but hated not decorating until mid-December.  This is the year though as the last time I've had a real one was when I was a little kid.

Other than a tree (there are many large farms here that grow Christmas trees and when done I will donate to my friend who uses them for kindling after Christmas) these outdoor led lights are the only money being spent on Christmas items this year - other than $15 at the thrift store on paper, cards and some vintage decorations that I collect.

I will not be partaking in Black Friday sales, other than seeing if I can get a cheaper price on some of our office supplies.  Zero standing in lines for me.  I hate crowds at the best of times so will avoid any of the craziness.

I am on a countdown now - in exactly two months we will be flying away for 8 days in Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo - and I can't wait!  I love Mexico, one day I hope to spend more time each year there, maybe a couple of months in the winter.  We would pack up Buddy and our truck and rent an apartment or house there.....until then we have to enjoy our short trips!

That is what is shaking in our world - I would like to wish a happy American Thanksgiving to all my blog friends in the USA as well as my relatives.  Cheers!

22 comments:

  1. Kudos to you for your wine making hobby! You're probably a wine enthusiast, as wine making is not so simple. It requires proper equipment and knowledge on fermentation and sorts of grapes available in your region. It gives, however, a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment.

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    1. Actually the store does all the hard work so you don't have to have much knowledge here, they even show you how to label and cork and then you take it home, the best part!

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  2. Good job on your wine! My British Columbia friends make their own and sent us home with three bottles that I am looking forward to opening soon. I think they do all the wine making themselves. They had a room with wine making stuff in it!
    I always look forward to your travel adventures!
    Thank you for your comforting words about Reaoma.....I appreciate it!

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    1. I still can't believe the quality of the wine, definitely am making this kit again. So nice to have a case in the garage. I've already saved money this month lol

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  3. Congrats on your home made wine! I had a friend that made red wine and it was potent, but I liked it. We always had a real tree when we lived in PA, but only because we knew they were fresh from the tree farm so they'd last a good long while. I don't think we ever paid more than $35 for one. When we moved south, we bought a fake tree and this year I just may leave it up in the attic. We have a giant corn plant (looks like a palm) in the bay window of our kitchen and I bought fairy lights to put on it. Everyone agreed that would be fine and I'll decorate the fireplace mantle too.

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    1. Today is the strongest urge I have had to put up the tree - if I get a real one I have to wait at least 3 more weeks.......who knows if I will make it :(

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  4. I suppose I should think about getting the Christmas stuff out. No tree thanks to these two cats that think everything is theirs to play with. As for the wine, congratulations. I did at first wonder, however what Sauvig Non Blanc was. But I caught on.

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    1. Yeah, we were going to go without labels...but that just would make us look like booze hounds lol

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  5. Mexico is on my bucket list too. Not 2019 as I'm off to Sri Lanka, but Mexico is a definite must. Can't wait to see your photos!

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    1. I love the culture, the food, the people....Mexicans are among the most friendliest in the world. There must be a reason I keep going back, it almost feels like a second home to us

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  6. Well done with the wine. I'm not a huge fan, beer is more my thing, but saving money is always good! That's a heck of a price for a bottle of wine.

    I haven't had a real tree for many years, probably when my kids were small. I used to go to the lot and buy the shortest tree, usually the cheapest. Blue spruce was my fave, but we got a Douglas fir on a couple occasions. There is nothing quite like the smell of a real tree.

    This year I won't be home until late on Dec 20 so will go with my old decrepit fake tree...it's hitting the bin or perhaps will be donated somewhere after Christmas.

    I've never been to Ixtapa and haven't heard of Zihuatanejo. Must look those up on a map! Isn't it great looking forward to a vacation? I'll definitely be looking for your write-up and photos.

    Have a great week,
    Eileen

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    1. I might be caving, the thought of 3 more weeks to put up the Christmas tree woke me up last night....hubby says he thinks I love the lights too much to wait. We shall see. Our fake tree is still under the house but not sure for how much longer

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  7. Hope you see you here one year on the Isla.

    Meanwhile enjoy the fruits of your labors so to speak :)

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    1. Maybe one day! Can you believe all the times I've been to Mazatlan I've never gone to the Isla? Deer Island yes - back 30 years ago hired a panga driver to drop us off and pick us back up many hours later, they didn't have any tours then

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  8. I put up our tree in Bellingham today but won't put our wreath on the door until Friday, the day after US Thanksgiving. We are going to be busy on Friday and Saturday and will be coming home on Thursday. Traditionally we spend US Thanksgiving and Christmas in the States with a friend down here. Since we won't be home for Christmas I won't be decorating in two places. I love wine too. A glass at night caps off the day. - Margy

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    1. It makes sense not to decorate two places - way too much work! I've seriously already saved money this month, definitely making more wine kits! Especially since hubby found a spot in the garage to store it (he doesn't drink it except special occasions like Christmas-prefers Vodka)

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  9. My Dad used to make his own wine - deadly stuff, went straight to your head!
    We'll be a fortnight into our trip by the time you go - counting the weeks now! xxx

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    1. Isn't it fabulous to have a trip planned? For us there is always a bit of a let down after Christmas (after I've taken down the decorations Jan 1). This year will be different - so glad we planned this

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  10. Your wine worked out!! Yay! Homemade wine I've ever had was always red, not white though I do like both, probably too much lol! When I finally had to get a new fridge I happened to mention to the installer that my old one worked for for 25 years - he said, quite honestly, they aren't made to such standards anymore ($$) and I'd be lucky to get 15 years out of my new one - I just think that is so morally wrong and a huge rip-off!

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    1. I am one of those people who get an instant headache when I touch red wine, can't even do rose, so only white for me. Hubby likes red occasionally but he'll just have to buy some lol. It is a huge rip off - nobody has pride of workmanship anymore

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  11. We used to make wine in the eighties and nowadays it would not be to my taste as i like a dry wine , But if you are saying kits have changed , It might be worth a try , Our daughter went to mexico this year and love dit especially the wildlife in the complex and the nightclub trips out ,haVe a lovely time xxx

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    1. These wine kits are really good now - definitely should try it again, they have dryer ones, etc, the ladies at the wine making store are very knowledgeable. Ours is hopping at every hour with people buying kits and bottling. Definitely worth a rethink!

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