Apricots

We've moved on to apricots in the valley of fruit that we live in. They are everywhere, people asking, "Do you want some?" or "Please come pick my trees!!!"

And we have. Twice now. It really is a fun (albeit sweat-producing in the upper ninety degree weather) family activity. And just tonight, Mr. Right brought home a huge box from someone at work. I've been working on them for days now. The fruit driers are humming (note to self: Buy more of them! When the fruit is ready, it is ready and they can't wait around for days while the other fruit is drying.)

I sure am thankful for all of this free, organic fruit but I've had several frustrating incidences tonight. One thing is that my old house does not like it when I have every burner on and the oven going at the same time. The fuse box and I are getting to know each other well. My tendency toward impatients does me no good during canning either. I've had three jar fatalities so far. Putting a too cold jar in to too hot a water bath does that to even the best of them.

But, most jars are coming out ok. It's so nice to be working away and hear the pop! pop! of the jars sealing. What satisfaction! And, when I am most frustrated at my little issues, I think of the story that my friend Suzy told me. Years ago she was canning peaches, half gallons, I believe. She'd worked and worked for hours, placing each jar on her wood table as they came out of the water bath. When she was done, she sat down and admired their beauty. They were so beautiful, in fact, that she left those jars of peaches right where they were for several days just to look at them. When she was ready to put them away, as she picked up each jar, the bottoms broke off right where the hot jar had had contact with the table. She sat and cried. Whatever is going on in my kitchen, at least it's not as bad as Suzy's peaches!

Every time I begin to think that canning is just one gigantic time waster, I try to remember that I'm helping my husband to provide for the family by spending my time doing something that would cost a lot of money to buy. I try to remember that by teaching my children how to grow, harvest and preserve the harvest, I am enabling them, and possibly future generations to be self sufficient, which is a dying skill. I try to remember that when I know exactly where the food came from and how it was processed, I can rest easy knowing that it is the best possible thing I can feed my children. I try to remember that keeping busy to prepare for the future is what I should be doing, "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, [and] gather her food in the harvest." Proverbs 6:6-8

And one more thing I will leave you with tonight.... a yummy recipe:

Apricot Butter

24 medium apricots
3 cups sugar

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1/2 to 1 teaspoon each ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon

To prepare pulp:Wash and stem apricots; cut in halves; pit. Cook apricots until soft, adding only enough water to prevent sticking (about 1/2 cup). Press through a sieve or food mill. Measure 1 1/2 quarts apricot pulp.

To prepare butter: Combine apricot pulp and sugar. Cook until thick enough to round up on a spoon. As mixture thickens, stir frequently to prevent sticking. Add lemon juice. Ladle the hot butter into jars.

Process jars in water bath canner for 10 minutes for pints.

My Birthday Girl

Well, it's happened. My daughter is 16. I can't believe it. Now she's even talking about driving a car. Driving a car, can you imagine?

We quietly welcomed her birthday at home on Thursday. She chose to have blueberry pancakes for breakfast and her favorite cream cheese and veggie sandwiches on french bread for lunch. She wasn't supposed to have any chores that day... but being as indespensable as she really is, she did end up helping her mom anyway. :)

I really wanted this birthday to be a special one. I would have bought her this if I could have... (doesn't it look like something you'll see with the name Barbie written on the side?)

But, lacking funds for such a purchase, I came up with a plan. I contacted all of the woman that I could think of that had an impact in Serenity's life. I asked them to make a quilt square for her. The results were truly amazing. Each square was so different, beautiful and unique. It turned out better than I could have imagined.

I think there were fifty plus squares in the end. Thank you to everyone who participated! She was so surprised (amazing, due to the fact that I have a very hard time keeping secrets, especially from those I am with 24/7!) Many people who we haven't talking with in years were able to send a square, former teachers, Sunday school and Awana leaders, old friends and pen pals.

This weekend, my parents came to visit. That is always a treat for all of the children, but Serenity's grampy made sure that she had a special birthday by getting her what she really wanted, an ice cream cake! I am thankful that she has such a sweet spirit and is so easy to please. :)

Brotherly Love

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another. Romans 12:10

I am overwhelmed with the generosity of another family.

