"It is well to remember that the entire population of the universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others." A.Holmes

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Raspberries, Blueberries, Blackberries ~ Ambassadors Of Summer

 It's that busy time of the year again, summer. The berries and cherries are ripening faster than I can keep up with them but the birds aren't complaining, they snatch up any I miss picking.
 I set aside today, normally Tea-Time Tuesday here on Cedar Pond, to make and can jam from the berries piling up in the refrigerator. But first I picked the newly ripe raspberries before the day got too hot.
 

 I set up my canning area on the back porch. I have worn out 4 stoves since we built our home because I do a lot of canning and dyeing wool, and my husband & I also love to make a lot of food for people we love. The newer stoves can't seem to hold large cooking pots without suffering for it. A few years ago we bought this camp stove for all big cooking & canning jobs and I love it ! I also appreciate canning on the shady back porch, near the kitchen, while NOT heating the house up anymore than necessary. I make the jam inside, then after filling the hot sterilized jars I process them outside. ( BTW, the stove is mighty nice for camping too.)
I made blueberry, blackberry, and raspberry jam today and the canning season has barely begun. Tomorrow I am trying a new recipe, Strawberry Margarita Jam. The pantry shelves should be full of sweet fruit jams and canned fruit by the end of August, then apple season begins and hopefully the green bean harvest from our garden will yield a big crop too. "Berries & cherries , whether harvested from brambles, bushes, patches, or trees, these tiny ambassadors of summer sweetness share one thing in common - rich, exotic, and intoxicating taste." Canning B.H. & G.

10 comments:

Buttons Thoughts said...

Oh Kathy what a brilliant idea doing your jam outside and saving your stove. Beautiful berries and the jars of jam are so pretty. A good day wish I was there:) B

Anonymous said...

You are so smart to do all this canning.

Connie said...

I love berries of all sorts. My mom used to make the best homemade raspberry jam! It was always my job to pick the berries for her. Paired with her fresh homemade rolls and some butter, the jam was the taste of summer for me. This post brought back good memories for me, Kathy. Thank you! I hope you have a great week.

Deb said...

It all sounds delicious. I love home-made jam more than anything.

Debbie said...

What a great idea! We've been enjoying fresh blueberries and peaches in season. Lots of pancakes and cobblers. Blackberry is my favorite, but I have to get frozen.
Debbie

sweetbriardreams said...

I can't wait to start making jam again. Our hedgerows are starting to show signs of blackberries so hopefully there will be a bumper harvest! Have a great weekend. Chel x

Robyn said...

Your berries are beautiful! I wish my husband liked berries. I would love to make home made jams etc. All he likes though is grape jam and orange marmalade. I would also love to learn how to can. I've read some things on the internet about it but it seems to confusing to me I"m afraid I"ll poison someone on accident LOL.. I do wish I knew how though because they would make lovely gifts..

Deanna said...

Kathy,
Can I say how proud of you I am? You are an amazing woman and you do such neat things.
Have a sweet summer and I know you will with these beautiful berries.
Mighty tasty,
d

Yesteryear Embroideries said...

You are certainly bussy! I love to see berries growing on the vine. Your canned harvest is so pretty!

Karen said...

Love reading this blog tonight. You are truly a role model.