Is it jelly or jam?

When we went to the Orchard we picked about 2 pounds of red raspberries.  A few days later, I made----is it jelly or jam?

I boiled the berries down, added one cup sugar, and one packet of pectin.  Put it --while still very hot-- in canning jars, and let them seal.  We haven't tried it yet, but the tastings I did while making it seemed OK.  We shall see!

All those apples

And I still have that big bag's worth left to deal with.

My birthday celebration

Around here, we celebrate a birthday for as long as we can.  Benefits all of us; not just the birthday person!

My actual birthday was a Wednesday.  we celebrated that day by having chicken patties (made by C) and going to AWANA.  Fun times.

The Friday after was a true celebration.  Daddy had off work.  C had no school.  We went out to breakfast (Panera for a pumpkin bagel and a free pumpkin muffin).  Then we went to the apple orchard.  We picked 1/2 bushel and a peck of apples and 2 pounds of raspberries. Plus we bought apple cider, chipotle cheddar cheese, candy corn, and honey.  YUM!  Then we headed to the Tamale Place for lunch.  Oh.  My.  Goodness.  Best tacos ever.  Then back home to get ready for a church banquet to kick off our new building project (more on that later).  It was a fun day!  I love spending time with my family.

Sweet friend came to visit and brought pumpkin coffee and a K girl inspired present.
Doesn't it just make you smile?

Even my birthday present wished me Happy Birthday!

Doesn't he look so grown up in this picture?

I usually don't post pictures of myself.
Now you can't say I don't ever.

The Tamale Place

A Picture Post (cuz I really have nothing exciting to say)

Happy Birthday!  to me!  For a whole week!  We celebrated my birthday dinner the
Thursday before my birthday (which is on a Wednesday this year)
The week of my birthday is going to be crazy busy for us,
so it made sense (besides the fact that I didn't want to cook that night)

C made this picture for his best bud.  I noticed AFTER THE FACT that he had spelled friends wrong (FrEInds)

This was K's Bear.  That was what she named HIM--even though he is pink.  C promised her that he would always take care of Bear for her.  Bear and I were waiting for C to get done with math homework so we could finish school.

Crazy child says he is going to wear these this winter.  Doesn't he look hilarious?!

I introduced C to Walker.  He loved it!  Now I"m trying to remember some of the old and good shows for him to watch on YouTube.

Some very dear friends.  Mr. V went to heaven and is now partying with K girl and my dad.
Probably playing softball too.

Found this on my computer the other day.  K's Easter dress and the one she was buried in.

Crazy child.

We did a "Box of Sunshine" for a dear friend. The little duckie kept sliding around inside the box.

Again, crazy child.

This is outside a yummy, local hamburger joint on our little downtown square.  It's only been open a few months and we as a family have been twice and Daddy and I went one other time.  Both times C has gone he had his picture taken with this little guy.  I'm guessing it's a "thing" we will do every time we go???

C and I saw these hats at Target today.  I think they are more funny than they are scary!

Before and after.  He is lookin' good!

Homemade sauce

This year I had tomatoes in a great abundance, but with no one to help me eat them.  I made salsa.  I gave some away.  Some got pitched because I didn't get to them fast enough.  And still I had more.

So I decided to try to make homemade spaghetti sauce or marinara or something.................

I looked up a few recipes but they all stated "the amounts will depend on the taste and sweetness of your tomatoes.  I bought the ingredients and last Saturday tried my luck.

I then boiled and blanched and peeled my tomatoes.  Naked tomatoes look funny.

Then I began cooking all the ingredients.  They all cooked for awhile; the tomatoes began to break down.  It smelled strange (I hate the smell of stewed tomatoes). 

Then I decided to puree it in my blender.  I filled my blender about half full and pushed the button.

Since it was so hot, the steam had no where to go--except to blow the lid off my blender.  Sauce went everywhere.  So after I cleaned it all up (with the help of my hubby), I hit the button again.  This time I was somewhat prepared.   A little came out, but not as much.  All the times following, I covered the top with a towel, held it down tight, and left the lid cracked just a little for the steam to escape.

After it was pureed, I boiled it again for a little.  This time it smelled better.  It smelled like sauce.  It doesn't taste too bad.  It might need some fresh herbs when I'm actually ready to use it, but for my first time--not bad at all.

All that work and it only got me four 24 ounce jars.

The moral of this story is: be carful when you puree hot liquids!