The garden at 7:58pm

From the deck.

Lettuce

Swiss chard

Parsley, pepper, green beans, and a tomato. (Those nets are working like a charm. Take that quail birds!)

Flowers on the yellow squash.

Radish border, basil and zucchini between 2 tomatoes.

It's just about time to apply some more of my favorite fertilizer. I think these plants really liked it last time. The irrigation system is not finished yet, I'm watering with a hose everyday. Can't wait to get some gravel between the beds!

Basil in the greenhouse,

radishes,

and morning glories too.

It's been a little cool and windy- thunderstorms even. Thankfully I've managed to keep everything alive. We could really use some warmer weather now though, mostly because I've yet to spend an afternoon floating in the pool. (But I did make good use of the cloudy skies today by finishing my jam. 30 pints!) 

How to make jam

First and foremost, put your kids to bed, or send them outside. You won't need them for this process! Next, pull your hair back into a ponytail. This is going to get hot and messy. 

Put on an apron (hopefully you have a cute one) and if you like to live on the edge like me you'll wear white underneath.

Pour yourself something lovely to drink. You're going to be stuck over a hot stove for a while. It's nice to have something cool to sip. I like bubbles a lot so it was mineral water for me. 

Queue up some booty shakin' music, 

and get everything set up.

Now you're ready to do the easy part. Just puree...

boil, and stir... and dump in pectin... and ungodly amounts sugar... and stir some more...and keep stirring.

Give it a little taste to make sure that it is sweet enough. (Right? Because 7 cups of sugar could leave it tasting a bit blah?!?? Certainly not, but lick your fingers anways...just in case). 

Then ladle the sticky red stuff into jars and process in a water bath for 10 minutes- during which time you can a.) clean up a little. b.) start your next batch. or c.) stand inhaling strawberries in a foggy sugar daze and think wistfully about taking your own bath:

or doing this to your hair, or handing out these.)

When the time is up, pull your jars out. Set them on a towel, stand back, and sigh. You should feel all domestic and farmy. 

I've got a whole bunch more to make tomorrow and it's all going on the shelves at Tractor Mac's!

More stirring...

Friday: 5 things

1.) Brought home some cherries this morning. They were the first of the season for us. Yum. I have to pace myself.

2.) I harvested tons of Swiss chard, lettuce, and spinach from the garden yesterday. So satisfying. 

3.) I made this tea the other day. Pretty, and my kids loved it too. Except for Ian who promptly broke out in huge welts and sent me racing to Walgreen's for allergy medicine.  Huh. Guess lemongrass and hibiscus aren't his thing.

No worries, he's back to building bridges and driving trains. It's nice that it is raining today. The cool air feels great after a really hot evening at the swim meet last night. (Hannah did great! First or second in all her races!)

4.) Backyard Teepee.  It was so easy. Really it is. I promise it took maybe 30 minutes to put together. I pieced together two old sheets I had.

I didn't use hot glue to secure the fabric as the instructions suggest. I was too lazy and wanted to be able to take it down easily (sprinklers come on at 5:30am). So I just jerry-rigged some binder clips.

It was a hit.

Source: dirtroadprayer.tumblr.com via Libby on Pinterest

5.) Finally, here's what I'd rather be doing today- followed by a dip in that lake. (Bathing suits optional.)

*Sigh* I'm glad the weekend is here. That was quite a week!