Friday, September 22

[Acadianmom]

I'm trying to decide if I want fish for lunch bad enough to go to town. I dug around and found the leak behind the old carport. I was right, there had been a leak there before. It's the repair that's leaking. The plumber came and looked at it but didn't have what he needed so is coming back. Harold has pipe running all over the place and nothing has a cutoff except the well. I can't cut off the water for long because of the water troughs for the cows. I wish I had drawn a map of where all the pipes run when they were installed.

I still have to find someone to come fix the floor in the bathroom. The guy that was suppose to come said he didn't have time to do my work.

Judy, I don't think I have ever seen cherry jam or jelly. I have only made jelly twice. We were at a horse trainer's place and one of his customers had brought them a big box of oranges from Florida. I helped his wife make orange marmalade. I had bought a box of frozen strawberries from Schwans and needed to get them out of the freezer so made strawberry jelly. I don't eat much jelly so don't have much incentive to make jelly. I do make cranberry sauce every winter but I put it in the freezer.

We are still in summer down here. The temperatures are still getting into the upper 90's but some nights it cools of to the low 70's. One of my friends is camping this weekend at the state park North of Lafayette. If I didn't have the plumbing problems I would have joined her.

Martha

[Othersharon]

Morning all. Started out cool and foggy this morning but now sunshine but still cool. Rain forecasted to start tomorrow afternoon into Sunday so no plans to go anywhere or do anything outside. I did mow my yard yesterday and leaves are starting to drop. So far just dried leaves, not much color yet in our area. So today we need to get out for a nice walk since I don’t think walking will be an option in the next couple of days. Maybe a quick walk around the block will be about it. Good that Buddy can go out back and then come back in. Where has this month gone? Seems it has flown by. Family posted yesterday that GD is being released from burn center rehab to home early next week. She will continue physical therapy at home. So encouraging news. Still a long road ahead of her but it’s a step in the right direction. Barbie, hoping the couple buy your house. But at least it seems there is starting to have more interest with your new agent and how it’s listed. Shelia, so good that you’ve been able to get away and have some time for you. Shirl, love the porch in your new home. Sounds like a good move for you. Karen and Judy, always nice to meet up with old friends. Glad you were able to get the problem fixed on your rv even if it hurts the checkbook! Guess I should grab something for lunch and take advantage of the nice day. Didn’t sleep well last night and really want a nap but then if I don’t maybe I’ll sleep tonight! Hope you all have a great day and weekend. This rain is the outer edge of the storm churning up the coast so hope everyone stays safe and we don’t get hit to hard since we seem to be on the very cusp of it.

[Colliemom]

Happy Fall to you all. Decided it was time to check in before another day goes by. Read my way through the weeks worth of posts and won’t remember half of it, LOL. But seems everybody has been busy with one thing or another and also a variety of weather as well. We are partly cloudy and 78° at the moment. Having some warmer Weather these few days. Supposed to go back T upper 60’s, low 7’s. next week. Had a couple chilly nights this past week but no frost. Leaves are beginning to turn, but lots of green yet.

Judy, hope your mechanical issues are behind you. Too bad you couldn’t have picked up some Cherry jam while you were up north here. Barbie, keeping fingers crossed on a possible sale. Beth, hard to believe your summer season is almost over. Sheila, glad you enjoyed Galena and the River road. I remember that from the GTG some of us us had at Thompson Causeway COE on the Mississippi. Tina and Cheryl will probably recall that one. Karen, had to laugh at Henry losing his Mi d. At least he didn’t get out of the house. I can just picture chasing him down the street, LOL.

As for me, it’s been a bit busy, bit puttery type week. Couple runs to grocery store, putting summer things away, dumping last of summer flowers, haircut, Chiro appt, and a seminar on Probate this morning, I have my affairs in order, but can always learn something new. Got new passport paperwork submitted, old one was past expiration/renewal dates. Wasn’t going to renew it, but decided to anyway. Never know when it might come in handy. Mowed grass at sub entrance. Not a lot to do right now till leaves come down, just put couple chairs on my porch and wash rest of house windows outside.

We had a wonderful time at Family Reunion and it was a beautiful Memorial Ceremony at the Fireman’s Memorial last Saturday. Decided we are getting together once a year from here on.

So that’s the latest from this neck of the woods. Hope you all have a great rest of the day.

[BarbaraRose]

Good afternoon gals!

It cooled of nicely last night with very little wind so I shut off the AC and opened the windows for the night. This morning was still nice out so I took a walk and stopped to visit a neighbor behind me for a bit. I saw a car drive by my place slowly and then came back the other way and slow down so I went over to find them down the street. Turns out they are the couple who looked at my place yesterday! Chatted with them a bit and they asked if they could see my place again so I brought them in. I answered some questions for them and showed them a few more things they didn't see yesterday. She told me that so far, of all the places they have seen here, they like my place the best. Keeping my fingers crossed!

It is starting to warm up a bit outside but still only a high of 89* today. I just closed up the house and turned on the AC. No big plans for today. I still have the old microwave in the back of my Jeep so I should drop that off at the recycling place. I have a low tire light on, so I need to get my tires checked. I think they fluctuate some with the change of temperature.

I also got an appointment scheduled for the epidural in my back for October 9th. They will put me under, so I need someone to drive me there and back.

Time for lunch!

Sue, adorable display!

[JudyJB]

My cherry jam project is going to be interesting. I saw some up north, Sue, but it was $8.89 for a small jar, and I decided to make some myself, especially since I was given a jar of the homemade stuff by one of my campground neighbors, and it was fantastic. I did a lot of canning with my mother when I was a child, and even with my nextdoor aunt, plus I did quite a bit when I was married and my kids were young and I had a big garden. Can't be too hard, right?

Buying the jars and lids was easy, as was getting a canning pot. Getting a silicone liner was a little harder, but the really hard part was getting the red sour pie cherries. I called several stores and they had only the dark, sweet cherries frozen. Those are OK, but the red, sour pie cherries have the best taste and make the best jam. Finally, yesterday, on my way home from dropping off my friend, I stopped at Gordon Foods. If you have never been to one, they are a major restaurant food supplier, and are a great place to buy large amounts of paper things if you are hosting a large number of people for a picnic. They also have terrific things like restaurant-quality cheesecakes and sheets of frosted brownies you can take to an office or family get-together and pretend you made it yourself! And actually, my niece's husband who was once an executive chef now works for Gordon as a salesman to a large number of restaurants. (If you get a piece of cake or pie at one fancy restaurant and it looks very similar to a piece you had at another fancy restaurant, it probably came from Gordons!)

Washed and rinse all the jars and the jar lids. Checked to see how many would fit in canning pan.

Next, to find a recipe. After sorting out the ones for dark cherries and freezer jam, I found several for sour cherry jam. Except one said to buy two quarts of cherries, and another said to use 3 pounds of cherries but then pit them. I am using pitted frozen cherries, so measured out 6 cups into a pot. Added a couple of cups of sugar to the pot and started it on low heat to try to defrost the cherries, constantly stirring them. (I know, probably should have defrosted them overnight or in the microwave.) As they melted down, I added more until it is about 2/3 of the bag, so maybe 3 pounds?????

So, now I am going to get out my immersion blender and chop these mostly thawed cherries up a bit because I don't want a bunch of floating whole cherries. Then I will add the pectin and enough sugar so it tastes right. Boil it up and do some testing, then put stuff in 8 oz jars, and use water bath instructions. If any left, will put in freezer containers. Will let you know how it comes out.

[OregonLuvr]

Good afternoon. Had my eye doc appt today and it was a dilation and scan appt.along with the injections. So couldnt really see much until now, I could see the tv tho LOL just not the computer or book. Could see distance wise but nothing up close. So fixed some lunch and just kicked back. My eyes are starting to come around but my pupils are still very large ha ha I had to wear my sunglasses when I took Emma out back to potty. Just way too bright. I was looking for my extra sunglasses but of course I cannot find them. I looked around in my car and the house but not here. I dont think I left them at Laura's but I will ask her tonite to look around. Not a big deal they are my old prescription sunglasses, I keep my new prescription ones in the car for driving. I used to just buy dollar store sunglasses because I was always losing them or sitting on them so just didnt really care too much if I lost or broke them. Now I am much more careful with the prescription ones.
Nothing much else to report here. This month is flying by and I need to start tearing down parts of my garden. Still producing tomatoes so those will be later but going to get rid of the squash. I very sick of squash!!!! in fact not planting them next year. Well I do like the acorn squash and it is not very prolific to I will plant that next year again. Sue I love your Fall decorating, as usual super cute. Well just going to kick back and relaz this afternoon.

[Colliemom]

Judy, Meijer, at least up here has cases of Montmorency cherries. If your don’t come out right. Check one down there if there’s one in the area.

