Canning So Far.....

So this is what I have been so busy with over the past week.

17 jars Sweetheart Applesauce -

 I used cinnamon heart candies to flavor

and sweeten the applesauce and it turned a pretty pink color too.

 

11 jars spaghetti sauce -

now I have a healthy fast food option for those busy days

30 jars of sour cherry walnut conserve -

really yummy

3 jars carrot jam -

small batch but it sounded interesting and I had to try it,

 it tastes like marmalade

 28 jars of  sour cherry jam-

also really yummy

 

5 jars maple blueberry walnut conserve -

again really yummy

30 jars of carrots -

I found 5 pound bags of carrots on sale for $1.50 each

so I only paid $6 for all these carrots

6 jars of spiced apple juice -

this tastes like mulled apple cider and is good warm or cold

 

I have shelves in the laundry room but they were too far apart, so Rob went and found some wood and cut me a bunch of new shelves and put them up. So once all the jars are on the shelves I will take a picture and share that with you too.

 

 

 

Gratitudes

1. That I have such a great man that loves to do stuff for me.

2. That we have lots o healthy, homemade, yummy food put away.

3. That the boys are enjoying school and work.

 

Calgary Trip

On Tuesday we took a trip up to Calgary for Frank to see the specialist. Rob and Jake both managed to get it off so we all went up and made a day trip of it.

The doctor says that all the tests have come back normal so they are all a little confused. When she first walked into the exam room she looked really confused, Jake was sitting right beside Frank and she hadn't seen him before. She said that I tolde her Frank was a twin but she didn't know they were really identical. LOL!! Frank has an ultrasound scheduled for the beginning of September and then they want to do another MRCP in a few months. If everything continues to look normal she says they will have to assume it was just an infection causing the bile ducts to swell and the beading in the bilary tracts. And at that time they will start weaning him off of the medication. YAY!!

After we saw the doctor we went up to the Cross Iron Mills Mall and visited the Bass Pro Shop. It is definitely a favourite store of our family.

 

 

Gratitudes

1. That we got great news from the doctors.

2. That we had a fun and safe trip.

3. That Rob's surgery has been scheduled quickly.

 

Wordless Wednesday

Gratitudes
1. That I have such artistic children.
2. That we had a wonderful trip to Calgary yesterday.
3. That today is the twins first day of Grade 10.

Meal Plan Monday

Busy again canning, so I will make this quick.

Sunday - ceasar chicken salad
Monday - spaghetti
Tuesday -  eating out because we will be in Calgary for Frank to see the specialist
Wednesday - hamburgers
Thursday - fish
Friday - spinach quiche
Saturday - tuna melts


Gratitudes
1. That I am capable of canning and have air conditioning. I know in the winter we will really be grateful for it.
2. That everyone got the day off tomorrow so we are all going to Calgary as a family.
3. That Frank got a job at KFC.

Sunday Links

Arms and Heart That Ache :: A good reminder

Sour Cherry Jam :: Some ideas for sour cherries. I want to remember these because now I know where to get them.

Why I Love Being a Mom Lets Shout it Out Loud ::
- watching my kids help someone in need without being told
- listening to the girls giggling in the room
- seeing the twins in uniform, they are so handsome
- seeing my oldest cuddling with my grandson, she is a great mommy
- listening to David talk and thinking about how grown up he is sounding
- I'm not a cuddly type person but hugs from my kids are so amazing and I get lots of them because my kids are all cuddlers
-seeing their faces when they finally get a new concept



Gratitudes
1. That I got spaghetti sauce, sweetheart applesauce and spiced apple juice canned yesterday.
2. That today I will do a little more canning and then I am playing lego with Emily.
3.That they got Rob in or his hernia ultrasound very quickly.

Emily's 9th Birthday Party

Just a quick post of mostly pictures about Emilys birthday party. Got to get back to canning.

Candy Buffet

Table set with giant pineapple at end. The green fronds were skinny balloons that refused to stand up.

 

Raspberry creme and lemon creme cupcakes.

 

Presents

 

 

 

 

Gratitudes

1. That Emily had a great party and lots of great people to share it with.

2. That we went to the Back To School Bash at the Dreamcenter last nght and everyone had fun.

3. That I have more food that I got free or on a great sale to process.

Wordless Wednesday

Gratitudes
1. That there is a nice breeze coming in my window.
2. That today we are having Emilys 9th birthday.
3. That I have almost all the boys school stuff ready.

Meal Plan Monday on a Tuesday

I got this post ready yesterday and then got distratced and or got to post it. Oh well here it is just late.

Sunday - leftovers
Monday - chili
Tuesday - chicken ceasar salad
Wednesday - bbq hot dogs
Thursday - leftovers
Friday - spinach quiche

Wednesday is Emilys birthday party and she is pretty excited about it . So will have pictures of that later in the week.

Jake got a job at Wendys and is loving it, besides having sore feet. We had to get him new shoes for the job and then he started on Friday and has worked 8 hours everyday. Once his shoes are broken in and his body gets used to standing in front of a grill or cash register he will be fine.  They have been training him in the front and back and on closing. Frank usually does things first so I am really glad that Jake got a job first, as I think he has been feeling a bit left behind lately.



Gratitudes
1. That Emily asked me to make and glue a puzzle to put up on her wall, I enjoy doing them and it forced me to slow down for a day.
2. That I have ordered all of  Emilys curriculum now and am just waiting for it to arrive.
3. That a friend is going to lend me herjuicing pot and let me have the rest of her crab apples, I will make some crab apple liquer and try my hand at apple juice.

Sunday Links

My Not So Best Friends :: Great article and very true!!

Toy Kitchens and Greedy Worms :: Another great article.



Gratitudes
1. That we have air conditioning on hot days like this.
2. That Jake got a job and is really happy about it.
3. That Frank is home safe and sound.

  

Harvest Time

So the last few days I have been very busy which is why I haven't posted every day. On Tuesday my friends Kathleen, her daughter and Jane went apple picking with me and Jake. As you can see we got alot of apples. We put them all in my front yard and then sat in the grass dividing them up between us. We wanted to make sure we each got some of the really good ones and some of the damaged ones to make it fair. Then the next few days I was really busy processing all those apples.  Here is what I made : 

9 jars apple pie filling

33 jars of apple sauce

3 large jars of dehydrated apples 

49 more jars of apple sauce

I also went picking sour cherries last weekend and this is what I made from them:

1 jar dehydrated cherries

6 large jars of sour cherry liquer

This weekend I have decided to take it easy and not do much but there will be more harvest stuff later.

Gratitudes

1. That we have been blessed with so much free food.

2. That I know how to deal with all this free food so we can enjoy it.

3. The most important.....FRANK IS HOME TONIGHT!!