Crafty Satisfaction: Raspberry Jam

The art of homemaking/homecrafting is of great interest to me -- especially as I feel that many household skills are becoming obsolete. Canning is one of these. I can remember making jam from freshly picked strawberries in the summer, but it has been a long time since I ventured into the canning world.

When I found out that a local woman here in town makes a couple of trips each summer to a "nearby" raspberry farm (nearby in Wyoming terms meaning 3 hours), I immediately signed up to share a whole plat with my boss. I was even more thrilled to find out that the berries came from a place that the husband and I used to visit in the summer to get raspberry shakes while we were still just dating. 

I admit, we used to first 2 pints of berries to make delicious raspberry shakes and relive that first summer living together. But, as I had just bought a couple of packages of blueberries at the store, I decided that it was a good opportunity to make some raspberry and blueberry jams!

Following the jam instructions on Pick Your Own, I successfully made enough jam to hold us over for quite some time! In fact, I do believe that it will make wonderful shakes well into 2010...

After gathering your berries and supplies (see the PYO website for a detailed list), make sure that your jars are sterilized and ready and that your berries are likewise cleaned and dried. I then pulsed the berries in my food processor to get them good and mashed. 

Based on your berries and pectin, measure out the sugar and mix wit pectin. Mix with the berries. Add to a stockpot or other large pot and bring to a full boil. At the same time, you should also boil your jar lids for 3-5 minutes.

Add the remainder of the sugar to the berries and bring to a boil again over medium heat (PYO says that this reduces foaming). Remove from heat. Skim foam off the top. 

You're now ready to fill your jars! Be careful not to fill the jar completely -- and don't forget to wipe the rim of the jar before sealing! This is definitely where anice funnel comes in handy. When you're ready, carefully lower the jars into a boiling water bath. The time of the bath will depend on your altitude. Remove from the water bath and let cool, at least overnight, at room temperature.

I made the raspberry and blueberry jams the same way -- with tasty results! Have more questions, see the FAQs from Pick Your Own here. Thanks for stopping by to share this little taste of heaven! 

Nifty Inspiration: What's Your Style?

For last year or so, the husband and I have been, at times, either actively trying to buy a house or figuring out what kind of house best suits us. Both of us are relatively recent college graduates -- so our style to date is really what-can-we-find-at-the-thrift-store that seems a little outdoorsy yet simple yet having a little personality. Hence, after a little research over at Better Homes & Gardens, I think I'm beginning to pinpoint my style... something I like to call Create-a-Conversation Eclectic Country. Wordy? Yes.

According to the quiz "Which Country Decorating Style is Right for You?" I am 60% eclectic country. BHG defines this as "Your cozy, unpretentious home is proof that carefully combined elements of modern, classic, and country cottage style can coexist beautifully... You're certainly not afraid to take risks, so visitors to your space can expect to see creative solutions such as outdoor furniture -- perhaps a great garden table and chairs -- used inside to great effect. And since you eschew a "matchy-matchy" feel, you're likely to layer fabrics in a pretty array of patterns including florals, checks, and stripes. The final result: Rooms that are distinctively you and filled with treasured items amassed over the years." 

I admit, I find that flattering-- and don't disagree that this description would be the ideal outcome of what our home looks like in 5 years. Here's hoping!

So what does my "style" look like? I handpicked the following photos from BHG as examples of my Create-a-Conversation Eclectic Country Style... What does your style look like?

Holiday Handiwork: Stage 1

 

Alright, I know it’s only September, but I think it’s relatively acceptable to get started on holiday gifts now consider my 50+ hour work week (and sometimes weekends!).  That, and I just really love the holidays. My mother is a whiz in the kitchen and I have such wonderful Christmas memories of doing the holiday baking – especially when I got the honor of being in charge of a recipe or two!

As I continue to work on making more gifts that I buy, I have been searching the net, exploring craft blogs, and dutifully sorting through recipes to figure out a game plan for 2009. Thank goodness there are so many wonderful crafters out there that enjoy sharing their talents – there are so many projects to choose from that I’ve started keeping a “short” list of ideas.

I will revisit ideas in the upcoming months as they come up and link to detailed instructions where I’ve found them… just in case you want to jump on the holiday bandwagon, too.

My List of Potential Gifts & Projects:

Homemade Maple Syrup and/or Vanilla Extract 

Reader’s scarf (fleece with trim and a pocket for a book)

Mini Christmas cheesecakes

Frosted turtle cookies

Mint brownies

Pine cone fire starters

Homemade napkins with cookie cutter napkin rings

Christmas soaps

Tea cup candles (I’m already watching on ebay!)

Cinnamon applesauce cookie ornaments (remember these?)

Dog treats

Owl softies (scented?)

Trimming the tree with dried apple and orange slices

Frozen ice wreath with trimmings and cranberries to hang outside

Hanging wreaths in the 3 front windows with big red ribbon

Garland of Mini terra cotta flower pots with jingle bells hung with ribbon

Patchwork stockings out of old quilts

I’d better get started!

Serger Surprise!

My mom and mother-in-law came to visit bearing gifts... candies, dog treats, magazine clippings, and.... a serger! Mind you, it's about 20 years old (but barely used). As someone who has only revisited sewing recently, tackling the intricacies of the serger seems insurmountable!

