Choke Cherry Adventure

Here is the sticky process of making Choke Cherry Jelly. First one must retrieve all of the choke cherries from the freezer and then pick out all of the leaves that made it into the freezer bags. Rinsing carefully, also remove as many stems as you can get your hands on.

I found a recipe on Cooks.com for the jelly. I would recommend it because I find the end result just fantastic:

CHOKE CHERRY JELLY

3 c. choke cherry juice

1 c. apple juice

1 pkg. Sure Jell

5 1/2 c. sugar

Put washed choke cherries in kettle with enough water to cover. Boil until cherries are soft. Drain off juice. Mix in saucepan, choke cherry juice, apple juice and Sure Jell, boil to hard rolling boil. Add sugar and boil until it thickens slightly on spoon. Seal in jars.

I did, according to the package of Sure Jell, then hot water bath the jelly jars for about 15 minutes a batch. This sealed them perfectly! I had enough juice to make a double recipe which resulted in about 15 cups (or 15 8oz. Jelly Jars) worth of product! YEA!

Then I decorated said little Jelly Jars for the Christmas Holidays that are soon upon us. It was a long, hot, sticky day...but totally worth it. And now that I've done it once, I'm sure the next time will be even easier!

Where do you work?

Someone asked me that last week. I said "Nowhere." Obviously this isn't true. Because today, at 11:00 o'clock in the morning, I have a cake in the oven, a loaf of bread in the bread maker, dishes done and homemade chicken noodle soup simmering on the stove. Not to mention a second load of laundry going, a grocery list started (I need NOODLES for the soup) and a husband and preschooler up, dressed, fed and started on their day. Meanwhile, I'm contemplating recipes for the two and a half gallons of choke cherries NQ and I have obtained.


Okay, I admit that I'm not ALWAYS so motivated.




Then someone asked me "What did you do in college?" I say I was a communication student. Again, they get a little glazed, so perhaps I'll start saying: Do you ever watch TV, clip a coupon, hear the radio, look at a magazine, click through a website, buy anything on sale, know about events because you read the newspaper or watched the news, have you flipped through an owners manual, did you see the Olympics?? That's what I did. And I loved it. And I will hopefully return to that sometime, when my children are older, and don't need me so much. (And when I don't need them so much...does a time like that exist? I'm sure it must. Circle of life and all that.)



Also, to go along with the "Where do you work" question: I sometimes take photo's and do pretty cakes, mostly this is for fun and for a creative outlet. Do I get ultra competitive about it, or upset if someone doesn't call me....NO! I really kind of like doing it once in a while. Once I was even writing copy for a website from home. When I had time. It was perfect, but that job is over for now.

Why do I not worry too much about my current place in creating income? Because what I love absolutely most is being at home with my little one (soon to be two.) I love to hear him sing, and watch him learn and grow and I'm so glad I can be home with my midget and share in the wonders of kidlethood with him. It's the best world to be in. Do I change a lot of stinky pants and feel some frustrations: yes. Do I get a LOT of kisses, hugs and I love yous: YES! And I know what it is that my child is exposed to during the day. I know how he is being treated, what words are being spoken to him, the kind of care he experiences, what food he is eating. I can't put a price on that kind of assurance.

Where do I work? At home.

P.S. With my scheduled c-section set tentatively for the Jan 7th, today is my 'HALF WAY done with the pregnancy' mark!!

Choke Cherries

This morning the Petty's were awakened by lightening, thunder and plenty of rain! This means it's chilly in the house so we celebrated with cups of hot chocolate for our breakfast beverage. Nathan came into the kitchen, his bare feet on the the tile. He said "Oooooh! It's cold" and then skipped over to the kitchen rug. I wish I could have recorded the surprised glee in his voice. Then he noticed the robe I was wearing and asked if I was wearing a towel.

The view off the back porch, right before it started raining some more

Last night the light sensors picked up motion, it was the deer, eating my crop of choke cherries. Only successful thing that grows here at the Petty residence. The deer and the millions of grasshoppers DESTROY all other forms of plant life. Ornery suckers.

This week Nathan and I have been picking the choke cherries, when the weather is agreeable: not too windy, not to hot, not too rainy.

With this years crop and last years (still in the freezer) I should have plenty of berries to make something with. This is a fun proposition. I like making jelly, jams, syrups and the sort.

I've also been using my bread maker again to make some delightful french bread.

Nathan had his last swim lesson of the session. I don't think this session went as well as the last. He did fine with the time, but believe the class was a little large, and filled with five year olds. This made Nathan look like the runt puppy, always trying to find a place to sit or stand or see better. The last day he ended up in tears. It was 'free day' and his instructor had failed to notice that the little guy was waiting for a toy, and never got one. Over all he did great job. But I know he'd much rather go with me when he can be IN the water the whole time.

Shane has been busy at the Autoplex, cars are high, the economy is down and Cash for Klunkers is the biggest scam of the century. Just call and ask him about it, he has all sorts of insight. Let's just say there have been several sleepless nights as of late.

The baby has been fluttering around. I don't feel it much, unless I'm lying down and concentrating on it. And, well, there hasn't seemed to be a lot of opportunity to do that right now. I am excited for our next prenatal appointment. I will be doing the ultrasound soon.

Shane just related that Nathan is playing in our bed (he often does) and that Nathan had turned the electric blanket up to 10 and was enjoying the heat and flying airplanes. Shane turned off the electric blanket left for a few minutes and returned to see it back on, but set on a lower number. Funny little kid!