A little background, we lived in Marysville, a small town way out from where we wanted to be, for 18 months. We could afford a big enough house there for all of the children that we had with us at that time. We lived there just long enough to meet a wonderful Christian family with eight children. One little thing, though, they didn't speak much English. They moved from the Ukraine eight years ago.

This family has been nothing but a blessing to us. From the example of their well behaved and moral children to their love for others.

I am still in shock. Today, this man, his son and two friends came to my house (near where they'd been fishing), 300 miles from their home. He picked up my car, that has not been running for a year and a half. He is taking it home to put a new engine in it. He is not charging us for the engine. Or the gas. Or the rental price of tow dolly. Or any money for labor. I am sure they have no idea what this means to us. My soon-to-be sixteen year old daughter will have the opportunity to learn to drive. It will save us an incredible amount of money in gas, due to the fact that my husband is driving a 16 passenger van back and forth to work daily. We have not had the money to fix it, and to be honest, I thought it would never happen.

My husband and I were talking... "If this was anyone else, it would seem suspicious. We would wonder... why are they being so nice?"

These people have gone out of their way, above and beyond to help us where they can. The wife, through our daughters taught me how to make pickles when I was up to my ears in little babies and thought that I could never learn how to can. They've blessed us with friendship. I am amazed.

I pray that I can take their example of how to treat others, especially other believers, and learn from them. I want to pass on their kindness and true Christian love to others. Above all I pray that they are blessed 100 fold.

Thank you!

We Be Jammin'

Working on blueberry jam this afternoon.

Make Your Own: Mint Extract

I'm a mintaholic. Hold the chocolate, unless it's very minty that is! Mint ice cream, mint tea, I love it all.

This year I'm growing mint. Mmmm... I love to smell it in the garden.

Did you know that you can use that mint in the garden to make your own extract? Try it!

Mint Extract:

To make mint extract, obtain a pound or so of fresh spearmint or peppermint leaves (harvest them at noon time on a sunny day), wash them well and crush/bruise the leaves. Add these to a quart sized canning jar of vodka and place in the sun. Using a piece of well-washed, new cheese cloth, strain (and discard) the leaves from the infusion after three to four weeks.

(Taken from Cooks.com)

****Post update 9/09:

My mint extract turned out SO WELL! Especially the "chocolate mint" variety. It smells great. Think ahead and make some up now in pretty bottles for the holidays. Tie a ribbon on and viola! instant hostess gift. The only cost is some cheap Vodka, at about $10 a bottle at the liquor store, it will make you several smaller bottles of extract. Many gifts for less than a dollar each!

Super Sale on Blueberries

Fred Meyer is having a great sale on blueberries! $1.57 per pound if you buy them in five pound boxes. That is cheaper than the u-pick price around here.

Blueberries are so easy... dump your berries in to gallon size freezer bags and put them in the freezer. They are lower in moister than a lot of other things so they don't stick together. You'll be so glad you bought them when you're baking up fresh blueberry muffins later in the year.

Blueberries top the charts with antioxidants and have been shown to help with brain, eye and vascular health. Antioxidants are compounds that protect cells from free radical damage. Free radicals are highly reactive particles - induced by such things as cigarette smoking, sunlight and excessive exercise - that damage cells throughout the body by triggering oxidative reactions.
Not only are blueberries low in calories and high in fiber, they are packed with phytonutrients (plant compounds) that may promote healthy aging. In fact, preliminary studies focused on blueberry consumption have shown improved motor skills and a benefit in age-related short-term memory function. Blueberries may also provide other benefits such as supporting cardiovascular health and a healthy urinary tract.

You may not need a health-related reason to eat blueberries. They are just so delicious! But if you need one more, they're a low glycemic fruit, meaning that they raise blood sugar levels at a lower pace.

All American Pass Time

Forget about baseball and apple pie. Jumping on the trampoline with a sprinkler underneath beats all that. Especially when it's 105 degrees out! Here's my four-year-old Speed Racer enjoying himself: