Jam Session

Well, after going blueberry picking Saturday morning, I've finally started making jam. Last night I finished 2 batches and still have about 7 or more to go. I always dread the start of this time of year, but once I get going into it, it's not so bad, I actually enjoy it. It's a great feeling to look at everything you've finished making and knowing how much better it is for your family. One of my favorite things about making jam is the anticipation of the "pop", I sit there and wait to hear the little popping noise, happy because now I know it's sealed and ready to go!! I need to get up to my ma's house and pick all the Chokecherries from her trees up there, I really want to try to make jelly from those. I had it once when I was little, a longgggggg time ago, but I do remember liking it. It's always fun to find the fruit that you don't have to pay much for, if anything, it really cuts the cost of the jam/jelly down. I know I have Chokecherry trees around here, but I need 4 lbs of them and anyone that knows what I'm talking about knows that a Chokecherry is smaller than a pea. My ma has a big tree behind her garage and a few smaller ones all around. Where I grew up in Frederic, there was a HUGE Chokecherry tree right next to my house, ahhhhhhhhh, the memories of climbing that tree will be with me forever I hope. I don't think there were many trees around that place that I didn't climb, much to my ma's dismay!! (she's very afraid of heights) I'm not sure why my ma being afraid of heights was supposed to have anything to do with me climbing trees, I guess she just thought she may have to rescue me or something. HAHAHA, I never needed rescuing, I was the perpetual tomboy....maybe that's why I enjoy making jam and baking so much now, I never did the "girly" things when I was little. I was more into torturing little critters.....muwahahahahaha. Ok, change of subject before I get into trouble for my childhood!!!

It is official, we have new neighbors. I had mixed feelings about having new neighbors, wondering if they would be really snobby and complain about everything that goes on back here, would they complain about our kids, dog, and cats? As it turns out Ken and Sandy are very nice :) I feel really sorry for them though because there's a LOT of work that needs to be done to get the house down there ready to move into. I'm pretty sure they're up to the task, they've been taking care of houses for a while now. They have 9 rental houses up in Tawas and Ken is a retired plumbing and heating man, so, there shouldn't be anything they can't handle! They've been really nice to the kids when they see them too.

Tomorrow is the big birthday day...Em is walking around trying to make all kinds of plans for the day, baking w/ her friends (she asked to make her own birthday cake), bonfire, funland, sleepover....OYE!! a gaggle of giggling girls. I just hope her main gift gets here on time, I got an email from the place and they say projected delivery is the 11th, but maybe, just maybe they'll get it here tomorrow. Either way, I don't think she'll care if it gets here tomorrow or Thursday, she's gonna be thrilled with it! It's the ONLY thing she wanted, so, she better like it. (nahhh, I did get her a couple other things to go along with it). I don't know what to get the birthday boy though, well, I have a few hours left to decide, lol. At the very least, I do know I have to bake a cherry pie ;)

I'm thinking that I need to get out into the kitchen and resume my jam session, maybe I'll even throw in some AC/DC and make it a double jam session.

Y'all make the most of your day and stay safe,
Love Ya :)