A Day on the Farm Canning Memories

What a pleasant, productive day on the farm!  Hubby and I hit the floor running.  I fixed Mom's famous cheese biscuits and then went out to feed the chickens and pick beans.  Daughter Shelly was coming up with the grandgirls to a day of canning and jelly making.  We had already canned 21 quarts, but the beans have been coming so fast, we had to drop everything and do it again.

  Hubby and I kept passing each other between the house and shop.  He was setting up the propane burner while I was filling jars with snake beans.  Shell and the girls got here as Hubby took the jars out to the shop to process and I was picking more beans.  Shell took over that job, 

and I came in the house to fix the little ones' jelly biscuits and start snapping beans.  Shelly finally came in and we sat a while snapping the rest of the beans.  Then off to wash them and fill more jars for Hubby. 

Finally, after 3 batches of beans, we had a quick lunch.

Lillie and Lanie got into my vintage jewelry and came dressed in their finest to a luncheon of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

 

 

  After a little rest, we thought we would treat the girls (and us) to a little swim time, splashing and relaxing in the water.  

Finally, we decided we better get started on the strawberry jelly.  After two batches, we ran out of sugar and pectin.  Shell went to the store but they had sold out of pectin!  We decided to freeze the remainder of the strawberries and call it a day!

 

We canned a lot of beans and sweet jelly for the winter, but more than that, we canned a lot of precious memories!

Memorial Day and Victory Gardens

My prayer is that we will all take a few minutes to remember our wounded and fallen heroes, not only on Memorial Day, but every day as we carry out our plans, enjoying all the cook-outs and fun-filled summer activities that are ours because of those very heroes who fight and give their lives so that we can enjoy ours.  

To help celebrate this Memorial Day, I am offering you these World War II Homefront Memory Collage Digital Sheets.  Just right-click to "Save Picture." I hope these will help you think about our soldiers and this great country that they protect.

 

 

Today as I was picking beans in my garden, I thought about the Victory Gardens that Americans had back during World War II.  Their purpose was to help stretch food here at home so our troops overseas could get the food they needed.  

As I picked more and more beans, I thanked the Lord for the bountiful harvest and for our military who makes it possible for us to live in a free America where we can have gardens or anything else we enjoy.

Our Victory Garden. 

 

They were hanging by the handful.

 

 

Thank the Lord for our harvest and for our great country, the home of the free because of the brave. 

 

Gift of Love and Mother's Day

Husbands try hard but often do not have a clue when it comes to purchasing gifts for their wives.  They are notorious for choosing such "personal and romantic" items as toasters or vacuum cleaners for holidays or anniversaries.  I've even heard of a fella who for some unknown reason thought his wife would just love a new outboard motor for Christmas!  My husband (bless his heart) bought an iron for me one Christmas and a crock pot for another holiday.  I'm guessing he thinks as long as I have the right tools to keep him neat and fed, then I will be happy. He tries.
Well, a few weeks ago, my husband outdid himself.  I came home from work one afternoon, and he had that "little boy who just got into the cookie jar" look, so I knew something was up.  He invited me out to the workshop to see what he had bought for me.  Oh, how sweet, I thought, and it wasn't even my birthday!  
He led me to the shop and proudly pointed out his "gift of love."

 A brand new, muscle-powered (no wasting of gas like the tiller)

garden cultivator.

Oh, I said.  That's nice.

He continued to explain the benefits of such a fine piece of machinery.  It fits easily between the rows.  It's just my size.  And the biggie:  I won't have to wait for him to till the garden anymore (see how thoughtful he is).

Okay, to be honest, he knows how much I like gardening and old things, so I have to give him some credit. 

It really is a pretty contraption.

Yesterday I thought I would give the new plow a try.  When I pushed it down the row between the snake beans and peas, it turned the weeds and soil amazingly well. 

 Hmmm...I decided this was fun.  I continued along the row, turning at the end to come back down the row.  After about 8 trips up and down the 50 foot row, I had a nice, clean tilled pathway.  Only 11 more rows to go.  

It wasn't bad once I got the hang of it.  I only dropped it on three pea plants.  I only plowed up 4 corn stalks.  I only skinned one knuckle when I passed the post holding the sprinkler head.  I only got one busted blister.

AND, the best part was, it only took me four more hours to finish tilling the whole garden (and saving all that gas). 

This morning I realized another benefit of my husband's love gift.

I no longer need the treadmill (Maybe my husband will sell it and buy me a thoughtful gift for Mother's Day). 

Creative Sewing

Tina from ttimecreations purchased some vintage Easter images from my shop and this is what she created!

Even though Easter has passed, this is still a beautiful bag and would be worth purchasing for spring or saving for next Easter.  But Easter items are not all she creates!
She also made this adorable little pillow case dress:

 For more bags and goodies, go visit Tina at:
http://ttimecreations.etsy.com