For The Record

I am NOT the 99%, nor am I a millionaire nor billionaire.  I am the 53%.  I work and I have earned my own way.  I worked to pay for my education.  And, I pay my taxes.  I am saving for my future.  I am not counting on social security being there for me.  I plan on working until I die or can't work any longer.  As far as I know, the Bible says nothing about retirement.

Personal responsibility people, it's the only way.

Canning Strawberry Jam

 

A few weeks ago I canned apricots and it took forever to get the water to boil.  DSH came to the rescue for canning strawberry jam.  He got out the two burner camping stove, hooked it up to a propane tank and fired it up.  Water was boiling in seven minutes instead of three hours.  Yay!                                                                                                       

 

The jars sure are pretty.  And the jam tastes great.  I've been eating it on home made bread.  I made quite a big mess though!

Happy canning!

Birthdays and Anniversary

Today is our 13th anniversary!  I must admit it has been a struggle to blend two families but it is much better than it used to be.  My husband and I get along famously (it's just a few family members that have been the "flies in the ointment") LOL!  I think that is normal for blended families.

Today is also our oldest granddaughter's 5th birthday.  Saturday was my 55th birthday and August 1st was my mother's 74th birthday.  Lots of things happening in August.  It is always a whirlwind.
This is what we do in August:

In July, my stepdaughter graduated from college and moved out.  She was a great house guest and our live in IT person.  (I say house guest because she didn't grow up in our home, she moved in after living on her own to make it easier to finish college).  But, I got my sewing room and office back!  I had a week and a half of vacation so I put the room back together and made a dress.

More pictures when I figure out how to down load now that my IT person has moved out!

Too Much Air??

I think there is too much air at the top of each jar.  I think all of these will be used to make cobbler so any bacteria growing in there will be killed!

OK, Maybe?

Now it is 4:12 pm and the canner is finally boiling.  The cots will now process for 30 minutes. I will probably have apricot sauce by the time I'm finished.  I'm thinking apricot cobbler for the next six months.  Ironically, I have a very fancy, expensive, new oven in the garage that is just sitting around waiting for the kitchen remodel that we can't afford to do.  Sigh.

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!