Thundering Thursdays

Not really.  I am just dreaming of rain..and yet, none comes.

It has cooled down some though, and at 9:30, it's only 80 degrees. Balmy. Sunny and nice out there.

  I've been busy this morning making the second batch of Peach Pit Jelly, all told, 20 jars of jelly, some for keeping , some for giving...excruciatingly sweet for my taste, but yummy nonetheless. I was going to make Jalapeno Jelly today too, but have remembered that you have to use liquid pectin for that, and of course, all I have is powdered. So--it goes on tomorrow's list. I need to do some housecleaning anyway...

  There's another pint of jelly in the fridge.  Bad planning.  lol

  Whew. I always feel like I'm burning the candle at both ends this time of year. I stay busy all the time anyway, and the canning season just crams more work into what little space is left. lol I'm not complaining--I love doing this and I love eating my own food.  But it can be a lot of work. Trying to get the garden ready for second plantings, and today would be a good day to get out there too...sigh...but it's really too damn dry to plant anyway. And I have got to prioritize....lol.  May have family coming for the weekend from Minnesota. Won't know til the last minute, it looks like. If I don't do anything else, I HAVE got to vacuum up the tumbling balls of dog hair and dust and get the spare room straightened up--just in case. And now that I've had a jelly marathon I need to mop the wood floors too...because no matter how I try, I get jelly everywhere it seems. (That's it--I need a wife!!!!)  

  As I was looking up some different kinds of recipes for the pepper jelly, I found some delightful looking sweet red pepper jelly that I may HAVE to try too.  I'm gonna wind up having to buy more jars this year, I'm afraid. That's probably another thing to put on my hurry-up list : :inventory empty canning jars.  I'm guesstimating that I've already used over a hundred canning jars this season, counting jelly jars.  Maybe more than that.

  Tomorrow I am going to pull my basil and make and  freeze pesto.  I'll swing by the big store where I can get pine nuts today before I meet my girlfriend for lunch.  I still have 4 big grocery bags of dried basil from last year that hasn't been bagged yet, so...there are at least 8 basil plants out there awaiting their fate. Probably more tomatoes and peppers too...I haven't been out to look since Tuesday. But it would be great having pesto in the freezer and thanks to Judy for the idea. I have a great soup recipe  called Potato Basil Beef that uses pesto in it...mmm...haven't made that in a long time...not to mention a million other things to use it in.

  Feels good to just sit for a minute. The hardest part for me, physically is all this standing. 10 years ago last month, I was injured in an industrial accident. My pelvis was crushed and my hip was broken and my gluteal muscles were ripped away from the bones and I have all kinds of peripheral nerve damage and paralysis and  limitations from it. Very hard for me to stand for extended periods of time. I have learned how to adapt as much as I can, have special chairs and stools and do a little, rest a little, do a little, rest a little. I really need to invest in a fatigue mat for in front of my sink...I think that would help too. So you see...I have to work as much as I do to get half as much done as a "normal" person.  lol  It's all this resting between things that messes me up. lol

   Am planning a girls lunch next week with my sister and sister-in-law and several nieces. It's my sisters birthday on Sunday, and we try to get together every month or so...it'll be fun having Skyler here to be part of it too. We'll probably go to Red Robin, about 15 miles from here. It's central to everyone. Sort of. lol  If it works out, it'll be7 adults and 3 kids. Fun,Fun. Next week is going to be like a serious staycation for me.  I can't wait!!

  Alrighty...breaktime is just about over, and I have a lovely little list of things to do. Just finished wiping down all the jars of peaches and putting them away, to make room on the counter for the second batch of jam. That will sit for another 24 hours or so before I can put it away too. Need to figure out what to make my honey for upper tonight and get that going too. Gonna see if I can get ahold of my MN sister in law and pin her down about coming...don't really expect her...it's one of THOSE things. I know she'd like to, but her life tends towards the unexpected drama/crises alot.  We'll see...

   Have a grand day, ya'all.  I'm going to!

Namaste.