A long time ago, when we needed beer, we just went to the store. Now, we make it much harder for a refreshing beer because Jim is brewing in the basement. His first batch was suprisingly not too bad and gave him lots of confidence to start a second batch. With all the investment, though, a bottle will run you about $4.50.
This latest batch is not coffee, but coffee colored. It is an Irish stout. I was the lovely assistant for the night. 
You have to have about 50 empty bottles on hand when you are bottling the beer. All must be cleaned and sterlized. Jim was telling me that maybe we should just invest in a keg and a CO2 tank. Yeah, maybe not.
The bottle drying rack which was also sterlized along with the kitchen sink. At least we are clean.
After the beer gets in bottles you have to cap it and wait for 2 weeks.
Evie built this playing creationary. She's the only one around here not producing food....she needs a skill.
Shlaw and I opened the garden for the season. After I took off the 2 foot pile of leaves that Jim put on there last fall, we made room for spinach, peas, beets, carrots, broccoli and cauliflower. We also put in potatoes along the back fence. Since potatoes can grow almost anywhere and the garden is precious landscape.
Some of you heard about the 700 lb tree that is 15 feet tall that Jim planted this weekend. Here is a picture of it--closest to Annalise. We are removing the tree on the left. Just waiting for the neighbor or Grandpa Seibert to come past with a chainsaw.
Jim also planted this bing cherry tree. At only 5 gallons, it was much more managable.
And my beautiful model with the dwindling tulips. Out of the orginal 300 from 3 years ago, only about 20 bloomed. Well, that is one lesson learned. Bring on the dafidills.
This latest batch is not coffee, but coffee colored. It is an Irish stout. I was the lovely assistant for the night. 
You have to have about 50 empty bottles on hand when you are bottling the beer. All must be cleaned and sterlized. Jim was telling me that maybe we should just invest in a keg and a CO2 tank. Yeah, maybe not. 
The bottle drying rack which was also sterlized along with the kitchen sink. At least we are clean. 
After the beer gets in bottles you have to cap it and wait for 2 weeks. 
Evie built this playing creationary. She's the only one around here not producing food....she needs a skill. 
Shlaw and I opened the garden for the season. After I took off the 2 foot pile of leaves that Jim put on there last fall, we made room for spinach, peas, beets, carrots, broccoli and cauliflower. We also put in potatoes along the back fence. Since potatoes can grow almost anywhere and the garden is precious landscape. 
Some of you heard about the 700 lb tree that is 15 feet tall that Jim planted this weekend. Here is a picture of it--closest to Annalise. We are removing the tree on the left. Just waiting for the neighbor or Grandpa Seibert to come past with a chainsaw. 
Jim also planted this bing cherry tree. At only 5 gallons, it was much more managable. 
And my beautiful model with the dwindling tulips. Out of the orginal 300 from 3 years ago, only about 20 bloomed. Well, that is one lesson learned. Bring on the dafidills. 