Disaster!

Well, it hasn't gone well at all.  I would qualify it as a disaster.  I got up at 7:30am (early for me on a Saturday).  Picked three big Tupperware squares full of apricots.  Washed and cut up three big Tupperware squares full of apricots.  Threw away about 90 percent of the apricots because they were icky inside.  Went out and picked half ripe apricots.  Washed and cut up three more squares of cots.  Got  my jars and lids hot and put large canning pot on the stove to boil.  Ate lunch while waiting for water to boil.  Temp got to 180.  Filled five quarts with cots and syrup.  Lowered into pot.  Boiled water in smaller pot to add to canner to cover quarts.  Still waiting for canner to boil.  The stove has been on high for two hours.  I think it is a lost cause.  Hoping it will boil with lid on.  So upsetting. :(

Wait, I'll go check it again.

Thanks for waiting.  It is now at 190.  The lid is helping.  I'm afraid the cots will turn to mush before it gets to temp and can process for the correct amount of time.

Any suggestions?

Canning

Tomorrow is the big day.   I will be canning for the first time in my life!  We have an apricot tree that is full and dropping fruit.  I will pick all morning then wash, cut, and can.  If all goes well I will  move on to the nectarine tree then the neighbor's apple tree (with permission, of course).  They all ripen at different times so I won't be inundated.  I will take pictures and post them later.  I finally have a new computer and DSSD will show me how to download pictures.  I think she still needs to load all the old ones first. 

A new BBQ is being delivered tomorrow, too!  Lots of excitement around here.   Ours is ten years old and falling apart.  We BBQ a LOT!

A Very Sad Day

Today my favorite uncle died in his sleep.  He had leukemia.  He was married for over 50 years to my mother's twin.  My aunt and uncle had three boys and my parents had two girls.  The reason I am here is because my aunt got pregnant and my mom said to my dad, "If Mary is pregnant, I have to be too!"  And so it went.  My aunt got pregnant, my mom had to get pregnant.  My aunt got pregnant again with son #2 and my mom had to get pregnant with my sister.  My aunt got pregnant for a third time and my mom said, "I'm not that stupid!"

My aunt and uncle had a water ski boat for as long as I can remember.  My uncle taught me to water ski.

My uncle taught me all three verses of Nobody Loves Me Everybody Hates Me I Think I'll Eat Some Worms.  There are only three verses aren't there?

All nine of us went on family vacations together for years.  When the five of us kids would fight in the back seat he would say, "You all pick on each other like you're a bunch of scabs".

He was a good Christian man who loved the Lord.  He was a Gideon for years.  He will be greatly missed.

I love you Uncle Wayne.

Loving Bear to death

B

Bailey loves her bear. She is very proud of her surgical skills.   Mr Buck got in the act and checked out the newly removed arm.  We watch Bailey very carefully when she is loving her bear.  I don't want filling strewn everywhere and I don't want her to eat any of bear.  Bear isn't going to last long.

Have a Happy Mother's Day everyone.

Here I Am!

Today I had two, yes two, people ask my why I haven't been blogging.  I've been missed ;) 

Things to report: 
                             1)  it has rained A LOT here in California.  We are officially out of our drought.
 
                             2)  I was sick last week but I get tired of blogging about being sick.

                             3)  very little sewing has been done.  I made five button holes in my vest.

                             4)  next door neighbors put their house up on the market.  Very sad for us.

                             5)  a friend is divorcing her husband.  VERY shocking and sad.

                             6)  Dancing With  The Stars has started

Wild life photo to add interest to blog!

Placerville, California

Last month we went to Placerville, CA for the weekend.  We ate breakfast at this cute little restaurant.  Everything is made by scratch.  I will confess that I am a breakfast snob.  I don't like to eat breakfast "out" because I like my made-from-scratch waffles and pancakes better than any restaurant.  But, Sweetie Pies breakfast was a good as mine!  It was yuuuuummyy!  We are going back this weekend and we will eat there again.

Lots of cute old buildings in the old part of town.

See the gold miner in the upper right hand corner of the public restrooms building?

There was also a knitting store in town with lots of awesome yarn.  I didn't take a picture or buy yarn.  I don't want to buy yarn until I take my knitting class.

As you can see, I figured out (finally) how to put in more than one picture!  yay, me.

Baking!

I have only baked bread once before and it didn't turn out great.  This time I did a fair amount of reading about wheat types and bread making.  It turned out pretty well except for two things.  I didn't divide my dough equally.  The one on the left is a bit larger.  I also put melted butter on top of the loaves before putting them in the oven.  oooops, it was supposed to be done after they were baked, not before!  Imagine the smell of deliciously baking bread mixed with the smell of smoking butter that dripped onto the bottom of the oven.  Nice!  It tasted very good.  We had it for dinner tonight.  It will be great for sandwiches.  I was going to post more pictures but blogger won't let me post more than one.  Hmmm.