I have to admit, I had kind of forgotten about it for a few weeks. My mom, in trying to find a couple of square inches in our 700 square foot cabin, slid the box under the sewing table... affectionately referred to in our house as where crafts go to die. Luckily, my husband decided today that he would like my sewing table for a temporary work desk. Since he's been working in and out of the house, we've now created a dining/office sunroom that seems to be getting smaller and smaller by the second!

And, behold, the serger. I don't know if anyone out there has any experience with these crafty sewing creatures, but I feel like I am entering a new frontier. Stay tuned.

Thought of the Week

Thanks for the ring, sweetheart.

Now let me read.

Book Club!

Tonight we are discussing The Reader. Anyone who knows the story or has seen the recently released movie can understand why it makes for good conversation! 

My part of the alphabet is supposed to bring appetizers -- so I'm headed home to make grilled chicken quesadillas with homemade fresh salsa. Yum! I also have a potluck dinner tomorrow night that I'm contemplating. Since it's right after work I'm thinking about a slow cooker real macaroni and cheese (I'll share the recipe and photos!). Of course, not to pass up an opportunity to bake foods I love but don't want in the house... I might also have to make a batch of the infamous spiced molasses cookies... danger!

Ah, Work

Today at work we hosted a Fall Photography Field Trip. I know, life is rough. I'm certainly not a professional, but I'm happy with some of the shots I got while hiking around. 


Happy Fall from Wyoming :)

 

 

Lofty Thoughts: Annie Dillard

“Because how we spend our days is, of course,
how we spend our lives.”

- Annie Dillard

“If we listened to our intellect, we'd never have a love affair. We'd never have a friendship. We'd never go into business, because we'd be too cynical. Well, that's nonsense. You've got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down.”

 - Annie Dillard

"I would like to learn, or remember, how to live. I come to Hollins Pond not so much to learn how to live as, frankly, to forget about it. That is, I don't think I can learn from a wild animal how to live in particular...but I might learn something of mindlessness, something of the purity of living in the physical senses and the dignity of living without bias or motive."

- Annie Dillard

Crafty Satisfaction: Hot/Cold Rice Bag

Make It and Love It posted a wonderful tutorial on making a hot/cold rice bag earlier last month. Seeing as how I had some nice fabric scraps on hand, rice was on sale at the store, and I needed a gift for an athlete -- perfecto!

Like all of her projects, the instructions were simple and easily followed with the accompanying photos. I did struggle with pinning the sections -- resulting in uneven squares-- but I found that pinning the the sections will holding it up in one hand and pinning with the other did the trick.


I think the overall effect-- out of the freezer or out of the microwave-- will be lovely!

Nifty Inspiration: Vintage Spoon & Fork Chandeliers

I have been admiring these chandeliers for some time and I think I've finally been able to think through how I can adapt the idea to my ability -- I mean, how the heck do you drill holes in spoons? I've been toying around with bending, wrapping with wire... we'll see!

Here are some of my faves:

Defeat

OK, I gave in and made an online order for craft supplies... but...

1. I'm a sucker for a sale.

2. I'm a sucker for a sale + free shipping.

3. I got a sweet raise and if my husband can buy a new shotgun I can buy craft supplies.

That being said, I'm super psyched! I have a 4 new projects on the horizon with a couple of dozen ideas in the works thanks to the world of online craft bloggers and a lovely friend!

Here are some hints based on my order-- some clearly obvious, some I hope will be a surprise!

 #1 - Anyone punch needle? Couldn't resist this cute pattern in wonderful colors! 








 #2 - I've been promising the husband that I will make Christmas stockings. Probably should have started this one sooner, but I do have an upcoming cross-country (and round trip!) road trip coming up and it just seems to perfect for my favorite ski patroller. 






#3 - A less daunting crossstich challenge that might be nice practice before the stocking!

And last but not least...

New Project...

 Oh, what can it be?

Find out tomorrow!

Crafty Satisfaction: Dandelion Syrup

I know, it's about time... and at the same time a little untimely to be posting about dandelion syrup now that it's moving into fall! I did manage to make one batch at the start of the summer - what a hit!

Between our yard and a couple of the neighbors, I was able to gather enough flowers (250 to be exact!) to make a single recipe. I followed the amazingly simple and thoughtful instructions over at 5 Orange Potatoes -- I would recommend following her tutorial. 

It is quite time consuming, but the end result is a wonderfully earthy, amber colored concoction that can substitute for honey or even a simple syrup -- dandelion daquiris, anyone? The hardest part is the removal of the petals; once you get through that part you are pretty much just playing a waiting game as they soak and then the liquid boils into sticky goodness. 

Like the original instructions, I really do think that all-natural/organic cane sugar is the way to go. I promise that the color is well worth it at the end! Apologies in advance for the photos, but I think you get the idea!

Nifty Inspiration: Bench From Chairs

 

Country Living strikes again! As soon as I can find the right chairs, this project is at the top of my list. Check out how to make a bench from a series of similar chairs, a plank of wood, and some paint. I've even seen some photos elsewhere on the net of using different chairs of the same height - the possibilites are endless! 

This would go so nicely in our mudroom at the front of the cabin... or maybe as seating at a big dining room table. I'm sure with some well-paired fabric a nice cushion could also be made and tab-tied to each chair back. 

Sigh, one day.