Jammin'

Last Friday I went to Putman Farms out in Kinston to pick my own strawberries with a friend. It was definitely a fun experience. I would love to do it again. I picked 2 flats of strawberries and decided to turn the majority of them into strawberry jam. I've never made jam before so it was an adventure.

Step one sterilize your jars. I boiled mine for a couple minutes each then set them out to dry.

While the jars are sterilizing wash and hull your strawberries. I would have done anything for a strawberry huller.

Next mash your strawberries with a potato masher. I left some partial strawberries so there would be lumps in my jam because that's how I roll.

Next measure you strawberry mash into your pot and add your pectin (I used surejel). It called for 5c strawberry mash to 7c sugar.

Bring your mix to a rolling boil that can't be stirred down. Boil for 1 minute. Add sugar and return to a rolling boil. Boil for 1 minute.

Remove from heat immediately and skim off the foamy stuff.

Ladle your strawberry jam into your jars. I used a fancy jar funnel thingy that came with the canning set I bought.

Once your jars are full place them in a pot with boiling water that goes one to two inches over the jar lids and gently boil for 10 minutes.

Tada! 30 jars of jam!

Now off to pet the cute helper who sat on my feet during most of the canning process!

Strawberry Jam!

1. Sterilize your jars. I boiled mine for a couple minutes each then set them out to dry. Place the lids in a pan of HOT water and allow them to stay there while you can.

2. While the jars are sterilizing wash and hull your strawberries.

3. Mash your strawberries with a potato masher. I left some partial strawberries so there would be lumps in my jam because that's how I roll.

4. Measure you strawberry mash into your pot and add your pectin (I used surejel). Also, at this point premeasure your sugar into a bowl. (refer to your pectin for measurements of strawberries and sugar)

5. Bring your mix to a rolling boil that can't be stirred down. Boil for 1 minute. Add sugar and return to a rolling boil. Boil for 1 minute.

6. Remove from heat immediately and skim off the foamy stuff.

7. Ladle your strawberry jam into your jars. Place lids on top and tighten the rings.

8. Once your jars are full place them in a pot with boiling water that goes one to two inches over the jar lids and gently boil for 10 minutes.

I have it on good authority that this jam is AMAZING!

Ten on Tuesday

1. As much as I threaten to sell my dogs I miss them like crazy when they're not here.

2. I swear if my cats pee in my laundry one more time I will have Kung Pow Kitten for dinner. I'm now on wash #3.

3. If you microwave a fish stick with out turning it over it will turn into a pile of burnt gross EWW for lack of a better description. You will not be able to scrape this EWW off of the plate and will consequently have to throw the plate away.

4. Procrastination will not get you anywhere except late and tired. Trust me.

5. My favorite fitness instructor is leaving Semper Fit because her husband is EASing this BLOWS!

6. I have the best neighbors ever. My neighbor came over today and fixed my porch post that my stupid contractor did not nail in.

7. My neighbor also has his son cut my yard twice a month. Yeah, I pay him, but it's much less than I would pay to have a professional to do it and it gives his son some spending money.

8. My neighbor is also going to install the wood portion of my fence for the cost of materials and a case of beer. Can't beat that price!

9. I am anxiously anticipating my BFF Missy coming to visit me in June! I can't wait for her to come!

10. One of my BFFs out here is EASing in June. I don't think this is acceptable. I think she should stay.

Shadow "gets" the fly

I love all of my furbabies, but I have to say that Shadow supplies me with the most entertainment. She's definitely still in the puppy stage and doesn't understand most things the others have already figured out. Yesterday there was a fly caught between the screen and the window. Shadow spent most of the day going back to the window and trying to eat the poor fly. It doesn't help that I totally encouraged her. I wish that I would have gotten the best part on film. She was standing at the end of the sofa and went for the fly only to face plant on the floor because her feet missed the footstool in the corner.

Ten on Tuesday!

It's been a while since I've done a 10 on Tuesday. So, here's what I've been up to lately.

1. I eat sushi like it's my job. Seriously, Andrea, Holly and I walk into the local sushi place and they don't even really take our order anymore. They just confirm that we want what we always get.

2. When I type the word sushi I have to resist the urge to capitalize since that's the name of one of my cats.

3. Sushi LOVES shoes. Any shoes really, but particularly she love stinky shoes. Andrew's combat boots are generally her favorite, but since he's on deployment she's been getting by with sleeping on my gym shoes.

4. I am super excited for my best friend, Missy, to come and visit me in June. I've been homesick lately and

can't wait to have a little bit of it here with me in J'ville.

5. I had a dog trainer come to the house to help me work with Tango and Shadow. I was so relieved at the things she had to say. Turns out my dogs aren't bad after all. They just know how to push my buttons.

6. I'm working on knitting the cutest sweater. I'm super excited about it. I just finished the bust and am working on the lace pattern for the body. I can't wait to finish it and show everyone.

7. I am also working on the cool sock monkey blankets for a friend.

8. I miss my husband like crazy, but I'm tired of people thinking that means I can't live a normal life while he's gone. Why does everyone expect you to sit around and mope just because your husband is gone? That would drive me bonkers.

9. I am terrible at remembering to put out the trash and recycle. No seriously, if I put the trash out once a month we're doing great. The recycle tends to pile up in the garage for about 2-3 weeks before I get frustrated and just put it at the curb to sit until recycle day. I should probably figure out which day is recycle day and that would help some.

10. Cooking for one person is HARD! I always make tons and then have tons of leftovers I can't eat before they go bad. I tried cooking things that freeze well so I could freeze half, but I'm starting to get tired of the same recipes.

11. You get a bonus today! My garden is doing wonderfully!!!! I have flowers on my tomato, cucumber, and bell pepper plants!!!! I can't wait for them to have actual veggies (are tomatoes a fruit?) so that I can make salad.

Six Word Saturday

DC with friends in nine days!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mixed emotions

When I heard the news last night via text message my initial reaction was disbelief. I mean could they really have found him. Once I turned on the news stations and realized the news was true I began to rejoice. I even called and woke my mom up just to have someone to share it with (sorry Mom!) Finally there will be a very small amount of closure for the families of the victims of 9/11. Hopefully this will be the beginning of the end of this chapter in American history.

My second reaction was to pray for our troops. While I realize that Osama is dead this does not change that we are still at war with terrorists. Then the what ifs set in. What if they retaliate. Did this just make it even more dangerous for my husband and the rest of the men and women serving overseas? What will life be like for them in Afghanistan now? I was reading yesterday in the news that the Taliban is launching their Spring Offensive. Does this mean they're going to step it up even more? I'm worried for my husband who isn't even a third of the way through his deployment yet. I worry for the other men and women who are bravely serving overseas with him. I also pray for those who have already lost someone in this war because freedom does come at a price and hopefully this will not cause the price to be even higher.