My computer got a virus so I have been off line for a few days. Plus, it seems like I blinked and October is almost over, what happened?
Autumn is my favorite season. I love the cool-crisp days, the beautiful display of hardwood trees changing their colors, the Earth preparing itself for winter. Harvest time has always been a big part of my growing up. We lived on a farm growing up and Dad and Grandpa were always busy in the evenings working on the farm.
Here are a few things Kyle and I saw today on our Sunday drive. I told him if we didn't go for a drive today I was going to miss the leaves.
We drove a lot of back roads between Hayesville and Loudonville and saw farmers working their fields and beautiful foliage. On the drive we bumped into our dream house.
Some day Kyle and I want to build this beautiful cabin. This is an Amish model home just a few miles from where we live. Kyle's big dream is to have some land to raise our kids on. We missed that dream when we both lost our jobs a decade ago. However, we still want this to be a possibility for the kids to bring their kids home to. Grandma and Grandpappy's cabin. He wants a warm cozy place with some room to romp around on. I hope we can do this in the next five years or so. It is an obtainable dream, we just need to get this place fixed up a bit more so we can sell.
Dakota fell in love with Hawthorn jelly when he was a young boy. Robin would send us jelly for Christmas gifts and one year she sent Hawthorn jelly. Hawthorn berries are native to north woods we thought. Kota found some on the grounds of his school. We went a few weekends ago and picked berries.
You need 2-3 quarts of berries. I had 2 1/2 quarts in this pan. Boil the berries over medium heat for 15-20 minutes with about 1 quart of water. (I needed a total of 6 cups water to get enough juice). Strain berries and liquid in jelly bag or cheesecloth. You need 4 cups liquid.
Stir in 1 box of fruit pectin and 7 cups of sugar. Bring to a boil. Boil for 1 minute. Skim foam, ladle into hot jars. I process by turning my jars upside down for approximately 20 minutes. They always turn out okay.
It made a beautiful and tasty pink jelly. I haven't seen my family ever eat that much toast in a couple of days.
I've never heard of Hawthorn berries. You'll have to point them out to me some time. You could have come on up to the Creepy Woods with me to see some fall leaves! I love the log home. I can see you all there one day. The home you're in now is warm and welcoming too. You have raised good kids there and I'm sure have had many great memories. That's a real "Dream Home"!
ReplyDeleteGlad you caught the leaves before they are totally gone for the year. Very industrious of you to make your own jam. We had a hawtorn tree in our back yard, but I didn't know I could make jelly out of it or I might have left it there. :)
ReplyDeleteI hope you get your cabin one day. I can see why you would dream about it...
ReplyDeleteAnd that jelly looks terrific! Perfect for autumn, my favorite season.
=)
I love your dream house! That would be mine, too! I've kind of given up on my dream house, and somehow came to the acceptance that I'm ok where I am. But, if I was ten years younger, I'd be hankering for your beautiful dream cabin in the country!
ReplyDeleteI sure hope that you are able to realize your dream. Take care!