[JudyJB]

Thanks, Sue, but it is too long a drive, and I am on my way to Ohio. I just tasted my jam in the pot, and it was really sour, so I added two more cups of sugar. Just tried again, and I think it is good--tangy but not too sour. The texture is nice--even small chunks of cherries with only a very few whole ones.

Now, I need to figure out what to do with my leftover frozen cherries. Could make some syrup for pancakes---hmmmm. I don't like cherry pie, but maybe something else??? Any suggestions?

[JudyJB]

Last update for today. I ended up with 8 pint jars of jam, with the last one about 2/3 full, so I will put that one in the refrigerator and eat it first. I used about 3 lbs of whole, pitted cherries, and about 8-9 cups of sugar. I was getting frustrated it was not gelling, so i also added another half packet of certo. They are still sitting in the water bath as I wait for it to cool a bit. I processed it for a full 10 minutes instead of 5, as some recipes recommended it to make sure it keeps well.

Whew!!!

[Bethers]

Judy, I hope your jam/jelly turns out great. I no longer eat anything with all that sugar added, except on a rare occasion as a treat. I'd take the cherries on their own, or in a small piece of pie (with probably too much sugar, also lol)

Irmi, if you read this please tell Carob happy birthday from me. I no longer have her number anywhere. And that I miss her.

Started today with rain. Only sprinkling when I walked Ty, but got my hair wet. Rained a little more walking to the office for work, but I wore a hat that time. Speaking of the hat, I'm not sure I brought it home. I'll have to check. It didn't rain as much as they were calling for this afternoon, but drizzled on me at least one more time. And tomorrow it looks like more rain.

I think I mentioned watching a series called The Traitors. It was the US version and I enjoyed it, do next I watched the Australian version. I liked that it's the same but the contestants had different challenges. I'm now watching the UK version and it's filmed at the same location in Scotland the US one was, and is having the same challenges. I'm still enjoying it, though. I'm hoping they all have another season.

I got a good night's sleep last night and hope I do again tonight. But I'm off tomorrow so will probably stupidly stay up too late.

[snowball]

martha I had your fish!!!! and it was sooo good... we went out for cat fish tonight it was funny they had two fillets for almost 18 or all you can eat for 18 so opted for all you can eat.... I eat 1and 1/2 I've been wanting cat fish for a long time
finished my Swedish Weave so excited!!!
talked with my friend to see when we can get together thinking of doing so Monday it's her b'day so need to decide if I want to leave Monday after we meet up or Tues morning... it's about a 3 hour drive to Des Moines from here... although I need to stop and see a friend as I'm going through a town that is on the way... she is in a care center has dementia not looking forward to the visit but realistically it is probably the last time I will see her although she isn't that old a bit older than I am but I hear she isn't doing well...
Sharon that is so good to hear am so glad that she is almost home... hoping you don't have damage from that storm.
Barbie that all sounds promising doesn't it??? are you looking at rv's more? hopefully they won't need to move in asap
Sue that looks so cute
Judy we will have to try your jam
I miss Carolb as well there are so many that are missed
oh I remembered what it was that I saw that I was going to mention... this lady in Australia decided to test the system when it comes to giving her baby a name so she spelled out
the full word for meth then middle name rules... somehow it went through and was approved... Meth Rules oh my she is going to change his name but guess this will come up at various times in his life... poor kid now I read this on Yahoo so who knows it's validity
seems like there was something else I wanted to comment on but who knows what it was now...
haven't read scriptures yet and would like to just read for a bit haven't read anything since I finished my book in Rochester that was forever ago
you all have a good day
sheila

[JudyJB]

Beth, I think I could have used less sugar, but I was worried it would not gel. I need to get a candy thermometer for next time. The problem was that the tart cherries I used were very sour so needed a lot of sugar because they do not have anywhere near the natural sugar content the dark cherries you eat have. I don’t think you would want to eat many of these raw—very puckery!

The other problem was that I could not find a recipe for frozen pitted tart cherries. Most recipes assumed you were buying fresh cherries and gave weights before they were pitted. I ended up making decisions based on taste and my jam is still pretty tart. Will continue to experiment next year and figure out ways to use two pounds of leftover frozen cherries. I like to make crepes and currently make a blackberry sauce for them. Might try a cherry sauce and make it more runny and them freeze it in small containers since I don’t use a lot of it when I put it on crepes. Fewer seeds than blackberries, at least.

Sheila, I will save a pint i case we have a get-together out west next year.