Red red wine....

     What do you do when your raspberries have gone wild and you have made all the raspberry jam and chocolate raspberry jam (a pleasant experiment) you could possibly make?  You buy a wine making kit and give it a go. 
     This little project has led to many adventures.  First, I had a great time learning about wine making from my grandmother.  Second, a neighbor now thinks I'm quite the wino.  Don't ask!  It is a long story.  Let's just say don't wash all of your wine bottles leaving them on the counter to dry, rack a jug of wine, have 6 bottles of wine on your counter, and clean your basement while singing at the top of your lungs during a blizzard and think that you couldn't possibly have company. 

       Sidetracked again.  Anyway, before I go spend a week with my sister helping remodel their new home, I thought I'd better bottle some wine I've had sitting in the pantry.   I made a straight Raspberry wine before Christmas.  This is a Raspberry Honey Wine named what else, but the "Bee's Knees."  It contains 4 cups of honey, and 2 lbs. of raspberries all from our property. 

    I'm pretty excited about the small bottles.  It is just the right amount for my husband and I.  Unfortunately, I didn't get around to buying some before I bottled this batch.  The big bottles will make nice gifts. 

      My husband helps me with the process.  Our little one gallon wine making kit makes a good amount for the two of us.  It has been a fun experiment.  I'm excited that, years down the road, I will be able to use the fruit from our orchard to make both jam and wine. 
   Kelly made the absolutely perfect island the bottles are sitting on.  Yes, there is a bear in my window.  My parents got me that beautiful wood carving for Christmas.  I also have a bit of spring in my window with the African Violets, primrose, and the Amarillis is blooming for the second time. 
   Well, better go.  I need to clean the kitchen and put the wine bottles away before my neigbor shows up again:)