Category: Summer

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We’re All Wet

Well, this was a bit of a gamble for me–to say the least. Knowing, or believing I should say— that swimming would be a good, non-stressful way to exercise–and NOT being willing to do said exercise in public–we took the leap and bought a pool.

With my foot being so touchy, I knew that the pool ladder would certainly not work–so the gamble part was more–how on earth to get my silly self actually IN the pool in the first place. Kinda felt like I’d have to have some magical powers to make it work.

But the boy was willing to set it up and the kids were certainly willing to try it out…

so we knew that worst case scenario– a bunch of folks would have fun with it no matter what my super powers turned out to be.

It was deep enough to be fun for everyone–even the little-littles, who have all taken swimming lessons to some degree.

We even found some end-of-the-year bargains on allllll kinds of floaties.

In the end, we found a way. Not a terribly dignified or graceful way perhaps–but the result was me in the pool. So that is a wonderful success- triumph even–bigger, in fact, than you could possibly know.

Thank you my dears for once again making things work in my funny world. You just always do.

I love you with all of my heart.

~ Mom~

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“Paper” Chains

Oh, my goodness do I ever have a new LOVE!! I mean, seriously–just look at these cute little crocheted “paper” chains!!

Yeah, it started out innocently enough. I found the pattern for these red, white and blue ones and tweaked it in a few crucial places–as is my style–and we ended up with these pretties.

Then, try as I may, I couldn’t stop. They just kept coming and coming and coming. These “summer” ones looked more like Easter sooo, I finished them and put them downstairs in the box with all the baskets.

Then the quest for the perfect real Summer colors began and ended here. What do you think? I lovvvvve them. They just scream beaches, hot sun and ripe peaches.

Now, you would likely think that I’d be done by now but noooOOOooo. Considering my yarn stash is about nine miles wide–I have SUCH plans…

starting right here.

Heh, heh, heh.

 

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Summer Roast

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I have no idea why the heat of summer makes us behave like this.

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We go outside and sit around in the warm evening and burn stuff. It’s weird and doesn’t really make sense.

That is…until you factor in…

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this.

Yeaaaaaah.

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Even the pups are hoping we accidentally drop something.

Ain’t happening poochies.

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I’ve got a firm grip, baby.

Heh.

Gr Signature

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Perfect Apricot Jam

…without pectin.

 Mmmmmm….toast and jam makes me really happy.

I had to take a break from packing and painting and weed killing because some things…like apricots, just won’t wait. At the risk of losing them all, I decided to just drop everything and make some jam in my cute little kitchen.

I wasn’t positive that I even had everything that I needed because I’m still living in one house while working on the other, and I don’t have my kitchen totally set up yet.

As it turns out, I found what I needed. I also found a very simple recipe without pectin, that–short of burning the whole pot to a crisp–promised to be pretty much fool-proof. My kind of recipe.

So, you start with 8 cups of washed, pitted, and chopped apricots. 

 Mush them around a bit with a potato masher. You don’t have to go crazy with this part–just smash them enough that you release a fair amount of the natural juices.

Add 1/4 cup of lemon juice. I used bottled juice–but if you have fresh lemons, you can use them. Either way should be fine.

Now add 6 cups of sugar to a nice, deep sauce pan. Stir in the apricots and mix it well.

Bring to a boil over medium high heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves. Once the mixture reaches a rolling boil, continue cooking for about 30-40 minutes. Keep checking on it and stirring so that it doesn’t stick to the pan and scorch.

When it starts getting really foamy, I always add about a teaspoon and a half of butter–which usually calms it all down. You don’t have to do that–it’s just what I do.

Now I should have a lovely picture of pouring the beautiful jam into the jars, but since I was alone in the house, taking pictures of that process seemed like a good way to land in the emergency room.  SO…

you’ll have to believe me when I tell you that I poured the jam in the hot, clean jars and processed them in the boiling water canner for 10 minutes.

Here’s my proof. That and…

this.

Gr Signature

5.0 from 2 reviews
Perfect Apricot Jam--Without Pectin
 
Print
:
: 5 pints
Ingredients
  • 8 cups chopped apricots
  • ¼ cup lemon juice
  • 6 cups sugar
  • 5 pint jars, lids and rings
Instructions
  1. Mash the apricots lightly.
  2. Add lemon juice and sugar.
  3. Bring mixture to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar.
  4. Once it reaches a rolling boil, continue boiling for about 30-40 minutes.
  5. Remove from heat and pour into clean, hot jars.
  6. Process in a boiling water canner for 10 minutes.
  7. Let set for a few hours until cans seal
  8. :]